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Featured on Carolina Living
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REGIONAL HIGHLIGHT - Aiken, South Carolina
A lifestyle designed for equestrians as well as those who simply relish the beauty and spirit of horse country.
The 2,400 acres which encompass Three Runs Plantation include beautiful forests, peaceful savannahs and meandering creeks. Conservation easements protect hundreds of acres of wetlands and creek frontage, ensuring this magnificent setting will remain for generations. Three Runs appeals to anyone that enjoys the peace and tranquility of gracious country living. The result is a community which is attracting interest across the U.S. and beyond.
"This year we got seven feet of snow and our indoor riding area collapsed, so we agreed that it was time to search for a new home below the serious snow zone," Christy Douglas explained from her soon-to-be-former-home near Spokane, Washington. She and her husband, Scott, lived and worked in Seattle for years and along the way they adopted six children from Ethiopia. Mrs. Douglas knew and loved horses, so the couple bought the children a pony. Her husband discovered that he liked horses as well, so the family decided to move to eastern Washington and build an equestrian center. Over time, their equine family has grown to twelve. And then the snows came and did their damage.
"We began to search for equestrian communities and discovered Aiken. We really doubted that the area could be all that was described in our research, so I flew across the country to check it out. I had so many properties to look at but I was sold on Three Runs Plantation almost instantly. It has beautiful homesites, arenas and the trails are amazing," she said. "Everyone in Three Runs comes from somewhere else and we're all starting over. It is so appealing that my neighbors have chosen to relocate here and start a new life in a different part of the world."
How does her husband feel? "He recently saw the community and our property for the first time, with the new barn and fences we've had put in," she explained.
"He drove our minivan and ski boat from Washington to South Carolina and called from the road to tell me that there was something about the South that made him feel as though he was coming home. And that was before he even saw Three Runs," she laughed.
They purchased a builder's showcase home and two additional homesites covering 22 acres, much less than the 80 acres they owned in Washington, but ample for them, their three children still at home and their 12 horses (including draft and mini horses, a Paint, a Thoroughbred, Friesian and American Bashkir Curlies) who will soon be making their own cross-country journey.
The Douglas family's three fourteen year-olds will be starting high school together - another adventure since they were home-schooled before. The choice of Silver Bluff High School in Aiken is a good one and they're looking forward to soccer and baseball in a great public school atmosphere.
Aiken is an excellent family choice in non-equestrian ways as well. "My girls, Kate and Betsy, love ballet and Aiken has its own ballet company," Mrs. Douglas explained. "One daughter also enjoys drama and that's available in Aiken as well. My son, Sam, loves to fish so he is hoping there are fish in the creeks in Three Runs."
South Carolina isn't a completely new experience, however. Mrs. Douglas's father was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base when she was ten and her husband attended Military Police school at Fort Gordon in Augusta, so the couple had firsthand experience with the warm climate and friendly people.
"Three Runs Plantation gave us everything we wanted in a beautiful setting, with a great community," she said. Our family can't wait to begin our new adventure. As for their three older children, they'll remain in Washington State for the time being. "They just wish we had made the move earlier," Mrs. Douglas said.
Three Runs Plantation, just minutes from downtown Aiken, South Carolina, is designed for good living whether you are a horse owner or not. One of the most significant amenities offered at Three Runs is thirty miles of trails that meander through the magnificent scenery. They can be enjoyed on foot or on horseback.
There are picnic areas along the way and places to stop and enjoy the gently moving, crystal clear waters of Cedar Creek and Three Runs Creek. A portion of the trail system includes gallop areas and cross-country training jumps. A generous easement between all properties enables residents to enjoy riding without encroaching on neighbors.
Throughout the plantation there are small farm tracts that range in size from four to 20+ acres. Larger unimproved tracts from 50 to 100 acres are also available.
This is a custom built community with liberal architectural guidelines and no time limit on building your home.
At the heart of Three Runs is the equestrian complex with amenities that are among the finest in the area. They include: two riding arenas; one with a stadium jump course and the other for dressage and flatwork training, a newly completed clubhouse overlooking the riding arenas and an outdoor pavilion for cook-outs. The pool and cabana, soon to be under construction, will be adjacent to the outdoor pavilion.
Future plans for the community include additional equestrian training areas and a recreation complex with swimming pool, tennis and a fitness center.
Aiken's climate (an average of 70 degrees in spring and fall), and horse-perfect terrain first brought visitors in the mid 1800s. Soon after, wealthy northerners created Aiken's Winter Colony, where folks escaped the harsh climate of the north, built magnificent "cottages," trained their horses, played golf and socialized nonstop. Many of those homes remain to be enjoyed by a new generation of families who understand Aiken's appeal.
In recent years, the area has become well-known for its international polo training and events, and in 2009, the United States Equestrian Federation selected Aiken, and Three Runs Plantation as the location for their Winter Eventing High Performance and Developing Rider Training Sessions.
The arts thrive through a number of performing groups, including the Aiken Civic Ballet, Symphony Guild, Opera Guild, Community Theatre and Community Band. Artists and writers are drawn to Aiken as well, sharing their work through unique galleries and in the written word.
The University of South Carolina at Aiken provides opportunities for lifelong learning, as well as events and programs for all ages. Aiken Regional Medical Center is a large hospital complex which, in 2007, was ranked #1 in the CSRA for quality care by the State Healthcare Organization and in the top 2 percent in the nation by HealthInsight.
The equestrian culture is always evident with steeplechase and thoroughbred racing, show hunters and jumpers, carriage driving, dressage and much more. Aiken is currently enjoying a renaissance in the game of polo, with a number of polo clubs, frequent matches, and many amateur and professional players who have homes there. With or without horses, Aiken residents enjoy the social events surrounding these activities.
When it's time to get away, Aiken is just few hours from the wide sandy beaches of the Atlantic or the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. I-20 travels by the town, and close by are the Augusta and Columbia airports, with multiple daily flights to anywhere.
Directions: Take I-20 to Exit #18. Travel US Hwy 19 South approximately 5 miles toward Aiken and turn left on Richland Avenue (in downtown Aiken). Go approximately 2 blocks and turn right on Chesterfield St. South which becomes Whiskey Road. Travel approximately 7 miles on Whiskey Road, then turn left on White Pond Road to reach the entrance.
- Number of Acres: 2,400
- Homesites: Priced at $22,000 per acre
- Current Amenities: Clubhouse, two riding arenas (jump and dressage),schooling arena, outdoor pavilion, 30 miles of trails w/picnic shelters, creeks protected wetlands.
- Pool and cabana, soon to be constructed, adjacent to outdoor pavilion.
- Future Amenities: Recreation complex w/pool, tennis and fitness center, additional equestrian training areas.
- For additional information: Visit www.ThreeRunsPlantation.com or call 888.297.8881 (Toll Free)
- Annual HOA Dues: $1,000 per year per lot.
- Awards: "Best of South Carolina" by CarolinaLiving.com
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