The Historic Toxaway Foundation, established as a nonprofit in 2017, has a simple but meaningful mission: “to preserve the past while preparing for the future of this storied community.”
And if there’s one thing Lake Toxaway has plenty of, it’s history, rich, colorful, and remarkably resilient.
To bring those stories to life, the Foundation, together with Board member John Nichols and Dan Johnson, a resident of Lake Toxaway, created a series of documentaries highlighting the area’s most fascinating chapters. These films are shared with the community as “Sunday Night Stories,” and they’re more than just screenings, they’re gatherings, complete with food, drinks, and plenty of conversation, all centered around a shared appreciation for local heritage.
The series kicked off with Turn of the Century Toxaway, a look back at the region’s grand resort era from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. It tells the story of the original dam that created Lake Toxaway and the impressive Toxaway Inn, a five-story, 250-room showpiece that once welcomed notable guests like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.
The Greystone Inn
Traveling to and from the area was via a railroad which ran from Hendersonville, through Brevard, to the Lake Toxaway terminal, which is where the Grand Olde Station is today.
Progress met its match in 1916, when two back-to-back hurricanes destroyed the dam, drained the lake, and brought development to a halt. The devastation of those hurricanes could be compared to the recent impact of Hurricane Helene. Without the lake, the grand inn lost its purpose and was eventually torn down in 1945.
The 60s Rebirth of Lake Toxaway is the second in the series and begins when Reg Heinitsh Sr., along with a group of forward-thinking investors, purchased 9500 acres, rebuilt the dam, restored the lake, and ushered in a new era for the community. That original 9500-acre tract included what is now Burlingame.
Third in the series is The Greystone Inn: A Toxaway Living Legacy. Originally built in 1913 by Lucy Camp Armstrong Moltz and known as Hillmont, the estate has worn many hats over the decades. In 1984, Tim Lovelace purchased and revitalized the property, transforming it into The Greystone Inn, which opened in 1985. This beloved lakefront inn is currently owned and operated by the Berger family of New Orleans, LA, and Wellesley, MA.
And there’s more to come. The Foundation is planning a new edition of Sunday Night Stories for this season, which addresses the Toxaway, Sapphire, and Plateau area. Check with the Historic Toxaway Foundation’s website,
historictoxaway.org, for updates.
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