Westminster Real Estate
Welcome to Westminster – a small town with Southern charisma, scenic wonders, and historic appeal. There’s something alluring about a rural town quietly nestled between city life and untouched wilderness. It’s a bridge to the best of both worlds. Located in the southwest part of Oconee County in proximity to both I-85 and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Westminster is a fascinating town home to festive, fun-loving folks and charming, turn-of-the-century houses.
History
Founded in 1874, Westminster’s initial appeal was its location on the railroad between Charlotte, NC, and Atlanta, GA. It was merely a water stop that evolved into a flourishing railway town. Its expansion most notably peaked in the 1920s with the development of banks, a Ford dealership, and lucrative apple orchards.
Westminster’s location is currently part of one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S. and today, this small area of 3.4 square miles is home to 2,385 residents. The homes in this town are rich in history as many of them are distinct structures from the 1800s.
Scenery
Located in the foothills at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Westminster is a rural area surrounded by fertile farmland and prosperous apple orchards. Here, you’ll find waterfalls, lakes, and rivers in all directions and only a few miles from the heart of town. Opportunities for outdoor fun are limitless!
Chattooga Belle Farm is a thriving, 198-acre farm and u-pick orchard with something for everyone. They even have a distillery, bistro, and wedding venue! The views are breathtaking in every season. Nearby is the Chattooga River – a wild and scenic free-flowing river descending from western North Carolina that also served as the stunning setting for the movie, “Deliverance” starring Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight. This river is open to rafters, tubers, swimmers, and fishers. Besides recreation, the Chattooga River offers a variety of plant life, geologic value, history, and overall exceptional scenery.
Other attractive bodies of water include Lakes Jocassee, Keowee, and Hartwell – all within miles of town. There are also beautiful waterfalls such as Riley Moore Falls and Brasstown Falls. The Riley Moore Falls are located in Sumter National Forest at the end of an easy hiking trail. This area is chock-full of photo ops and even has a swimming hole to indulge in during the summer. Brasstown Falls are Oconee’s most-visited falls and the moderate hiking trail has recently been revamped with new timber stairs and bridges for safer passage. This area also provides stunning views and a wide variety of thriving ecology.
Community
Westminster is most widely known for the annual Apple Festival the week after Labor Day where locals delight in food, drinks, games, arts, and crafts. The apple market in Westminster genuinely is the cream of the crop. You’ll even see a giant, glistening red apple painted on the town’s main water tower.
Artistic expression is important to Westminster’s community. The Gateway Arts Center celebrates the area’s “Blue Grass Roots” with a grand mural depicting significant bluegrass musicians and their instruments on the side of the building. The town welcomes musicians to express talents in bluegrass, gospel, and classic country year-round. Formal art classes and programs are also available to community members, students, young children, and professional artists organized by volunteers dedicated to supporting the arts in this small-town community.
Next to apples, music, and art, Westminster takes pride in its bar-b-que! Brasstown Creek Gathering Place is a gem of a bar-b-que joint. It’s tucked away just outside of town but feels like home. It has plenty of space outside for the kids to play, a cozy fire pit, and a babbling brook, and offers some of the best bar-b-que in the upstate. It’s a wonderful place for a southern community to gather and enjoy the outdoors and good food any time of the year.
If you’re looking for a golfing community, then you’re in the right place. Westminster is home to Chickasaw Point Golf Club – a scenic 18-hole golf course right on Lake Hartwell with an inspiring Appalachian backdrop. The Chickasaw community in itself is a family-oriented and friendly group of people who love life on the lake, on the green, and everything in between.
Westminster has many gorgeous houses on the market, an open-hearted community, and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. It’s the perfect place to call home no matter where you come from.