Tidalholm: The Historic Beaufort Home Behind The Big Chill
How a beloved Beaufort home reclaimed its Hollywood legacy
Story by Barry Kaufman + Photography by John Wollwerth
Why Tidalholm Matters in Beaufort History
One of Beaufort’s most famous historic homes
Filming location for The Big Chill and The Great Santini
Example of Greek Revival architecture
Symbol of historic preservation in the Lowcountry
If there’s one thing Hollywood loves, it’s a redemption story. George Bailey being plucked from the edge of suicide to realize It’s a Wonderful Life. Darth Vader hurling the emperor down a pit to save his son. Robert Downey Jr. earning an Oscar nomination, solidifying a triumphant comeback from addiction.
It’s not just the characters or actors who deserve a redemption story. Some of the most iconic sets in movie history have wound up in the scrap heaps of Hollywood, their fleeting fame no longer worth their upkeep. If you need proof, kayak through Cypress Gardens in Monck’s Corner to where sets from The Patriot are being slowly reclaimed by the swamp. Take a road trip up to Dillsboro, North Carolina, where the bus and train from The Fugitive quietly rust by the side of the road.
It was a fate that could have befallen Beaufort’s Tidalholm, had it not been for the intervention of John Tashjian and Katie Tashjian. The house was already a classical piece of the city’s architecture before production began on The Big Chill, serving as a hospital during the Civil War, a classroom during Reconstruction and a bed and breakfast during the early 20th century.
But after the cameras stopped rolling on The Big Chill and The Great Santini, both filmed at Tidalholm, the spotlight moved on and the home fell into disrepair. That is until the Tashjians — who were then only dating — paid a visit to Katie’s childhood home in Beaufort and saw the home for sale.
“I grew up on Lady’s Island. When you’re a kid, you don’t hear much about the house, but I knew that this neighborhood was meaningful and had an incredible history, but that was pretty much all I knew,” said Katie. “But of course, everyone knew it as the Big Chill House. When you’re giving a tour to visitors, you always show it off.”
What Katie didn’t know was that John was quietly making an offer.
“From the very beginning, I knew Katie was central to my life, and together we felt a deep responsibility to protect a piece of the town that shaped her,” said John. “Restoring Tidalholm wasn’t about impressing her; it was about honoring what she loves. As a developer, in a way, Tidalholm’s restoration became my version of a love letter to Katie and to the town that has always held her heart.”
The couple were engaged and wed in the house, but not before a painstaking restoration that took the 1853 home down to the studs.
“The restoration process was a significant undertaking that took a number of talented people,” said John, giving credit to designer Steven Gambrel, the late design wizard Beek Webb and builder Chuck Ferguson. “One of the first questions we had to answer for ourselves and for the historic review board, is what does Tidalholm’s next chapter look like? How does a modern family live in this house? We had to combine a number of disciplines.”
The resulting home bridges the home’s many past lives, preserving elements that were later added, like the neocolonial-roof that covered an elaborate Italianate set of dormers and grand cupola, while transforming the interior with modern touches that honored its rich history. And that includes its brush with Hollywood stardom.
“One of the great pleasures of owning the home is hosting outdoor screenings of both films on the lawn for friends and charitable organizations, so we watch both films quite often,” said John. “In our basement, we hung the original movie posters for each film, which are adorned with memories and autographs from the actors and crew who have returned to Tidalholm in recent years.”
At Tidalholm, Hollywood didn’t just pass through Beaufort — it found a home.
FAQs About Tidalholm in Beaufort
What is Tidalholm in Beaufort?
Tidalholm is a historic Greek Revival mansion in Beaufort, South Carolina, best known as the primary filming location for The Big Chill.
Can you visit the Big Chill house in Beaufort?
Tidalholm is a private residence, but it can be viewed from public areas in downtown Beaufort.
What movies were filmed at Tidalholm?
Tidalholm appeared in The Big Chill (1983) and The Great Santini (1979).
