Walterboro, SC

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

You have to see it
to believe it. The Great Swamp Sanctuary makes 800 acres of Lowcountry swamp accessible. Whether you find swamps to be intriguing, or a bit on the mysterious side, there's nothing like 'em. Boardwalks, walking trails, bike paths, canoe/kayak trails, all help you navigate amidst moss-draped trees and bottom land.

WALTERBORO

Antique Shopping in Walterboro

ow this is a classic little southern town that exudes friendliness and charm.

Located within an hour of the Lowcountry’s greatest attractions (Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head, Bluffton, Savannah, Columbia, and several beaches including the beautiful Edisto Beach), Walterboro has much to keep visitors and residents praising its virtues

Hank Amundson grew up in Miami, attended college in Orlando and lived in Charlotte, NC for ten years. Several years ago, during a visit to his wife’s hometown, he fell in love.

Today, he’s economic development coordinator for the City of Walterboro, but that came about after he renovated a historic commercial building downtown, and settled into small town American life.

His wife, Ashley Heaton Amundson, wasn’t as sure she wanted to return to her roots, but recently, he asked her, “Is this what you thought it would be?”

They both laughed with satisfaction and agreed wholeheartedly that life here is better – on all accounts.

“There are more young professional couples than we ever dreamed,” he explains. “We’re frequently invited to neighbors’ houses for a barbecue, or an oyster roast."

n any given night, two or three couples might meet for dinner at the country club. Every Monday evening, folks meet for cooking classes at Carmine’s Italian restaurant downtown. There’s always something going on.”

He’s happy, and today, he shares Walterboro’s qualities with others considering such a move. How does he plan to help the town grow while retaining its considerable charms? “We’re all working together for proper zoning and property owner responsibility so that the historic aspects remain as charming as they are today.”

Walterboro has two national historic districts, plus historic downtown Main Street. When I-95 bypassed it in the late 60s, some thought the near miss spelled doom for the community which had been on the main thoroughfare between Charleston and Savannah. Now, however, that’s seen as a blessing, because the town limits have grown to include the exits and help feature and maintain the charm and character of the more classic areas of the original town.


	“I have friends in Miami and Charlotte,” Mr. Amundson mused. “They’ll ask me why I moved to a small town, and then after visiting, invariably say they understand completely. It’s the same thing with nearby Edisto Beach. I got married there and my friends initially thought they’d be bored without all the urban surroundings. A day later, they were completely delighted by the atmosphere and now, several of them come here from Miami and Charlotte for their vacations.”

He cites a bounty of cultural pluses: Historic Downtown, The Colleton Museum, The Historical Society’s Bedon-Lucas House, Slave Relic Museum, Colleton County’s Arts Council and The Colleton Center. And there’s the Tuskegee Airmen Monument. During World War II, the Walterboro Army Airfield served as a training ground for a group of Tuskegee Airmen. This monument celebrates the courage, bravery, dedication and successes of African-American Pilots that fought during that war.

For history lovers who enjoy finding the eternal treasure, there’s shopping as well. The SC Artisans Center is located in downtown Walterboro and is worth a visit from anywhere. (Read more about the Center in Carolina Adventures, page 22.)

“One of the luckiest things that ever happened to us was getting involved in Walterboro,” says David Evans, president of the Walterboro Merchants Association and six-year resident of the small community. Originally from Greensboro, with his formative years spent in New Jersey, Mr. Evans has lived all over, including New York, Nantucket and most recently, central Florida.

He and his partner, Jorge Ruiz, are antiques dealers in Walterboro, and owners of Bachelor Hill Antiques (one of 12 antique stores in the downtown area). They decided to leave the congestion of central Florida and, quite by accident, found Walterboro.

Now, Mr. Evans spearheads the downtown renaissance which has fostered the opening of new shops and excellent restaurants. “One of the wonderful things about moving to a new location is that you bring the benefits of the experiences you’ve had,” he says. “My dream was to buy a little house and participate in antique shows, but we’ve gotten so involved with our shop and this town.”

He is charmed by the friendliness of the people – a trait which must be authentic to be effective, he suggests.

It seems to be a combination of hard work and talented folks with a vision that has ushered in Walterboro’s second blossoming.

For sure, the nearby natural resources are appealing. The Great Swamp Sanctuary is a magnificent black water swamp, with almost 900 acres ideal for bird watching, hiking, walking, jogging and bicycling, canoeing and kayaking, and viewing braided streams. It’s located within the 350,000 acre ACE Basin, another remarkable natural haven with thousands of acres of public lands and a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Colleton State Park offers yet another opportunity for outdoor recreation at its finest.

Of course there’s more to life than recreation, shopping and history. Daily life includes work, education and healthcare. The thriving business community helps with the first. The county has recently made a 97 million dollar investment in its schools, upgrading facilities and adding programs to enhance education. Major investment and advances have been made at the local hospital as well. According to Mitch Mongell, CEO of Colleton Medical Center, “Our facilities, technology and dedicated hospital staff serve the citizens of Walterboro and surrounding communities by providing the highest quality care. Working together, the medical staff and employees have achieved outstanding quality results as compared to other facilities in state and national surveys. We continue to invest and grow in order to continue offering safe and satisfying service.”

Today, Walterboro represents the epitome of natural southern beauty and hospitality. Visit first, but be forewarned – you will never want to leave.

Katherine Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business and management.