Graylyn
In 1925, spouses Nathalie Lyons Gray and Bowman Gray Sr. purchased the 87-acre estate from R. J. Reynolds with the plan of building "the home of their dreams." The land had formerly been corn fields and pasture for the Reynolda Estate, which is now referred to as the Reynolda Historic District. Bowman Gray Sr. served as chairman of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company at that time. They acquired the property not as a commercial venture but as a personal project for their family life in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The groundbreaking for the mansion took place on the 15th of January 1928, and as many as 136 people worked on the construction of the estate at one time. The mansion was built in the style of Norman architecture and contained approximately 60 rooms. At the time, it was second to George Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, as the largest private home in the state. Artisans and craftsmen came from all over the United States to build what became one of the largest private homes in North Carolina.
Nathalie Gray personally decorated the rooms of Graylyn, and the grounds and gardens were designed by Thomas Warren Sears. Joseph Barton Benson, an ironsmith from Philadelphia, created the ironwork throughout the property. 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." These features represented significant innovation for residential properties during that era.
On the 20th of June 1980, a fire started in the house during a performance on the lawn by the Winston-Salem Symphony. Nearly 7,000 people watched as the fire extensively damaged the interior of the house. The following day, James R. Scales, the president of Wake Forest University at the time, announced that Graylyn would be rebuilt and restored to its 1932 appearance. This decision came despite the
extensive damage visible to thousands of witnesses.
The restoration of the mansion and Bernard Cottage was completed in 1984 at a cost of $6,000,000. The project returned the property to its 1932 appearance after the devastating fire. Four years of work transformed the damaged structure back into a functional historic estate. This effort preserved the architectural integrity while updating systems for modern use.
Graylyn is currently used as a conference center and contains 85 guest
rooms and fifteen meeting rooms. Graylyn has five separate buildings for guest accommodations: the Manor House, the Mews, Bernard Cottage, Gardener's Cottage and the Bungalows. It is currently a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978 before these current operations began.
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Common questions
Who purchased the 87-acre estate that became Graylyn in 1925?
Spouses Nathalie Lyons Gray and Bowman Gray Sr. purchased the 87-acre estate from R. J. Reynolds in 1925 to build their dream home.
When did construction begin on the Graylyn mansion in North Carolina?
The groundbreaking for the mansion took place on the 15th of January 1928 with up to 136 people working on the construction at one time.
What caused the extensive damage to the interior of Graylyn in 1980?
A fire started in the house during a performance by the Winston-Salem Symphony on the lawn on the 20th of June 1980 which damaged the interior extensively.
How much did it cost to restore Graylyn after the 1980 fire?
The restoration of the mansion and Bernard Cottage was completed in 1984 at a total cost of $6,000,000 to return the property to its 1932 appearance.
Which organization listed Graylyn on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978?
Graylyn is currently a member of Historic Hotels of America and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 before current operations began.