In the early 1970’s a great-great-great grandson of Alexander Varner moved the house from Cusseta to its present Oakbowery location. The new location chosen for this home was 20 acres on the Chambers-Lee county line 8 miles north from downtown Opelika., in a community named Oak Bowery .
The Dudley family purchased the home in 1977 and completed much of the restoration. Great effort was taken to preserve as many of the original features of the grand home as possible. The wide heart of pine plank floors, interior sheathing and wainscoting are of particular note. The house has six fireplaces, with the original pine mantels. There are five original Carpenter locks with maker's seals.
The tall front windows with sidelights have been reworked and the four front wood columns and balcony have been repaired.
In 1999, Deidra and Mitch White purchased the property as a second home to be closer to his family living in the area. A native of Jackson, Mississippi , Mitch moved to California in the late 1970’s at the age of 13. His Aunt Jo Ann Broadhead who was a local Realtor in Opelika, showed the property to them over a football game weekend when they were in town for a visit. Deidra and Mitch fell in love with the property and looked forward to having a second home with the opportunity to spend more time in The South with their Family, and hopes of having a family of their own to be raised with a touch of Mitch’s southern roots & upbringing. Additional upgrades and renovations were made to the Interior of the home, including new kitchen flooring, and 2 new downstairs bathrooms. In early 2000’s The White’s embarked on a 2 year project with major exterior changes to enhance the beauty of the estate and entrance to the property. A new main driveway was put in, including a stately stone - walled, gated entrance. Mitch’s mother Carolyn White named the property White Oaks , due to all of the White Oak trees growing on the grounds of the 20 acres. Over 60 Magnolia Trees from a local tree farm were planted adjacent to Highway 431 up in front of property and lined the driveway entrance. Over 100 azaleas & lugustrums were planted to enhance the grand entry into the property. New porches were added to main home, and a new guest house was constructed above the 3 car garage/workshop. Plans and groundwork began to construct a 2 acres fishing pond behind the main home. In 2015, The White’s purchased a Toomers Oak from Coach Pat Dye’s nursery during an annual Tim Hudson Charity Event. The new oak was transplanted it into a new backward flowerbed. Coach Dye had raised this 12 year old Oak, as a seedling from an acorn from the original Toomers Oak on Toomer Corner at Auburn University. He personally came out to deliver and help plant this piece of Auburn history with The White ‘s Family members.