Charlton Leland
Also known as: Goelet, Dr. E.B, House; Saluda Inn
Why it's listed
Built around 1896 on a wooded lot at the foot of Smith's Hill, this Saluda building began as a Queen Anne style home for Dr. Edward Buncombe Goelet, the town's first physician and druggist. In 1914 Louisa Leland acquired it and hired local builder Luther Thompson to add a large rear block, enclose porches and open it as an inn. Those changes, along with asphalt shingle siding added about 1946, gave the building its present Colonial Revival appearance, though original weatherboards, fireplaces, beaded board and other early features survive inside and out. Saluda grew as a summer resort after the railroad arrived, drawing families from the Carolina lowlands and farther south. The Charlton Leland was among the last of the large inns established there and outlasted its contemporaries, surviving the Depression and the rise of automobile tourism. Its role in that resort economy, between 1914 and 1956, is the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The property is eligible under Criterion A in the area of Entertainment/Recreation as an inn from Saluda's heyday as a railroad-fed summer resort in the early twentieth century. It was one of the last large inns established in the town and operated longer than its contemporaries. The period of significance covers its expansion in 1914 and its active operation as an inn through 1956.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000225, listed April 5, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 229 Greenville St., Saluda |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Listed | April 5, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000225 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Thompson, Luther - builder |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne; Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a hotel/inn (known as the Saluda Inn); the form lists current function as DOMESTIC/hotel. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 35.23347, -82.35132 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000225.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19720604
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.