Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™ Issue 009 December 2011 | Page 20

Chinqua Penn
Plantation
Holiday Tours
T

he jewel of Rockingham
county, Chinqua Penn Plantation was completed in December of 1926, by Jeff and Betsy
Penn who grandly entertained
their friends, family and business associates in this English
countryside style mansion. The
current owners of the Rockingham County estate continue the
tradition this holiday season by
hosting the annual Holiday and
Candlelight Tours from Nov. 26
to Jan. 1.
At least 13 theme-decorated
Christmas trees will be scattered
throughout the 27-room mansion, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Including a 14-foot live North
Carolina Fraser fir in the massive
living room of the house. The
mansion is regaled in its holiday
splendor with decorations of
the season in each room. This

20

year the mansion hosts guest
decorators for Christmas trees
including the Daughters of the
American Revolution with a 17th
century tree, postcards from yesteryear, a vintage cookie cutter
tree, and trees from three local
antique shop proprietors whose
affinity for the home is second
nature.
Hol i d ay Tou r hou rs are
Wednesdays through Saturdays
from 10am to 5pm; and Sundays
from 1pm to 5pm The wine tasting

Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine