Let's Learn Hanahan, SC by Shelley Hopkins

Let’s Learn Hanahan

Goose Creek Boat Ramp 

Hanahan is the hidden gem of the Charleston area.  Homes are reasonably priced, and you can find both older neighborhoods with large trees and established yards, as well as new communities with the most modern styles.  The town has one high school, and one middle school, so the students experience the feel of a small town community.  Many of the students that live in the older sections of Hanahan can walk to school.  A new town library is being built near the area that includes the new town amphitheater and the boat entrance to Goose Creek reservoir.  I have read that the reservoir, which provides the drinking water, is also one of the most alligator filled areas in South Carolina.  I don’t know if that is true, but my friends that boat on the reservoir say they would never swim in the water due to the large number of gators they see every time they go out on the water.

Hanahan is bordered by the old Naval Weapons Station, which still houses a brig, and a submarine school.  Many people that live in Hanahan work for the government, either through the base, or Boeing.  Hanahan is conveniently located to the airport and is only about 20 minutes from down town Charleston and the beaches.

Hanahan doesn’t have many walking trails, but there are sidewalks through much of the neighborhoods of the older sections of town. Boaters can launch at the Goose Creek reservoir from Madeline Ave. and float all the way to the Cooper River, or just fish and explore.  Several neighborhoods border the reservoir, including Eagle Landing and Indigo Island Reserve.  Tanner plantation has many new homes, and an entire community is being developed in the Tanner area with a grocery store, daycare, restaurants, and newer apartments.  These apartments have a nature trail that I have explored often.  From the crab dock at the end of this trail I have fished, viewed sunsets and watched a young alligator nearly walk across the water to grab the float on my husband's fishing pole.  The young gater finally grew tired of the game, released the line and swam away. 

Goose Creek behind Tanner Plantation

South Carolina is known for its old plantation homes, and Hanahan had one as well.  Yeamans Hall Plantation was established in 1674 when the Lady Margaret Yeamans received a land grant of 1,070 acres from the Lords Proprietors.  A home was built the same year. After passing through many owners, in the early 1900’s, the land was purchased to build a golf course on what was going to be a winter resort.  The golf course and club house were opened in 1926 and still exists today as a private golf course.  I drove down Yeamans Hall Rd and after crossing the railroad tracks I was stopped at the entrance to the golf course.  I told the men working at the gate that I had driven past this road many times and had no idea this place was here.  One man laughed and said it had been here a long time.  The other agreed with me, he had lived in Hanahan his whole life and never knew the golf course was there.  He thought monks lived down this Spanish moss covered drive before he had started working on the grounds.  The property seems peaceful enough for monks, but any meditation practiced here includes concentrating on hitting a little white ball far and accurately.

Homes in Tanner Plantation

Lakeview neighborhood

Some of the neighborhoods in Hanahan include Belvedere Estates, Belvedere Heights, Eagle Landing, Ortranto, Mossy Creek, Tanner Plantation, Lakeview and Yeamans Park.   

I am enjoying the research, walking and photographing of my local communities.  I hope I am not irritating blog readers with my real estate work, but perhaps you may enjoy the journey with me as I learn my new home state better.