The Greystone Inn: The Lovelace Years
If you missed them, catch up on the early years of The Greystone Inn in our extended blog series. Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 cover its early years as a grand private home; in Part 4, the mansion undergoes a stint as the Lake Toxaway Country Club; and then in Part 5, it opens as the Greystone Inn under its original owners, Tim and Boo Boo Lovelace.
Tim and Boo Boo Lovelace, in partnership with the Lake Toxaway Company, invested not only significant dollars (according to some estimates, up to $5M refurbishing the 16,000-square-foot home and furnishing it with antiques and period reproductions[1]), but perhaps more importantly, much of themselves during the decades they operated the inn.
According to Clark Lovelace, guests during his parent’s management most often remarked on two elements of their stays:
- Tim and Boo Boo officiating at afternoon high tea on the front porch
- Tim acting as captain of the daily cruise on a custom-crafted mahogany electric boat, the Miss Lucy
The charm of both of these events was reflected in a short piece in a 2003 book by author Karol Ladd, below:
Boo Boo and Tim Lovelace at Lake Toxaway.
The Greystone’s sun porch and the much-heralded Miss Lucy.
The Inn’s plush accommodations were described in a travel guidebook of the time:[2]
The welcoming lobby fireplace at the Greystone Inn. Photo by Patrick Heagney.
“The Presidential Suite, created from the mansion’s former library, is the ultimate in luxury. The king-size bed, set in front of a wall of windows overlooking the lake, is dwarfed by the expanse of this enormous room, which has a twenty-five-foot ceiling with exposed oak beams, a massive stone fireplace, and matching upholstered chintz-covered chaise longue, couch, easy chairs and draperies. There is a double marble Jacuzzi and a separate room with a full bath. The old library’s magazine room, which you reach by climbing a set of circular stairs, is now a sleeping loft with two twin beds.
In the mansion, guests can choose between standard-size rooms with queen beds; deluxe larger rooms with a queen, king or two full beds; and the more spacious luxury rooms, some of which have balconies, oversize Jacuzzis, and outstanding views. You can’t go wrong with any of the rooms; all have high-quality furnishings and fabrics, and even the smaller rooms have access to all common rooms and facilities.”
The 2001 issue of LAKE TOXAWAY Magazine commented that “…numerous awards confirm that the Lovelaces, with no prior experience in the hospitality business, are doing something extraordinary.” Two of those awards are particularly notable:
1 – The 1986 designation on the National Register of Historic Places, following an extensive application process showcasing the massive refurbishment completed by the partnership
2 – Receipt of the coveted AAA Four-Diamond Award (the 1986 award was the first made to a country inn in North Carolina — and then it was awarded each consecutive year of Lovelace family management!)
Clark Lovelace started at the Inn at age 12 as a junior bellman, two years after his parents opened the doors. He relates, somewhat wryly, that “Dad used to pay me out of his wallet on the way home.” He worked summers at the Inn through college, then moved on to continue his career in hospitality.
But in 2003, as his parents neared retirement, Clark returned to manage the Greystone. Two years later Tim sold out his operational share of the investment to Reg Heinitsh Jr., who asked Clark to stay on in his management role.
It was clear that Clark had inherited his parents’ ease in the hospitality industry. An Our State Magazine feature in 2007 explores a Greystone holiday tradition passed from father to son (highlighted in our Winter Quill newsletter); and these remarks from a 2012 interview[3] show Clark continued his parent’s standards of excellence:
“Among his current duties is piloting the 26-passenger “Miss Lucy” Hacker Craft each evening as guests sip champagne and listen to his historical tales about inn and lake community. “It’s a favorite part of my job,” he admits with a broad smile.
The relaxed mood and friendly tone we found onboard the champagne cruise was consistent throughout the country inn. From the front desk to the dining room, service was exceptional.”
Clark Lovelace at the helm of Miss Lucy, with guests enjoying a champagne toast. From an Our State Magazine 2013 photo essay.
Toward the end of 2013, Reg Heinitsh Jr announced that he and Natural Retreats, a worldwide leisure travel company, were entering into an operating agreement for the Greystone Inn. [4] In addition, Natural Retreats had an option to purchase and/or improve the property.
The business model of this company was to act as property managers, specializing in luxury properties and vacation rentals in unique spots. While that model worked quite well in many of its existing locations, it was eventually deemed not workable for the Greystone property. After approximately 18 months of involvement, Natural Retreats decided to close the Inn, and ownership reverted back to Reg Jr.
Clark Lovelace tells stories in a 2012 video developed for Explore Brevard.
In 2015, the Lovelace family sold their portion of the business to the Lake Toxaway Company, and the Inn was closed.
Many in the area wondered whether this meant the end of the old mansion. Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long to learn that it was simply another new beginning.
Read more here.
SOURCES:
[1] Greystone Inn Marks 25 Years Of Hospitality, Transylvania Times, 2010
[2] The Discerning Traveler’s Guide to Romantic Hideaways: The Middle Atlantic States, David and Linda Glickstein
[3] https://getawaysforgrownups.com/the-greystone-inn/
[4] New Company To Manage Greystone Inn, Transylvania Times, December 18, 2013
