Staying at The Graylyn Estate | Eating With Erica

While visiting Winston-Salem, North Carolina, I stayed at The Graylyn Estate, and if you ever have the opportunity to visit Winston-Salem, this is where you must stay! This historic estate is extremely beautiful. During the 1920’s, several Americans left their city homes to reside in the countryside. Their money went further and the homes were larger than the city homes.

In 1925, Nathalie Lyons Gray purchased 87 acres of land and a cornfield from R.J. Reynolds, Inc. Nathalie and her husband, Bowman, set out to build the home of their dreams, thus, The Graylyn Estate having emerged as one of the largest private homes in North Carolina. With its 46,000 square feet of space, this home has remarkable interior styling and details which remain a hallmark of The Graylyn. The original property opened in 1932 and has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2016. With its 86 private guestrooms and 15 meeting rooms, this estate is considered to have one of the finest conference centers in America. Fun Fact: The Graylyn Estate has rare Louis XV paneling imported from France along with a 15th-century French carved doorway with custom ironwork which can both still be found in the estate today. I totally felt like a princess when I entered the property. Upon arriving, you will be assigned to a butler for the evening. When you visit, ask for Larry. He was simply the best. Throughout our visit, he shared the history of the Graylyn and several fun facts such as Oprah and Gerald Ford both having stayed at the Graylyn. This hotel is a timeless luxury, and anywhere Oprah can stay, I know it’s good enough for me. We stayed in a king room that was extremely cozy and inviting. And the brick in our room was the original brick from 1932.

I loved that our dinner was hosted in a room that was previously a women’s parlor room. It was private and intimate. We started our meal with a lobster mac and cheese, which was rich, cheesy, and full of fresh lobster meat. We, then, ordered our entrees: duck and chicken breast. The duck was succulent and flavorful, and the sauce was the perfect complement served with fresh asparagus and a buttery risotto. The chicken breast was tender which was served with garlic fingerling potatoes and asparagus.

After dinner, we were stuffed, which meant no dessert for us. We used our time after dinner to walk around the property and bask in the perfect summer evening because the weather was warm with a cool breeze. Surprisingly, the mosquitoes didn’t bother us. The next morning we went to the gym and rode bikes around the property because the estate provides complimentary bikes.

This estate is the ideal location for weddings, private events, and a couple’s getaway. When you visit The Graylyn, you are going to have a wonderful experience and you’re going to want to return again and again. Follow The Graylyn Estate on IG @thegraylynestate; website: http://graylyn.com