Richland County estate sells to The Conservation Fund for $13.8M

Richland County’s Goodwill Estate, a 736-acre property of wetlands, pine forest, wildlife habitat, waterway and trails, sold for $13.8 million as part of a conservation acquisition.

The Midlands property will contribute to expanding the adjoining Wateree River Wildlife Habitat Preserve, according to a news release. It was purchased by The Conservation Fund who is working with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

“Goodwill Estate is a remarkable piece of South Carolina, with a history and natural landscape that has endured for more than two centuries. To see it permanently protected and incorporated into the surrounding conservation landscape is an extraordinary outcome for the property and the region,” Julie Breedlove, global real estate advisor for Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, said in the release.

Goodwill Estate owners Larry and Jerry Faulkenberg were also offered a price without conservation easements to turn it into a subdivision of 22 lots prior to The Conservation Fund.

The estate was established in 1795 by Daniel Huger II and is part of the National Register of Historic Places. It began being used for agriculture, followed by milling operations, and eventually serving as a retreat for P.T. Barnum’s circus animals before becoming a private hunting and fishing preserve.

The old grist mill and sawmill on the land date to 1830, accompanied by a hunting lodge, blacksmith shop, barns, corn crib and silo. The Heyward House is a private museum with estate artifacts and antiques.

Today, two houses totaling about 14,000 square feet are on the estate.

“Larry and Jerry Faulkenberry have always viewed Goodwill as something larger than themselves,” Tammra Granger, global real estate adviser for Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, said in the release. “Their decision to direct a portion of the sale proceeds to Connie Maxwell reflects that same sense of stewardship and their longstanding commitment to helping children and families in South Carolina. That’s a legacy that reaches far beyond the property itself.”

A portion of the sale proceeds will go to Connie Maxwell’s new healing center for trauma-informed therapy, counseling and restorative care for children and families. The family has previous connections with Maxwell’s children’s ministries in Greenwood.