NFL player, Columbia native opens waterfront event venue on Lake Murray

Update, 12:57 p.m., Dec. 7: This story was updated to clarify the business and zoning status of Lake Murray Manor.

Professional football player Dontrelle Inman, was cruising Lake Murray earlier this year on a rental boat when he noticed something: There were no wedding venues on the lake.

Inman, a 30-year-old Columbia native who bought a 1.85-acre waterfront property in Irmo this summer, realized his investment could be something more innovative than just a flip or a vacation home. He wanted to make it into an exclusive venue for events, and it would be called Lake Murray Manor.

“I was like, ‘I could be the first,’” he said.

About a year ago, Inman was looking for a property to invest in after a successful run in the NFL — he played with the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Chargers up until late November, when he became a free agent. Inman said the manor came up on a website he monitors for investment opportunities and by June, he had won the property for $950,000 in an online auction.

He has since invested about $250,000 renovating the place, according to his publicist, Charisse Curtis, who is the property manager.

The 5,370-square-foot home and 1,700-square-foot pool house (which will be a guest house) were built in 1985. The gated manor has five master suites, 8.5 baths, a cigar room, bar, great room, outdoor gazebo, two swimming pools, a private dock and more than 500 feet of waterfront.

A large waterfront lawn in the backyard was planned with wedding ceremonies in mind. Inman had the grassy plain graded so “everyone’s viewpoint is visually on the bride,” just raked enough so all attendees can see the big moment, he said.

Inman, who was born in Charleston but grew up in the Columbia area, said he spent all summer — his first in South Carolina in a decade — working on the property, supervising every detail.

After graduating from Batesburg-Leesville High School, Inman attended the University of Virginia. He wanted to study architecture, he said, but studio hours and grueling football practice didn’t work together, so he graduated instead with a degree in digital art.

The Manor is Inman’s biggest project yet, he said, as it is a “total gut” renovation, inside and out. Inman and his contractors transformed the property from a moldy, energy-inefficient vacant home dominated by dark wood and outdated fixtures to a resort-like, bright and airy hideaway with sleek white marble and sophisticated touches. Inman even changed the roofing on the home to the Spanish-style terracotta tile he saw everywhere while living in Los Angeles, he said.

“He’s picked out every knob,” Curtis said, down to the 40 pendant lights that will float down from the high ceiling of the great room and create a chandelier effect.

On a recent afternoon, Inman was in shorts and a T-shirt in the sprawling backyard, hosing down the pool area, directing contractors and picking litter out of the shore. One of his children, his artist daughter Emory, 12, was helping.

The manor’s many spaces were all designed to be “raw,” blank spaces for hosts to customize everything from the color of the many LED lights to the location of their celebration. Would you like a dinner on the large lawn? In the gazebo? Indoors? A pool party? A floating yacht party? A Prince-themed all-purple party? They can do it.

LaShawn Inman, 48, said her son’s new venture is an ideal place for couples who want smaller, intimate weddings in order to have more meaningful interactions with guests.

“The uniqueness is really gonna stand out” on a special day, she said, sitting in the kitchen of the manor on a recent afternoon.

Inman said he broke in the property by hosting a thank-you meal for the staff who work at his free annual youth football camp.

Lake Murray Manor would work for all kinds of events, Inman said, except for one: “No ra-ra parties.”

“If someone wants to do a keg stand, you’re not welcome,” he said.

Prices will range depending on what guests are seeking and how long they plan to stay, Curtis said.

Finishing touches on Lake Murray Manor will be finished by the first of year, Inman said, so prospective guests can begin booking spring and summer events. Curtis said Lake Murray Manor is in the process of acquiring a business license, proper inspections and permission to rezone from its current residential use to one that would allow an events venue.

For more information, visit lakemurraymanor.com.

This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 5:00 AM.