Aiken, South Carolina: Exploring the Historic Winter Colony and Horse Racing Legacy

Recently voted one of the best small towns in America—wintering in Aiken, South Carolina has a rich history. It began in the 1800s when people from The North (New York, Boston, etc.) fled to the medicinal pine forests of the region.

Historic Charm

First timers driving around Aiken immediately feel the historic charm. Many of Aiken’s town buildings are on the Historic Preservation List. And their Farmer’s Market is the oldest in South Carolina!

Check out my Visitor’s Guide to wintering in Aiken, South Carolina.

South Boundary road Oak Stand. Image may be subject to copyright

Hitchcock Woods, Image provided by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

Interestingly to me, my friend, who grew up near Aiken, and was actually quite surprised to hear I was spending a month snowbirding in Aiken. Evidently, not a destination for those outside the horse world until the last 5 years or so, the locals report Aiken really began to reawaken around 2018.

I learned that wintering in Aiken, South Carolina has a rich history. It began in the 1800s when people from The North fled to the medicinal pine forests of the region which were evidently great for one of life’s simple pleasures—breathing (…malaria and fevers and all that).

According to Discover Aiken County:

Rice and indigo planters found the dry pine-scented air good for breathing ailments. Wealthy northerners began visiting during the harsh winters and the Aiken area was transformed into The Winter Colony. It was a place to let loose, away from the New York society columnists!

Historic cottages and dirt roads remain in the center of town known as the Aiken Winter Colony District https://schpr.sc.gov/index.php/Detail/properties/11659

Images provided by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

Aiken & Horses

This trend continued and with people in the 1800s came horses. One thing led to another and Aiken became one of the Horse Racing industry’s most notable locations. I heard locals often citing, “It used to be THE thoroughbred breeding capital.” Ocala, Florida has been on the rise. Evidently, the weather in Ocala is good for people but not for horses.

Luckily, I learned Aiken was horse country before I arrived. Though suddenly seeing horses everywhere would’ve been a lovely surprise! I had mentioned my various Snowbird destinations to a horse friend in Minnesota, and she said many of her friends fly (drive) south with their horses to Aiken. I just love it when pets get to join the Snowbird flock!

Image may be subject to copyright.

One misty morning, after we had breakfast at the Track Kitchen, my Aiken neighbor friend (a carriage driver from Pennsylvania) and I saw what may have been one of those 2-year-old race horses on the breezing track! We ran into some horse people from Iowa who were born in St. Paul, Minnesota. At the historic Track Kitchen, after I gawked at all the horsey photos on the wall, my neighbor and I drank English Breakfast tea and chatted about our visits to London—hers in the 1970s and mine in the 2000s.