Inspiring boomers one adventure at a time. Can't tell if the thermostat works either. This week, one of my cousins, Betty Spangler Smith, contacted me with a consultation about our Virginia Harbour family. Why didn't they places for meetings like this when I was attending conferences? After her husband died, Nathalie Gray handed over the manor house to her sons and moved into the guest cottage with her new husband. Later she became the supervisor of all Special Education Classes in Forsyth County Public School System in Forsyth County, NC. In the 1970s, parts of Graylyn were used as off-campus student housing. Graylyn Estate. Graylyn Estate is a beautiful historic place filled with antique treasures from around the World. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. margin-left: 0; I had been in dorms my first two years, and it was a super opportunity.. Most believe the house is haunted by the ghost of Agnew Bahnson, who wasnt quite ready to leave at the time of his death. I remember the Dornoch Hotel very fondly. These accounts came to a head one night when the tavern keeper was confronted by a shadowy figure. } But today, Graylyn is more than a manor house; its known as Wake Forest Universitys Graylyn International Conference Center. The privilege of sleeping with history was an added bonus. In 1912, Gray moved his family to Winston to take up his new position of vice president and director of R. J. Reynolds, picked by Reynolds himself to head the companys finance division. For starters, there was once a rambling farmhouse that sat along one of the roads sharpest curves. Graylynreopened as a conference center in 1984. It is set on grounds designed by noted landscape architect Thomas Warren Sears. I am always very surprised to find certain paths to kinship, and I always wish my mother were still alive to share my discoveries. Years after Grays death, Graylyn the home, was donated to the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, where it served as an academic psychiatric hospital facility until 1959. #gallery-4008-3 .gallery-caption { The Grille Room is a great place to grab cocktails and enjoy the light fare menu. The Graylyn Estate Singularly Graylyn and Wonderfully Yours. The house was extraordinary, exquisite, she recalled. He heard what sounded like typing at the computer in the next office. Long before it became home to the Spring House Restaurant, this magnificent building was simply known as the Bahnson. But these werent the trinkets that you and I might bring home. For several years before a fire heavily damaged what is today Graylyn International Conference Center, the 1930s Norman Revival-style mansion was a womens dormitory. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Family owned and run we tend our four hectares of vines in Wilyabrup, the cradle of the Margaret River wine region. Make your special day a memory to last a lifetime at Graylyn. I saw her about 15 minutes later, Coe says, and she was as white as this sheet of paper. It was so unique, recalled Kate Murray (79). The estate features 22 rooms and 15 fireplaces spread among its seven levels. One night, as he rushed to close his business, he left a candle burning by stacks of money. a lot of the houses get in on the fun and hand out candy and dress up some of them even decorate the house one has a haunted garage. You can fish in two stocked lakes, ride the paddle boats, play on tennis courts, swim in the Aquatic Center, hike trails, ride horses, golf, tour gardens, and picnic in the shelters! 4. Built in 1932 as the residence for former Reynolds Tobacco president Bowman Gray, the 85-room estate occupies 55 acres along the picturesque Reynolda Mile, just minutes from downtown. Gralyn Estate's sought-after vintages are . (This story was originally published in 2015.). Graylyn emerged as the second-largest private home in North Carolina. He had a front-row seat to the renovations. $15.00. Kremser has been seen by many folks since at least 1899 when such lore is first recorded. On my visit, a steady stream of guests and neighbors make use of the winding driveway that borders the wide, sweeping lawn shaded with hardwood and magnolia trees. /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */. At home with Lynn and Barry Eisenbergs international art collection. Years later, in 1992, a woman was brutally murdered and tied to a tree near the house. That summer they were having some model classrooms for teacher training purposes. It was built in 1920 by Agnew H. Bahnson, a local industrialist who is best known for manufacturing and selling the Fries humidifier. Free in-room wired Internet is available to all guests, along with a garden and . I guess some people call it historic charm. Flowers had been ordered, deliveries were on their way to us, guest travel itineraries were finalized (and some underway!) Graylyn International Conference Center, built during the period 1927 - 1932, is located on a 55-acre property that offers guests a private estate of their own.Of the 55 acres, 26 are large open fields with tree groupings and tree-lined borders. The Grays returned to Graylyn with European architectural pieces such as fireplaces, mouldings and paneling, instructing the architect to make it fit. One can only image the challenge of bringing the Turkish mosque home that now serves as a small dining room in the manor house. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Surviving family members donated the home to Forsyth County, and it eventually became office space for the Public Library. John Korzen(81, JD 91), now an associate professor at the Wake Forest School of Law, lived in the pool apartment the year before and the year after the fire. /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */, #gallery-4008-3 { Thanks to the fame of 2007 movie ' Terowongan Casablanca', what was known as an urban legend becomes even more well-known by the people of Jakarta. The grand spiral staircase was also a neat place to go, from bottom to top and back. Today, Raliski is career development coordinator at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Graylyn Char-Broiled 8oz Burger. In the book Ghosts of the Triad, Spease claimed the spirits there are warm and welcoming, not malicious. Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, the Reynolds Tobacco Company and American Tobacco Companies were arch rivals, but tobacco still accounted for huge parts of our economy. I have friends who work in the Baptist Hospital there and some whove attended the esteemed Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Graylyn Estate. Police ID man killed in downtown shooting. Among their findings were disembodied voices, phantom footsteps, shifting furniture, and lights turning on and off. Hunter and Layne had a sun-drenched Fall wedding at the gorgeous Graylyn Estate in Winston Salem, NC. The Gray family moved into the Manor House in 1932. [5] The restoration of the mansion and Bernard Cottage was completed in 1984 at a cost of $6,000,000. With an incredible 55-acre historic estate, exquisite gardens, sprawling lawns, and overnight accommodations, Graylyn offers the ideal backdrop for weddings, celebrations, and more. #gallery-4008-2 { Yet he strode confidently down the avenue always in tune with his perfect B-flat toned chant: Call for Philip Morrrrriss! I can hear it now! A butler greets me on the steps of the stone manor house that was once the home of J.R. Reynolds Tobacco Company Chairman, Bowman Gray, Sr. and his wife, Nathalie Lyons Gray. Reviewing the Harbour family yesterday led me to a discovery that I had flirted with before, but had just never taken the time to explore in detail. On occasion, we were able to go down that main staircase to the first floor, which was like a spooky haunted house because no one lived there, said Melvin, head of the manuscripts and archives department at the University of Delaware Library. Arriving at Graylyn Estate is like stepping back in time to the days when tobacco reigned in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The estate served as an academic hospital facility until 1959. Its also supposedly the most haunted. It was . The elegant Graylyn Estate Dining Room is located in the Manor House and available by reservation. David Ross (82) recalls epic card games and dinners with German department faculty members in the apartment and the German House 500, an indoor bike race. It feels more like a country setting than the residential heart of Winston-Salem. Visitors can enjoy a romantic weekend in North Carolina in this private estate. [5] The estate was used as a psychiatric hospital from 1947 to 1959. Visit Website. But first, Winston-Salem officials are documenting its history. Sliced Turkey, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato and Bacon on Wheat Bread. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. She lived in the manor house in a large suite that had been subdivided into two bedrooms, with a luxurious bathroom and a balcony. #gallery-4008-3 img { Winston-Salem, NC 27106. They are a family that Ive only gotten to know on paper, but I knew that they took us back to Wales. Graylyn Estate was built in 1928, with the Gray family officially moving in . Those were exciting times, about 1952-9, the war was over, and we baby boomers were everywhere having fun! text-align: center; We liked to show off the marble fireplace and marble bathtub in our private bath. Robah apparently listened, as the occurrences in the girls home ceased from then on. From custom ironwork to hand-painted tile motifs and 17th-century oak paneling from France, Graylyn is testament to fine European craftsmanship. Gray's brother James Gray, Jr. would also become president of R.J. Reynolds. Graylyn is the perfect summer retreat. While we couldnt hope to list all of the local legends in one story, this sampling should be enough to keep you up a little later than usual at night. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. It's a place of North Carolina inspired luxury! The amenities and breakfast/dining experience were nothing to complain about. Graylyn was built by Bowman Gray Sr., chairman of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. In 1925, spouses Nathalie Lyons Gray and Bowman Gray Sr., chairman of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, purchased the 87 acre estate from R. J. Reynolds with the plan of building the home of their dreams.[5] The land had formerly been corn fields and pasture for the Reynolda Estate which is now referred to as the Reynolda Historic District. It was here that several violent and mysterious deaths occurred over the years. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.. By 1993, Graylyn had become an international conference center and stays that way today. Old building but unique and historical. To create what would become one of the largest and most lavish private homes in the state, the Grays employed the countrys preeminent craftsmen, including Joseph Barton Benson, a well-known ironsmith from Philadelphia, and Thomas Warren Sears, a noted landscape architect. In 1924, he was promoted to president of the company to succeed William Neal Reynolds, and in 1932 he became the chairman of the board of directors. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waters of the south west. You can enjoy a (possibly haunted) stay at the medieval Norman castle that was once a favorite hunting lodge of King John. LOL, thanks for sticking with me, and if you are family, tell me how you like being kin to the Reynolds or share any ol little thing youre little heart desires. } Most believe the activity is spearheaded by Jule Krner, whos simply trying to entertain his houseguests. Most Amazing Venue and Hotel We have stayed! Staff members have often reported hearing muffled conversation between a man and a woman, but no one is ever found. To this day, many people claim to feel a static-like charge in the air when they pass Robahs gravesometimes even a pull. Paranormal investigators have also noted that his spirit is still very active, cautioning would-be partiers against antagonizing him. Send your story to kingkm@wfu. margin: auto; This would have been the summer of 1960, so just after they stopped housing psychiatric patients there. (Photo courtesy of Kate Murray), Students also lived in a modern apartment with three bedrooms, a living room and kitchen above the empty indoor pool. $14.00. . Visitors to Graylyn may feel as though theyre being transported to medieval Europe as they step through the doorway of the manor house, and in a way, they are. ft. of private indoor and outdoor event space, Complimentary transportation to/from Reynolda Village. [7], Graylyn is currently used as a conference center and contains 85 guest rooms and 15 meeting rooms. Basically we had wonderful time at Graylyn.Note: actual date of travel was: Mar 2010. . The Graylyn Estate. Katherine would pour her heart and soul into running the estate until her own death in 1924. Graylyn, circa 1979. In 1928, Bowman and Nathalie Gray set out to build Graylyn. Stepping inside, I think to myself, "if only . Do the beautiful grounds at Reynolda have a spooky side? Tobacco isnt even a product considered healthy anymore, certainly not important in our society these days. Senior Editor Kerry M. King (85) got his start writing about Wake Forest as sports editor and editor of the Old Gold & Black. And Oprah Winfrey made Graylyn her headquarters when visiting Maya Angelou. The Manor House features countless architectural and decorative treasures found by Bowman and Nathalie Gray on their frequent travels, including Egyptian tapestries,ornate paneling from a French chateau, and a set of intricately carved wood panels from Damascus that is believed to be the oldest in the world. Whether you're staying at the hotel or just want to visit for the day, anyone can call ahead and schedule a butler-guided tour for an in-depth look at the property and its history. 1. Jule Krner's house full of bizarre architectural details. Rebecca Johnson Melvin (79) lived in three different places on the Graylyn estate: in the manor house; in the stone tower in the Mews complex; and in Bernard Cottage, when it was used as the French house. The estate features 22 rooms and 15 fireplaces spread among its seven levels. local guests) in certain countries, if Estimated Taxes and Fees show zero, then any taxes and fees are already included in the Price Per Night, and Total Before Taxes and Fees will be the same as Total. Facebook / Graylyn Estate. So the next evening, after beckoning Robah to follow them to the car, the couple drove to the cemetery, walked to the grave, and told Robah he was home. Many visitors think so. A library, a terrace, and tour/ticket assistance are also featured at the luxury . (Photo courtesy of Kate Murray). He had to mortgage his home and business to the church in order to pay the debt. 4.5-star luxury hotel in a shopping district, rejuvenated in 2017. I was actually thrilled to get to observe, and she gave me the run of that incredible mansion, because there was hardly another soul around. Until 1959, the estate operated as an academic psychiatric hospital facility. Construction of the Graylyn Estate included some 136 workers at any given time. [6] The Grays then employed artisans and craftsmen from all over the United States to build what was one of the largest private homes in North Carolina. [3] It is currently a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.[4]. About 60 students had planned to live at Graylyn that year. What we love more was the nature outside the hotel building. The museum hosts tours in October that detail the ghost stories and folklore of Old Salem. Graylyn Estate Dining is now available for small groups. For over 80 years, Graylyn Estate has been a landmark in Winston-Salem, transitioning from the Grays' personal residence to a historical center open to the public. Your Journey Awaits. Famous visitors to the estate include Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush Sr. In 1925, Nathalie Lyons Gray purchased eighty-seven acres of pasture land and cornfields from R.J. Reynolds, Inc. Nathalie and . Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). On average, employees at The Graylyn Estate stay with the company for 2.9 years. text-align: center; Each room within the Manor House tells a unique story of the globe-trotting Gray family, from the Persian Card Room to the whimsical Atlantis Room. Terowongan Casablanca one of the most haunted locations in Jakarta. Brother Blum passed away in 1854 at the age of 70 and is buried in nearby Gods Acre. 1900 Reynolda Road. For reservations, please call 800-472-9596 or click here. We acknowledge the Wadandi people as the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which we live and work. Some furnishings were left in the library, so I remember sneaking in there from time to time as a quiet place to study. In the day, the Casablanca underpass is where . In October, Graylyn renovated the Gardeners Cottage, thereby making available four additional guest rooms. Other supernatural stories involve a cemetery and an old bridge near the house. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. Graylyn Estate, or Graylin, is a historic estate located in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. 1915: Standing from left: Walter and Will Neal; Sitting from left: R.J.Richard Joshua, Major Abram,, and Harbour. Legend also has it that if you stopped on the bridge and whistled Dixie that your car wouldnt start back up. width: 33%; Two Things: Victim's family not surprised by no show; hospital wars in Greensboro and money well spent, Rural Hall officials violated state law, audit finds. Selleg17/cc by-sa 4.0. Less than four feet tall, maybe thats why I loved him, he was my size as a child. While Nathalie Gray took inspiration from the Normans (as well as bits of Italian Renaissance and classical French styles), Graylyns style as a whole can best be described as English. [6] The amenities of the house were considered very lavish at the time, and its original telephone system and floodlight system "were at the cutting end of technology for the 1930s. You have permission to edit this article. Springfest 78 on the front lawn at Graylyn. The next day, President James Ralph Scales promised that the house would be rebuilt. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Kremser was a man of slight stature who hadnt been suited to a number of occupations assigned him, but, in 1786, he seemed to have found his niche as the communitys shoemaker. Henry Cary who designed the Colonial Capital Building in Williamsburg, https://www.flickr.com/photos/wakethesun/galleries/72157625359508078/#photo_2898489575. Book The Graylyn Estate, Winston Salem on Tripadvisor: See 1,408 traveler reviews, 386 candid photos, and great deals for The Graylyn Estate, ranked #1 of 42 hotels in Winston Salem and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Gordon Gray purchased the estate from the medical school and, on the same day, donated Graylyn to Wake Forest University. It was built in 1878 along Kernersvilles Main Street by furniture-maker Jule Krner. [6], The ironwork throughout the property was designed by Joseph Barton Benson, an ironsmith from Philadelphia. Graylyn exemplifies this shift from old to new by blending stone walls, arches, and medieval tapestries seamlessly with the dark woods and masculine grandeur of the more contemporary Georgian Revival style. The following day, one of the girls in the group began experiencing strange things at home. float: left; Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple . A unique blend of Old World charm and personalized service with innovative technology, the estate's opulent interiors, and 55 acres of lush grounds create a memorable experience for guests. Then-Provost Edwin G. Wilson (43) and then-Dean of the College Tom Mullen sometimes joined him for the late-nightcandle tours. Reynolda is now owned by Wake Forest, serving as an art museum and historical attraction. Built in the Norman Revival style, the Manor House featured steel and concrete construction with a veneer of fieldstone from local quarries. Today, the Graylyn Estate is owned and operated by Wake Forest University and is Winston-Salem's only luxury boutique hotel and conference center. #gallery-4008-4 .gallery-caption { The Graylyn Estate is excited to offer Tour Pour Du Jour. Read our DISCLOSURE, Arriving at Graylyn Estate is like stepping back in time to the days when tobacco reigned in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. *Children 4 and under are free. The Graylyn is a regal, unique attraction that is perfect for a weekend away or celebrating special occasions. 2.5ba. Between 1927 and 1932, he and his wife oversaw the construction of Graylyn, their 87-acre (350,000 m2) estate in the countryside surrounding Winston, across from R.J. Reynolds' estate Reynolda House. (Photo courtesy of Kate Murray). They have two furry children, Shetland sheepdogs Brady and Dexter. In 1946 Mrs. Gray and her sons gave the estate to the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, of Wake Forest University. The room was very nice. Whether this is true or not is hard to say, as the bridge was replaced by a culvert several years ago. That has happened to me several times now in my genealogical journey. Over the years, the brothers began attributing anything odd that happened to Kremser. They were convinced that Maleficent was up there somewhere, he said. Lawang Sewu, Semarang - rumored site of atrocities during WW2. Graylyn offers guests a private estate of their very own. 7,977 were here. [9] In the following years, the estate was used for multiple purposes including university programs and community service. Countless people claim that headlights have suddenly appeared behind them as they drove along the road. What a rush it was to a young child! It is 2 1/2 stories and is faced with yellow Randolph County stone. float: left; We stayed during visit to Ansel Adams exhibit at nearby Reynolda museum and former home of RY Reynolds. The food for dinner and breakfast is 5 star. Graylyn Roasted Turkey Sandwich. Family owned and run we tend our four hectares of vines in Wilyabrup, the cradle of the Margaret River wine region. It is considered to be one of the finest conference centers in the U.S. 2023 Atlas Obscura. While the road is shrouded in urban legends, there are a few things we know for sure. It was the family residence for Bowman Gray Sr., the son of the founder of Wachovia Bank. Associated with the house are a number of contributing outbuildings including a garage-guest house and farm complex. Karen Beasley Raliski (80, P 07, 13) lived in a guest bedroom on the second floor her sophomore year. There was a sense of closeness that you didnt get in the dormitory, she said. In 1979, the main house hosted the Wake Forest University German House. There is an underground tunnel connecting the main house to the large guest house (the French House). 800.472.9596. } While the home has a long history of hauntings, it took a 2009 report to officially put it on the paranormal map. Located just minutes from downtown Winston-Salem, Graylyn was once the country estate of Bowman and Nathalie Gray, who built the Norman Revival-style Manor House in the late 1920s. Outdoor pool in use in summer, lots of history to read and a great place to relax. While some haunting stories are generations old, those of the Blum House are relatively new. Now, a lot of you are possibly wondering why this is such a big deal to me. I was sure it was haunted! The lights, the noise, the music, the balloons, the clowns and of course..Joe Camel of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and the most thrilling to me, little Johnny Philip Morris, whom I now know as an adult actor with dwarfism whose real name, was John Louis Roventini. Cleveland Avenue Homes is being torn down. Speaking of history, Graylyns butler tour offers a perspective on the home thats worth experiencing. While the Bahnson House downtown Winston-Salem is now home to the Spring House Restaurant, it can't shake it's haunted past. It's free! This thing that makes it an outstanding hotel is the staff. We will give you a look into the family's rich history, and even let you in on some of the mysteries that lie beneath the ground and . Even in 1988, it was old, but it had remarkable character and was known to be haunted. Wines can be ordered from Cellar Door or online and delivered worldwide.
