Hillmont
Also known as: Armstrong-Moltz House
Why it's listed
Hillmont is a large grey-stained country house built on the highest point of a rocky knoll, surrounded on three sides by Lake Toxaway in Transylvania County, North Carolina. Lucy Camp Armstrong of Savannah, who bought land from the lake developer in 1912 and 1913, drew the plans herself and had the main block finished in 1915. She chose board and batten and weatherboard, stained to resemble tree lichen, with balconies, casement windows and stepped brackets that suggest Swiss chalets and Arts and Crafts design. A larger dining room, kitchen wing and, in 1932, a free-standing library were added. Mrs. Armstrong, later Mrs. Moltz, stayed on after the 1916 collapse of the Toxaway dam drained the lake and ended the resort's heyday. The house illustrates how wealthy southerners spent summers in the mountains, and it is valued for harmonizing with its setting. It now operates as the Greystone Inn, with original oak paneling intact.
Significance in brief: The house reflects the development of western North Carolina as a vacation and year-round retreat for the nation's wealthy during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is also significant as the result of a deliberate search for an architectural style that would harmonize with its rustic mountain setting, blending Swiss-influenced vernacular and Arts and Crafts elements with native materials.
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 86002871, listed October 16, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W side of Lake Toxaway 3 mi. N of US 64, Lake Toxaway |
|---|---|
| County | Transylvania County |
| Listed | October 16, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002871 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (the owner, Lucy Armstrong, stated she drew the plans herself) |
| Architectural style | Swiss-influenced vernacular with Arts and Crafts elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Opened in 1985 as the Greystone Inn, a resort hotel; the interior plan and detailing are described as remaining as in Mrs. Moltz's lifetime. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 35.14086, -82.95259 (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 86002871.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19986648
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.