Month: March 2024

With the arrival of spring comes the warmth that makes the Palmetto State so famous. One of the best spaces to relax at The Willcox has always been around the pool, which has undergone recent renovations in time for the spring and summer.

The Willcox now offers more room for al fresco dining and outdoor event space with the additions of fresh brickwork and an expanded layout. In addition to a larger poolside space, you might also notice a variety of landscaping enhancements surrounding the area.

Whether it’s a dip in the pool, brunch, or a celebratory event this spring, you are invited to check out these recent improvements upon your next visit!

Interested in booking your next event with us? Contact Katherine Grantham at kgrantham@thewillcox.com for more information.

This year marks the Aiken Steeplechase Association’s 57th Annual Spring Steeplechase Championship, slated for Saturday, March 23rd at the Aiken Steeplechase Racecourse. As locals and visitors alike travel to witness this historic tradition of equestrian pageantry, it’s one of Aiken’s most wondrous spring occasions. Although the big event all whittles down to equine excellence, steeplechase festivities breathe exciting energy to the City of Aiken with a carriage parade, stick horse races, hat contests, tailgate competitions, tent parties and more.

Cheers of onlookers echo as scents of spring fill the air, and women’s decorative hats and men’s seersucker suits blend seamlessly with the surrounding excitement. To help the Aiken community and its visitors get Steeplechase-ready, downtown Aiken abounds with a variety of local shops and boutiques to help you celebrate race day in classic style.

Whether you are a local or visiting this spring, Aiken’s equestrian roots are a way of life in this corner of the Palmetto State. For quintessential southern expression, explore the City of Aiken’s list of local retailers here. For more information regarding ticket purchases and how you can keep the steeplechase traditions thriving in Aiken, visit aikensteeplechase.com.

A lifelong resident of Aiken, Sissy Brodie is the definition of a Southern Belle. Some of her earliest childhood memories consist of posing on the steps of The Willcox with her little sister for family pictures. “I loved to get glimpses at the elegant woman inside. I would see their beautiful dresses and hats and listen to them stirring the sugar in their iced tea. I swear I can still hear them today,” Sissie recalls.

Her love for tea parties began in her early years, when her imagination ran wild around a miniature table adorned with play tea sets. As she grew into adulthood, her affection for timeless manners and Southern traditions never waned. This great love affair would continue to grow, eventually culminating into her famous tea parties. Little girls who received invitations to these famed gatherings would be required to send both a handwritten letter of acceptance and a thank you note in order to attend.

Along with her adoration for Southern culture, time-honored etiquette, and the lightheartedness of a graceful tea party, Sissy has also accumulated a stunning collection of hats over the years. Whether she has acquired them herself or received them as heirlooms from others in the Aiken area, Sissy refers to the idea of “hattitude”. Adorned in her cream beret on a beautiful day outside of The Willcox, learn more about Sissy’s fascinating story by watching the video below.