Our Story

In 1995, Mary and Roger found a sprawling piece of land that would fulfill their dream of building a secluded retreat where guests could rest and recharge their passions for their own creativity, individuality, and relationships. The Wolters purchased roughly 200 acres and cleared 34 of those to construct that very retreat which would become known as The Red Horse Inn.  As the Wolters began clearing the land, they discovered just how magnificent the views actually were; providing sweeping views of Blue Ridge Mountains’ foothills.  With the help of their two sons, Christian and Ben, the Wolters started their project by first constructing the cottages.  With six cottages total, five have full kitchens and three also enjoy a hot tub on private decks. One of the cottages, The Stables, is a loft with a partial kitchen over the barn where Mary’s horse, Secret, is kept.  All 12 accommodations have gas fireplaces, perfect to enjoy during the colder months.  Want to bring Fido along with you? No problem! Both, The Stables and The Huntbox cottages are pet-friendly. 

Welcoming their first guests in the spring of 1996, two cottages were opened. The Wolters implemented feedback and continued to meticulously design and construct the Inn.  Next, they built the main residence of the Inn followed by the 6 guest rooms at the main quarters.  Each room has a private bathroom and a “kitchen in the closet,” with two of the rooms enjoying a private balcony and one having its own terrace.

Over the 21 years that Mary and Roger have spent listening to, and implementing, their guests' feedback, The Red Horse Inn has earned many awards and recognitions, including Travel & Leisure, "One of America's Most Romantic Inns," Yahoo.com, "2015 Most Romantic Getaway in SC," Inn Traveler Magazine, "Best Honeymoon or Anniversary Getaway," BedAndBreakfast.com, "Top 25 Undiscovered Incredibly Romantic Inns," WhereToElope.com, "Best Of," American Historic Inns and iLoveInns.com, "Top 10 Romantic Inns," Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence Award for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, as well as the recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award every year since 2006.

Mary and Roger have obviously placed their signature on bringing tourism to South Carolina’s upstate region and in particular, to the Landrum, SC and Tryon, NC areas.  The Inn is located 45 minutes to downtown Greenville, SC, and 1 hour to downtown Asheville, NC.  It’s also located about 30 minutes from the Tryon International Equestrian Center, where the World Equestrian Games will be hosted in September 2018.

After over two decades, Mary and Roger have decided to embark on their next adventure in retirement.  They are so pleased that their son, Christian, has decided to take over the family’s business. Christian graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in psychology and he received his master's degree in human resources development and management. After college, he worked at SC’s renowned Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, SC, as well as at the world-class, Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, VT. He returned to Landrum, SC to work at his family's inn and has been helping manage it for several years.

Bringing a fresh perspective with his experience in the hospitality industry, Christian is the youngest innkeeper in SC and has some pretty big ideas for the Inn's future. Already, he has built a wine bar that is open not only to his guests but to the public as well. The wine list hosts a variety of wines that will impress even the most discerning wine connoisseur. Delectable cheese and olive plates will curb appetites and a nice variety of local craft and commercial beers are also served.  The wine bar is open Friday through Sunday, 4:00 pm-9:00 pm, for anyone to come to sit and gaze out at the mountains from the terrace.  Dogs are welcome too! 

Located in horse country, Mary and Roger were also two of the founding members of the Gowensville Equestrian Neighborhood Trail System (GENTS), which is open to members who have property on the trail system or who board their horse on such a property. Frequently, equestrians are seen riding through the Inn's roughly 10 miles of trails. These trails are also for guests (including furry guests) of the Inn to enjoy.  Christian loves the outdoors and enjoys sharing the trails with others by way of trail runs and biking events.  

Come and discover, or rediscover The Red Horse Inn.  You’ll find an incredibly quaint but grand Inn that encourages serenity, wellness, spirituality, and romance.  Take advantage of being disconnected from daily life, walk the trails, enjoy the wine, and reconnect with yourself or a loved one.