Georgia Magazine - July 2010 - (Page 34)

BabyLand General Hospital reborn Cabbage Patch Kids have a new home BY JACKIE KENNEDY • PHOTOS COURTESY OF BABYLAND GENERAL HOSPITAL W hen his expanding business called for larger headquarters, Cabbage Patch Kids creator Xavier Roberts knew he wanted to keep BabyLand General Hospital in Cleveland, but he wasn’t quite sure where to build the new facility. A chance sighting of what he terms “three stork-like birds” on a hill in his hometown prompted Roberts to pick the spot where Cabbage Patch deliveries continue. A 70,000-square-foot mansion reminiscent of “Dallas” TV show’s Southfork Ranch, the stately new home to one of the world’s most popular dolls stands on 650 acres in the North Georgia mountains. Staff moved into their new home in November and hosted a grand opening on May 8. Three years in the making, the three-story, plantation-style construction features 72 windows allowing The new Southern-style, 70,000-squarefoot BabyLand General Hospital sits on 650 acres in Cleveland. majestic mountain views. A winding, custom oak stairway with Brazilian cherry wood floors leads to the second-floor conference area, available for business meetings, weddings and children’s birthday parties. A historical archive chronicles information on the evolution of the Cabbage Patch Kids and includes a section covering the Southern Appalachian region that is not yet complete. Outside, a covered porch welcomes visitors to enjoy cool mountain breezes. Cabbage Patch Kids flow down the winding stairway that leads to the second-floor conference area. “The new hospital is huge, the columns are soaring, everything is larger than life, and it’s all free to enjoy,” says Margaret McLean, director of corporate communications. “You’ll discover all sorts of surprises here, like real crystals embedded into the new Cabbage Patch, and the detailed architecture throughout the building is art in itself.” The fun and fantasy introduced in 1978 at the original BabyLand General Hospital is evident, especially at the Cabbage Patch, which takes center stage when “Nurse to delivery room, STAT” blasts from the intercom. Over the past three decades, countless children and their families witnessed “births” of new Kids, delivered by LPNs (Licensed Patch Visit BabyLand General Hospital at 300 N.O.K. Drive in Cleveland; call them at (706) 865-2171 or visit their website at www.cabbagepatchkids.com. GEORGIA MAGAZINE The BabyLand Exclusives Collection consists of deluxe vinyl and soft-sculpture, 17-inch babies or 20-inch Kids. 34 www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.cabbagepatchkids.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - July 2010

Georgia Magazine - July 2010
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Currents
Special Energy Report
Where the Wild Things Are
Still Going Strong
Reliving History and Exploring Nature
Around Georgia
Georgia@Home
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Cookbook of the Month
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - July 2010