Rowan Magazine | The People. The Places. The Way of Life.

Ten years ago, when Dennis and Ginger Black bought the Villa Franca Estate in rural southwestern Rowan County, they planned to renovate and live in the historic home, but also had dreams of opening it to the public someday.
      After extensive renovation of the house and grounds, three years ago they began fulfilling the vision of sharing the peaceful property with others by offering it as an event facility for weddings, luncheons, and corporate events.
     As with any house that is nearly 150 years old, this one has a story to tell. The Villa Franca was built and so-named by a doctor in 1859, later bought by a minister, abandoned as an residence for nearly 25 years and then used as a storage building for grain. In the early 1980s, the house was moved from its original location on Millbridge Road to its current location on Patterson Road, and finally restored.
     The Blacks spent years collecting antiques during their travels, particularly drawn to pieces with Victorian elegance. The formal rooms of the Villa Franca, including a parlor, dining room and two bedrooms that serve as a bridal dressing suite, are well appointed with ornate furnishings and a color palate that lends well to a feminine ambiance enjoyed by brides on their special day.
      In contrast, a spacious, multi-purpose addition at the rear of the home has been christened The Magnolia Room. The room was designed with several functions in mind. It can accommodate 80 guests for a sit-down meal, or 60 for a buffet dinner. The ample lighting can be dimmed for media use, ideal for conference presentations. The 63-inch plasma television screen can be used for memoir slideshows or PowerPoint presentations, and the surround-sound speaker system is wired outdoors and can be used for indoor or outdoor events. A stone fireplace provides a warm design element, while the windows and French doors bask the room in bright sunlight. Otherwise, the neutral color palate is accommodating to a wide array of custom décor for the special events held there.
     The room has already been used for a ladies’ tea, Rockwell Christian School’s junior/senior prom, the serving area for wedding receptions (conveniently located next to the catering preparation area) and the rain location for an intimate summer wedding. Future plans include adding a patio just beyond The Magnolia Room to offer yet another functional space to the property.
     Most brides want to take advantage of the property’s peaceful grounds for their ceremony and reception, but the Blacks try to offer a contingency plan for the weather. The lush green lawns are most often staged for the ceremony with white folding chairs for guests, with an impeccably maintained landscape as the backdrop.
     “Photographers have told me how much they enjoy shooting here because no matter where they are the backgrounds are picturesque,” Ginger Black said. In addition to the formal hedges and espaliered shrubs, color abounds from annuals and perennials along every walkway. Rachel’s Prayer Garden, a rose garden adorned with a rustic iron pergola, is another favorite spot for photos.
     The Blacks are happy to be writing a new chapter in the history of the Villa Franca Estate and they hope that many more people will be a part of that history, just as the Villa Franca will be etched in the memories of those who celebrate their special occasions within its grounds.