1300 Lakeland Drive, Conway, SC 29526 : Property For Sale: $799,950

Property has a private inlet to the river with boat ramp, a playground, a pool with "engineered lumber" deck, two massive oak trees, a playhouse with phone and electricity, a 12'x24' barn, a fountain, a gated entry, two porch swings, an antique brick sidewalk, a serenity waterfall, a balcony overlooking the river and pool, and a second fenced play area with a playhouse. These are just the highlights of the outside! Owner is a SC Real Estate Broker.

Property Description

From the Horry Independent Newspaper


When does a house become more than roof and walls? When does a property become more than structures and landscaping? Somewhere between the digging of the foundation and the inevitable decay of time and elements, some houses become more than simply homes for their inhabitants; they become landmarks for the community. These homes give our community character in an increasingly “cookie cutter” age. If you take a drive, or better yet a walk, down Conway’s Lakeside Drive, Elm Street, Laurel Street, Park Avenue, Lakeland Drive, and the list goes on; you notice a mixture of larger and smaller, elaborate and modest homes, which give these neighborhoods what we in the South refer to as “charm”. The anchors for these neighborhoods are houses with names; The Wall House, The Biddle House, The Burroughs Mansion… well, you get the idea. These stately guardians of their family’s history are noted for an air of permanence and that they are rarely sold outside of the family. This is the story of one such home.

Lakeland Drive is at once Twain and Bill Gates. Tree lined and picturesque, its people blend twenty-first century technology with Southern warmth and style. The Paul/McDowell House at 1300 Lakeland Drive epitomizes this. Built by Larry Paul for his family in 1973, the house is designed to give the feel of a planter’s town estate. An avid fisherman, Mr. Paul added an inlet from the lake and a private boat ramp to go with the two huge oak trees that frame the front yard. Pee Dee brick from an old house that was being demolished comprise the sidewalk, front porch and hearths. The house contains floors constructed of boards sawed from the beams of an old building which once stood in the Lumberton, NC area. Even the pickets on the front porch are from the old Edmonson house, which stood in the Toddville community. The house from the outset integrated both the nostalgic and the modern. Mr. Paul’s daughter and her husband, Tiffaney and Gem McDowell, purchased the home in 1992 and have continually updated and improved it without sacrificing its original flavor.

Today, the grounds sport two playhouses. The “girls” playhouse has hardwood floors, a loft, lights, phone, a deck and a stained glass window. The “boys” playhouse is more rustic and manly. The 1.62 acre property boast a pool, a deck made of low maintenance hi-tech decking, a portico, a balcony, a serenity water garden and one of the prettiest river views anywhere. The balcony has a commanding view of the playground, the side yard, the pool, the boat ramp and the river. Sitting in the covered swing on the point, you forget that you are in town.

Walking up to the front door, you can almost hear the old brick whispering secrets of a bygone era to the azaleas lining the way. Two porch swings sway slightly in the breeze welcoming you home. The wood siding is warm and inviting, except it’s not wood, but Hardy Plank siding covered with “40 Year” Sherwin Williams paint. A state-of-the-art security system announces your entry through the front door. The foyer, formal living and formal dining room are pure Mark Twain, those old wood floors, a wood burning fireplace (the house has three), and dental details on the crown molding. These are complimented by the high grade Anderson windows and sliding French doors. Both kitchens (yes, I said both), the family room and the media room feature rich wood cabinetry custom made by Don’s Cabinets of Conway. Behind the garage is an attached suite designed for entertaining large gatherings or the in-laws. A screened porch beacons you to enjoy the quiet of the lake during the day and the symphony of crickets and frogs at night.

No, this type of home is not built for a market, it is built for the family who lives there. It shelters from storms, it bears witness to births and deaths, and it stands as a touchstone for the generations who gather at “home”. Not meant to be sold, houses like this rarely come on the market. Nevertheless, sometimes circumstances, or as in this case opportunity, necessitates a sale.

When does a house become more than roof and walls? I guess when the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. It is when generations of neighborhood children have played in the yard. It is when people who have passed hundreds of times notice the azaleas in bloom. Perhaps it is just when you can’t imagine that street without that home at that address.

For Sale

$799,950

MLS#: 912882