MANOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT
More Than a Manor
A Legacy Of Welcome
“Where Victorian elegance meets Southern hospitality, and every guest becomes family”
HayGood Manor
Our Philosophy
Connection
More than lodging—we offer warmth, authenticity, and the feeling of being welcomed as family.
Heritage
A 6,000-square-foot Victorian treasure, lovingly restored to honor its 1880s origins while embracing modern comfort.
Vision
A personal journey from New York corporate life to Southern hospitality, breaking barriers and building dreams.
A Journey Through Time
The Story of Haygood Manor
The Victorian Foundation
Originally built in the height of the Victorian era, the Manor was established as a symbol of architectural elegance in Abbeville. With its soaring ceilings and intricate woodwork, it was designed to be a centerpiece of Southern grace.
From Corporate to Core
Driven by a desire for deeper connection, Selena Goodwin-Hay transitioned from a high-stakes New York culinary and corporate background to the quiet, historic streets of Abbeville, carrying a philosophy of "authentic hospitality."
A Living Legacy
Haygood Manor stands today not just as a bed and breakfast, but as a testament to female entrepreneurship and the power of preserving history while creating a home for everyone who walks through its doors.
The Heart Behind the Manor
Selena Marie Goodwin-Hay's journey from New York to becoming the owner of a Victorian treasure in the heart of South Carolina.
A Dream Born on Martha's Vineyard
The New York native's love of mansions was born years ago from visits to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. The area is lined with Victorian mansions built by people from Great Britain, many with wrap-around porches.
She saw those houses and promised herself one day she would own such a home. "It appears my life was laid out already," Goodwin-Hay reflects on her journey.
"I don't like cookie-cutter houses. I just like New England houses, and this is a Victorian home."
— Selena Marie Goodwin-Hay
Building a Foundation
She started out working with her grandmother's refurbishing business—working on sheetrock, fixing toilets, painting, and other tasks for houses and apartment buildings. Years later, she would use these very skills in the manor.
Then came years as a laundromat owner, restaurant owner, executive chef, caterer, and decades in corporate America, traveling throughout the world providing advice on business and risk management.
By the time she was ready for retirement, Goodwin-Hay was ready to take the leap to find her dream property—a home with a wraparound porch, built between the 1700s and early 1900s, before the advent of radiators for heating.
Embracing Imperfection
The house had been on the market for about 3½ years when she found it. That vision wasn't deterred by a vaulted ceiling around the kitchen lined with nests for squirrels and birds, nor the fact that much of the building smelled of cat urine.
The kitchen revealed eight layers of flooring before reaching the original hardwood. The wood-topped countertop and walls came from the old Due West Depot. An island is constructed from wood that was a part of an old Charleston seawall.
"It gives the house the character of what it is. I didn't want perfection."
— On preserving the manor's authentic charm
Every Room Tells a Story
"Every room reflects what I've gone through in life," Goodwin-Hay explains. Rooms are decorated for themes based on places she has visited: Morocco, Indonesia, the West Indies, Europe, Charleston, and Martha's Vineyard.
"I like to understand and be a part of different cultures. Travel opens a better understanding of cultures, foods, how people live. You just get a better understanding of how large this earth is."
Well over 200 people have stayed in the bed & breakfast. Some have remarked that "the house gives them peace."
"The truth is I feel safer here than I did in Brooklyn. This community is amazing."
— Reflecting on nine years in AbbevilleA Life's Journey
Early Foundations
Working alongside grandmother in refurbishing, learning skills that would one day restore a Victorian mansion.
Culinary Arts
From restaurant owner to executive chef and caterer, mastering the art of hospitality and service.
Global Experience
Years in corporate America, traveling the world, consulting on business and risk management.
HayGood Manor
2017: The vision becomes reality. A Victorian dream in Abbeville, South Carolina.
In The Press
What others are saying about HayGood Manor and our commitment to authentic hospitality..
Leaving a Legacy: Abbeville Woman's Life, Philosophy Help Lead Her Bed and Breakfast
Selena Goodwin-Hay's philosophy is about more than lodging; it's about warmth, authenticity, and treating guests like family. Her journey from New York to Abbeville represents a new chapter in Southern hospitality.
Read Article ↗Be Part of Our Story
Your chapter at HayGood Manor awaits.
Step through our doors and become part of a legacy that spans over 140 years. Experience the warmth, elegance, and authentic Southern hospitality that makes HayGood Manor truly unforgettable. Where every guest becomes family.