Come for a Visit... Come to Stay

Are you retired from a productive career and ready for more enjoyable, fulfilling years?

Thomasville, Georgia may be the perfect destination for you. You can be as involved as you choose here under the spreading live oaks where we occasionally turn the thermostat to “cool” on Christmas Day, and sometimes the only sounds in quiet neighborhoods of historic homes are the footfalls of joggers and the sounds of baby strollers being wheeled along.

Are you a frustrated actor who has always yearned to try your hand at the lead role in The Fantasticks? Thomasville On Stage and Co. strives to keep the tradition of live theater viable in its Storefront Theater, located in the heart of Downtown Thomasville.

Four productions per season are presented to enthusiastic audiences in an intimate setting, with auditions open to members of the community.

The Thomasville Entertainment Foundation, founded in 1937, presents six performances a season. Many world-famous artists and renowned entertainers have been featured – including Fredericka von Staade, the Claremont Trio and the players of the long-running spoof Capitol Steps.

Outstanding art works may be found in the Thomasville Cultural Center’s gallery and throughout the building. Works of outstanding artists are displayed in the gallery, accompanied by gala openings.

The Center also sponsors a writer’s group, and some of their works appear in The Red Hills Reader – the Center’s quarterly publication. Writers’ workshops are held frequently.

Another group of writers with two publications to its credit meets monthly at the Thomas County Library, a modern facility located in the center of town. The group is made up of seniors who feel fortunate to have guidance from two authors. The library offers a series of computer workshops and hosts special events to which the community is invited.

The YMCA offers an extensive program designed for retirees. Its two facilities (complete with outdoor and indoor heated pools) are favorites for seniors who enjoy participating in water aerobics, floor aerobics and fitness training on a variety of machines designed for such programs. Classes are scheduled for convenience of those attending, and personal trainers are available. In addition to fitness, a program for Active Older Adults sponsors community walks, suppers for older citizens and adult dance lessons.

Historic Glen Arven Country club offers a beautiful 18-hole golf course, and has hosted numerous visiting celebrities. Country Oaks, a public course owned by the city, provides an additional facility. Several tennis courts on school campuses are available for public use.

Archbold Hospital, in addition to its excellent care and diverse medical staff, sponsors periodic lectures by staff members (both in the main hospital and at the Integrative Medical Center).

Thomas University (an accredited liberal arts university that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees) is a growing institution with a broad-spectrum curriculum, and retirees may audit courses of their choosing for a nominal fee. The university sponsors various community events and cultural opportunities available to the public.

If you are a history buff, there is an exciting place for you. The Thomas County Historical Society maintains an interesting museum in the heart of one of the oldest neighborhoods in town, and presents lectures featuring outstanding historians and speakers. Many of these are Thomasville residents who have published their memoirs and recollections and relate interesting family anecdotes and personal glimpses of the region’s history.

Should you want to trace your own family “roots,” there is a very complete Genealogy Library located in the heart of downtown across from the courthouse.

Volunteers are appreciated, and will find a wide variety of opportunities. You can be involved in our Thomas County Medbank, dedicated to helping qualified residents avail themselves of medicines available at no charge from large pharmaceutical houses. Local docents at Pebble Hill Plantation (open to the public for tours) meet world travelers as they guide visitors through the many rooms and outbuildings of the complex. They share anecdotes about fabled plantation experiences and the opulent lifestyles of wealthy northern industrialists who found this area so attractive.

The many churches of the area sponsor interesting activities for seniors, and offer unlimited opportunities to reach out to the community – including the Foodbank and being involved in local schools. Senior citizens mentor children in reading and tutoring programs. The kids love it, and one of them, upon spotting her tutor arriving, shouted to others present “She’s mine!”

If you like to swing a hammer or are into painting, Landmarks (an organization dedicated to preserving historic buildings, some of which are listed on the National Register) welcomes participation by volunteers. You can also volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, where a cross-section of citizens pitch in to make renovation a dream come true for some of our deserving citizens.

Inviting shops abound, and our downtown is one of tree-lined streets, vintage buildings beautifully restored and quaint restaurants with umbrella-shaded tables. We’ve saved a place for you. Come have a seat, drink a glass of tea and enjoy Thomasville with us.