Swamp Rabbit Trail Guide 2016

APRIL 2016

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A Publication of

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Map & Trail HisTory poinTs of inTeresT eresT plaCes To sHop & eaT

Publisher Vincent Grassia APRIL 2016

Assistant General Manager Patricia M. Betts

A Publication of

Regional Sales Manager Jay Schoebel IT/Production Manager Jeff Ruminski

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Advertising Consultants Diana Davis Pat Dula Tonya McMeans Muriel Haney

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Sales Assistant Leslie Manthey

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Production David Denton Rachel Hoeft Carrie Harder Debi Manfre Distribution Manager Bobby Crews

Map & Trail HisTory poinTs of inTeresT eresT plaCes To sHop & eaT

Copyright © 2016 IWANNA, USA LLC

Circulation Coordinator Christina Allen 22 Garfield Street, Suite 100 Asheville, NC 28813 828.274.8888

2520 Wade Hampton Blvd., Suite B Greenville, SC 29615 864.370.2340

©2016 Swamp Rabbit Trail Guide, a publication of IWANNA, has accepted contributions which may not reflect the opinion of the publisher. No portion of 2016 Swamp Rabbit Trail Guide may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. | 2 | APRIL 26, 2016 SWAMP RABBIT TRAIL GUIDE

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The Chopping Block “THE CHOPPING BLOCK WAS FOUNDED in 1996 in Cashiers, NC with the need for quality meats not found in grocery stores.

Relocating to Powdersville in 2006, we have been the main source of U.S.D.A. prime beef in the Upstate for over 10 years. We also carry the finest sausages, chicken and seafood available.

Our nightly carry-out dinner specials are hand prepared from fresh ingredients and at a cost much less than restaurants.

Come in and sit down for some of the finest deli sandwiches in the Upstate and like on Facebook or Twitter!

The Chopping Block is Located on: Highway 81 S Powdersville, SC (Next to Suntrust Bank) (864) 220-5724 DAILY HOURS: Monday-Friday 11am-6:30pm Saturday 12pm-6pm Sunday Closed thechoppingblockonline.com

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Tonny & Sons Landscaping, LLC

LOCAL AND FAMILY OWNED, we take pride in affordable service. Tonny & Son Landscaping, LLC has been providing commercial and residential clients with lawn maintenance service and various soft landscaping.

Services since 2012, while doing this we have maintained our standard of professionalism that has become our benchmark with our customers past, present and future.

Why chose Tonny & Sons Landscaping, LLC?

Tonny & Sons Landscaping, LLC was founded on providing professional service while maintaining our personable character with our clients. Tonny and Son Landscaping, LLC, services a distinct niche in the Greenville/ Spartanburg, Easley, Fountain Inn, Simpsonville areas.

We always make sure that Tonny or Chekia is on the job sites to respond to your concerns in a prompt professional fashion, our size allows

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us to provide the attention to detail that only a small company can. We make sure that you always speak to someone when you call for service or concerns and respond back in a timely fashion.

We here at Tonny & Sons Landscaping, LLC hope that our clients feel that we treat every yard’s as it was our own and that everyone feels that we here at Tonny & Sons Landscaping, LLC treats every past, present and future client with the up most respect with each visit.

Thank you for considering Tonny & Sons Landscaping, LLC for your landscaping needs.

112 E.Parke Rd Greenville, SC, 29611 Phone: (864) 201-0559, ask for Chekia E-mail: tonnyandson@gmail.com

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A History of the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail The rails-to-trail Swamp Rabbit idea was born in 1999 when Greenville County bought 13 miles of abandoned railroad track for the trail for $1.3 million. The trail got its quirky name from the defunct G&NR train, locally called the Swamp Rabbit. It is believed the name came from the wetlands along the Reedy River that the line traversed and the bouncy nature of the ride.

The history of the Greenville and Northern Railway (G&NR) is one filled with financial struggles from the onset of the railway in the late 1880s when a small group of local businessmen launched a railroad with the vision of connecting Greenville County to the Atlantic ports and Tennessee. At that point, it was called the CK&W (Carolina, Knoxville & Western) Railway, but it went bankrupt after only 2 years.

The railway was bought and sold countless times for the next 30 years. Finally, around 1920, the Baker Fentress Company bought it, changed the name to Greenville & Northern Railway Company, and used the line for hauling timber for 37 years.

From 1957 until 1998 there are even more owners and many uses, including weekend passenger service and industrial hauling. Service from Travelers Rest to River Falls is abandoned,

and the rails on that section are removed.

In 1998, the section of the line from downtown Greenville to Travelers Rest is put on the market.

Upstate Forever, a nonprofit group based in Greenville, launches a campaign for public acquisition of the line and converting it to a trail.

By 2005, the vegetation on the rails was starting to be cleared and plans were beginning to create the trail as we know it today. In 2007, believing in the positive health benefits of the trail, the Greenville Health System (GHS) announced its partnership with Greenville Rec and the trail was named the “Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail.�

Officially, the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail debuted the weekend of May 7-9, 2009, with its inaugural 5K Race with more than 2,000 people participating. The trail now draws a half-million bicyclists, joggers and strollers a year and spans from Travelers Rest to Conestee Parks, with a 1 mile offshoot in Fountain Inn.

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TRAVELERS REST

The GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail parallels Main Street through Travelers Rest and has sparked economic development and public-private partnerships along the way. Gateway Park, located behind Sunrift Adventures, offers additional recreational opportunities including a Mountain Bike Skills Park.

GATEWAY PARK

TRAILBLAZER PARK

POINSETT PARK

DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE

WESTSIDE PARK & AQUATIC CENTER

The Reedy River runs through the heart of downtown Greenville. the Liberty Bridge provides a scenic vista over the falls, excavated mill ruins and gardens. Cleveland Park with the Greenville Zoo, open fields, trails, tennis courts and playgrounds is the largest park in the City of Greenville.

FALLS PARK

CLEVELAND PARK

22 GARFIELD ST • ASHEVILLE, NC • (828) 274-8888 | 12 | APRIL 26, 2016 SWAMP RABBIT TRAIL GUIDE

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SHORT HOP AHEAD

The Trail continues to grow and connect communities throughout Greenville County. From this point to the next section of the GHS Swamp Rabbit is 1.7 miles south.

You can take S. Pleasantburg Dr (0.6 mi) to Windmont Dr. (0.2 mi) and then a right on Parkins Mill Rd. (0.9 mi) or continue on Cleveland St. (0.2 mi) and take a right on Parkins Mill Road (2.2 mi). Follow the rules of the road and Be Safe!!

CONESTEE PARK

CONESTEE PARKS

These two combined parks encompass over 400+ acres and include boardwalk trails, mountain biking, regular birding programs, viewing tower, river vistas, playground, and baseball complex.

FOUNTAIN INN

The GHS Swamp Rabbit takes a bigger hop down to the City of Fountain Inn. Located at 107 Mount Zion Dr, Fountain Inn, this trail segment is currently one mile long.

KEY: TRAIL SURFACES 8-15 ft wide asphalt Mixed Surface (asphalt/gravel) On Street Connection

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1 mile between arrows Playground Mountain Biking

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Travelers Rest Farmers Market FRESH. LOCAL. FRIENDLY. The Travelers Rest Farmers Market is all of these things and more. Located on the Swamp Rabbit Trail and host to over 90 local producers and artists, there’s really something for everyone at TRFM. Pick up all your plants, flowers, seed and soil from your local farm.

Treat yourself to some delicious creamy goat cheese. Fill your basket with a rainbow of fruits and vegetables.

Find a new pair of earrings or simply sit back and listen to a variety of talented local musicians ranging from the blues to bluegrass!

The market also hosts Market Talks the first Saturday of each month with a range of speakers and topics. This season’s first Market Talks event will take place on opening day, May 2 at 10:30am. Andrew Padula of Padula’s Plants will be talking about garden design using the land’s natural terrain and also about the benefits of cultivating Stock Gardens.

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Don’t forget about the weekly Market Kids programs with activities like painting, pottery, yoga, and hula hooping to keep the young ones entertained!

The Travelers Rest Farmers Market is located at Trailblazer Park: 225 Wilhelm Winter Street Travelers Rest, SC 29690 travelersrestfarmersmarket.com Every Saturday, May 2- September 26 9am -12pm

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Steve Borklund Insurance AT STEVE BORKLUND INSURANCE in Travelers Rest, SC, our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams.

Steve Borklund Insurance offers State Farm auto, home, renters, life and health insurance.

In addition to insurance, Steve Borklund Insurance also offers a full array of financial service products. Steve can help you protect your belongings as well as plan for your future.

Visit Steve Borklund Insurance at 6719 State Park Road, Travelers Rest or visit them on

Facebook. Just search “Steve Borklund-State Farm Agent.� Their office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Their telephone number is 864-834-9096.

Steve Borklund Insurance...serving the Travelers Rest area for over 20 years and celebrating 45 years of service for State Farm in 2015.

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Swamp Rabbit Trail F.A.Qs

Q: I want to visit the trail. Where can I park?

A: If you cannot reach the trail by bike, we have several parking areas along the

Swamp Rabbit Trail: Northern Trailhead at Grandview Cemetery, Gateway Park in Travelers Rest, Travelers Rest City Parking Lot, Across from the BP Gas Station on 276, Furman University, Duncan Chapel Rd Trailhead, Swamp Rabbit Café & Grocery, Mayberry Park, Cleveland Park, West End Market – Behind, Henderson Rd Trailhead at Lake Conestee Nature Park, Conestee Park (Coming soon, current nature trails connection), & Spanco Dr Trailhead at Lake Conestee Nature Park. For these addresses and more, go to greenvillerec.com/swamprabbit/.

Q: Do you have a map of the trail with marked mileage?

A: Our Swamp Rabbit Trail sponsorship handout maps have red arrows marking each

mile along the Swamp Rabbit. These maps are distributed at the City of Greenville City all on S. Main St. and the City of Travelers Rest City Hall on State Park Road.

Q: Are motorized wheelchairs & electric bikes allowed on the trail?

A: Motorized wheelchairs are permitted. Anyone operating a motorized wheelchair

must have on them their state disability registration certificate while operating a motorized wheelchair on the trail. Electric (or “Pedal-assist”) bicycles are legal on the trail if the Electric Bike meets the provisions of Federal Electric Bike Law HR 727.

To see more F.A.Qs & services go to greenvillerec.com/swamprabbit/.

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Dixie Republic, Inc

DIXIE REPUBLIC IS THE SOUTH’S LARGEST Confederate store. The store began in 2003 as Dixie Outpost in a triple-wide trailer remodeled to resemble an old-fashioned log cabin. Demand for the “all-South” vision grew quickly, and a year later Scott built and opened a much bigger store (5000 sf ) just a few miles north on Highway 25 in Travelers Rest, SC, just outside of Greenville.

Dixie Republic is stocked floor to ceiling with items that celebrate and promote The South and The Confederacy. Visitors to the store are thankful for our commitment to “flying the flag” and providing a store where they feel a kinship with like-minded, proud Southerners where our heritage is not to be forgotten, but celebrated.

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Whether you are a returning, loyal customer who has supported us for the last 12 years or considering shopping with us for the first time, we want to thank you very much for your business. If not for you, we could not keep our doors open. If not for you, we could not do our part to keep DIXIE alive!

Dixie Republic is Located at: 1313 Highway 25 North Travelers Rest, SC 29690 (864) 834-7024 dixierepublic.com

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