Bluffton landmarks & hotspots

BUCKWALTER PLACE
103 Buckwalter Place Blvd.

This shopping complex offers high-quality restaurant and retail experiences. To date, the corporate headquarters for a large IT and healthcare company, a major grocery chain, a state-of-the-art entertainment facility, a cutting-edge civic law enforcement center and many others make their home at Buckwalter Place.

THE CARSON COTTAGES
Old Town Bluffton

J.J. Carson, the first owner of Carson Cottage, is renowned for rescuing Stonewall Jackson at the battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. After the Civil War, around 1890, he built the cottage for himself. Early services for the First Baptist Church of Bluffton were held here until a church building was created.  It is a one-story house with a charming front porch. Today, it is surrounded by four more recently built structures. Together, they are called The Carson Cottages.

THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS
110 Calhoun Street

This historic Episcopal Church is located on Calhoun Street in the heart of Bluffton. It was built in 1857 with fanned arches and latticed shutters. Federal troops destroyed much of the town in 1863, but the church was spared, allowing the original architecture to remain to this day — although a hurricane did damage the building in 1898. The church has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975.

FARMER’S MARKET OF BLUFFTON
40 Calhoun Street

Not much tops Thursday afternoons on Calhoun Street during the summer months. The Farmers Market of Bluffton offers locally grown vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants and herbs — and a lot more.  You can pick up fresh-off-the-boat seafood and even enjoy lunch or dinner from one of the vendors. Aside from pleasing your taste buds, you can please your other senses as well. With handmade crafts and the sound of local musicians, you can’t go wrong. So stop by from 2 to 7 p.m. and see for yourself what all the hype is about.

HEYWARD HOUSE
70 Boundary Street

Built as a summer home for a local plantation owner in 1841, the Cole-Heyward House is one of only eight antebellum houses remaining in Bluffton.  It is a perfect example of the Carolina farmhouse style brought from the West Indies and popularized during the Colonial period just before the Civil War. It served as a retreat for John J. Cole and his family to escape the summer heat, insects and disease that infested plantations in the long summer months. The Heyward family owned the home from the 1880s to 1998. The home has maintained its original architecture and structure over the past 170 years, remaining virtually identical to its original appearance. Its well-preserved condition has made it part of an official project of the Save America’s Treasures Program; it also serves as the official welcome center for the town of Bluffton.

MAY RIVER

The town of Bluffton is situation on the northern bluff of the majestic river, which winds through the Old Town area, which locals call “the last true coastal village of the South.” In the heart of Old Town, one can experience the mystery of the river with one of the many outfitters that navigate nature lovers along the waterway to view dolphins, catch shrimp or just enjoy the rhythm of the tides.

MAY RIVER THEATRE CO.
20 Bridge Street

Consistently performing top-notch shows with a local cast. If you're a theater groupie, this is the place for you. Spend a relaxing evening watching an intimate performance of live theater in the heart of the Lowcountry.

OLD TOWN BLUFFTON

You don’t want to miss historic Bluffton near the May River for some of the most unique shopping and dining in the Lowcountry. It’s all blended with colorful and creative art galleries, history up and down local streets, and dining for lunch and dinner in charming settings. Flower boxes and rocking chairs, fun garden art and sculptures, a cat or a dog lounging on a front porch store entrance, and lots of smiles await you.

THE CALHOUN STREET PROMENADE
Promenade Street

While the recession really took a toll on the Calhoun Street Promenade, businesses are coming back and booming. With new buildings and businesses, the street has almost an urban feel with a variety of restaurants, shops and specialty shops.

ROSE HILL MANSION
199 Rose Hill Way

Built in the late 1850s, the beautiful plantation house serves as a very treasured piece of Lowcountry history. Building was postponed during the Civil War, and the interior was not completed until 1947. The Welton family bought it in 1980 and in 1987 a fire destroyed much of the original architecture. The home has since been restored and is open to the public for guided history tours; reservations are necessary as it is located in a gated community. Weddings and corporate events are frequent occurrences at this historic plantation home.

TANGER OUTLETS
1414 Fording Island Road

This shopping center houses more than 2,200 name brands and designers at unbeatable outlet prices. Spend the day bargain hunting with your friends and family, finding items up to 70 percent off everyday retail prices. There are even places to dine or snack if you happen to get hungry. There are two locations in Bluffton, Tanger Center 1 and Tanger Center 2, so make sure to check where the stores you want to visit are located before venturing off.