Carolina Horse Farms and More

Our Equestrian Roots Run Deep from the Meadows to the Mountains... Our equestrian community’s roots run deep in the meadows and mountains of the Carolina foothills.  For nearly a century, the area has attracted equestrians of all persuasions, drawn here by the land and lifestyle that make this such a special place. Carter P. Brown (1893-1978) was one of the first equestrian “transplants” to put down roots here.  A Michigan hotelier and an amateur architect with a keen appreciation for the rustic charm of Appalachian folk architecture, Brown was responsible for creating many of the area’s most distinctive properties, including the Ellis Slater, Sr. home (now Still Point Farm) and Tootin’ Hill.  In 1918, he acquired a tuberculosis sanitarium that he transformed into the Pine Crest Inn, incorporating elements from local historic structures and adding stabling for 30 horses to accommodate his foxhunting friends.  Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the Pine Crest continues to operate as a lodging and dining establishment for local residents and visiting foxhunters, albeit without the equestrian facilities of the Carter Brown era.  Affectionately known as “the man who created Tryon,” Brown founded the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club (TRHC), an organization dedicated to promoting … [More...]