How It All
started
Although Bostwick’s Magnolia Manor was built in 1930, its story truly starts in 1978, when it was acquired by Long Island native Laura Bostwick. Laura was an avid angler. To her, fishing was more than just a way to connect with the outdoors; it was a lifestyle. Case in point: In 1980, Laura broke the North Carolina state record for catching a 656-pound blue marlin. But it wasn’t just fishing that Laura was so skilled at. She was also a terrific chef and knew how to whip up a delicious gourmet meal everyone raved about. In fact, because of her culinary prowess, she was featured in a book by Craig Claiborne, a food editor and restaurant critic for the New York Times.
Laura was also, by all accounts, a perfect hostess; she loved to entertain guests and host large dinner parties. Her social circle extended far and wide, but she had a particularly deep interest in the art world. (It was renowned painter and sculptor Jasper Johns who nudged her to move to North Carolina.) Laura could have lived anywhere else in the world — but she chose the quaint little village of Wanchese, which she called home for close to 43 years. There were many things Laura loved — fishing, art, animals — but this slice of land had a special place in her heart. She poured her love into the estate, renovating it several times (it has been remodeled again since her passing in 2021). Now playing host to many happy occasions, blissful weddings and long-awaited gatherings, the estate has once again become a place for celebration.
