Did You Know?
Pinehurst was originally a barren pasture before Massachusetts entrepreneur James Walker Tufts, the inventor of the soda fountain, purchased the land in 1895 and developed it into a health resort. He transformed the area, which had been deforested, into a thriving community that included golf courses and recreational facilities.
Many locals thought Tufts a fool for his purchase (6000 acres at $1.25/acre), but the astute businessman sold his thriving soda fountain company on the idea of a health retreat – far away from the cares of the world. From the very beginning, Pinehurst was designed as a philanthropic gesture by Tufts, as a place for middle-class Americans to recuperate from the ailments of the time.
Most believed those suffering from the respiratory illnesses as a result of the Industrial Revolution could be cured by the “pine ozone” only found in the region. Tufts’ idea was to create a traditional village community, with walkways and year-round greenery.
SGA participants enjoyed the Pinehurst area, walking into town and sampling the local cuisine. A favorite experience was dinner together at the Pine Crest Inn, a hidden treasure of Pinehurst, with its outstanding food and amiable and attentive waitstaff.
