Graylyn Estate
Dear friends of the Chateau Lumiere blog, welcome—and welcome back. If you’re new here, we’re so glad you’ve joined us. It’s been a while since we’ve reviewed an exciting hotel property, but today we have a true hidden gem to share.
A few months ago, we planned a weekend in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to see the Phil Wickham Song of the Saints tour. We needed a place to stay for Saturday evening, so we began our usual search of the local area—seeking out uncommon, one-of-a-kind properties that reflect the character of the destination. After just a few minutes, Mrs. Lumiere declared she had found a winner: a historic 1930s manor house set on 55 gorgeous acres. Ah yes—Graylyn Estate.
Bowman Gray, chairman of R. J. Reynolds, and his wife, Nathalie, broke ground on their sprawling manor in 1928. The Gray family moved into Graylyn in 1932; however, Bowman Gray passed away aboard a ship in 1935. Mrs. Gray later remarried and moved into another cottage on the estate, and the house was eventually donated to Wake Forest University. After a fire in 1980, Wake Forest fully restored the estate by 1984, returning it to its present-day grandeur. Graylyn was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2016—a distinction it maintains today.
We visited Graylyn on a rainy April weekend, yet its beauty remained on full display. We stayed in one of the Antique Guest Rooms, part of the original 13 bedrooms and sitting rooms once used by the Gray family. In just 18 hours, we stayed, dined, and experienced all the estate had to offer. In Chateau Lumiere tradition, grab your favorite drink (I’d suggest a bourbon for this one) and follow along as we revisit our fabulous stay.
Graylyn is located on Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem. The property is adjacent to Reynolda House, the former estate owned by R. J. Reynolds.
After passing by the gatehouse and a short drive from Reynolda Road, you are warmly welcomed by Graylyn’s grandeur and country house charm.
Graylyn’s front entrance is accessed by a semi-circle drive. Guests are welcomed to park in this area while you check into the hotel, and you may elect for valet parking or self-parking behind the manor house.
Another view of the house entrance with hotel staff ready to assist.
A view from inside the main entrance. The estate’s 55 beautiful acres are on full display from many vantage points within the manor house.
Our guest room was located on the second floor of the manor house. It was a treat to use this beautiful staircase to escape the busyness of the main floor.
The main passageway of the manor house’s second floor. The hotel’s suites and Antique Guest Rooms are accessed by this hallway.
The elegant entryway of our guest room. Fresh flowers were awaiting our arrival on this beautiful commode.
We opted for the ‘Romance Package’ which included a bottle of prosecco and chocolate covered strawberries.
The prosecco was…. prosecco. The strawberries were excellent — the chocolate was so good.
This guest room was a former sitting room of the Gray family. Old photos of the original layout were on display throughout the room.
The guest room keys were actual…keys!
Another view of our guest room through this beautiful Federal mirror above the mantel.
Handwritten notes from hotel staff are always welcomed. They instantly make you feel at home, and they set a very positive tone for your visit.
At check-in, the hostess mentioned a complimentary ice cream and coffee station located near our room. This was our first stop as we explored the house!
The ice cream station was located in the original butler’s pantry on the second floor, and it was used to serve the Gray family in their private quarters. The perfect ice cream was a difficult choice to make at that time; however, we did return before turning in later in the evening.
The above images are separate views of the manor house library. Think ‘tobacco, leather, and red wine.’
Next, we explored the basement area. First stop was the billiards room!
We didn’t get a chance to try it on this visit, but the Grille Room is located on Graylyn’s lower level. The bar menu and light fare looked excellent — we’ll definitely have to try this spot next time.
For dinner, we headed to Graylyn’s dining room. I tried the shrimp and grits while Mrs. Lumiere enjoyed the steak tips. For dessert, we tried the pistachio creme brulee. We also had breakfast here the following morning. Food photos to follow!
Granola French toast
Mrs. Lumiere’s quest for the perfect Paloma continues. This wasn’t it — although it was pretty.
After dinner, we explored the house a bit more. So many fun areas like this one throughout the house. This room was adjacent to the old indoor pool.
The following morning, we decided to go for a walk and explore the estate gardens.
Even the estate’s tennis court was beautiful!
It was very interesting to see cypress trees growing by the pond. I don’t recall ever seeing them this far north.
The last stop on our journey around Graylyn was the Mews — a farm complex on the estate that has been converted into unique guest accommodations.
This small garden behind the Mews was so pretty!
I can’t think of a better way to wrap up this tour than with an ice cream from the butler’s pantry. Thank you for joining us on this adventure. If you’re ever in Winston-Salem, we highly recommend a stay at Graylyn. It was full of history, beauty, and wonderful people.