W375// Volume 1, Number 1 January, 1997

A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT PROGRESS ALONG THE S.C. HERITAGE CORRIDOR Official Designation Recognizes V/. Importance of Heritage Corridor

Oct. 3,1996 was a big day for Carolina. "The Corridor will bring capi­ 's Heritage Corridor pro­ tal investment, jobs, visitors and millions gram. After years of effort by SCPRT and of new tourism dollars to undiscovered other state organizations, Congress finally areas of our state," said Grace Young, Congressional gave official designation to the 240-mile director of the SCPRT. The Corridor could approval tells long corridor that stretches from the Blue attract as many as 700,000 visitors and people across the Ridge foothills to the Atlantic Ocean. generate $83.5 million in new tourism country that this "Congressional approval tells peo­ revenue each year when it reaches full part of South ple across the country that this part of development, she said. South Carolina played a significant role The concept of national heritage Carolina played a in the development of our nation," said areas has been growing over the past 10 significant role in Gov. David Beasley. "It says South years. According to the National the development Carolina made a significant contribution Coalition for Heritage Areas, these areas of our nation." to this country's history." State and local have a distinctive sense of place and are officials say national designation is sig­ unified by large-scale natural resources, - David Beasley nificant because it gives the corridor cred­ and strong cultural or historic themes. Governor of South Carolina ibility as an important tourism destina­ Heritage areas are usually "cohesive, tion. They also say designation will help dynamic environments where private with fund-raising efforts. ownership predominates, and will contin­ The Heritage Corridor spans 14 ue to dominate, but where change can be counties and weaves the threads of South creatively guided to benefit both people Carolina's history, culture and natural and place." South Carolina's Heritage attractions into a rich and colorful tapes- Corridor project will continue to develop

Scenic view from the South Carolina Heritage Corridor. try. Four Discovery Centers will serve as over the coming decade through public- gateways to regions along the corridor. private partnerships. The corridor also will be a catalyst for eco­ The Corridor plan does not involve nomic development in rural South the taking of any private property. Corridor Discovery • Volume 1 • Number 1 • January, 1997 Nature-Based Tourism Interest Is Growing South Carolina's Heritage Corridor is took a nature-based trip on their last vacation or attracting a lot of attention because of all the his­ plan to on their next one. Nature-based tourism toric and cultural destinations along the 240-mile conserves the environment and provides an eco­ long route. But travelers will also get a chance to nomic base for the area's residents. see and explore some of the state's best natural There are countless opportunities for attractions during their tour, including mountain nature-based tourism development along the waterfalls, the ACE Basin, the Savannah River Heritage Corridor. Local communities could clear lakes, numerous nature preserves and 24 state nature trails through private forests, train guides to "Nature-based parks. Interest in nature-based tourism is growing lead bird-watching tours, or use a nearby river to all across the country and South Carolina has the support a canoe and kayak business. But there is a tourism is potential to attract hundreds of thousands of new risk involved. "The trick with nature-based visitors every year because of its outdoor beauty. tourism is using your resources for economic bene­ one of the "Nature-based tourism is one of the hottest fit without destroying or endangering the hottest trends trends in the tourism industry," said Jim Wescott, resources," says Charlie Sweat, president of the director of the Lowcountry and Resort Islands South Carolina Nature-Based Tourism Association. in the tourism Tourism Commission. According to the 1995 Most experts agree the key to any nature-based industry." American Traveler Survey, 34 million Americans tourism development is balance. -Jim Wescott Lowcountry and Resort Islands Tourism Commission Director

Paddling the . Historic Sites Threatened Many historic structures in South Carolina are seeking an agreement with the current owner. face the threat of destruction every day. A partner­ The Shamrock Hotel, Blackville, recently faced ship of statewide organizations has compiled a list demolition efforts and continues to deteriorate. of the 11 most endangered historic sites in the The Village of Willington, McCormick County, is a state. Many of these sites are located in the one-block commercial district that survives from Heritage Corridor. The following structures were the Willington Academy, which produced three lost, saved, or remain threatened within the South Carolina governors, four Georgia governors, Corridor: and a U.S. attorney general. • Lost: Winnamaker House, South Carolina For more information on these historic State University campus, Orangeburg. This Gothic properties call the Palmetto Trust office at (803) Revival House built by slave artisans burned in 771-6132. May. The 1997 list is being compiled and will be • Saved: Bedon-Lucas House, Walterboro. announced early this year. Several sponsoring Purchased by the Colleton County Historical and organizations have committed to assist the listed Preservation Society, this 1820 Federal-style cottage properties. These organizations include: American has applied for a Legacy Trust grant to stabilize the Institute of Architects-SC Chapter; Palmetto Trust structure and create a house museum, meeting for Historic Preservation; SC Department of space and offices for the society. Archives and History; SC Downtown Development •Threatened: Dr. Benjamin E. May's Association; and the SC Department of Parks, Birthplace, Ninety Six. Interested preservationists Recreation and Tourism. CALENDAR OF EVENTS

j/asuiau/ LowCountry Oyster Festival, Charleston 19 Camellia Walks, Middleton Place, Charleston 21,23,25

S/cAznazz/ They're a growing part of South Carolina's Civil War Lantern Tour, Rivers Bridge State Park 1 lodging industry, and you can find them in rural 3rd Annual Historic Bed & Breakfast Tour, areas, small towns and big cities. Bed and breakfast Charleston 2 inns have an air of Southern charm and hospitality and more people these days are looking for an Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston 14-16 alternative to big name/big chain hotels. Bed and Daffodil Days at Magnolia Plantation, Charleston 14-28 breakfast inns give visitors a chance to meet area Black Heritage Month Celebration, residents and learn first hand about life in that North Charleston 16 community. Visitors also get great service from March for Parks: An Earth Day Event, innkeepers who will often help tourists find the best 19-20 places to eat, unique shopping experiences and Battle of Aiken, Aiken 21-23 local points of interest. Bed and breakfast inns help Liberty House bed & breakfast, a restored 1902 southern home located in Liberty, SC. pump needed tourism dollars into many rural A Day in the Life of a Slave, Old Dorchester areas. Slate Pork 22 The South Carolina Department of Parks, An Old Fashioned Quilting Bee, Old Santee Recreation & Tourism offers assistance to the state's Canal State Park 22 bed and breakfast industry, including technical assistance during start-up, operation and market­ C/lGzzc/t ing. The Heritage Tourism Development Office offers a complimentary development packet for Resource Ideas... Handmade, S.C. Artisans Center, Walterboro 8,15,22 aspiring innkeepers. The brochures included are Thoroughbred Trials, Aiken 15 Beginning a Bed and Breakfast in South Canoeing the Edisto, 22 Carolina, Developing a Marketing Plan for a • SC Nature-Based Tourism Association: Steeplechase and Hunt Meet, Aiken 22 B&B, and ^ Marketing Checklist. A list of B&Bs for Information on nature-based tourism development. Tour of Old Dorchester, Old Dorchester State Park 22 sale is also available. SCPRT assisted with the Tim Todd (864) 233-2690 organization of the South Carolina B&B Native American Day, Oconee Station State Park 22 Association, which now includes 115 members, and Charlie Sweat (803) 549-5591 Waterfall Series Day Hike, Devils Fork State Park 22 helps publish a directory, Bed and Breakfasts in South Carolina. • SC Sea Grant Extension Program: Governor's Frog Jump and Egg Striking Contest, Springfield 28-29 If you know someone who is interested in Information on coastal grants and resources. developing a new B&B, or would like assistance in African American Storytelling, Reddiffe upgrading an existing one, have them contact Bob Bacon (803) 727-2075 Plantation State Park 29 Carole Mullis at (803)734-1449. Spring Stroll '97, Colleton State Park 29 • SC Bed and Breakfast Association: Information on starting or improving a bed and breakfast. C^pzi/ Warren Bowen (803) 328-1913 SCPRT Creates Heritage Flowertown Festival, Summerville 4-6 The Book & The Spindal, Rock Hill Tourism Development Office 20th Annual Cooper River Bridge Run/Walk, Mt. Pleasant 5 The South Carolina Department of Parks, • SC Professional Paddlesports Association: Spring at Hampton, Recreation & Tourism has created The Heritage Information on canoeing, kayaking, rafting, rentals, tours, and Tourism Development Office. The new division will Stale Park 5 be responsible for guiding the development of the instruction in the state of South Carolina. Handmade, S.C. Artisans Center, Walterboro 5,12,19 South Carolina Heritage Corridor and for identify­ EdWrightson (803) 796-4505 Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee, Pendleton 5-6 ing and developing other corridors in South Adventure Carolina, Columbia Bamberg County Arts Alive, Bamberg 10-12 Carolina. Like South Carolina's first corridor, which World Grits Festival, St. George 11-13 traverses 14 counties from Oconee in the Upstate to • National Trust for Historic Preservation: Charleston along the coast, future corridors will LowCountry Cajun Festival, Charleston 13 Information on preservation of historic structures. focus-on the natural, cultural and historic resources Aiken BBQ Blast, Aiken 18-19 of designated areas that together form the unique (800) 944-6847 Spring Clogging Festival, 18-19 chapters of South Carolina's history. World Wide Web site: Colleton County Rice Festival, Walterboro 25-27 Curt Cottle joined the staff earlier this year http://www.nthp.org as director of the new Heritage Tourism S.C. Festival of Roses, Orangeburg 25-27 Development Office. He will set the direction for the • Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation: Flora of Savannah Valley, Hickory Knob overall heritage tourism program. Joan Davis, Stole Park 26 meanwhile, will manage the South Carolina Statewide preservation organization aimed at saving South Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival, Heritage Corridor and will supervise the four Carolina's historic structures. Mt. Pleasant 27 regional coordinators. To support the corridor and Kathy Newman (803) 771-6132 the other heritage tourism initiatives in the state, Carole Mullis will continue her role working with economic development opportunities in heritage • SC Arts Commission: areas, and Jennifer Stacker Rennicks will monitor Cultural Visions grants for rural community available. Cyziai zz'az/i /O expedience Q?OU/A and assist with the development of nature-based Marion Draine (803) 734-8764 Gazo/inaj .c7/czz/zzz/c Gomc/oz/ tourism projects. REGIONAL UPDATE

Region 1: Anderson, Oconee, Pickens • The Dorn Mill grist mill is being renovat­ • The town of Denmark celebrated the • Clemson's Department of Parks, ed for use as a museum/tourist attraction. grand re-opening of the Dane Theater on Recreation and Tourism Management con­ This will preserve a unique example of Sept. 20. The evening included perfor­ ducted a study of tourists in the region. agricultural architecture and will provide mances from local choral groups and Students gave questionnaries to about 300 an opportunity to interpret the economic African American music by Dr. Charles visitors at 15 natural, cultural and historic history of the Southeast. Boyer. sites and festivals. Demographic, trip and • Elloree has opened a weekly farmers' travel decision-making information and • Slade's Lake Recreational Park will add a market and Eutawville is working with the the importance of natural, cultural and much needed natural resource to Edgefield Palmetto Conservation Foundation on the historic sites were evaluated. The survey County. The park will provide a place conservation and interpretation of Eutaw will provide information about heritage where tourists can picnic, fish or take a Springs Battlefield. tourists that will help Region 1 develop pro­ stroll on the nature trail. grams and market their resources. • Biddle Hall will be restored and opened • We welcome the towns of Barnwell, Norway and Springfield, who have orga­ • The Appalachian Council of as an African American museum and cul­ nized their Corridor committees. Governments is developing a management tural center. plan for the Cherokee Foothills Scenic • The McGowan-Barksdale House will be Region 4: Charleston, Colleton, Highway, commonly referred to as S.C. 11. opened as a museum and headquarters for Dorchester The project started with a survey of the Abbeville Historical Society. Visitors will • Region 4 is working to establish commu­ landowners near the highway. Their input be invited to tour the rare Gothic-style ser­ nity committees, and the committees are will be used to draft a plan that will be pre­ vant quarters behind the main house and compiling local inventories and planning sented during community meetings in the the restored school in the basement of the how the Heritage Corridor can benefit their spring 1997. main house. areas. • The Hagood Mill, an 1840s grist mill in • Sarah Fick has succeeded Daniel Carey Pickens County, has been restored and is Region 3: Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, as chair of the Charleston County Corridor open to the public. In addition, the Pickens Orangeburg Committee. Ms. Fick is a local historian County Museum opened after being dam­ • With 36 incorporated towns and four and preservationist. aged by fire in 1994. The museum features other participating "areas," the communi­ a new upstairs gallery, a renovated down­ ties of Region 3 are continuing to join • The Charleston Committee has comple- stairs, an elevator, and new exhibits. forces and cluster their historic sites, ed a brochure on the African American nature-based attractions and cultural Trail featuring The Old Slave Market, • The Anderson County Arts Center and events. McLeod Plantation, the Aiken-Rhett House Anderson County Heritage Corridor Board and the Avery Research Center for African- have developed a photography exhibit • Region 3 and the town of Blackville American History and Culture. detailing the resources of the county. The presented a workshop entitled "Discovering Southern Living exhibit will travel to comrhunities through­ and Preserving Your Local History," in • Lynn Harris from the University of South out the county to generate enthusiasm and November. The project was funded with a Carolina's Institute of Archaeology and Designer House appreciation for the resources. grant from the S.C. Humanities Council. Anthropology has completed a water trail • The Agricultural Heritage Center, site of for canoes and kayaks that reaches up the Region 2: Abbeville, Edgefield, the Region 3 Discovery Center, has repaired Ashley River and allows visitors to view Greenwood, McCormick To the roofs on the two buildings donated by shipwrecks and sites. Be Region 1 • The Burt-Stark Mansion will get a facelift Clemson University. The first of three and the separate 1830s kitchen building • The Carolina Porch restaurant, located groups of Americorp workers has begun will be restored. Pittsburgh Paints has in St. George, was listed in the September Discovery Center renovations and landscaping of the build­ donated the paint and will feature the man­ issue of Southern Living magazine. ings. Southern Living magazine sion on its nationally distributed chart of Owners Peach and Mike Dilley extend an and the South Carolina Botanical Garden at historic paint colors. invitation to visit. Clemson University are teaming up to help with a Discovery Center for the Upstate. Southern Living is building a model home in the garden that will be on display for a year. BULK RATE The house will then be converted and used as U.S. POSTAGE the Discovery Center and a visitor's center for PAID S.C. Parks, the garden and the Campbell Geological Recreation, Museum. The Region 1 Discovery Center will & Tourism interpret the rich story of the Upstate's cultur­ al, natural, and historic heritage. It will also SC Department of Parks, encourage visitors to explore the South Recreation & Tourism Carolina Botanical Garden. 1205 Pendleton Street The South Carolina Botanical Garden Columbia, SC 29201 §. C. STATE LIBRARY is located near the Clemson University campus and encompasses 270 acres of cultivated and 'JAM 2 2 1997 natural landscapes. The garden also includes STATE DOCUMENTS historic sites, nature trails, demonstration gar­ Corridor Discovery is a dens, public sculpture programs, and wildlife publication of the SC habitats. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Heritage Tourism Development Office.