Although known throughout the world as an
equestrian training center claiming National Champions such as Pleasant Colony, 1981
Kentucky Derby winner; Summer Squall, 1990 Preakness winner; and Sea Hero, 1993 Kentucky
Derby winner, Aiken County is also a place of history and natural beauty.
Aiken Tours
offers a 90-minute guided tour featuring
Hopeland Gardens and the
Thoroughbred Racing Hall
of Fame, the equestrian training areas and Aiken's historic districts. At the
Aiken County
Historical Museum, the diverse history of other county towns such as North Augusta, Beech
Island, Graniteville, Salley, Wagener and New Ellenton is featured.
Aiken County offers
plantation homes of yesteryear and original cotton mills; churches of the past and stories
of the Charleston to Hamburg (now North Augusta) rail line;
Hitchcock Woods, the largest
urban forest in the United States and
Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site. Hunting,
fishing, golfing and shopping are abundant!
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Aiken
State Park
Once an ancient seashore and now the shore of
the meandering South Edisto River, this combination of river swamps and Carolina sandhills
has become very popular with campers, canoeists (canoes available for rent at $10/day) and
fishing enthusiasts. The 1,067-acre park includes four natural lakes,and an
easy-to-negotiate nature trail from which a wide variety of plant and animal life may be
observed.
There are several pull-through RV sites (some
accommodate up to 60 foot rigs) and 25 campsites rented on a first-come, first-served
basis. Two of the campsites may be reserved exclusively for the handicapped. Also present
is a heated restroom with hot showers plus a dump station for RVs.
Park Hours in April through October are 9a - 9p
(daily); November through March the park closes at 6p. Mailing address: 1145 State Park
Road, Windsor, SC 29856 Phone: (803) 649-2857. Website:
ASP
From Aiken take US-78 through Montmorenci to
County Road 53; turn left and the park entrance is about 7 miles (on your right). 16 miles
east of Aiken off US 78 or off 302 from Columbia.
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