In 1995, on their 21st wedding
anniversary, Roger Wolters gave his wife, Mary, a string of
Wal-Mart pearls and a bulldozer. On that day, they had closed
the deal on their new 190-acre property in the heart of horse
country, Landrum, South Carolina. Mary, a 45-minute lesson in
operating instruction from Roger under her belt, broke dirt with
her mean machine. The couple had pushed (pun intended) into
their lifelong dream head on. Later, Roger following in his
wife’s footsteps, left the corporate life behind and joined her
to build the Red Horse Inn.
“Roger and I really, really,
literally built this place ourselves; our hands, our blood, our
sweat, our tears,” Mary recalls.
The arduous process, shared with
their sons, Benjamin and Christian, paid off. The inn was able
to accommodate vacationers nine months after its development
began. Since then, travel experts have rated the inn, a popular
wedding venue, as one of the top romantic getaways in the United
States and Canada.
Guests as well have recognized the
inn with scores of kudos. “Nothing short of amazing….” “I am in
awe of what the two of you have built here….” are but a couple
of examples.
The innkeepers could not have
unearthed (another pun intended!) a better location, 30 minutes
away from Greenville and Spartanburg, just off Cherokee
Foothills Scenic Highway (SC 11). Day-trippers can enjoy some 50
waterfalls, nine South Carolina State Parks and two championship
golf courses. Panoramic views from every angle of the Blue Ridge
Mountains follow visitors whether they are inside or outside the
storybook house, a property laced with pastures, horses and
handsome rock walls also created by the Wolters. Lovers discover
special hideaways beneath the vine-draped arbor patio and in the
garden-scented courtyard with a Japanese koi pond under a
cascading fountain.
As breathtaking as the natural
scenery, the interior showcases Roger’s exceptional woodworking
talent. Mary’s eye for design helped the inn achieve an award
for décor from Inn’s Extraordinaire. In the main inn, complete
with conference center and dining room, out of the six
luxurious, spacious guestroom suites, the Dovecote and the Gable
Bedroom boast balconies while the East Bedroom has its own
flagstone terrace. Whether accented with honeyed-wood trim or
interesting ceiling angles, the inn’s individually themed-styled
accommodations have a host of modern amenities, including
television, DVD players, wireless Internet, fireplaces and
whirlpool baths.
The Wolters tailored the six
cathedral-ceilinged Victorian cottages, featuring a kitchen,
living room with fireplace, to offer privacy. While most afford
whirlpool tubs, all provide relaxing outdoor sitting areas.
Couples delight in the two-person jetted spa hot tub on the
decks (imagine the stargazing opportunities) of the Springhouse
and Hayloft Cottages. Like that of the accommodations at the
inn, visitors will find the fine touches irresistible. After
all, how many vacationers can say that they snuggled into a
comfy bed only to read the inspiring writing of love and romance
inscribed on the parchment-like walls above…they can, if they
have spent a night at the Grainary Cottage. Travelers who cannot
bear the thought of leaving their canine “baby” at home, too,
have the best available luxury pet-friendly rental available in
the area at the Huntbox Cottage.
Regardless of where they stay, the
most enticing trait among so many, however, is that lovebirds
need not leave their nest in the morning. Conveniently, they
will find Mary’s gourmet breakfast known for its fresh pastries
and flavorful egg dishes for, what Mary calls, “a
breakfast-in-bed experience.” In fact, after popular demand, the
innkeepers built kitchen closets with microwaves and
refrigerators in the inn’s guestrooms.
“Our guests just wanted to go at
their own pace. They wanted to have together time. We are not
very typical of the bed and breakfast. Unlike a lot of bed and
breakfasts, (where guests) look forward to seeing other people
and meeting other people, my guests hate it. They don’t come to
me for that reason. They come to me for together time and alone
time. They don’t even come to see us,” Mary says, laughing. Of
course, if couples do want to partake in socializing, the
elegant dining room serves just such an occasion.
The innkeepers named the inn in
honor of Winsted, a red horse from Mary’s childhood. “He was
very personable. He was one of those enchanting horses. Some
animals are a cut above other animals. He was able to lead other
horses in what I would call dangerous situations; horses have
certain fears naturally. Winsted would just do what I asked him
to do so he would give courage to other horses around him,” Mary
recollects.
The idea brings us back to a couple
named Mary and Roger, mavericks who had to muster up some darn
good courage themselves in order to change their lives
completely. Now they live happily ever after in a storybook
setting with lots of characters who arrive in a variety of
moods, but pretty much depart contented, uplifted and in
temperaments that can only unfold into happy endings of their
own.
Meeting
Facilities:
Breathtaking views of the
Blue Ridge Mountains create the perfect backdrop for your
corporate meeting.
The Main Inn offers two large rooms with generous glass doors
that flow onto a vine draped arbor patio. The expansive Blue
Ridge Mountains can be viewed from inside as well as under the
arbor and spacious patio. A garden filled courtyard with pond
and patio complete the restful atmosphere. In the winter, the
fireplace serves as a place to inspire or enchant.
The interior will
comfortably hold 12 guests for executive corporate events. Up to
eighteen can be accommodated for day meetings or if guests are
able to share overnight accommodations. The two large adjoining
rooms can be closed to create two smaller break-out rooms.
Wedding Facilities:
Choose from our beautiful interior or exterior
settings. Interior rooms
adjoin arbor and terrace areas and are decorated in soft beige and
white to accentuate the rolling green meadows and blue mountains.
Accolades:
Selected as "Best for
Decor" from Inns Extradinaire
Honored as "best Honeymoon/Anniversary Getaway" by Inn
Traveler...
"2008
Top 10 Romantic Inns" - American Historic Inns / iLoveinns.com
Named as one of the top 25 "Best Undiscovered Incredibly
Romantic Inns"
by BedAndBreakfast.com
Article in Southern
Living magazine.
Number of Function Rooms: 2
Largest Function Room (
sq. ft.): 20 by 30 feet
Banquet Capacity: 30
Theater Capacity: 30
Lodging Type:
Bed & Breakfast
Location: 30 Minutes from Greenville, South Carolina
Number of Guest Rooms: 12, Suites: 6
On Premise: Hiking, bird watching, fishing
Phone: 864-895-4968
Web Site:
www.theredhorseinn.com Email:
theredhorseinn@aol.com
Sales Contact: Mary
Wolters
The Red Horse Inn
310 N. Campbell Rd, Landrum, SC 29356
Phone: 864-895-4968
Web Site:
www.theredhorseinn.com
Email:
theredhorseinn@aol.com
