EASTOVER, S.C. — A Richland County property dating back to 1795 has hit the real estate market with a $17.5 million asking price.
Sotheby's International Realty is handling the sale of the Goodwill Estate, a gated 735-acre, 7-parcel along the Wateree River off the Sumter Highway. The property consists of two Charleston-inspired estate homes overlooking a 35-acre lake and is surrounded by 3,600 acres of preservation land. Because of the proximity to the Wateree River, the estate features a combination of rich wetlands, hardwood forests, 45 acres of fields and meadows, 12 miles of trails and roads, and scenic Colonels Creek.
The estate was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and, over its 229-year history, has been home to a cotton, sweet potato, and corn plantation; tenant farmers; timber production; and a hunting and fishing preserve. The current owner, Larry Faulkenberry, purchased Goodwill Estate in the mid-1990s and has been caring for and restoring the plantation and its original outbuildings, including slave quarters.
Of the two existing modern homes, the 8,400-square-foot main home is furnished with custom pieces, antiques and artwork, while the 5,488-square-foot second home mirrors the main home's luxury. Together, the homes offer 16,481 square feet of living space with 14 bedrooms, 13 full baths and four partial paths.
Other property features include a private museum, an operational grist mill and sawmill, and remnants of its past as a retreat for PT Barnum's circus animals.
According to the Sotheby's listing, the property has been approved for a 22-lot community, providing "potential for expansion of conservation, presenting opportunities for both investors and homeowners alike."