We am going to try to answer your questions as honestly and candidly as possible.  We appreciate you contacting us prior to coming.  We only hope to give you the best possible answer and hope you understand the many request and situations we are confronted with in conducting an event as large as The Battle of Aiken.

1.  How big is the park? There's no scale on the map at your web site, but it looks huge. Is it flat?  Our complete site is over 112 acres in size and very hilly.  The area for the Camps, Sutlers, etc is approximately 50 acres.  Very, very little of this ground is flat and all of it is on a sandy soil base.  Travel is often restricted in certain areas and people must park their vehicles and walk.  These are safety issues.  

2.  Will there be anyplace on or near the battlefield that I to plug in battery chargers or electrical equipment or will I need to count on going back to the car?  The only electrical outlets on the site are for the Modern Food Vendors and the RV site.  Most all of these will be in use during the battle weekend. I cannot guarantee that there will be a place for you to have a connection for your electrical needs.  Our vendors usually use every outlet we have and then sometimes overload them. 

3.  How solid/sandy are the roads marked on the map? Are there smaller, un-mapped paths that will get me into the camps and to the spectator area in the battlefield?  Generally all roads are off limits to any motorized vehicles unless there is an emergency.  We do that for safety sake.  If we allow anyone to travel the road, we must allow all and believe me that gets to be a challenge each year.  A motorized chair is something entirely different (even these have problems at the site).  Anything different than that, I would have to say no to.  As stated before every road is unimproved and on a sand base.  There are very few shortcuts that can be navigated other than walking.  We have a limited number of Carts that shuttle people from the top of the hill to the Battlefield, but that is not something that can be relied on as a definite mode of transportation.  These vehicles are mainly used immediately prior to and after the battle for Handicapped persons.  Otherwise they are being used in logistical functions for the Battle.

4.  I'm not going to scare horses with my cart or vehicle: I can park it and walk a little ways among the tents and stuff. But are some areas going to be off-limits to motorized vehicles?   All areas except the Food Vendor, Sutler area, parking lots, RV Sites, and administrative areas are off limits to all motorized vehicle.  This is a safety issue and is strictly enforced.  We have from 8,000 to 10,000 visitors each day and we can not afford an accident. This has been a problem in the past and the only method we have found to solve the problem is to limit access.

5.  Will the sutler's tents be in a grassy area, or will there be sort of a pathway between rows? The camps look like they are to be in wooded areas, so same question: Will there be paths wide enough, flat enough, and firm enough for a 3-wheel scooter?  The Sutler area is a grassy area with plenty of room to walk and get around. (See sutler page on the web site)  Again, this is all on a very sandy base and the area is not flat.  From the entrance at the Food Vendor area to the Battlefield is all downhill. The Pavilion shown on the map is considered the stepping off point.  From here through the rest of the site is as if you have stepped back in time to 1865.  We try to limit the modern equipment and  tools in this area.  Of course, visitors will have items of modern convenience but we ask that the Reenactors keep all of these items out of site.  We have tried to leave the area as natural as possible to protect it from modern objects interfering with the scenes you see, the photos you take, etc.

6.  Can I, or whoever I ride up with, get parked smack up next to the battlefield?  Access to the Battlefield is no problem on foot or in the limited cart access we provide.  However there is no drive up or parking area near the battlefield.  The area closest to the Battlefield is for people sitting on the ground.  The next area is for people with chairs and then an area for people that wish to stand.  All of this area is on a first come first serve basis.  This can be seen by the representation on the Spectators page of the web site.

7.  May I bring my dog to the Battle of Aiken?  We ask all owners to leave their pets at home.  This is a safety issue and hope you understand. 

We hope to have painted a picture you can understand of our site.  This has not been meant to discourage your visit, but to let you know of the problems you may encounter.  We understand mobility problems and admire your courage to try to continue to work and follow your dream.  We also know that others have chastised us in the past for not being open enough with them about the terrain at the site.