Editor's Note: Having once visited this marina while cruising, prior to its restoration, it is exciting to see the transformation and rebirth of this glorious location. As a current resident of Norfolk, Virginia, it was interesting to note that River Forest Manor was originally comissioned by a former vice president of Norfolk and Southern Railroad.

There is a beautifully restored and sumptuously appointed waterfront escape in Belhaven, North Carolina that has been transformed. It brings the promise of enrichment to both the community and the lives of visitors, for generations to come.

An historic Southern landmark, the River Forest Manor and Marina was built more than a century ago and has now been exquisitely restored to its former glory. Perfectly poised on the coastal estuary of the Pamlico Sound, Pantego Creek and Pungo River, the grand Victorian mansion offers water views as far as the eye can see.

According to the manor's website, the building was commissioned in 1899 by John Aaron Wilkinson, president of the J.L. Roper Lumber Company and vice president of Norfolk and Southern Railroad, the waterfront mansion took more than five years to build. A private residence planned to host and entertain out-of-towners, it was constructed by talented tradesmen from throughout the state featuring detailed finishes and ornate ceilings with carved plasterwork and medallions sculpted by the same Italian craftsman who contributed to the intricate designs at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. 

Upon its completion in 1904, the mansion had carved oak mantels with decorative tile inlays around each of the home’s eleven fireplaces, Honduran mahogany wainscoting in the dining room, sparkling leaded glass windows, two bathrooms with oversized soaking tubs and glittering crystal chandeliers in nearly every room of the house. Mr. Wilkinson and his young New York bride lived in the grand estate for many years hosting decadent parties and rich events for family and friends and businessmen who were interested in the coastal area, the town, and the railroad.

Following Mr. Wilkinson’s death, the manor was sold to J.W. Hines of Rocky Mount in 1933 and then to Belhaven resident and hospitality industry veteran Axson Smith in 1947. Mr. Smith and his family appointed the vast property as the River Forest Manor & Marina and turned it into an inn with a full-service restaurant and bustling marina.

Under Mr. Smith’s ownership, the River Forest Manor & Marina flourished gaining the attention of national newspapers and magazines including the National Geographic. The Manor also attracted celebrities, politicos and wealthy stakeholders including American actor and dancer James Cagney, cartoonist Robert Ripley, businessman Harvey Firestone and British model Twiggy. The Marina became the must-visit stop along the Intracostal Waterway and a meeting place for boaters from all over the East Coast. The Smith Family owned the River Forest Manor & Marina until it closed in disrepair in 2011.

Once host to extravagant soirees with esteemed celebrity guests, the River Forest Manor & Marina is once again the perfect setting for life’s most important celebrations. Frankly, it would also be an ideal film location. If Downton Abby ever needs an American shoot, this is the place. It would also make for a superior, glossy magazine shoot or television series location.

"We've pursued the incredible opportunity of restoring and revitalizing the River Forest Manor & Marina," writes Kate Tillman Brown, CCIM, Commercial Properties, Inc. of Raleigh, North Carolina in an email to Waterway Guide. "A lot of vision, talent, and love has gone into this project and we (partners & I) are so excited to see the River Forest Manor & Marina and our small town featured on UNC Television's North Carolina Weekend." 

River Forest Manor & Marina is a boutique hotel, wedding, corporate retreat and event venue. However, the proprietors also offer hunting guides, fishing charters and an abundance of Southern charm. 

The manor offers an array of accommodations featuring private bathrooms and access. With nine spacious rooms in the Manor proper, three rooms in the Bungalow House, and a room on the second floor of the Marina House, wedding parties and guests will delight in the comfort and care the venue offers.

Tillman Brown concludes, "This has been a fun, challenging opportunity for me and I am excited to see how the reputation of the River Forest Manor & Marina will continue to grow and how it will help support our small town community."

 The River Forest Manor & Marina offers an array of accommodations featuring private bathrooms and access. With nine spacious rooms in the Manor proper, three rooms in the Bungalow House, and a room on the second floor of the Marina House, wedding parties and guests will delight in the comfort and care the venue offers.

Tillman Brown concludes, "This has been a fun, challenging opportunity for me and I am excited to see how the reputation of the River Forest Manor & Marina will continue to grow and how it will help support our small town community."