Paradise Park Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
Paradise Park is a residential neighborhood southeast of downtown Thomasville, Georgia, laid out around a triangular landscaped park with curving streets, large lots and oak-lined avenues. Listed in 1984, the district was amended in 2002 to add two houses. The Neel House at 502 South Broad Street, built in 1907, is a two-story Neoclassical Revival dwelling with a full-height columned portico. It was left out of the first listing because of the owner's objection. The Tuck House at 701 South Broad Street, built in 1940 to designs by local architect Roderick Brantley, is a one-story brick-veneer ranch house with Greek Revival details and a camellia garden. It was previously excluded because of its age. The neighborhood was a retreat for wealthy northern families, especially from Cleveland, and was locally called Yankee Paradise. Including the 1940 house extends the period of significance to the end of the area's development, which was complete by World War II.
Significance in brief: The district is significant as a planned neighborhood with a landscaped park for Thomasville's wealthy residents and for wealthy northern winter visitors, and for its high-style dwellings and landscaping. The amendment extends the period of significance to 1940 to cover the end of the neighborhood's development. The Neel House is an excellent local Neoclassical Revival example, and the Tuck House is a late, unusual Neoclassical adaptation of a ranch house form.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02000292, listed April 1, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 502 S. Broad St., Thomasville |
|---|---|
| County | Thomas County |
| Listed | April 1, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000292 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | mid-1880s to 1940 (district as amended) |
| Architect / builder | Roderick Brantley, Architect, Tuck House; Joe Robinson, Builder, Tuck House |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival/Neoclassical Revival; Modern Movement/Ranch Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Entertainment/Recreation, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The Neel House was damaged by fire in 1978, stood vacant for several years, and was then converted to a bed-and-breakfast inn. The Tuck House is currently used for commerce (McDonald's area office). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Paradise Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 30.83235, -83.97595 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02000292.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7134333
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.