There’s a lot to like — a handsome brick exterior with a wide front porch, nearly 5,000 square feet of living space spread across three levels, a kitchen stocked with newer appliances. But all that feels secondary when you see the two-story-high wall of windows in the great room, a showstopper that looks out on a wooded backyard and the silver waters of the lake beyond.
“It really feels like you’re in a retreat,” said Keith Felker of Keller Williams Greenville Central, who is listing the four-bedroom home at 201 King Eider Way in Taylors for $1.35 million. “There’s an abundance of birds. The back part of the property makes you feel like you’re in a nature park.”
That’s the effect of living on Lake Robinson, an 800-acre reservoir on the South Tyger River in northern Greenville County. Operated by the Greer Commission of Public Works as a source of drinking water, Lake Robinson is renowned as an excellent location for boating and fishing, all with the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. Living on the lake allows residents to indulge in that setting every day.
“The lake offers a perfect balance of water-based recreation and natural beauty, with opportunities for small-craft boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and simple evenings by the water. Neighbors love the peace and quiet compared to more crowded areas,” said Lydia Johnson of Marchant Real Estate, who is listing the five-bedroom lakeside home at 200 Ballyhoo Court in Greer for $2.1 million.
“It’s located in the heart of Taylors and is minutes from Greer, Greenville for work, and shopping or dining,” she added. “There’s also a strong sense of community, with people invested in preserving the lake’s health and natural surroundings. It’s a lifestyle that feels both refreshing and sustainable — a place where the pace slows down, and every day feels a little more connected to nature.”
Wood floors and wrought iron
Created out of a need to produce more drinking water for Greer’s growing population, Lake John A. Robinson was started in 1981 and took two years to fill with water flowing down from the North Carolina mountains, according to the Greer CPW. At 201 King Eider Way, a backyard path easily connects the home to a lakeside dock where residents can fish, launch a kayak or just take in the scenery.
“The lake has been called a small jewel because of its abundance of fish,” Felker said, “and since it’s also used for the water supply in the area, it’s a very, very clean lake.”
Built in 2004 in the Hammond Pointe community, 201 King Eider Way features details like wood floors, decorative inlays and wrought iron balusters on a sweeping staircase. The main level primary suite boasts a walk-in closet with built-in drawers, and private deck access with lake views. The fully finished walk-out basement includes a living area, mini kitchen, bedroom with full bath, half bath and bar area.
“The way it’s set up, it’s a home that welcomes entertaining,” Felker said. “Downstairs could be an in-law or a teenager suite. It has a lot of pluses, whether for a family with children or with aging parents that might need to move in. And the community is very tight-knit. People really look out for each other.”
The home was recently outfitted with new appliances like a dual dishwasher, Felker added, and the roof and one of the HVAC units have been recently replaced. As for that dramatic wall of windows in the great room? “The owners are building another house,” Felker said, “and putting those same windows in their new home.”
Ceiling beams and a bed swing
Across Lake Robinson on the Greer side, 200 Ballyhoo Court is a 2016 build that sits on three parcels (which can be combined) totaling 11.22 acres. Located in the Blue Waters community, it features 12-foot ceilings, 100-year-old reclaimed beams, hardwood floors and custom cabinetry. Listed for $2.1 million, the 3,346-square-foot home also has an open-concept kitchen with a custom, built-in wine fridge and a large walk-in pantry.
“It’s an estate built for living well,” said Johnson, who is co-listing the home with Mikel-Ann Scott. “Nestled on over 11 acres of land, this home offers privacy, room to roam and breathtaking views with wooded expanses, natural creeks and access to Lake Robinson’s tranquil waters.”
The home’s primary suite features a cast iron clawfoot tub, an expansive tile shower and two custom closets with cedar plank ceilings. A screened porch flows into a backyard retreat with an outdoor kitchen, a hot tub, a pergola, a firepit with gas starter, custom exterior lighting and a cedar bed swing. The property is lakefront, and while a dock is not permitted, the current owners have enjoyed easy access for kayaks and small boats.
“What sets this home apart is how it combines luxury and serenity,” Johnson said. “It has the kinds of details that make daily life feel special — like light in the rooms, morning sun and evening vistas — with the peace and seclusion you only get from being tucked into acreage by the lake. This is living where you wake up and feel like you’re on vacation, but are also close enough to the things and people you care about.”
And since Greer CPW regulations limit boat engines on Lake Robinson to 10 horsepower and prohibit personal watercrafts, there’s little to disturb that sense of tranquility.
“It’s not noisy,” Felker said. “It has a very serene feel.”