Have you ever experienced a time when things came together so smoothly you could not help but get the feeling it was meant to be? For Billy Sanders and Michael Griffith, owning the Reynolds Mansion Bed & Breakfast Inn was just such an experience. They were busy Chicago executives when they began entertaining the idea of running a bed and breakfast in the mountains where Michael grew up. Michael’s aunt, real estate agent Claudett Childs, went to work searching for the perfect property.

“She showed us four properties,” says Billy. “Three were absolutely perfect, beautifully maintained, turnkey businesses.” Reynolds Mansion was quite the opposite. “It was covered in Boston ivy, the porch had serious structural issues, the grounds were overgrown, and the interior was covered in peeling wallpaper,” recalls Michael.

Although they were looking for a turnkey business, when they saw the mansion they knew that this was the home for them. “The potential was incredible,” says Michael. “The other properties were beautiful but with this (the mansion), we could really make it our own.”

The seller, Helen Faber, was also instrumental in the transaction, saying Michael and Billy were the perfect people to assume the responsibility of caring for this local treasure. The two knew little of the home’s historic significance, but with the help of Helen they were quick studies.

Built in 1847 by Colonel Daniel Reynolds, a well-known and prosperous member of North Carolina society, the brick home originally encompassed 1,500 acres stretching from Beaver Lake to the top of Reynolds Mountain. “The bricks were actually made from clay dredged from the lake,” says Billy. The home stayed in the Reynolds family until the early 1970s, with its most famous residents being the parents of state Senator Robert Rice Reynolds. Original paintings, photos, and memorabilia of the Reynolds family fill the rooms and offer snapshots into the life of this influential family.

The home was built in the Federal style with two stories, a hip roof, and one porch along the front of the house. It underwent a thorough renovation in the early 1900s when then owner Natt Reynolds added a third floor, an attached kitchen, and second-story verandas. Helen and her husband Fred bought the home in 1977 and are credited with bringing the estate back to its original splendor—making updates while retaining its historical integrity. The couple also added the Carriage House and converted the former three-car garage into Cottage Suites. A peaceful courtyard connects both structures to the Mansion as well as to the 1920s pool.

“We are only stewards of this incredible history,” says Billy. “We really want the place to feel like a home.” Alongside portraits of the Reynolds family hang striking images of members of their own families. Many of the rooms are named in honor of loved ones who are a vital part of their own personal histories.

Visiting Reynolds Mansion feels like stop- ping by the house of an old friend. It is relaxed and welcoming, and the guests agree, “I felt like I was at home,” writes one. Another comments, “Home away from home.” Michael and Billy have found their niche and are obviously at home in the Reynolds Mansion.

Visit 100 Reynolds Heights, online at thereynoldsmansion.com, or call 828.258.1111.
(In Photo: Billy Sanders & Michael Griffith with Rhett & Scarlett)