Hotel in Aiken, South Carolina near Hitchcock Woods, USC Aiken and Aiken Attractions

Our hotel is convenient to the following Aiken and Augusta attractions:

• Aiken Center for the Arts
  Art exhibits, classes, and a great store are what you can find at this creative center located in the heart of downtown Aiken.
  (803) 641-9094
  122 Laurens St SW
  Aiken, SC 29803
  5.7 miles from hotel
• Downtown Augusta, Ga
  Stroll the lovely downtown riverwalk, learn something new at the National Science Center's Fort Discovery or marvel at topiaries in the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame & Botanical Gardens.
  (706) 724-4067
  15 miles from hotel
• Historic Downtown Aiken
  Explore Aiken's historic homes and estates on the Aiken Historic Homes Tour. This popular walking tour departs from the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Aiken.
  (803) 649-2221
  5.5 miles from hotel
• Hitchcock Woods
  A privately owned 2,000 acre piece of land on the east side of Aiken that is open for public use. The property features trails perfect for strolling and equestrian events.
  (803) 642-0528
  South Boundary and Laurens St.
  Aiken, SC 29801
  5.3 miles from hotel
• Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame & Hopeland Gardens
  If horses are your passion, this is the place for you! The Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame is on the grounds of historic Hopelands Gardens and celebrates thoroughbred racing from the 1940s to the present.
  (803) 642-7631
  135 Dupree Pl
  Aiken, SC 29801
  4.8 miles from hotel
• Montmorenci Vineyards
  Aiken's own international award-winning winery. Tours and wine tastings are offered.
  (803) 649-4870
  2989 Charleston Hwy
  Aiken, SC 29801
  8.2 miles from hotel
• USC Aiken
  This four-year university was founded in 1961 and offers undergraduate and graduate programs.
  (803) 641-3305
  Etherredge Center
  471 University Pkwy
  Aiken, SC 29801
  8.9 miles from hotel

Driving Directions:
From Columbia, take I-20 West for 55 miles to either exit 22 (Hwy. 1) or exit 18 (Hwy. 19). Both routes lead into downtown Aiken. From Augusta (Georgia), take I-20 East, getting off at either exit 18 or 22.

About Aiken:
To those of you desiring more than a casual glance, welcome to historic Aiken. Come and experience our town with its beautiful parkways and shaded streets, its double avenues and historic mansions. Enjoy a bit of our intriguing folklore, learn about Aiken's historic railroad and the Winter Colony influence. The South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company was established in 1828. William Aiken, president of the Railroad Company and one of South Carolina's leading cotton merchants, hired Horatio Allen, a distinguished engineer who later built the Brooklyn Bridge, to build a railroad from Charleston to Hamburg, South Carolina, a site on the Savannah River. Work began in 1830 and on October 2, 1883, the first train arrived in the newly established town of Aiken, named in honour of the first railroad president. In 1834, engineers Alfred Dexter and C. O. Pascalis laid out the town with its wide streets and parkways, and Aiken was chartered in 1835. Aiken attracted many visitors, particularly wealthy Charlestonians who spent their summers at the "place of retreat from the heat and malaria of unhealthier regions." In 1865, as the War Between the States neared a conclusion, Confederate General Joseph Wheeler took his position in the town of Aiken to oppose Sherman's raid and put an end to the Union advance westward. It was one of Sherman's rare defeats along the way.

Aiken recovered quickly from the War and in 1870 began to attract wealthy Northerners, who were lured to the area by the opportunities for equestrian sports, thus establishing Aiken's celebrated "Winter Colony." Among those who wintered here was Thomas Hitchcock, who with the Whitney's established the tract of land known as Hitchcock Woods for public use. The restorations experienced in houses and churches reflect the wealth and sophistication of the population during the Winter Colony era and illustrate its impact on the community. Hayne Avenue, Colleton, Avenue, South Boundary and Whiskey Road are old, fashionable residential avenues which attracted both local residents and winter visitors to build beautiful homes. Historic downtown Aiken continues to serve as a vibrant business hub for the community and provides a unique identity and charm for the area.