Nestled among majestic oak and magnolia trees, with lagoons, marshes, and acres of open green space and exotic wildlife, lies a Lowcountry paradise unlike any other. Rose Hill Plantation is in the heart of the Lowcountry, literally. It’s nearly equidistant from Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, and Savannah, and an easy drive to Charleston, with all the art, dining, and shopping available in beautiful Bluffton.
As morning breaks, a misty blanket of fog lingers over the polo field.
The origin of Rose Hill Plantation and the history of the Kirk family, the original settlers there, can be traced back to the mid 1600s when King Charles II granted a charter to eight English noblemen to colonize the Carolinas. The Kirk family retained the property until the early part of the 20th century. In 1981, The Rose Hill Plantation Development Company (the Welton family) developed Rose Hill Plantation into a gated community of approximately 1,000 homesites, with an equestrian center and a golf course.
Today Rose Hill offers residents a variety of lifestyle options – from quaint patio home communities and large golf fairway homesites, to equestrian estates and marshfront properties with panoramic views of the Colleton River. Within the nearly 2,000 acres is an 18-hole golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, equestrian center, the newly renovated Colleton Point Pavilion, acres of park land, and a host of other amenities including deepwater access. The community is nearly built out, with only 46 unimproved homesites remaining.
With elegance and grace, this blue heron presides over the par 5 green.
“I’ve heard Rose Hill residents say they love living in Rose Hill because it embodies the ideal of Lowcountry living, and I couldn’t agree more,” said Crystal Higginbotham, Rose Hill Property Owners Association general manager. “However, I believe the beauty of Rose Hill goes beyond that. Not only do we enjoy diversity in our wildlife and homes, but within our residents. The community plays host to many different backgrounds, whether you are new to the area or a lifelong Blufftonian, from young families just starting out, to empty nesters and retirees.”
Rose Hill property values and real estate sales continue to increase, attributing to the near-total built out status. Higginbotham points out that Rose Hill is a thriving community fortunate enough to have multiple volunteer committees and several resident clubs that make Rose Hill an enjoyable and fulfilling place to live.
The social committee plans large-scale events with the goal of bringing members together, including the Fourth of July Festival, Fall Festival, a Holiday Dinner Dance, and an Easter Egg Hunt. The communications committee produces a quarterly newsletter and schedules educational seminars with guest speakers. There is something for everyone at Rose Hill.
Rose Hill Equestrian Center 30-stall barn and meticulously maintained hunter jumper ring.
Equestrian Center
Many of the multi-acre tracts in the community are lovely estate homes, some with charming horse barns. Enthusiasts can ride on miles of meandering greenbelt trails throughout the north side of the plantation. The 50-acre professionally managed Equestrian Center offers a 30-stall barn, four wash areas, and both main and dressage riding arenas, grass riding area, a polo field and staff quarters onsite.
Heather Jenkins, Rose Hill Equestrian Center operator and Hunter Jumper show trainer, has more than 45 years in the saddle and 20 years of operating her own farm. She has experience riding, training, sale/consignment, and teaching as a professional in the hunter-jumpers, and she enjoys working with multiple disciplines of all levels.
“The Rose Hill community is a Lowcountry gem and a horse person’s dream,” Jenkins said. “Not only is our Equestrian Center located in an idyllic Lowcountry setting, but it’s just a walk, golf cart ride, or quick hack away from the homesites. I am proud to operate my business in a facility that boasts the only polo field in our area, an Olympic-sized dressage ring, show quality hunter-jumper ring, and a grass cross-country course. I couldn’t have asked to be part of a more supportive and collaborative community.”
Jenkins has eagerly implemented improvements to the interior of the barn and has plans for exterior improvements as well. She believes that being in Rose Hill gives her the ability to provide high-level service to residents and outside clients of all ages. Services include standard full board; training, consignment, rehab, and show board; lesson packages; and International Equestrian Association team.
Annually, the Rose Hill community hosts exciting polo events. This year, two Polo for Charity Classics are scheduled, one in the spring (April 7) and one in the fall (November 10). To learn more, visit RoseHillEquestrianClub.com
Annually, the rose Hill community hosts exciting polo events. This year, two Polo for Charity Classics are scheduled, one in the spring (April 7th) and one in the fall (November 10).
Golf Club
Whether you are fortunate enough to call Rose Hill home, vacationing, or planning a golf outing, the Rose Hill Golf Club is a neighborhood favorite. Designed by legendary Carolinas golf architect Gene Hamm, this 18-hole championship course offers an exciting experience for golfers of all skill levels.
Managed by industry leader International Golf Maintenance (IGM), the course is superbly sculptured to take advantage of the terrain and provide a variety of shot-making and course management options. The course meanders through the community, set among live oaks draped in Spanish moss, towering pine trees, and sleepy lagoons. And you are certain to encounter an array of local wildlife.
Michael Kuhn, IGM general manager at Rose Hill Plantation, has taken great pleasure in giving the course the care it deserves and seeing it improve under his watch. In fact, Rose Hill was a 2023 Finalist for Best of Bluffton Public Golf Courses.
“The course has a challenging but fun layout that unfortunately had been neglected over the years,” Kuhn said. “The greens were practically unplayable, but with lots of work, they were smooth and rolling true by the end of the summer. That progress, along with our great customer service, saw us double our rounds played over the previous year. I am excited for what the future brings as we continue to work towards our goal of making Rose Hill Golf Club a respected member of the Bluffton golf course community.”
The Golf Club has supported local charitable organizations such as Operation Patriots FOB, Meals on Wheels, Helping Hands, and the First Tee – Lowcountry. The club hosted the South Carolina 4A Conference Region 7 Girls High School Varsity Tournament this past fall, and is looking forward to hosting the Boys 4A Conference Championship this spring and the SCGA Women’s Match Play Championship in the fall.
“The IGM team at Rose Hill Golf Club has been excited about all the opportunities the golf operation has created and offered to the community,” said Mark Teed, head pro at the club. “We have a premium focus on continually elevating golf course conditions with offers to any golfer in the area as well as supporting local, resident, and county golfers in a welcoming and affordable environment. Public golf and memberships are available services with a friendly staff that is looking forward to seeing you at the club.”
Racquet Sports
Racquet sports enthusiasts benefit from a wide range of options at Rose Hill. Two well-maintained clay courts, one hard court and four pickleball courts are available to all residents. For those who enjoy bocce ball, two newly refurbished bocce ball courts are in Willow Lake Park at Rose Hill.
Within the community is the independently owned Tennisclub of the Lowcountry (TLC), which offers competitively priced memberships with discounts to residents. TLC offers members six Har-Tru lighted courts and five specialized junior courts designed for the Quickstart Junior Program, which caters to children from ages 4 to 18. Certified professional coaches offer daily clinics and private or group instruction, and junior development programs. A professionally staffed pro shop, and a clubhouse with locker and shower facilities, covered decking and kitchen access for member social events round out the amenities.
“While we have a great facility, what we love about the club are the members and their guests who come out regularly to play socially together and to participate in the variety of clinics offered,” said Jill Cox, co-owner of TLC with her husband, Gavin.
Only members can reserve a court, but programs are open to all. TLC is always looking to welcome visitors to Rose Hill, and they encourage new tennis players in the area to live in Rose Hill and make their tennis home at TLC.
Other Amenities
Rose Hill residents have many amenities that appeal to all ages. Not only do they enjoy tranquil passive parks with nature trails and vistas of tidal marshes, but they also have access to three swimming pools and a playground.
Bill Baker Park spans 50 acres of dedicated green space. A picturesque nature trail invites bikers and walkers alike. The nearly two-mile, 8-foot-wide path was completely repaved in spring 2023. A brisk ride or leisurely stroll will surely afford glimpses of Lowcountry wildlife, including herons, ibis, egrets, deer, alligators, and lots of turtles.
Colleton Point Landing is a neighborhood favorite spot for a variety of Lowcountry pastimes. Those with boats can launch from here into the Colleton River, which leads to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. Paddleboarding or kayaking takes adventurers through meandering waterways and marsh grasses, while others enjoy the fishing and crabbing dock.
For those who enjoy sunrises and sunsets, the waterside gazebo provides one of the most spectacular panoramic vistas in Beaufort County. A stunning event pavilion with a wraparound deck adorned with rocking chairs was just completed this past summer. The space, perfect for smaller weddings or other special occasions, is available to residents or the public by reservation through the Rose Hill POA office.
Residents have access to the Annex, a charming meeting facility with a lending library maintained by volunteers. It’s a perfect setting for getting together with friends for smaller social gatherings, committee meetings, or a game of cards.
The Mansion at Rose Hill
Before Steven Stempel, a developer and realtor with Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty, purchased the beloved Rose Hill Planation House in 2021, the property had sat empty for months, fueling anxiety in the community about the fate of their historical jewel.
Fortunately, those fears never materialized and the results of the renovation of what is now the Mansion at Rose Hill, a luxury VRBO and event venue, are simply stunning. With curated antique furnishings, rugs, decor, and fine china, the experience for guests has been carefully crafted for lavish enjoyment. In addition to private rentals, several weddings are booked all the way into 2025.
The Rose Hill Plantation House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Today, the Mansion at Rose Hill is a luxury VRBO and event venue.
Amenities include a private pool, gardens, outdoor smoker and propane grill, billiards room, library, games, Smart TVs, six bedrooms and six spa-like baths, offering the perfect retreat for a Lowcountry experience that dreams are made of. The Mansion sits on 12 lush acres with majestic live oaks, pecan and magnolia trees, a freshwater lagoon and saltwater marsh.
Stempel also took the time to immerse himself in the property history to establish Mansion at Rose Hill as the premier Historic Gothic Revival in the Southeast.
“We really want to be a good neighbor in Rose Hill, partnering with the POA and Social Committee to host events on the grounds,” Stempel said. “Our goal is for the Mansion at Rose Hill to be perceived as an asset to the neighborhood.”
Community
For those residing in Rose Hill Plantation it is not just having a place to live, but embracing a lifestyle with other folks who have a strong sense of community.
Whether it’s playing a game of golf or tennis, riding at the Equestrian Center, swimming at the pools, swinging at the playground, or joining neighbors at any number of social events, there is so much to discover … so much to experience.
George and Gerry Kelly agree. They have lived in Rose Hill for 30 years, relocating from Coral Springs, Florida, to enjoy all the Lowcountry has to offer and to be closer to friends from Long Island, New York.
“We love the diversity of the population in Rose Hill,” the Kellys said. “We have been very active in the community over the years. The golf course, Colleton Point Landing, Bill Baker Park, and all the magnificent scenery fits our lifestyle. We live on a pond and enjoy seeing and hearing the ‘call of the wild’ each day.”
Chris and Sarah VanGeison have called Rose Hill home for more than seven years.
“When we decided to start a family, our priority was a larger yard for our dogs and our future children to play in,” the young couple said. “After moving into the neighborhood, we realized how much Rose Hill really has to offer: the large trees, the beautiful landscape, the privacy, the security, and the amenities. Plus, so many young families have moved into the community, which is just one more reason we love it so much. It’s wonderful to see all the kids (including our four) at community events and running around on Halloween. We feel blessed to be in Rose Hill every single day.”
While lovely homes and neighborhoods abound in Beaufort County, Rose Hill is a uniquely special place – a real Lowcountry neighborhood with a wealth of amenities, lush, beautiful surroundings, an array of housing options, and an ideal location.
To learn more about life in Rose Hill Plantation, visit
