Discovering Irmo
Fifteen minutes northwest of Columbia lies Irmo, affectionately known as a “big little town.” It sits on the banks of Lake Murray, a 50,000‑acre manmade lake with 650 miles of shoreline. Locals spend weekends boating, fishing for striped bass and exploring lakeside architecture ranging from Mediterranean‑style villas to Tudor homes. The Dreher Shoals Dam Walk offers a 1.7‑mile promenade with views of the lake and historical markers. Nature lovers camp at Dreher Island State Park and look for purple martins, which gather in huge flocks on Bomb Island. After a day on the water, residents enjoy sunset happy hours at Liberty on the Lake or specialty coffee at Loveland Coffee, Irmo’s largest coffee shop, complete with meeting rooms and a drive‑through. Each autumn, the Okra Strut Festival fills Irmo Town Park with rides, food trucks, live music and a parade. This combination of natural beauty and community spirit makes Irmo a wonderful place to live - but lakeside living brings unique plumbing considerations.