Living on Lakes & Rivers

LIVING ON LAKES AND RIVERS

In the Midlands, There’s Something For Everyone

There’s something about the water. It soothes, relaxes, reinvigorates, inspires. No wonder more Midlands residents yearn to live beside it, either to wake up every morning and sip coffee overlooking Lake Murray, or walk each day beside the rippling Saluda River.

Greater Columbia has no shortage of water features that attract residents and recreation-seekers alike. Living on lakes or rivers remains a dream for many, who see it as the ultimate way of adding beauty and tranquility to their day.

“It’s really the view and the serenity of it all,” says Joe Jur, owner of Vesta Builders. “It’s nice to be able to look out onto a body of water that’s quiet and peaceful.” Yet living by the water in the Midlands is not a one-size-fits-all prospect. Lifestyles, price points and home design can fluctuate depending on whether you’re near the river or on the lake. The good news is, there’s something for everyone— it’s just a matter of finding it.

Life on the lake

Five years ago, lots on Lake Murray could be found for less than $200,000. But the popularity of lake living has made lots harder to find, and increased the price of the those that remain—often to $300,000 and up, builder R.B. Gallup says.

“The availability is very slim, and it’s becoming more expensive,” says Gallup, partner at Gallup & LaFitte. “Lake Murray has a lot of fishing shacks, for lack of a better term—small, cinderblock houses built in the 1950s and not worth renovating. A lot of people are buying those, demolishing them, and building a new house.”

Many Lake Murray residences are not connected to municipal sewer and water. That necessitates use of a septic tank and well, which come with regulations—septic systems must be at least 75 feet from the lake, for instance, and wells must be 75 feet apart.

“That can start boxing in how much room you have to build,” Jur says. Alternatives like lake-drawn wells and engineered septic systems are more expensive. “All that needs to be sorted out before you invest a lot of money in your lot,” Jur adds.

Building a dock on Lake Murray requires 100 feet of shoreline. And homes place a premium on large windows, along with layouts that place the kitchen, dining, and living areas at the back to maximize views.

Home on Lake Murray pointe.

“A lot of people like the style of house where when they walk in the front door, they’re immediately looking through an open floor plan right at the lake,” Gallup says. “You’ve got the kitchen, great room, dining room, everything pointing out at the lake.”

Outdoor areas can include multiple covered porches, often with fireplaces and televisions. “It’s about casual living and entertaining on the lake,” Gallup says. “That’s the name of the game.”

Riverfront living

Two miles below the Lake Murray dam, it’s a different world. On the riverfront at Saluda River Club, there’s a walking/jogging trail, sand volleyball court, fire pits, a dog park and more. There are no homes; those are in the neighborhoods winding throughout the development. But the banks of the Saluda are abuzz with activity nonetheless.

View of the Saluda River from the Saluda River Club community deck.

“The people who are attracted to Saluda River Club are looking for an active, resort-type lifestyle,” says developer Andy White. “They embrace the lifestyle whether they’re actively engaged with the river or not. I would estimate that 75 percent of the people who live in the neighborhood have never dipped a toe in the river. But they use the amenities that we’ve set up to interact with the river and be a part of it.”

For the more adventurous, there are canoe/kayak launches and services that arrange kayaks or fishing trips. Many more residents simply enjoy the mile-long path that parallels the river, or amenities at the expansive Chickawa Outdoor Center.

Residences at Saluda River Club vary: from executive homes, to neo-traditional homes, to low-maintenance cottages with no yards to maintain. One thing binds them all - the Saluda River, winding its way by.

Aerial view of the Chickawa Outdoor Center on the Saluda River.

“The one thing that ties all of our different types of families together,” White says, “is the desire to be in a great location and experience the river.”

Easing flood concerns

In 2015, the Midlands faced historic flooding. But homes on Lake Murray escaped the episode unscathed.

“We don’t have an issue with flooding on Lake Murray,” Gallup says. “Even in the 2015 flood in Columbia, they released water out of the lake. It didn’t rise up into people’s yards or anything. So it’s well-controlled.”

Living along water can prompt concerns about flooding. But some water-adjacent areas of the Midlands are largely free of flooding issues, thanks to builders and developers following local regulations.

“The guidelines for developing in or near flood-prone areas are much more advanced than they were even two decades ago,” White says. “A new set of guidelines was implemented in 2007, and as a result we don’t have even a back corner of a lot that gets water in a major event. If you’re doing modern development following current state and county guidelines, you’re not putting anybody in harm’s way.”

The counties on Lake Murray each have flood elevation lines, and flood insurance is required only if homes exceed the line. Otherwise, “you just have to work around county requirements,” Gallup says, “and ensure you’re high enough and far enough back.”

Living large

It’s just another benefit that helps make for easy living on metro Columbia’s lakes and rivers, where sunset vistas and recreation options are never in short supply.

Lake Murray is also renowned for its cleanliness, making it perfect to swim in, or even pull drinking water from. And those are the same cool, clean waters that flow through the dam and down the Saluda River, calling the residents of the Midlands home.