The Evolution Of The Moltz Mansion
If you missed them, catch up on the early years of The Greystone Inn, when George and Lucy Camp Armstrong first purchased land to build the mansion originally known as Hillmont, in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of our feature series.
With the passing of Carl Moltz in 1961 and the restoration of Lake Toxaway well underway, local matriarch Lucy Armstrong Moltz remained alone in what was then known as the Moltz Mansion (formerly Hillmont) for only a few short more years.
The Toxaway Company, a partnership of several South Carolina businessmen, had been operating their sales office from a small building that overlooked the ongoing development, allowing them to both supervise the work activity and be available to potential buyers.
In the photo at left, the original sales office overlooks work taking place to restore Lake Toxaway in the winter of 1960-61. At right, the sales office sports an “Agent On Duty” sign the following summer.
In 1963, when Mrs. Moltz purchased a smaller, more manageable residence directly across the lake (dubbed Robin Hill; later redeveloped as today’s Toxaway Shores), she approached the partners with an offer to purchase her beloved original property.
Heinitsh and Boyd quickly agreed, recognizing the value of the mansion as a more upscale sales office, where potential buyers could even be offered an overnight stay while they investigated a potential new homesite. The partners also envisioned its eventual use as a country club to complement the golf course being built nearby.
L-R: Two images of the Moltz Mansion and the original stable house. Photos courtesy of the Rowell Bosse NC Room, Transylvania County Library.
Excerpt from a Transylvania Times special edition about the revival of Lake Toxaway, July 29, 1965.
In short order, Lucy Armstrong’s stables were converted into a golf pro shop, and the property became the de facto “country club” for the next several decades — eventually also offering pool, croquet, and tennis facilities. Dining facilities were also added to the second floor, with a large wrap-around porch offering spectacular lake views.
In 1976 the property was sold to Peter Battista, who continued to operate the mansion as a Clubhouse. According to the Transylvania Times[1], however, some Lake Toxaxway property owners had concerns that it was falling into disrepair under this new ownership.
The lake revival and development continued throughout this timeframe as well. But it wasn’t until the early ’80’s, when a new clubhouse was built up the hill, that things would change yet again for the old Moltz Mansion.
This story continues in Part 5, here.
[1] “The Moltz Mansion May Be Razed To Make Room for Condos”, The Transylvania Times, August 9, 1982 (courtesy of Rowell Bosse NC Room at Transylvania County Library)
