Ridge Water offers lakeside living in Simpsonville

Inspired by the hill towns of Europe, Simpsonville’s Ridge Water development welcomes visitors with rolling hills, wooded homesites and plenty of green space. With four homes currently under construction, the community will host the Greenville Home Builders Association’s Parade of Homes to be held Oct. 16—19 and 23—26.

Located off Fairview Road about five miles from I-385, the neighborhood borders Lake Beulah, a 100-acre lake that is part of the watershed for Laurens County, according to Richard Merritt of Merritt Custom Homes.

Merritt, who is developing the community along with fellow builders Jim Simons of Simons Homes, Keith Smith of Keith Smith Builders, and Don Allen of Summit Homes, said the community will have 92 homes when complete. Homesites range in size from just over half an acre to over two acres, and are available to builders and the public.

“The common area borders the lake and several lots back up to the common area,” Merritt said. “About 70 percent of the lots are heavily wooded with large hardwoods.”

Keith Smith said Ridge Water is designed to be a destination where homeowners can relax and enjoy outdoor activities, with plenty of open space to play.

“We’re trying to develop a community where you can get off work and come home to a place where you can take a hike by the lake, jog, swim, fish, canoe or bike, or just relax and enjoy nature,” he said. “Once you’re home, you can leave the world behind.”

Smith said the neighborhood will be gated for security, and for safety reasons the pool will be built at a distance from the lake.

“There will be two different venues for recreation, with the pool on one end and the lake on the other,” he said. “There will be quite a bit of green space, the trail by the lake, and sidewalks.”

Don Allen said with almost 100 acres of gently rolling hills, the community has homesites suitable for almost every type of construction, including walk-out basements, as well as two corner lots.

Allen said the amenities for Ridge Water will be built in a French country architectural style, and the homes will also have a European look. The new neighborhood will have uniform mailboxes, and decorative street signage and lampposts. The entrance will be stone with wrought-iron gates.

Merritt said the developers have also worked together to develop the Tuxedo Park and Greythorne subdivisions. Individually, they have built homes in many upscale communities in the Upstate.

Construction in Ridge Water will be open to the owners’ choice of builders so long as covenants and architectural standards are met, Smith said. An architectural review committee consisting first of developers, later of homeowners, will determine restrictive covenants.

Allen said the location is convenient to I-385, the Southern Connector, and the shopping area of Fairview Road, yet still retains a rural feel.

“It’s a beautiful drive,” he said. “It’s like being out in the country.”

Directions: From I-385, take Exit 27 Fairview Road. Turn right and go approximately five miles. Ridgewater is on the left.