Bridgewater

Bridgewater is a 530-acre master-planned lifestyle community in Little River, South Carolina, built by Chesapeake Homes on the former grounds of the Bay Tree Golf Plantation. Construction began in 2017, and at build-out the community will have 1,550 attached and single-family homes arranged around more than 100 acres of interconnected lakes and waterways. Roughly half of the homesites enjoy direct lake or fountain views, and a private community kayak launch lets residents put in right from the neighborhood — a rare feature for an inland South Carolina community. While not deed-restricted, Bridgewater markets heavily to retirees and attracts a strong active-adult population drawn by the low-maintenance living, full-time Lifestyle Coordinator, and packed social calendar. Homes are organized into three 'Villages' — Waterside, Portside, and Shorehaven — plus the Grandview Estates collection, with 40+ floor plans spanning roughly 1,454 to 3,349 square feet. Product types include the Cottages (single-family coastal bungalows from the $400s), Lakeview Estates (larger three-car-garage homes averaging ~2,694 sq ft), the Beach Bungalows, Paired Villas, and Townhomes near the entrance of the development. All homes are natural-gas, energy-efficient builds with smart-home features like tankless gas water heaters, doorbell cameras, and digital front door locks. First-floor owner's suites are standard across most plans, and many buyers add screened porches, gas fireplaces, and premium lakefront lots. The social heart of the community is the Bridgewater Club — a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse with a 2,000-square-foot main room, catering-style kitchen, and overhead glass garage doors that open to a festoon-lit park for outdoor movies, concerts, and events. Inside the clubhouse is a state-of-the-art fitness center with Wellbeats virtual-class system. Outside, residents enjoy a resort-style pool with lap lanes and private cabanas, two pickleball courts, bocce courts, a covered pavilion with grills and TVs, a fire pit, a Veterans Memorial, Founder's Green, community gardens (the 'Diggers and Tillers' group), three dog parks for large and small pets, a fitness track, and walking trails winding through the lakes. Social groups and events are abundant: Book Club, Bunco, Cook-Offs, Crafty Crafters, Golf Outings, Ladies of Bridgewater, Progressive Dinner Club, Travel Club, Wine Tastings, Veterans group, holiday parties, and seasonal signatures like the Polar Plunge, Easter Egg Hunt, and Derby Party. The location is a major draw. Bridgewater sits directly across Hwy 9 from McLeod Health Seacoast hospital (about 5 minutes away) and is just over the Intracoastal Waterway from North Myrtle Beach. Cherry Grove Beach is roughly 3–4 miles away, Myrtle Beach proper is about 20 miles south, and Myrtle Beach International Airport is a ~35-minute drive. Grocery, shopping, dining, and dozens of Grand Strand golf courses are all within a short drive.