Experience undiscovered South Carolina in Thoroughbred Country, just east of Augusta, GA and west of Columbia, SC. Bordered by Interstates 20, 26 and 95, this region showcases rolling countryside with equestrian events, wide open greenspaces and opportunities to explore nature and history, in addition to picturesque downtowns with unique shops, restaurants, museums and lodging.
Venture off the beaten path with a variety of US highways including 278, 78, 301, 321 and 601 to find hidden gems. Step back in time at the Living History Park and Battle of Rivers Bridge State Historic Site. Savor Amish-Mennonite home cooking, drink from an artesian well believed to have healing powers and visit Wisteria Cottage, a Mennonite-operated bed and breakfast. Soak in nature’s restorative power at Aiken State Park where visitors can rent canoes or kayaks and glide along the 1.7-mile glistening trail that winds its way down the south fork of the Edisto River. Or, explore the 14-acres Hopelands Gardens and nearby Audubon’s Silver Bluff Sanctuary, a gorgeous 3,400-acre wooded area that overlooks the Savannah River. Have a ball April through September at SRP Park, home to Minor League Baseball team, the Augusta GreenJackets a Single-A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Dive into art with a visit to Jim Harrison Gallery and Little Red Barn Pottery and Art Gallery. Plan to visit during spring or fall and catch a variety of equine showcases open to the public at facilities throughout the area, including Aiken Horse Park. At the day’s end, when it comes to lodging, indulge in rooms nestled in historic antebellum homes, cozy cottages and unique boutiques such as The Willcox (Travel + Leisure World’s Best 2021), Magnolia Shadows, Lookaway Inn or the Carriage House Inn to assure a getaway where the accommodations promise to leave you recharged. www.TBredCountry.org – We’re Way More than Horses.
Annual Events
- Battle of Aiken (February)
- Memorial Illumination (February)
- Joye in Aiken (March & December)
- Blackville Music and Art Festival (April)
- Southeast Masters Regional Championship Regatta (June)
- Swallow-Tailed Kite Outing (July)
- Barnwell Independence Day Celebration (July)
- Colonial Times: A Day to Remember (October)
- Jack-O-Lantern-Jubilee (October)
- Fall Steeplechase (October)
- Bamberg Veterans Day Celebration (November)
- The Nutcracker Tea (December)
- Click here for a full listing of Thoroughbred Country’s annual events
Fast Facts and Trivia
- Aiken County, known throughout the world for its equestrian training facilities, is home to the Aiken Training Track. Since 1942, this facility has produced forty National Champions, six Kentucky Derby winners, three Preakness Stakes winners and nine Belmont Stakes winners. Palace Malice, 2013 Belmont Stakes winner; Demonstrative, 2014 Eclipse Award Champion Steeplechase Horse; Pleasant Colony, 1981 Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Male; and Concrete Rose, 2019 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year are just few of the famous horses that have called Aiken County home.
- The legend of God’s Acre Healing Springs near Blackville dates back to the Revolutionary War when Native Americans used its waters to heal wounded British soldiers. The acre of land surrounding the springs was legally deeded to God by its owner in 1944.
- In the early 1900’s, North Augusta was in competition with Hollywood, California to become the new home of the movie industry. Fearing that the industry would cheapen their resort community, local developers allowed the industry to choose Hollywood.
- Formed in 1919, Allendale is the youngest county in South Carolina. Allendale roots are in agriculture producing peanuts, corn, okra, watermelon, cotton and other crops. In late summer, bird watchers flock to Allendale for an opportunity to witness the amazing aerial displays of Swallow-tailed Kites before their migration to wintering grounds in South America.
- Kayak or canoe the Edisto River, the longest free-flowing blackwater river in North America. Flowing over 200 miles, it is the longest and largest river system completely contained by the borders of South Carolina.
- In Aiken, Hopelands Gardens is a 14-acre estate wrapped behind a serpentine brick wall and under a canopy of ancient oaks, deodar cedars and magnolias. Bequeathed to the City of Aiken by Mrs. C Oliver Iselin, Hopelands Gardens opened in 1969 as a public garden.
- Bordering Thoroughbred Country, the Savannah River provides a natural setting for panfish, redbreast, bream, catfish, warmouth, yellow perch and largemouth bass. Striped bass can be found in the spring.
- The Town of Salley is known as the “Chitlin’ Capital” of the world. To celebrate, the town hosts the Chitlin’ Strut Festival every fall.
- Bamberg County claims the late artist Jim Harrison and former SC Governor and US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley
- The Aiken County Historical Museum houses a safe from the 1850’s that was found in an interior wall of the White House during a 1950 renovation. The safe weighs 99 pounds.
- Barnwell is home to what is believed to be the only free-standing vertical sundial in the United States. Although erected prior to standard time, the sundial keeps within two minutes of that.
- Hitchcock Woods, located in Aiken County, is one of the largest urban forests in the United States. Spanning 2,100 acres, the Hitchcock Woods boasts 70 miles of sandy trails which are free and open to the public for both equestrian and foot traffic. Hitchcock Woods is home to the 2019 national champion longleaf pine.
- On his march to Columbia, Sherman’s Army was met at Bamberg County’s Rivers Bridge by a small band of Confederate soldiers who tried to stall his progress. See the scars of this encounter at the Battle of Rivers Bridge State Historic Site.
- Bamberg County’s Mizpah Methodist Church was built in 1856. As Sherman’s troops marched through the area, most of the surrounding houses were burned. Yet, the church was left standing and was used for wounded soldiers.
- The Monetta Drive-In opened in 1951 and provided decades of entertainment before closing in 1986. The theater reopened in 1999, reviving a unique tradition and an almost lost pastime. Now, the theater is one of three operating drive-in theaters in South Carolina.
- William Aiken, the first president of South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company and the City of Aiken’s namesake, commissioned the Charleston–Hamburg Railway which was the longest commercial railway in world at the time.
- The AT&T Building in Denmark was a significant participant in the first historic transcontinental telephone call, made January 15, 1915. The building now houses The Caroline Collection, one of the largest privately owned antique stores in the Southeast.
- Polo has been played in Aiken for well over a century and matches are still held today at several fields. Historic Whitney Polo Field has the distinction of being one of the oldest polo fields in continuous use in the country.
- Silver Bluff Baptist Church, located in Beech Island, is regarded as the oldest African American Baptist church in America.
- Matilda Arabelle Evans, MD was born in Aiken County. Evans was the first African American woman to be licensed as a physician in South Carolina.
- The wonderful climate and natural beauty of Thoroughbred Country attracted Mennonites from western states. Experience their culture and cooking in Aiken, Bamberg and Barnwell County.
- In 1900, The Willcox, located in Aiken, opened for those seeking warmth and a high society atmosphere during the winter. During that time, Aiken was such a popular destination for many northern travelers, that the town soon became known as the “Winter Colony”. Since then, The Willcox has received much recognition and is considered one of the best hotels in the world.
- The library of USC Salkehatchie holds the first permanent display of artifacts from the Topper Site, an archeological site where evidence has been found suggesting that people lived in America more than 15,000 years ago.
- Woodlands in Bamberg was home to South Carolina’s most notable author, William Gilmore Simms, notable poet, novelist, historian and author of The History of South Carolina in 1841.
- Encompassing areas of Aiken, Allendale and Barnwell counties, the Savannah River Site maintains an infrastructure similar to a small city. The “City” of SRS includes its own fire department, emergency services, medical facilities, weather center and 230 miles of roads including South Carolinas first cloverleaf.
- The Center for African American History, Art & Culture in Aiken is located in the former Immanuel School, built in 1889. The Immanuel School was significant for its parochial education of African American children in Aiken and surrounding South Carolina counties from 1890-1932. The building itself is a particularly rare, sophisticated, and intact example of Late Victorian vernacular school architecture.
- May 9, 1972, James Brown recorded his classic single ‘Get on the Good Foot’ at Soundcraft Studios in North Augusta. Although the studio is no longer located here, the building now houses Riverside Antiques and Treasures.
Itineraries
Virtual Tours
Enjoy a few regional favorites from the comfort of your own home.
Visitor Guide
Official Thoroughbred Country, South Carolina Visitors Guide
Video Gallery
Photo Gallery
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Visit the Little Red Barn Pottery and Art Gallery, which houses the pottery studio of Elizabeth Ringus, Paw Print Pottery. Visitor favorites include SC Face Jugs, quilts hand-stitched by Mennonite women, local honey and handmade soaps. | Credit: Larry Price Photography
Canoe at Aiken State Park. Built in 1934, this park, located along the free-flowing Edisto River, is a combination of a river swamp and dry sandhills. | Credit: Perry Baker, SCPRT
For over 150 years, Barnwell’s rare vertical sundial, located outside of the Barnwell County Courthouse, has given the correct time of day to passersby. | Credit: Larry Price Photography
See history come alive with cannons, cavalry horses and living history experts at the Battle of Aiken. | Credit: Larry Gleason
The famous Aiken Training Track has a long history of producing champions. | Credit: Christopher Hall Photography
Don’t miss the opportunity to see a Carriage Parade in person. | Credit: Christopher Hall Photography
Aiken Steeplechase | Credit: Christopher Hall Photography
The Carolina Midland Railway Railroad ran through the town of Kline, where the Kline Depot sits, beginning in 1897. | Credit: Larry Price Photography
For an authentic experiences, catch a polo match at New Bridge. | Credit: Larry Gleason
Satisfy hunger pangs at Miller’s Bread Basket, where you will find Amish-Mennonite cooking, salads and homemade bread. | Credit: Thoroughbred Country, South Carolina
St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church and Cemetery is the city’s oldest church structure, having retained its Greek Revival style through subsequent remodeling.
Designed by Donald Ross, enjoy 18 holes at The Aiken Golf Club, built in 1912 and recently restored.
The Jim Harrison Gallery is the southeastern distributor for original paintings by Jim Harrison and features bronzes, etchings and a variety of limited and unlimited edition reproductions.
Visit God’s Acre Healing Springs. Native Americans believed in the springs’ natural healing powers and brought wounded Revolutionary War soldiers here to drink.
Cast a line in Thoroughbred County, South Carolina’s, rivers.
The annual Blessing of the Hounds is a must see for residents and visitors alike.
See the blacksmith’s forge, smoke house, and hands-on experiences, including period craft demonstrations, at the 7.5-acre Living History Park.
Rivers Bridge State Historic Site marks the site of one of the Confederacy’s last stands against General William T. Sherman’s sweep across the South. Of all the Civil War Sites in South Carolina, the Battle of Rivers Bridge is the only one in the State Parks system that is home to a preserved battlefield.
Take an Aiken Trolley Tour and enjoy a stop at Hopelands Gardens, the 14-acre park that was the former estate of Mr. and Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin.
Redcliffe Plantation – Beech Island, SC. (Credit: SC PRT/Photo by Perry Baker 2007)