Plein Air Developer Envisions New Additions in the Near Future

By Ally Nichols and Hayley Thames
Hottytoddy.com interns
asnicho2@go.olemiss.edu; hbthames@go.olemiss.edu

It only took Campbell McCool one look at a barren piece of land in Taylor, Mississippi to engage his entrepreneurial spirit. Plein Air, a settlement that he and developers created from thin air, is a thriving southern community with big plans for the future.

The Chapel at Plein Air is a popular wedding event space in the area. Photo via Plein Air’s Facebook.

McCool and his wife saw a few acres of land for sale in 2007 and thought that it would be a great place for opportunity and potential. When they first bought the land, they were living in the area and believed they could complete the project in 10 years. Looking back now, McCool says it’ll be about 20 years before the Plein Air development is complete.

“The goal is that it’ll be as big as the Oxford Square,” he said. “Every year, we try to build at least 10 or more homes.”

Plein Air has a southern small-town atmosphere, similar to Seaside, Florida where his family frequently visited. The small businesses and intimate, southern style make the community seem like a home away from home.

“It has this homey feel to it – the southern charm style. It’s very quiet, and it’s easy to get all the work done that I need to do,” says Alex Erler, a student at Ole Miss.

The cottage-style homes and rustic, yet modern buildings give visitors the feel of a “ma-and-pa” environment. While there are only a few businesses and a few homes right now, Plein Air is going to continue to grow.

The newest addition to Plein Air is an optometry office, which will be located next to Lost Dog Coffee, a local coffee shop famous for their pour-overs. This is the newest development at Plein Air, but McCool has many innovative ideas for the future of Plein Air.

He said he could see the development of a hotel as well as office spaces, new local businesses, and a medical building. While right now there are only a few places to rent short term, the hotel could bring a larger crowd during short-term visits to Oxford, he said. He envisions a bed and breakfast-style hotel that would have about 15 rooms and would be located near the wedding chapel.

Plein Air does most of its advertising through hosting events. Many visitors come to experience weddings at the Chapel and the Mill, two event spaces typically used for weddings. 

It is also a very popular place for students to come to study and hang out with friends. Only 10 minutes from Oxford, Lost Dog Coffee, as well as the Pavilion, are common gathering places for students.

“I come out here a lot to study because of how quiet it is, but I also come out here to just hang out with friends and to get out of the house,” says Erler.