WALB: What’s keeping Thomasville’s Big Oak alive after more than 300 years?
WALB, August 27, 2026
THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WALB) — Thomasville’s Big Oak has stood through droughts, storms, changing streets and generations of visitors. City officials say the tree’s survival after more than three centuries is not by chance.
The live oak dates to around 1680. That’s roughly 146 years before Thomasville was founded. Keeping the landmark healthy requires regular maintenance, inspections by certified arborists and specialized systems designed to protect its aging branches.
“It’s old. We try to just keep her comfortable,” Brian Allensworth, assistant superintendent for public works for the city of Thomasville, said.
