Olde Town-Pinched Gut

With its northern border, the Savannah River, Olde Town-Pinched Gut was the first neighborhood built in Augusta. Many of the neighborhood’s properties date back to the early 1900s, and it is just minutes away from downtown and the medical district. “They are trying really hard to restore and make Olde Town-Pinched Gut what it used to be,” says Ross Trulock, a Realtor with Blanchard and Calhoun, a long-time Augusta resident. “People like that they can buy a unique home, be a part of the restoration, get a good value on properties, and be in near the downtown area.”

Known initially and still affectionally called Pinched Gut by locals, much of the neighborhood burnt down in the great fire of 1916 but was rebuilt shortly thereafter. Today, you can find various places to live, including apartments, single-family homes, and multi-family duplex and quadplex housing. The neighborhood has wide city streets with spacious sidewalks shaded by large trees, allowing residents to bike or walk the few blocks to downtown. Properties range from Craftsman-style bungalows to large Victorian homes with iron fences and long front porches where you can catch a sunset or drink some lemonade on a hot day. Buyers can expect a four-bedroom Craftsman to sell for around $350,000, while a six-bedroom Victorian will start at about $450,000. The market moves slightly slower than the national average, but listings still average just 39 days. “There’s a chance to buy some really unique houses, some with long histories if that is what a buyer is looking for,” Trulock says.

Children are districted for the Richmond County School System, which scores a C on Niche. Students attend W.S. Hornsby for elementary and middle school before earning their diplomas from Lucy C. Laney High School. Hornsby Elementary and Middle Schools score a D-plus on Niche, while the high score grades as a C-minus. Laney offers extracurricular and athletic programs, including the football team that has sent four players to the NFL, including a Super Bowl Champion, Jaylen Watson of the Kansas City Chiefs. RCSS offers multiple magnet and specialty schools that help individualize each school plan if parents and students want. Another popular option in Augusta is a private school, and the neighborhood is home to the Heritage Academy, a Christian school for kindergarten through eighth grades.

May Park Community Center serves doubly as a community park and green space. Complete with a playground, track and picnic area, you can enjoy lovely days outside. In the winter months, the community center runs youth basketball leagues in its gymnasium and has a fitness room for adults looking to stay active. Additionally, the medians on Greene and Broad Streets work as a linear pocket park where you can jog for exercise or take your dog for an afternoon walk. Residents are also just a few blocks from the Savannah River, where you can kayak, fish or spend a day walking along the Augusta Canal Trail.

Located in the basement of the Olde Town Inn is The Fox’s Lair, known as ‘the coolest bar you’ll never find’ because it is under the disguise of looking like every other house in the neighborhood. The bar is open four days a week and has regular live music, including every Tuesday night with Dr. John Fisher. The district is just a few blocks from downtown, where you can explore the Augusta History Museum, spend the day outside at the Augusta Common, grab a bite to eat at the Frog Hallow Tavern or see a show at the James Brown Arena. If you stay on Broad Street a little longer, you will bump into the medical district as well, where you can find Augusta University’s Medical College, a Piedmont Hospital, and the Charlie Norwood VA Hospital. Locals can find supplies at small places like Paul’s Supermarket, but for a full grocery store experience, you must travel down Washington Road to find Kroger and Publix.

It is pretty common knowledge that Augusta is home to the Masters every April, which brings thousands of people to town. But what is less known is that each September, the city hosts one of the largest Ironman Triathlons in North America, and Olde Town-Pinched Gut plays a big part in the race. In fact, the neighborhood is where the triathletes switch from swimming to biking along their 70.1-mile journey.

Discover the first neighborhood in Augusta, Olde Town-Pinched Gut.

Written By

Andrew Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Lisa Dachsteiner

Video By

Tyler Newbold