As the 19th century rolled over into the 20th, Summerville, South Carolina’s Pine Forest Inn was among the most popular resorts on the entire East Coast. Visitors with money to spend frequented the 200-room inn to play golf, hunt, watch horse races or simply enjoy the soothing scent of the area’s ubiquitous pine trees, claimed by some to be a cure for a variety of lung and throat disorders.
The once-opulent inn met its demise shortly after World War II. Today, in its place, is its namesake, a thriving community that eventually will grow to nearly a thousand homes. Some of them overlook Pine Forest Country Club, a semi-private layout that has been cited as one of the Charleston area’s top-rated courses.
Dan Ryan Builders, which has built homes in more than 40 communities in six Eastern states since 1990, currently has 21 lots in Pine Forest and is offering floor plans ranging from 1,453 square feet to 2,785 square feet. A variety of options gives buyers the opportunity to make their home a little different than that of their neighbors.
“We do some customization for our clients. A lot of builders won’t do that,” said Chris Everett, community sales manager at Pine Forest for Dan Ryan. Pine Forest has a lot to offer, according to Everett, including its proximity to historic Summerville. And Interstate 26, which leads to the new Boeing plant in North Charleston and to Charleston, is little more than five minutes away.
“Pine Forest is close to private schools and also to great public schools in the Dorchester-2 district,” he added. “It’s a family-oriented neighborhood, with everyone from families just starting out to empty nesters. The schools and the neighborhood itself are great selling points.”
“Summerville is a wonderful community,” he added. “There are a lot of things going on, such as sporting events and the farmers’ market. There’s a lot of history here. Summerville has its own downtown area, which has that quaint feel to it.”
Golf, of course, is no small part of the lure of Pine Forest. Built on the grounds of the Pine Forest Inn’s hunt club, the par 72 layout was designed by Bob Spence. Golf Digest has called the course, which plays at a challenging 6,905 yards from the championship tees, “The Hidden Gem of Charleston.” For golfers who would rather not start from the back of the box, there are four other sets of tees.
Golf certainly is important, but other recreational activities are available at Pine Forest Country Club as well. The tennis facility offers 10 lighted clay courts and a wide range of adult and junior programs, and there’s also an Olympicsized swimming pool, a toddler pool and a full-service clubhouse.
Pine Forest is currently home to around 650 families, a number that eventually will rise to around 950, Everett pointed out. He said at least part of the reason for the expected rise in the community’s population is located near Charleston International Airport.
“With Boeing being nearby, there’s going to be a large influx of people looking for homes. Many people will move here and others will be transferred here by Boeing.”
Homes built by Dan Ryan, on lots ranging from almost a quarter acre to a half acre, range in price from the low $160s to just over $200,000.
For more information on Pine Forest or Dan Ryan Builders, visit www.danryanbuilders.com or call (843) 875-1355.
