Aiken in Aiken County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Highland Park Hotel

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2010

1. Highland Park Hotel Marker

Inscription.
The Highland Park Hotel, Aiken’s first grand tourist hotel, stood atop this plateau. It was built in 1869-70 and opened in 1870. A four-story Second Empire wing built in 1874 doubled its capacity to 350 guests. Open from November to June, it was at first favored by visitors coming to Aiken for their health and later by wealthy Northerners who wintered here and formed the “Aiken Winter Colony” in the 1890s.

(Reverse text):
Interior features included men’s and ladies’ billiard rooms and a bowling alley. The grounds included tennis and croquet courts, stables and riding trails, walking trails, and a pavilion. The hotel burned in 1898, and this site became a park. A new Highland Park Hotel, a Spanish Colonial Revival building, opened here in 1915. Originally 80 rooms, it was later enlarged to 125 rooms. That hotel was demolished in 1940.

Erected 2008 by The Aiken County Historical Society. (Marker Number 2-42.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 33° 33.539′ N, 81° 43.57′ W. Marker is in Aiken, South Carolina, in Aiken County. Marker is on Highland Park Drive near Highland Park Terrace SW, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Aiken SC 29801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Legare-Morgan House (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dibble Memorial Library (approx. 0.2 miles away); Plutonium-238 for Space Exploration (approx. 0.2 miles away); Woodmen Of The World (approx. 0.2 miles away); The S.C. Railroad (approx. 0.2 miles away); South Carolina Canal & Rail Road Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fallout Shelter (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hofmann (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Thaddeus Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fred B. Cavanaugh (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aiken.

Also see . . .
1. Aiken Winter Colony Historic District I. Aiken Winter Colony Historic District I is significant as the area in Aiken most closely associated with the Winter Colony and the horse industry. (Submitted on January 5, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

2. Aiken Winter Colony Historic District II. Aiken Winter Colony Historic District II is significant as an intact collection of properties associated with the Aiken Winter Colony. (Submitted on January 5, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

3. Aiken Winter Colony Historic District III. Aiken Winter Colony Historic District III is important as an intact collection of residences constructed for and rented by winter residents. (Submitted on January 5, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Highland Park Hotel Marker, reverse side image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 14, 2010

2. Highland Park Hotel Marker, reverse side

Highland Park Hotel Marker, seen near Highland Park Terrace SW image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 14, 2010

3. Highland Park Hotel Marker, seen near Highland Park Terrace SW

Highland Park Hotel Marker seen along Highland Park Drive image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 14, 2010

4. Highland Park Hotel Marker seen along Highland Park Drive

Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,511 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 22, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.