St. Luke’s Hospital

A storied and rare historic landmark property, originally opened in 1929, with abundant potential!

Set on approximately 2.35 acres off Highway 176, the Engel Lukas Hall property (Norwegian for formerly St. Luke’s Hospital) combines significant local history, substantial restoration work, flexible redevelopment potential, and views overlooking Tryon with partial mountain vistas.

History and community 

St. Luke’s Hospital was established through the vision of Dr. Allen J. Jervey and Dr. Marion C. Palmer, who recognized the need for a local hospital serving Polk County families. Historical sources indicate the hospital opened on November 8, 1929, after support from local donors and philanthropic funding, the equivalent of approximately $3 million in today’s dollars. The original structure was built from local stone by local artisans, and later brick wings were added in the 1950s to expand services. After hospital operations moved to Columbus in the early 1970s, the former facility was used by Polk County for county offices, education services, and other uses for years. By the late 2010s, the property had fallen into severe disrepair before restoration efforts began under its current ownership.

Restoration and improvements

The current owners undertook extensive work to stabilize and reclaim the landscape and building. Initial efforts focused on securing the structure, replacing and rebuilding windows, and rebuilding major sections of the Spanish terracotta tile roof with new tiles, copper flashing and nails, replacement rafters and decking, and rebuilding architectural features. They then cleared invasive overgrowth, removed massive, abandoned debris from the interior, and disposed of substantial amounts of abandoned materials to reveal the building’s original architectural character. Following careful demolition and massive cleanup, the grounds were eradicated of kudzu and replanted with almost 10,000 trees, shrubs, and fruit trees, significantly improving the site’s appearance and long-term potential.

Noteworthy features

• Approximately 40,000 square feet overall, with the original stone hospital comprising a substantial portion of the structure
• Approximately 38 rooms/offices and 17 bathrooms
• High exposed ceilings with steel trusses, plus concrete walls and floors
• Large commercial kitchen with walk-in refrigeration
• Dumbwaiter, two elevators, and multiple stairwells
• All-glass enclosed patio
• Brick wings reportedly designed by local architect Holland Brady and constructed with locally made brick in a Flemish bond pattern
• More than 30 parking spaces across two parking areas
• Three-phase power and a whole-hospital generator
• Conveniently located a block above the planned Rails to Trails corridor connecting Zirconia, North Carolina, to Inman, South Carolina

Zoning and Potential Uses: Under the current GB-CU zoning, prospective buyers often envision hospitality or food-and-beverage uses for this property. However, those uses may require some limited Conditional Use Rezoning and Town approval. Based on the information provided, current zoning may permit uses such as machine, wood, or metal workshops, a gunsmith operation, furniture making, small-scale retail, living space, and potentially office, medical, or apartment space. Buyers should review all attached zoning materials and confirm permitted uses with the appropriate local authorities before making plans or representations.

Viewing Information: Showings are available for qualified, serious inquiries only. A signed waiver is required before viewing.