We need pointing in right direction - where to start looking? (Columbia: sales, HOA)

[FiveHorses]

This is a relocation + horse/equestrian question.

I need help whittling down to an overall area - here's the criteria:
We (just myself and my husband) need to be, more or less, a 60 min. drive from either the Greenville or Columbia airport (NOT peak times). This is not to say that if it's a 1.20 hr drive it's out of the question, no. It's just a basic parameter.
No school aged children, so no school districts to worry about.
A more rural area.
No need for cultural events or entertainment.
We like small towns. Cities, to me anyway, are I something I drive to in order to get to an airport. I usually find the quickest way in and the quickest way out.
No need for fancy restaurants.
I'd love a decent public library (but that's far from a deal breaker).
I'd be hoping to find friendly people.
Building from scratch isn't an option. We're looking for a house + acreage.

Now here's what I'm looking for - but the question is where to look for it?
Horse friendly/oriented area - with a particular emphasis on access to trails.
Some low-key events/shows locally. I'm a bit long in the tooth to think I'll make the Olympic squad at this point. I do like compete if only for to measure my own improvement.
I don't mind HOA restrictions as long as they are not over the top. I looked at one recently (not in SC I hasten to add) where they wanted to dictate the number of domestic pets we could have. By and large, I'd prefer to stay away from sub-divisions unless it was a pretty laid back one where the emphasis was on solely on riding. Other than that I tend to have a problem with people telling me how to run my life - let alone how many dogs and cats they deem I'm capable of looking after.

We have 5 horses. I ride and compete at PURELY an amateur level in the English disciplines. But as I stated before, access to trails is equally, if not slightly more, important.
We're flexible on the housing - the location is more important.

After going and searching on various threads and then going away and doing the research... I don't think Aiken (forgive me if the spelling is incorrect) is the place for me, but I could be wrong. There might be all sorts of things in all sorts of "leagues", but I thought it did tend to cater to the more serious/more professional rider. (I am serious about my riding, but I'm not a professional nor do I intend to be!)

With five horses I'm really looking for a bare minimum of about 8 acres really. Rocky soil is a no-go. Hills would be devine!

I'd be grateful for any advice.
Thanks in advance.

[cuebald]

There are a number of options for you. i would suggest a trip to town to look around, since you are the only one who knows exactly what you want.

Try the Batesburg-Leesville area in western Lexingtion county, and don't pass up lunch at Shealy's BBQ.

Hopkins, about ten miles from downtown to the east side of Columbia out 76-378 towards Sumter/Myrtle Beach in Richland County. You can hide as well out there as you can in Montana.

Saluda County is beautiful but a little more primitive. I t has the advantage of being close to lake Murray if you ever have a desire.

The Richland County Public Library is a nice facility, and available to out-of-county members for a $55/year fee. The Friends of the Library has quarterly book sales of donated books to benefit the library, offering great bargains.

Good luck with your search. Come back after you have had a chance to visit if you have any more questions.

[FiveHorses]

Originally Posted by cuebald

Hopkins, about ten miles from downtown to the east side of Columbia out 76-378 towards Sumter/Myrtle Beach in Richland County. You can hide as well out there as you can in Montana.

- Sounds like my kind of place!

Thanks for the suggestions and I'll go away and research. Due to time constraints, I need to have a pretty good, solid idea of where we think we want to be before I go on a house-hunting expedition - so please keep suggestions coming!

Can anyone suggest any good MLS's for Columbia &/or Greenville.
Many thanks.

[PalmettoGuy]

Have you looked into Camden? It's a small town with an active equestrian community, under an hour to Columbia.

[FiveHorses]

I have had a look at what's available around there, but there's not much that suits us at the moment. I'm concentrating on Aiken at the moment. I think I had been too hasty in forming an impression about the area and there does seem to be something for everyone around there.

[Sheri Sanders]

FiveHorses,

There are several places in the Upstate of South Carolina that meet your criteria. Dacusville, Travelers Rest, and the Powdersville area are just a few. There are 2 MLS's that you will need to search for all of your options. If I can help you in any way, just let me know.

[Ceezer]

I'll toss Wedgefield out as an option for you. You'd be about an hour from the airport in Columbia, and about 20 minutes from Sumter, which has a great new public library, is easy to get around in, and has the basics for daily living. Wedgfield sits on 261, and if you continue out that way another 8 miles it will take you to Manchester State Forest & Poinsette State Park, which has equestrian trails. It shouldn't be difficult to find property out there with enough land for your horses.

Another recommendation would be Lee County, maybe on 15 between Bishopville & Sumter. Very pretty out that way and I know there are several horse farms, though I'm not sure about trails off-hand. Geographically, you'd also probably be about an hour from the airport here, 15 minutes from Sumter, and also fairly close to Florence. I've mentioned here before that if schools weren't a concern for me and I had money to buy land, I'd probably build out there.

[scyogi]

Aiken (zip code 29803 & 29801). It meets more than all of your request.

Small town with a typical main street--but a really active downtownwith great city planning IMO.
Decent public library (I actually really liked it)
Huge Horse community with access to trails in Hitchcock woods (The Hitchcock Woods | Aiken, SC). Over 63 miles of well marked trails in over 2000 acres of wooded, sandy, hilly terrain. Has a horse ring in the center of the woods and really fun Horse Show once a year.
All types of 'horse' people from the snotty to the mom & pop who just like to ride.
About 1 hour to the Columbia airport
Farm/homes with land in town and well as the outer ring of Aiken

We lived there for 10 years (without horses) and loved the town and the people. It is worth checking out if you fly into Columbia.