For many of the full and part-time residents of the luxury golf and lake communities in which Justin Winter & Assoc. | Forbes Global Properties sells, summer weekends on Lake Keowee are the zenith of the week … and of the year!
The average age of our population drops significantly, as part-timers and permanent residents’ family members with school-aged children on summer holidays head to the cool air of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the refreshing waters of Lake Keowee. Pantries and refrigerators are stocked to overflowing with ice cream, steaks, hot dogs, beer, burgers, chips, and popsicles. Many prudent cooks have frozen casseroles and prepared meals in reserve, because days spent on the lake are often long and action-packed.
For those expecting hoards of young guests, the popular bunkrooms in many of our listings are made up with fresh linens. Jigsaw puzzles are laid out on the table, ski-ropes detangled, and inner tubes patched. Stacks of beach towels are freshly laundered and set in baskets by the door to the lake. Tee times are generally set for early in the day or later in the evening on the award-winning golf courses within the communities: The Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses at The Reserve at Lake Keowee and at the Cliffs at Keowee Falls South, and the Tom Fazio courses at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards and The Cliffs at Keowee Springs.
The Marina at Keowee Vineyards offers various water toys for sale, from floating rings for youngsters to enormous tubes for the big kids and the young at heart. Those who plan ahead often fill their boats with gas at either the Vineyards Marina or the Marina at the Reserve before the onslaught of the weekend.
The scene is set for some of the best summer fun to be had anywhere!
Of course, Lake Keowee is the focus of the activity, with its crystal-clear, warm and generally calm waters. Nearby, Lake Jocassee and Lake Hartwell are also popular spots. Boats can either be hauled to or rented at either venue, and Lake Jocassee offers the added benefit of the numerous waterfalls that tumble into its waters and deserted beaches upon which to picnic. Within the Cliffs at Falls South community, the ever-popular waterfall cove is a nucleus of activity. There’s almost always a fun crowd to be found there, with ongoing games of beach volleyball or water polo. There are also several “jumping off rocks” and public beaches sprinkled around the lake. The numerous coves and the 300 miles of shoreline and 18,500 surface acres of water comprising Lake Keowee alone are perfect for swimmers, kayakers or canoeists.
If there are those in your party who prefer the tamer waters of a pool, the choices are numerous. The resort-style pool complex at The Reserve incorporates a swim-through grotto, pool “beach” and water spouts, in addition to its open pool area. A similar configuration is to be found at the new Keowee Falls South Sports, Activity & Wellness Park, with tennis courts and fitness centre adjacent. The Keowee Vineyards pool has the added advantage of proximity to the members’ beach and boat dock areas of the Marina. And the Beach Club at the Cliffs at Keowee Springs has it all: car and boat accessibility, a beach, pool with water slides and snack bar.
Natural fun is available for all in the refreshing, spring-fed water at Long Shoals Roadside Park, just off Scenic Highway 11, between Keowee Vineyards and the Keowee Falls clubs, and just a short drive north of The Reserve. The water-worn granite of the shoal forms a natural rock slide with several swimming holes along the way, and vast stretches of sun-warmed granite, perfect for setting up chairs, blankets and picnics.
Water activities always seem to whet the appetite more than any other, and dockside picnics are a perennial favorite. Delicious lunches may also be found at the Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards’ Lakehouse Restaurant, with its dockable access and relaxed dining atmosphere. For members of The Reserve at Lake Keowee, the snack bar at the pool complex or delicious sandwiches from The Market are popular choices. Further down the lake, the Tiki Hut and The Lighthouse Restaurant are both accessible by boat.
At day’s end, Lake Keowee is generally blessed with spectacular sunsets and later, the flicker of campfires along the lakeshore. The clean, cool mountain air and the quiet of thousands of acres of surrounding state park is broken only by the noise of crickets and tree frogs, ensuring a well-earned night’s slumber. Contact Justin Winter’s team if you are looking for luxurious homes for sale on Lake Keowee, SC today!
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