Let's Learn Mt. Pleasant, SC by Shelley Hopkins

Let’s Learn Mt. Pleasant

Walking along the old Pitt St Bridge

One of the very exciting aspects of moving to a new area is having the opportunity to discover new locations and to explore.  I am now selling real estate, and so I have an excuse to go out, drive neighborhoods, walk, and learn about my local towns.  I need to know as much as possible about each of the towns and communities that are near me, and since I don't enjoy sitting at a desk for very long, I am happily out walking and photographing the local neighborhoods.  This is the description I wrote for one of the nearby towns, Mt. Pleasant.  My office is located here, and many people relocating to the Charleston area end up in this community.  I started my explorations along an interesting and historical street.

Pitt Street Bridge that once connected Mt. Pleasant and Sullivan's Island

             Pitt Street is one of the most interesting and historical areas of an already historical town.   One end of Pitt Street is full of old buildings with shops, a bakery, and a few historical markers.  Follow the narrow street past old homes, huge live oaks, flowers bordering little white fences, and more historical markers.  At the other end of Pitt Street the road dead-ends at the Pickett Bridge Recreational area.  You can park your car and walk to the end of the causeway that leads towards Sullivan’s Island.  This is the area of the old bridge, or series of bridges that had connected Mt. Pleasant and the island.  Before the revolutionary war barrels and planks formed the first bridge.  The crew of the H.L. Hunley crossed this unique bridge to test pilot the confederate submarine at Breaches inlet.  Later a trolley bridge replaced the barrel and plank bridge, and then a drawbridge replaced the trolley bridge.  The drawbridge was dismantled in 1945, and now traffic enters Sullivan’s Island by the Ben Sawyer highway.  This park is a great place to enjoy the scenery and views of Charleston harbor, bird watch, launch a kayak and fish.  People that live in the Old Village neighborhood, along Pitt Street and the adjoining roads are easily able to walk past these old homes and out to the causeway any time they want.  If you walk along these streets you may come to a play park and the Alhambra Hall.  People were picnicking on the grounds of this beautiful building when I was there, and I enjoyed the views of the Charleston harbor from a shaded bench behind the Hall.  This building was built 300 years ago as a dance hall for local Charlestonians.  Now it is used for weddings and community events.

 Charles Pinckney Home site

Demonstration of rice growing at Charles Pinckney Home site

            Snee Farms was built on land that used to be owned by Charles Pinckney, a SC signer of the Constitution.  The location of his former home is now a National Park Historic Site, and is an excellent place to visit and learn about Pinckney’s life and the early years of South Carolina.  Visitors can walk along paths through the marsh, stop and view a teaching example of rice growing, and can stroll by the locations of former slave cabins.  Stones mark the outlines of the cabins, allowing visitors to see the sizes of these homes.  Snee Farms is a neighborhood that has mixed condominiums, smaller homes and larger homes with generous lots sizes.

One of the many neighborhoods in Park West

            Park West is a huge community with schools, shops, a recreation center, a church, and after driving through several round a bouts you find many neighborhoods of varying price ranges and styles.  Some areas feel newer, and others have the old established appearance.  At the end of one of the streets in Park West I found a parking area with a community dock and I walked out to enjoy relaxing marsh views.

            The Brick Yard is a neighborhood built on the banks of the Horlbeck Creek, and has many homes with marsh or creek views.  There are running and bike trails as well as the usual amenities, pools, playgrounds and sports fields. 

             A few of the other well known neighborhoods include Ivy Place, the Brickyard, Dunes West, Laurel Lakes and I’on.

Shem Creek,with shrimp boats and kayaks

            Mt Pleasant is a great place to live and enjoy the outdoor life.  Most of the neighborhoods include walking paths, and there are many parks and trails to enjoy.  If shopping is your thing, there is Town Center, and there are many antique malls and shops scattered about town.  The farmers market is almost a cultural event in its own right.  There are many wonderful restaurants, kayaking tours and paddle boat rentals on Shem creek, places to buy shrimp right off the boats, and lots and lots of history.  

If you are interested in house surfing in Mt. Pleasant please visit my real estate page,  ShelleyHouseHunters.com