A short three and a half hour drive north of us, on the shores of Lake Toxaway in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, you’ll find the historic and charming Greystone Inn. With rambling terraces, porches filled with rocking chairs, misty mountain mornings, and cozy fireplaces, the Greystone Inn is a serene retreat where nostalgic pleasures, gracious hospitality and quiet beauty awaits.
The Greystone Inn was originally built in 1915 by socialite Lucy Armstrong and her husband George, and was named Hillmont. When Lucy sold the property many years later, her only wish was that it would be enjoyed by many. Hillmont opened it’s doors for the first time as the Greystone Inn in the summer of 1985. The Willcox welcomed the Greystone Inn into her family late last year and renovations have begun with an opening date of May 9, 2018.
“We started renovations two days after we closed,” owner Geoff Ellis said. “There were holes in the roof and leaks all over the place. It was important to quickly try and put a seal around the property so that no more damage could be done.”
“The original mansion needs the most attention and we are focusing there with new bathrooms, a new bar, a new kitchen, larger common areas, new paint and wallpaper, upgraded electrical and plumbing, a new HVAC for the entire building, new carpet, and new furnishings,” Ellis said. “All of the buildings will be renovated in one way or another.”
Generations of families have come to stay at the Greystone Inn throughout the years, and those who are making their plans to come back once the doors are open again will notice changes throughout the property that have brought the home back to life.
“You’ll notice the warm feeling that you get when you arrive,” Ellis said. “You’ll also notice that we have opened up the living rooms and common areas to be more like what it was when Lucy Armstrong owned it. It is more accessible and will flow more like Lucy intended when she built the home.”
One cannot help but notice all of the historical beauty that surrounds the Greystone Inn. From the exterior design and the original stone fireplaces to the shallow rise staircase (which allowed for women to easily walk the stairs in their long dresses), the original glass windows, the stone paths, the flower boxes outside the bedroom windows, and the stonework all around the property, it is evident that this elegant and grandiose home was designed just after the turn of the twentieth century. It’s historical charm is everywhere that you look and is becoming more evident as the home is coming back to life.
“From day one, we saw this magnificent property that had not been cared for in a very long time,” Ellis said. “All we wanted to do was breathe life back into her. Within hours of closing on the property, we began taking out the window air conditioners from all the rooms. We could instantly feel that she was starting to breathe again. We still find challenges everyday but can feel her smiling as we are getting things done to ensure that she will be around for another 100+ years.”
The Greystone Inn will have 30 guest rooms, a restaurant, meeting spaces, and a spa. Nearly every guest room will feature either a fireplace, a view of the lake, or a private deck.
From board retreats to family reunions, weekend getaways, and weddings, you’ll find the perfect place to stay and celebrate at the Greystone Inn year-round. Reservations are open now—please visit www.greystoneinn.com to bookyour stay on Lake Toxaway!
