Goodwill Estate

At the edge of a quiet 35-acre lake, water spills over the stone dam of a historic mill — moving with the same rhythm it has held for generations. This land, set amidst 736 acres in South Carolina’s countryside, is one of the South’s most complete and intact historic landscapes. Goodwill Estate is a living estate of layered history, natural beauty, architectural grace, cultural memory and restorative peace.

Today, Goodwill is the heart of what was once a 7,465-acre plantation established in 1799 by Daniel Huger. The plantation utilized an innovative canal irrigation system, one of South Carolina’s earliest. The land later became home to the Heyward family, whose enslaved workers labor, skill, and presence shaped the landscape, and their lives remain a part of the story that continues to be honored here with dignity and historic interpretation.

Goodwill is not a place frozen in time — it is a place where history moves, like water.

At its height in the 19th century, Goodwill supported rice, cotton and diversified agriculture through use of the irrigation system. In the years following the Civil War, the property changed hands multiple times until 1888, when P.T. Barnum purchased the estate for his granddaughter. Circus animals wintered on the grounds, and the land shifted from plantation to sporting preserve. Later, the McMaster family expanded the millpond and built the 1910 hunting lodge.

In 1995, the current owners arrived only to “stay briefly.” Instead, they fell in love with the land. What followed was three decades of private restoration and stewardship.

- The 19th century cabins were carefully conserved for historical interpretation and education.

- The mill was restored with its original 1760 cast iron waterwheel and equipment intact.

- The Heyward House (c.1858) was revived with historically verified paint colors and curated artifacts.

- Trails, fields, and lake habitat were restored and managed with ecological sensitivity.

On a lakefront rise two Charleston-inspired estate homes designed for elegant, multigenerational living. The main residence, approximately 8,400 square feet, was built with hand-molded Old Carolina brick, a sweeping custom curved staircase, and an antique French crystal chandelier as its centerpiece. The second residence, approximately 5,500 square feet also, with an elevator, offers refined comfort: a potential use for scholars, artist-in-residence, or foundation programing.

Both homes overlook a 35-acre pristine lake, parts of the shoreline a verdant oasis of lush foliage and towering trees. Upon closer inspection, the area reveals its hidden treasure, an egret rookery, a bustling sanctuary for these resplendent white birds. The morning sun awakes a metropolis of avian life evoking a sense of tranquility and a feeling of peace and harmony that can only be found in the heart of nature.

Goodwill Estate is a 736-acre gated haven unencumbered by any conservation easements. Amid sprawling greenery and majestic pines, the estate evokes a sense of serenity and grandeur.

Surrounded by the 3,600 acre Wateree River Heritage Preserve Wildlife Management Area, a vast perimeter of preserved land, ensures unparalleled privacy and access to outdoor and native wildlife opportunities.

Goodwill Estate is offered as a private owner sale through Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in association with Breedlove Farms Estates and Land. The sellers encourage the next caretakers to continue the voluntary commitment to preserve and provide educational access to the African American historic areas and the working mill.