Sharing History & Making Magic at our Brooksville Bloggers Retreat

What better way to get to comfortable with fellow bloggers than around a campfire? Pexels / Pixabay

Have you ever visited a place and felt its magic?

Do you love Antebellum homes, hill top views, period furniture and rocking chairs on a grand porch?

Do you believe in the power of blogging and social media influencing to raise awareness and help people connect with places?

Want to use your powers of communication to help a nonprofit organization get known?

Come to the first Chinsegut Bloggers Retreat at the Chinsegut Hill Manor Museum and Retreat Center in Brooksville, Florida for a great event, designed to connect you to fellow communicators and show the world what electronic communications can do!

An enchanting view of the Chinsegut Manor House through the azaleas.

Be a part of the 1st Chinsegut Bloggers Retreat March 15-16, 2019!

In a fun-filled 22 hours, you can discover the amazing story of a place that Seminole Indians first settled. Later, the Chinsegut Manor Museum was the headquarters of a large and profitable plantation. The giant cedar and cypress trees harvested by one owner were worth nearly double what they paid for the property!

Photographs, letters, archaeological finds and more are in the Chinsegut Manor Museum on the Hill. Image by Diane Bedard.

The last private owners of this beautiful and historic property added electric and plumbing, entertained the rich and powerful, and helped to sway America toward social justice and equality for all.

Stand where slaves were set free… and where some of the same people and their children were told that they would have a home for the rest of their lives, even though the government had threatened to take the property for taxes!

The view from Chinsegut Hill is magnificent. The nearly 300 foot elevation lets you see for miles and miles. Image by Diane Bedard

Learn about the lives that were intertwined with this beautiful property once called “Mount Airy” by its owner for its magnificent views and perpetual breezes. Learn how our nation was influenced by the property’s last private owners. See the graves of children who were born on “The Hill” and died here.

Chinsegut is an Inuit Indian word for “spirit of things lost that are now found.” Feel the spirit and…

USF built seven “cabins” and held retreats and conferences at Chinsegut during the 1970s and 1980s. Image courtesy of Visit Florida

We are going to eat like Presidents

Carla Richards of Heavenly Endeavors Catering serves the best fresh food with a smile at the Chinsegut Bloggers Retreat! Image by Diane Bedard

Friday evening’s meal will be prepared by Carla and Rickie Robinson of Heavenly Endeavors Catering. Carla has cooked for George Steinbrenner and President George W. Bush. Her husband Rickie is an Executive Chef and Master Pastry Chef. Together they create meals that please the palate with fresh ingredients and tasty fresh herbs and spices.

Chicken or Fish? Fresh, pan seared and topped – not drowned – with freshly prepared sauces, vegetables and the perfect side. Image by Diane Bedard

Friday night’s meal will include a choice of pan-seared chicken breast with a basil wine sauce and a exotic slaw, or fresh fish in season, seared in butter and olive oil with a lemon wine sauce served on herb couscous with steamed fresh vegetables.

Sunday morning we will have a omelet station with more details to come…

Tell the stories to your readers and followers…

We will tour the historic Manor Museum, stay on-site in the Chinsegut cabins, built in the 1970s by University of South Florida for retreats, enjoy catered dinner together in the dining hall, and tour the adjacent Chinsegut Conservation Center, the only Education center run by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where we take a guided night hike and learn to identify animals at night.

Relax and Network with fellow Communicators, too

Friday night we will have a bonfire, weather permitting, to relax and enjoy the fresh air, stars and moon, and each other.

We will have a guided night tour at the Chinsegut Conservation Education Area. Image by Diane Bedard

Saturday will start with another catered meal in the dining hall and walking the grounds to see the Civilian Conservation Corps buildings and the Altar Oak.

We will learn about the USDA’s Agricultural Station, now run by Florida A & M, and how they are using the property to educate farmers of tomorrow.

Then some time for research in the Museum’s research room, networking, relaxing on the porch and check out at noon.

Thanks to our main event sponsor: Florida’s Adventure Coast.

Chinsegut Hill is located in Florida’s Adventure Coast, a wonderful area of Florida’s Nature Coast, just an hour north of Tampa Bay. There are many outdoor adventures, including kayaking our paddling trail, the Weeki Wachee river and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, home of the world famous mermaids. Many fun festivals are held throughout the year, including the Brooksville Blueberry Festival. Visit https://floridasadventurecoast.com for ideas or contact the Tourism office for help in planning your next adventure.

Let’s get together to get this amazing place known!

#ThinkChinsegut will be our hashtag – and we utilize our craft of communicating what a special place this is.

Raymond and Margaret Drier Robins riding at Chinsegut Hill, probably mid-1920s. Image courtesy of the Friends of Chinsegut.

Fielders Harris plowing — Fielder Harris ran the Chinsegut plantation. He is seen here plowing. Below is his house on the property. Images courtesy of Hernando Historic Preservation Society.

In 1905, a successful actress and author, Elizabeth Robins and her brother, Colonel Raymond Robins purchased the estate and neighboring land for $5,000 and named it Chinsegut Hill.

Precious Ann Edgerton's headstone — One of the earliest owners of Chinsegut Hill was Precious Ann Edgerton. She is buried in the tiny cemetary on the property with several of the property’s former occupants.

The sign on the building reads, Wash House, CCC, 1933.

The Chinsegut Manor House was place on the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 2003.

The Manor house as it was in 1905 when the Robins’ purchased it. At that time the property was called Tiger Tail Hill. Image courtesy of the Friends of Chinsegut Hill.

Colonel Bird Pearson purchased the area that is now Chinsegut. He was a Florida Senator.

This turpentine pine is a remnant of the glory days of the turpentine industry in Central Florida. Image by Diane Bedard.

Friday Itinerary (All tours/activities are optional, but included in the Registration Fee)

Arrive and check in 2 pm Friday (bring your own snacks, drinks and camp chair)

3 – 5pm Tour the house with Margaret Drier Robins, leader of social justice reform and women’s suffrage in the early 1900’s as your guide, alternating with a grand porch reception/networking
5 pm Dinner with Raymond Robins, advisor to seven U.S. Presidents, preacher and champion of social justice
6:30 pm Evening- guided night walk at Chinsegut Wildlife Environmental Area leaving from the Chinsegut Conservation Center
9 pm Bonfire and stargazing amidst the Chinsegut Cabins, providing weather cooperates. (If it’s windy/rainy, we will have games and networking in the dining hall)

The sign on the building reads, Wash House, CCC, 1933. Image by Diane Bedard

Saturday Morning Itinerary (All tours/activities are optional, but included in the Registration Fee)

8:00 am Breakfast in the dining hall with Elizabeth Robins, esteemed actress, author, and fearless suffragette in England and the U.S.
9:00 am Walk the grounds – see the CCC buildings and the oaks, enjoy the gardens.
10:00 am Learn about Florida A & M and their work with the Agricultural Station, formerly part of the Chinsegut property
11:30 am Visit the Research Room of the Manor Museum or relax on the grounds.
Noon Check out and venture to other adventures on Florida’s Adventure Coast.

Please note: The Chinsegut Retreat Center Cabins have four bedrooms per cabin, with two twin beds and a private bathroom in each bedroom. You are welcome to bring a guest to the Blogathon so you know your room mate – or plan to meet a new friend! If you want a private room, they are available for an additional $25.

Chinsegut Bloggers Retreat FAQs

Q: I want to bring a guest that doesn’t write or blog. Is that ok?

A: Yes, as long as they are accompanied by a blogger, social media influencer or communications professional. Just register them also.

Q: I am not comfortable sharing a room with a stranger. Are private rooms available?

A: Although the idea of getting to know each other through this retreat includes shared rooms, we understand it can be uncomfortable to bunk with unknown people, even if they are in the same profession. If you can’t bring a friend to the Chinsegut Bloggers Retreat, request a room to yourself for an additional $25 fee. You can get your guaranteed private room.

Q: I would like to attend part of the event, but not all of it. Is that ok?

A: Of course, just Email Diane and we’ll get things worked out!

Q: I would like to join the Bloggers Retreat, but I’m not much into history or walking around. Can I skip the tours but enjoy the food and place?

A: Of course! If you just want to sit on the porch or write in your cabin, it’s just fine. Come on out and enjoy the camaraderie without the educational parts.

Questions about the Event? Email Diane and we’ll get things worked out!