Northeastern South Carolina PEE DEE COUNTRY VISITORS GUIDE Darlington | Dillon | Florence | Lee Marion | Marlboro | Williamsburg A sparkling gem of nature’s best with an intriguing past, exciting present and promising future! WELCOME TO THE PEE DEE! Pee Dee Country... the place to stay and play in northeast South Carolina! his seven-county region, named for the original Native American Pee Dee Indians who inhabited it long ago and subsequently the Pee Dee Rivers, still offer the natural wonders that attracted the TNative Americans and early settlers. A sparkling gem of nature’s best, Pee Dee Country has a unique combination of scenic parks and natural areas as well as a history spanning both Revolutionary and Civil War times, reflected in its wonderfully preserved historic homes, plantations and buildings. Here’s the ideal place to experience the heritage of the agrarian lifestyle of the old South and its relaxed way of life. Both cotton and tobacco played an important role in the early growth of the region. The South Carolina Cotton Museum is located in Bishopville and has preserved the legacy of the cotton culture in South Carolina and a way of life long gone but still reflected in the present. The South Carolina Tobacco Museum is located in the historic train depot in Mullins and depicts farm life and the growing of the “golden leaf” prior to 1950. Many other Pee Dee towns boast fascinating museums displaying local artifacts. Pee Dee Country offers three beautiful state parks and natural areas and many local parks as well as four scenic rivers. The area also has more than 30 exciting and affordable golf courses! It’s no wonder that outdoor activities are popular here! Come chip, putt, paddle, cycle, race, raft, kayak, hike, fish and just have fun! And while you’re here, enjoy the entertainment of one of our many local festivals. Good food, good times and a glimpse of our history is found in the Cotton Festival, the Tobacco Festival, the Pecan Festival, the Sweet Potato Festival, the Quilt Festival, the Barbeque Shag Festival, the Greek Festival, the Catfish Festival, the Sankofa Festival and the International Festival, to name just a few! Race car fans will want to catch a race at the famous Darlington Raceway! Take in the history of the world’s greatest spectator sport at the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame and the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum. Learn about the racing pioneers and the historic cars that carried them to greatness. Pee Dee Country is truly a land of the past, present and future with something for everyone. Come stay and play with us...discover a place like no other! ©2019 Pee Dee Tourism Commission. All rights reserved. (Selected photography provided by SC Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism) 2 WELCOME TO THE PEE DEE! Plan Your Visit! For assistance, please call the Pee Dee Tourism Commission toll free 843.669.0950 or visit us online at www.peedeetourism.com or check with other local information bureaus. All telephone numbers in the seven-county Pee Dee Region are within the 843 and 803 area codes unless otherwise noted. This guide may not include all the attractions, events, restaurants or accommodations in the area. All activities, dates, locations, programs and times are correct as of January 1, 2019, but are subject to change without notice. Pee Dee Tourism Commission 2513 W. Lucas Street #6 Florence, SC 29501 Bennettsville Chamber of Commerce 714 N. Marlboro St. Bennettsville, SC 29512 843.479.3941 www.bennettsvillesc.com/chamber Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce 38 Public Square Darlington, SC 29532 843.393.2641 www.darlingtonchamber.com Dillon County Chamber of Commerce 126 N. MacArthur Ave., Dillon, SC 29536 843.774.8551/www.dilloncountychamber.com Florence Convention & Visitors Bureau 3290 W. Radio Dr., Florence, SC 29501 800.325.9005/ 843.664.0330/www.florencesccvb.com Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce 100 W. Evans St., Florence, SC 29503 843.665.0515/www.flochamber.com continued from page 3... Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce 214 N. Fifth St., Hartsville, SC 29550 843.332.6401/www.hartsvillechamber.org 3 continued on page 5 WELCOME TO THE PEE DEE! 1 177 Wallace 38 No 9 McColl 15 rth Bennettsville C 15 9 Clio a rol 401 57 Blenheim ina 9 Society 38 Hill Little Rock 401 15 Dillon Hartsville 52 Little 301 Pee Dee Latta State Lake 151 38 Park Darlington 95 View 9 341 15 57 52 95 501 41 Bishopville Lee State Natural Mullins Area 20 20 301 76 Marion 76 Lamar Florence Manville 576 Wisacky Woodrow Timmonsville 41 15 341 76 51 41 95 527 Lynchburg 301 Pamplico Lynches River County Park 52 Olanta 41 Woods Bay 378 State Park Lake City PEE DEE COUNTRY Johnsonville n Darlington County 52 Hemingway n Dillon County 527 41 261 Florence County n Kingstree n Lee County Greeleyville n Marion County 521 n Marlboro County n Williamsburg County 41 4 WELCOME TO THE PEE DEE! Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce 144 S. Acline St., Lake City, SC 29560 843.374.8611/www.lakecitysc.org Lee County Chamber of Commerce Contact through Cotton Museum 803.484.4497/www.sccotton.org Marion County Chamber of Commerce 100 W. Court St., Marion, SC 29571 843.423.3561/www.marionscchamber.com Mullins Chamber of Commerce 1 N. Main St., Mullins, SC 29574 843.464.6651/www.mullinssc.com Williamsburg Home Town Chamber 130 E. Main St., Kingstree, SC 29556 843.355.6431/www.williamsburgsc.org 5 DARLINGTON COUNTY Sights To See o doubt Darlington County is best known as the home of the Darlington Raceway, for years a major stop on the NASCAR circuit and its oldest speedway. Now racing spills over into related attractions Nsuch as the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and NMPA (National Motorsports Press Association) Hall of Fame, both located on site. But Darlington County is also a showcase for historical attractions related to the Old South and its agrarian lifestyle. See restored historic sites, Coker College and it’s famous Kalmia Gardens and delight in the fun of a wonderful variety of festivals held here throughout the year. Darlington County Tourism 214 N. Fifth St., Hartsville, SC 29550 888.427.8720 / 843.339.9511/www.darlingtoncounty.org Black Creek Arts Center 116 W. College Ave., Hartsville 843.332.6234 / www.blackcreekarts.org Housed in the restored 1930s Community Market Building, the Black Creek Arts Council preserves and cultivates the arts. The center features changing visual arts exhibits in the Gallery. Open Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri., 10 am–12 noon and 1 pm–5 pm Center Theater 212 N. 5th Street, Hartsville 843.332.5721 Housed in the Art Deco Hartsville Community Center Building, the Center Theater operated for decades as a movie house. It is one of the Pee Dee region’s premier performing arts facilities, featuring a wide array of theatrical productions, musicals, comedies, and entertaining children’s theater performances. Coker College/DeLoach Center 300 E. College Ave., Hartsville 843.383.8018 www.coker.edu Coker College was founded in 1908 as a liberal arts college for women, and today is a co-ed institution. The campus is home to several historic buildings, the Cecelia Coker Bell Art Gallery (383.8156 www.coker.edu/art/gallery.html) and the exciting new $6 million Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center which includes two theaters,instructional facilities and the Stein Gallery of pre-Columbian and Oriental artifacts. (www.coker.edu/campus/EBCPAC.htm) 6 DARLINGTON COUNTY Coker Farms National Historical Landmark 1257 S. Fourth St. (SC 151 Bus.), Hartsville 888.427.8720/ 843.383.3005 www.hartsvillemuseum.org Housed in a replica of the original dairy barn, this center depicts Coker Pedigreed Seed Company’s impact on southern agriculture. The company was an experimental farm founded by David R. Coker in 1914 and had the first cotton breeding program in the US- Open 7 days, 10 am–6 pm. Admission: Free Dargan Farms 1301 S. Charleston Rd., Darlington Seasonal Activities: Corn Maze, Pick your own pumpkins, Hayride, Corn Cannon, Gem Mining, Children Play Area, Halloween Costume Contest, Egg drop in the Spring for Easter. Darlington Raceway 1301 Harry Byrd Hwy. (US 52), Darlington Tickets: 843.395.8499/www.darlingtonraceway.com The “Track too Tough to Tame,” NASCAR’s oldest super speedway has been the site of many legendary races. Hourly tours of the track will show you history, tradition and family fun! Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and NMPA (National Motorsports Press Assoc.) Hall of Fame 1301 Harry Byrd Hwy. (US 52), Darlington 843.395.8862/ 843.395.8821 Take a trip back in time to relive the magical moments that have made NASCAR racing the world’s greatest spectator sport. See and learn about the pioneers of the sport and the historic cars that carried them to greatness. NASCAR souvenirs in the gift shop. Open 7 days, 9 am–5 pm. Admission: Adults $7.50; Veterans $5, Children 12 & under, Free The Key: Hartsville’s Visitors Center 106 E. Carolina Ave., Hartsville Be sure to visit The Key, Hartsville’s Visitors Center and Gift Shoppe in downtown Hartsville. It has local merchandise highlighting Hartsville’s schools and attractions. Here you will find souvenirs, brochures, pamphlets, and more information on fun things to do during your stay. Hartsville Museum 222 N. Fifth St., Hartsville 843.383.3005/www.hartsvillemuseum.org This museum is housed in a restored post office built in 1930 and provides a glimpse of the area’s past. It features the Lawhon History Gallery, a unique silver collection and other interesting displays of local history, including the first car in the state.