Whether you love history, golf, gardens or horses, you’ll enjoy an overnight stay at Rose Hill Estate in Aiken, South Carolina. The charming town of Aiken is home to numerous equestrian events, as well as hosting golf afficionados (the Masters is held in nearby Augusta, Georgia.) Historic civil war re-enactments are held all over South Carolina, including Aiken and Camden, because there is so much history in this part of the country. I learned this, and more, during a visit to horse-centric Aiken.
I arrived at night to Rose Hill Estate, after picking up my rental car at the Augusta Airport. Talk about Southern hospitality; a woman overheard that I was headed to Aiken and she said, “follow my car and I’ll show you to your hotel.” It seems that everyone in this little town knows Rose Hill Estate. No surprise, as the bed and breakfast is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Follow my car and I’ll show you to your hotel.” Southern Hospitality is alive and well in Aiken, South Carolina.
Built in 1898, the charming garden estate in downtown Aiken offers 9 rooms in the original house, as well as a restaurant and wedding chapel on property. The Dutch Colonial shingle style house is unique to these parts of South Carolina and is a fine example of a lovingly restored Antebellum winter home. If you are curious about the history or architecture of the property, Innkeeper Eva Mueller and her son Stephen will happily give you a tour.
If you enjoy gardening or simply enjoy flowers, you’ll want to stroll the 4.5 acre grounds. There is a cozy wedding chapel on property, as well as The Greenville Cottage, a 3 bedroom, 3 bath house on property for short term rental. I’m told the bed & breakfast is a popular location for weddings and special events. Additionally, the estate has Stables Restaurant on site. The restaurant once served as the stable to the estate. Notice the dutch door barn doors and horse shoe wrought iron chairs in front of the restaurant and horse-themed bar within the restaurant.
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In addition to a bed and breakfast, Rose Hill Estate has served as the home of the Garden Club of Aiken, the Girl Scouts of America Aiken Chapter and the Aiken Center for the Arts. It’s also home to one of the best bourbon bars in South Carolina. If cocktails are your thing, try Red Harbor Rum from Charleston, South Carolina, a colonial style rum. Popular during Revolutionary America, two college grads from South Carolina have reintroduced colonial rum with their local brand, Red Harbor Rum. Rose Hill Estate is home to a rum club and is a great place to sample all sorts of Southern libations.
All rooms include complimentary wifi, as well as a home cooked, made to order breakfast. The estate is also popular as a Sunday brunch location.
Room rates start at $145. Make your reservation online directly with the historic hotel.
Bed & breakfast hotel review and all photography by Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown.
