In honor of the anniversary, the hit movie is playing in select theaters across the country on May 19, 21, and 22
Three decades ago, audiences fell in love with the iconic characters played by Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts in Steel Magnolias. But if there’s one thing more iconic than the flick’s six leading ladies, it’s the charming Southern town where where the funny and heartwarming story played out.
Today, fans can visit the real-life house of Shelby (Roberts) and her mother, M’Lynn (Field), in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The historic house at 320 Jefferson Street was originally built in the 1800s by two Italian architects, Trizini and Soldini. It was initially intended to be a store, and reportedly served as a Confederate hospital during the Civil War. In the early 1900s, Jackson L. Bryan had the house moved away from the busy street to its current location. In the 1940s, it was sold to Herman Taylor, and the four-story home was still owned by the Taylor family when it became famous in the 1989 film.
“Architecturally, it’s an incredible house,” current owner Dan Dyess tells Architectural Digest. “The bricks in the columns were specially made for the house, shipped from France, and are pie-shaped. Yes, they’re round, not square. Also, we still have the original marble mantels on the fireplace. We did everything we could to preserve the original house and how it appeared in the movie, too.”
While fans began driving by and snapping photos in front of the famous property soon after the film’s release, they have been able to spend the night since 2014. That’s the year the property was turned into a charming bed-and-breakfast that serves “a full breakfast along with true Southern hospitality.”
Now, the 5,900-square-foot abode features six bedrooms and baths, original wood floors, and a grand staircase for visitors to enjoy. “The home is furnished with crystal chandeliers, marble mantels over eight gas-lit fireplaces,” reads the website. “And many of the original antiques have decorated the home for years.” There’s also an 800-square-foot guesthouse, and stunning landscaping complete with oak trees and, of course, magnolias.
The owners clearly play up the connection to the movie, calling their B&B the Steel Magnolia House. There is also a pink room called the “Shelby Room” based on Julia Roberts’s character. (It’s a nod to her famous line that pink is her “signature color.”)
“We tried to keep as much as we could from the movie,” says Dyess. “We kept things from the film like the kitchen cabinets, flooring, and even the kitchen table. People are always so happy they have access to the home now, and there’s certainly been growing interest with the 30th anniversary coming up.”
