Success of Mount Vintage Plantation Home Owner's Association

As a current property owner and former resident of Mount Vintage Plantation, North Augusta, SC,  I put together some information.

Golf Club House the old Shaw House

   Mount Vintage Plantation has gotten so  
   much bad press caused by lawsuits and 
   bickering between Developers. Rumors  
   were flying and everyone was afraid to go
   near this beautiful place.

   I would like to set the record straight with
   my narrative. This is my opportunity to 
   highlight a premier Community of 
   interesting and active business people,
   volunteers and all around good folks from
   all across the the country and even the 
   world!

They deserve to be in the spotlight for once. You see things can change and be made better when people work together to make things happen.

Mount Vintage Plantation is a vibrant Community, only 20 minutes from downtown Augusta Georgia. In the recent past it suffered from the bickering and legal battles of it's two developers, who dragged down the beautiful Community with it.  When two children fight and get mean it can be ugly. In this case the Community, it's grounds and it's reputation suffered.

The people of Mount Vintage have always come together socially, as volunteers, as supporters when one of their own suffered a blow or a health issue. It could be a waitress at the Grille with a special needs child or a brand new neighbor whose wife was taken seriously ill. It didn't matter how well you knew the person, because the Community always rallied when a member was in need. They go above and beyond as the resident owner of the golf course did when he drove a terminally ill resident halfway across the country to be at a hospice near his children.

It's been over a year since the children stopped their bickering. Their legal battles are in the past. The Mount Vintage Community is still there and it has shown its strength.
The once beautiful 27 Hole Golf Course, badly in need of maintenance, was bought by a member of the Community and his wife, saving it from foreclosure. The challenging course is back up to it's previous standard of excellence and then some, sporting new golf carts and a welcoming attitude to new members not living at Mount Vintage.

 

One of many historic markers at Mount Vintage Plantation

The rebirth was even assisted by many residents who acted as volunteers to work on grounds maintenance in the early stages! The Golf Course has won awards and continues to host events like the Annual Carolinas/Georgia Jr. Golf Championship and  the recent 4th Annual Vintage Victors for a Cure. The latter event raised over $19,000 for cancer research at Georgia Health Sciences this year. That brings the total amount raised by Mount Vintage residents over the last four years to over $61,000, just
                        for this charity alone.

  The Community Center with it's pool, gym,
   6 clay tennis courts and Community 
   Garden, also bought by the same couple,
   has been reopened as a nonprofit to the 
   members of the Community. Participants
   all pay an annual fee and as homeowners 
   and residents, have a stake in it's 
   success. Yoga classes, Book Clubs, water
   aerobics, etc. all go on and the  
   Community Library of shared books is
                                                                               back on track with it's own room in the
                                                                               Community Center.

Those same resident owners of the golf course donated six acres to build a Fire/EMT station in the middle of the development, something they did not have to do, but did so because of the benefits to the community.

Mount Vintage Plantation is beautifully maintained by the Home Owner's Association. The group is no longer taking a back seat and now runs Mount Vintage like clockwork, with monthly financial reports, Annual Meetings, etc.

The homes at Mount Vintage are varied. Everything from a 10 acre horse farm with it's own barn, family homes spread out on 2-3 acres, houses of varying sizes and styles on 1/2 to full acres lots and small houses on a small plot of land with minimal maintenance, houses on the golf course or those with more privacy. It's all there beautifully laid out and maintained.

There are lots of all sizes too. Some are prime lots bought years ago as investment by current owners or a few other Developer lots near the new 9.

Houses and lots are for sale but what community doesn't have for sale signs posted? Attrition happens. People get transferred, houses become too big or too small, circumstances change, a spouse takes ill, plans change. Things happen.

So many rumors still abound about Mount Vintage: it's falling apart, there are legal battles, everyone is fighting and my favorite, it's too far out.

All are false; come see for yourself. Close to Rt. 520 and I20, 15 minutes to downtown North Augusta that is right over the bridge from Augusta and some of the best hospitals and medical care available. Aiken and it's horse Community is a stone's throw away and as many know, Atlanta, Charleston, Savannah, the beach and the mountains are all just a couple of hours away. Did I mention that Costco is only one exit away from Mount Vintage off of I20?

I wrote this to set the record straight for Mount Vintage and to polish up it's tarnished reputation for you. Yes I own a house and 2 lots there. No I don't live there anymore. Remember, plans change? I am not that far away and still visit friends that will be friends for life. I participate in events when possible, like the Community 4th of July Parade and Barbecue. I attend the monthly Lunch Bunch that meets at a different restaurant each month to try something new and to socialize. If I’m lucky, I’ll make the Covered Dish Pot Luck Social this month!

I continue my old friendships and make new ones. That has always been the real Mount Vintage Plantation; its people and biggest supporters. They were there to welcome me and tell me what a great place it was to live there. They and I were always there to welcome others. They have endured hardships and happy times together. Once a member of the Mount Vintage Community, always a member.

I know our house will be referred to by our last name for year's to come just like the Smith's house will always be referred to as that. It doesn't matter that they don't live there any more. They are known and loved by the Community and we were all there in spirit when Beth underwent a heart transplant in Arizona, because, as I said, once a member of the Mount Vintage Community, always a member.

Come take a ride down Sweetwater Rd into Mount Vintage Plantation Drive and see for yourself. Don't be surprised by a smiling car driver waving as they pass you by. That's Mount Vintage for you.


Please note:  In another BLOG post, I posted information about the Post Office's way of assigning addresses. Mount Vintage addresses are listed as North Augusta. However it is right on the edge of Aiken County, but is actually in Edgefield County, unlike North Augusta which is in Aiken County. This note is not intended to give you a headache. That is up to the US Post Office!