Marlsgate Plantation is the creme de la creme of historic homes in Arkansas. Designed by Charles Thompson and built in 1904 at Scott, Arkansas by the Dortch Family. Marlsgate is the second major plantation home to occupy the land owned by the Dortch family for over 100 years. However, this is not about the Dortch family, this is about the Garner family. The David P. Garner family to be exact. Sometimes houses are just houses and sometimes it is people in those houses who bring them to life and make them what they are. So lets check out Marlsgate.
Marlsgate was purchased by David P. Garner, Jr. in 1985 in a much deteriorated state. He is quite the interesting man and at one time taught art and history at McClellan High School and owned a flower shop on Geyer Springs. This background has paid off with Marlsgate being one of, if not the most desired spot, in Arkansas to get married.
There’s David welcoming us in now.
Grand stair case in the foyer. David has completely restored, if not improved upon, the entire home and furnished it with antiquities from his family and his travels. He is most humble to credit his grandmother, Grace Cupit Newman, with everything he has been blessed with, but that is pretty much where humble stops.
A bundle of energy, sharp wit, attention to detail, AND flamboyant personality make this man an expert in entertaining and dishing out the southern hospitality. I have been to many plantation tours in Mississippi and Louisiana and the tour guides are boring and most operate from a script. The houses are sparsely decorated and entertainment to a minimum. Mr. Garner rolls from the heart and it carries over into everything he does.
The dining table seats 24…can you imagine?
David says “its all in the details”.
The only person I know that is even close to keeping up in the “detail department” is Kay Tatum with the Hanger House. Now she could give David a little run for his money.
David’s grandmother, Grace Cupit Newman. She passed away 13 years ago and David keeps her bedroom lit 24 hours a day in her memory.
This is her bedroom on the main floor.
