FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you located?

1419 Silver Bluff Road, (SC Hwy. 302) in Aiken, South Carolina; just 17 miles east of Augusta, Ga., and 56 miles west of Columbia, S.C., both along Interstate 20.

Map of 1419 Silver Bluff Rd, Aiken, SC 29803-9224

What's the Weather Like?

Wonderful! Aiken and west-central South Carolina have a mostly-mild four-season climate. It's rare that snow accumulates and the temperature drops below freezing, only about 10 to 15 times a year. Highs in July and August often reach the mid-to high 90s. But the spring and fall seasons last for several months each, and the weather is spectacular. The beauty of Spring lasts from mid-March into June, and our fantastic Fall weather runs from early September all the way into mid-December.

Is there Airport Service Nearby?

Yes, there is a variety of airports to choose from.

The Aiken Municipal Airport is a busy general aviation airport that provides service to local pilots and corporate jets.

Augusta, Georgia has a modern airport about 25 minutes away, served by two major airlines.

Columbia (SC) Metropolitan Airport is an international airport just under an hour from Aiken with many daily direct flights to major American hubs, including Houston, New York, Washington, Atlanta, Charlotte and Cincinnati.

Charlotte (N.C.) International Airport is less than a two-hour drive and is a major hub with many carriers offering direct flights to Europe and nearly all of the United States.

Atlanta Hartsfield Airport is America's second busiest and the home of Delta Airlines. Atlanta Hartsfield is a little under three hours drive from Aiken.

Aiken is also a nexus of the national Interstate Highway system. Interstate 20, a major east-west artery across the country, skirts the city limits and we are within 50 miles of both I-26 and I-77, and another 50 miles from I-95 to the east. I-75 and I-85 are also easily accessible from Aiken.

What Kind of Hospitals, Doctors and Health Care Can We Expect?

Aiken Regional Medical Centers is a large modern hospital about 10 minutes drive from Woodside. Aiken Regional is operated by Universal Health Services, one of the nation's largest hospital management companies. With the completion of an $8 million renovation, creating an all new Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit, Aiken Regional is a 100 percent private room hospital. Aiken Regional has brand new institutes for the treatment of cancer and heart disease. andAiken Regional is also #1 in the region for treating heart attack, heart failure and Pneumonia. For more information about Aiken Regional go to www.aikenregional.com.

Aiken Regional operates a satellite campus on the Southside of Aiken within a mile of the Woodside west gate.

This top-flight facility has attracted a highly advanced medical staff. Every physician affiliated with Aiken Regional is either Board Certified or Board Eligible in at least one specialty. It makes sense – Aiken is a great place to live and good doctors want to live here too. And most of them live in Woodside!

Aiken residents are also just a 20 minute drive from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, one of the top regional medical centers in the Southeast and the regions only Level 1 Trauma Center, Doctor’s Hospital with the regions only Burn Center, University Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital. Augusta also offers veterans two VA Medical Centers.

What are the Taxes and Cost of Living Like?

Great!

South Carolina has the 4th lowest property taxes in America. The cost of living and housing is significantly lower here than most places around the country. Forbes Magazine recently reported that housing costs in Aiken are 11 percent lower than they ought to be based upon the quality of the living experience. That means you can buy a lot more house with your money. Another recent article said that the cost of living in Aiken is 10 percent lower than St. Louis or Milwaukee, 13 percent less than Cleveland or Denver, 21 percent below Philadelphia, 23 percent below Portland and 33 percent below either Washington, DC and Boston!

Will I Find any of the Arts and Culture?

Prepare yourself to be surprised by the opportunity to enjoy a full range of the arts – performing, visual, and literary – in Aiken, South Carolina.

The new Washington Center for the Performing Arts hosts the Aiken Community Playhouse and many other performing groups.

The arts community also supports the Aiken Civic Ballet, the Aiken Symphony Guild, the Aiken Opera Guild and the Aiken Community Band. Many of those performances take place in the spacious and modern Etherredge Center at the University of South Carolina Aiken.

The downtown Aiken Center for the Arts is a surprising outlet for the fine arts and craft displays, located near several private galleries.

Aiken's literary community includes two Pulitzer Prize winners and over 40 published authors who live and work here.

Whatever your artistic interest, it will find you as you wander the fascinating streets of Aiken.

What's There to Do? What's the Town Like?

Like no other.

Everyone is surprised at the level of sophistication in the shops and restaurants in downtown Aiken, where people leisurely walk from elegant shops to extraordinary cafés.

You'll become a polo fan and perhaps take up team croquet! There are four fox hunting troupes in and around town. Dozens of international Olympic teams trained here because of the perfect climate and the variety of quality sporting venues, including gold medal performers in equestrian, rowing and shooting.

Right out the East Gate of Woodside Plantation is the Aiken Mall, a modern mall experience with many of the most prominent national retailers. There are many other shops on the South side of Aiken. Downtown, just about 10 minutes away, is among the most charming of shopping districts to be found anywhere. It has a mix of antique shops, boutiques, gift shops, clothiers and restaurants.

There is a spirit of belonging and volunteerism in Aiken that is infectious. Nearly all of the clubs and organizations in town were started by a few friends who came up with a great idea and the rest is history, as they say.

What is the Annual Assessment of the Property Owners Association at Woodside?

    Probably less than you are used to! Membership in the Property Owners Association is only $577 per home, or $288 per lot, which pays for the upkeep of the road, security at the guard gate, common area landscaping and maintenance of the lakes.