Brian Pavlich
Como Plantation, builtin 1890, is one of the only properties that enjoys an un-leveed view of the Great Mississippi.
Nestled deep in the Tunica Hills, Como Plantation is not a place you’re likely to stumble on by accident. No, you have to know where you’re going in order to arrive at this secluded jewel—site of Country Roads’ final Supper Club of 2019. Even with directions you may find yourself beginning to wonder as the tiny, gravel road winds through the bluffs and clefts of this remotest corner of West Feliciana parish. Press on, though, and once you cross the one-way plank bridge that spans the aptly named Como Bayou, the forest parts to reveal the mighty, magnificently un-leveed expanse of the Mississippi River over which Como presides. An outlier among historic homes lining Louisiana’s arterial waterway, Como is built on the first upthrust of loess bluffland that we know as the Tunica Hills. From this relatively lofty aspect, the circa 1890 plantation home commands a view of the Mississippi that, in Louisiana at least, has no equal.
There are certain places that, for one reason or another, endure the passage of time. Like the river it overlooks, Como has adapted and evolved through the years. It may be “Louisiana’s best kept secret,” according to a 1981 article published in The Feliciana Journal, but Como Plantation wasn’t always a place apart. Once a trading post known as Como Landing, the property stood at the center of a small but busy rural community known as Brandon, Louisiana in the early 19th century—first on account of its direct river access, and later as a whistle stop and post office when the railroad pushed through at the dawn of the Industrial Age. It was named for the Brandon family, who resided here and maintained Como for more than a century.
Rendering by artist Stan Routh
Now, Como enters its next era: the historic home and 120-acre site are being restored and developed to serve as a Christian retreat center modeled after the best in the country. Remote, serene, and surrounded by natural beauty, this remarkable site offers fertile surroundings in which to explore and grow one’s faith. While the retreat center will open offering accommodation in the main house and several cabins, plans call for the eventual construction of dozens of cottages scattered across the property’s steep hillsides and along its meandering creeks. Como Plantation Retreat will begin accepting participants for three-day stays this spring.
This conclusion to our Fall Series offers a unique opportunity to experience one of Louisiana’s loveliest locations, and learn about the inspiring plans taking shape for its future.
Look for a feature story about the history of Como and the Christian retreat center. Coming in spring, 2020.
We hope you'll join us for Country Roads' "The Past, Present & Future of Como" Supper Club on December 8 on the banks of the MIssissippi River. Tickets are available at bontempstix.com.
