10/15/2026
VALLEY REWIND: John "Mark" Ansley drives a garbage cart belonging to John Hamilton, Sr., while his brother, Peter, rides along at Pine Lodge during the summer of 1964.
Nestled between Montreat Road and Flat Creek, Pine Lodge was constructed in 1926 by Merle H. Rolfe and his wife, Grace, as a summer and hunting retreat. The property included the main lodge, cabins, and a stable for the horses and oxen.
The property changed hands several times over the years. In the 1960s, it was owned and operated by Mark and Peter's grandmother Caroline Allen Ansley (later Caroline Walbeck). Peter recalls many fond memories of that time and says that his grandmother put all the children and teenagers to work and taught him everything about carpentry.
In 2017, Richard and Elizabeth Garzarelli acquired the property and reopened it as a sanctuary for reflection, renewal, and community, giving it its current name, Quietude. Join Quietude staff and the Swannanoa Valley Museum on Saturday, October 24 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the opening of this special place that has touched so many people over the years. This free event is open to all.
Learn more here:
https://www.quietudenow.com/event-details/100-years-at-quietude-a-centennial-celebration
