Aiken

Woodside is a private, master-planned community, in historic Aiken, South Carolina that provides buyers with a home and a built-in community through multiple amenities. Woodside features over 60 member-created clubs, resort pools, championship golf and over 20 miles of walking trails. “It’s just a great community, and there is something for everyone,” says David Seawell, a Realtor and broker with Woodside Development and a member of the Woodside community. “Being able to find that sense of community here and things to do, the options are plentiful.” Behind the protection of a gate, Woodside features rolling streets lined with trees. Multiple golf and manufactured lakes give buyers picturesque views outside their doors. The community offers varying homestyle options, from townhouses to vibrant, colorful cottages and brick-facade Colonial Revivals. With about 2,300 homes, homes are spaced closely together but feature well-manicured yards. Prices in Woodside range from $180,000 to $1.1 million, but buyers can expect a two-bedroom cottage to be listed at around $320,000, while a four-bedroom Colonial Revival will go for approximately $520,000. “The market is still healthy, and I'd consider it a seller’s market. Homes are moving quickly because finding inventory is still challenging,” Seawell says. Woodside is zoned for Aiken County Public Schools, which scores a B-plus on Niche and is the third-best school district in the Augusta area. Students attend Chukker Creek Elementary School, Aiken Intermediate School for sixth grade, Kennedy Middle for seventh and eighth grade, and then earn diplomas from South Aiken High School. According to Niche, the elementary and high schools score a B-plus, while the intermediate school grades a C-plus and the middle school gets a B. A third of South Aiken students participate in Advanced Placement courses and have opportunities to earn college credits through dual enrollment with local college and university systems. Recreation is at residents' fingertips as Woodside has a collection of seven parks and green spaces, four golf courses and more than 20 miles of trails. The Reserve Club has an indoor and outdoor pool, fitness center and the Reserve Park, a social hub with a quarter-mile track, pet space and bar. Other parks include Summer Hill Park, which has a stone gazebo picnic pavilion that overlooks the pond at the center, and the park is a connector to the trail system. Featuring more than 20 miles of trails, hikers and bikers can take on challenges like the 7-mile Perimeter Trail, the most well-known in the community and feature beautiful views of the lakes and golf course, or a quick jaunt through the half-mile creek walk, a flat path crosses over Cottonwood Creek. Woodside is a golf lover's dream with four different and challenging courses, including the signature Reserve Club Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and that has consistently ranked highly amongst private clubs. While the Reserve Club is one of the many places residents can dine, the area outside Woodside has plenty to offer. Locals can find groceries and household supplies at Publix in the East Gate Shopping Center or the Food Lion in the Centre South Shopping Centre. Locals can grab breakfast or lunch at the Village Café or catch the game with friends at Grumpy Sport’s Bar. The community is a little more than a 5-mile drive to downtown Aiken. “Aiken is a small town, but it's far from sleepy,” Seawell says. Dating back to the 1830s, Aiken is within three hours of Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina, Columbia, Charleston and Hilton Head, South Carolina and Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah, Georgia. The downtown area is the place to be as it features around 20 locally owned restaurants, including Whiskey Alley and The Wilcox Restaurant. With over 60 member-led clubs throughout Woodside, finding a group with shared interests is easy. Clubs range from every walk of life, from automotive to book clubs or more segmented clubs, like the Women of Woodside. Not only are there social clubs, but there are plenty of weekly and annual events throughout the community. From weekly events like Winey Wednesday at the Summer Hill Park gazebo to yearly events like the Village Grill ‘N Chill Weekend at the Hollow Creek Social. While the community is accessible by bike or foot, it is bordered by US-78. The route runs from Charleston, SC, to Memphis but is a crucial connection to Interstate 520, which allows commuters to reach the South Carolina and Georgia state line.