Scenic Drive visit fulfills longtime desire

519 East Scenic Drive, Pass Christian, MS

For the 44 years wifey and I have lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we have always been intrigued by Scenic Drive in Pass Christian, about 30 miles to the west.

Scenic Drive shoots off from US 90 and parallels the highway for about three miles.

While US 90 is more on a plain with the beach, Scenic Drive elevates along a ridge and overlooks the Mississippi Sound. There are no structures between the two roads from where they intersect on the east to the main intersection of the town on the west.

The road is a pretty drive. But to the north side of the road there are many homes and mansions which at one time or another we had wanted to visit.

And Sunday a week ago, we did just that.

We participated in the Pass Christian Historical Society’s Tour of Homes. Five residences were featured between 2 and 5 p.m.

Tea and a lot of other goodies and finger food were provided at the home of Jeanne Hines at 519 East Scenic Drive.

According to the guidebook for the tour, the home, built in 1895, suffered major damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was torn down and rebuilt. 

‘’The 10,000-square-foot reconstruction is faithful to the original house but constructed of concrete and steel,’’ the brochure reports.

(Three scenes below are interior shots from some of the residences)

Other homes on the tour included:

— 533 East Scenic Drive, the home of Janet and Michael McElroy. The residence was constructed circa 1938 and has an extensive garden.

— 829 East Scenic Drive, called the Carlisle place and built circa 1850, with a second story added in 1938.

—710 East Second St., the home of Sidonie and Keith Petagna. The residence once belonged to a prominent New Orleans sugar plantation owner.

—1001 East Beach, the home of Mrs. Lynn Gildersleeve. The structure is a classic Coast cottage with center hall. The front gallery overlooks the Sound and back gallery has a view of their pool.

829 East Scenic Drive, Pass Christian, MS

It had been a long time waiting, but the trip fulfilled a longtime desire to see how people along that stretch of road lived.

Swing with a coastal view

Next post: May 20, 2014