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FALL 2016
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Chances are you’ve never seen premier lakefront property quite like this. Our final phase of Peninsula Ridge is now available. Lake living is at your fingertips. Carefree and understated, The Reserve is where neighbors become best friends and every day brings a new adventure. Being close to your favorite getaways, just 16 miles from Clemson and 30 miles from Greenville, makes it the perfect opportunity to make Lake Keowee home. To learn more about life at the lake, visit ReserveAtLakeKeowee.com/LakeLiving. Homes from $500K-$3M+ and homesites from $100K-$950K.
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Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy where void by law.
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FALL 2016
12 | Color the Upstate Orange
48 | Palmetto Shooting Club offers top-notch experience
16 | Riding the rails into fall splendor
54 | Young chef packs them in on The Alley
24 | Chattooga Belle: where fall color meets fine spirits
62 | Upstate’s national banjo champ covers many genres
28 | Blaze a ‘Palmetto’ Trail into color
68 | Sugar and spice
34 | Walk where heroes were born 44 | Bad Creek is big power source
84 | Compassion comes close to home 86 | Guild to hold September show in Seneca
78 GOLF DESTINATION: Taming the Lowcountry 88 THEATRE: Fall stock offers great variety 92 CALENDAR: Plenty of events this fall 94 FISHING: The Bass chaplain 96 YOUR WATERFRONT: Docking your boat 98 WATERFALLS: Dry Falls
tell us what you think! Call or email us. We would love to hear from you! 864.973.6305 lakeliving@upstatetoday.com
EDITOR Brett McLaughlin, bmclaughlin@upstatetoday.com GENERAL MANAGER Hal Welch, hal@upstatetoday.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sandy Peirce, sandy@upstatetoday.com 864-973-6305
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION Bill Bauer • Rex Brown • Phillip Gentry Dave Kroeger • Brett McLaughlin COVER PHOTO Russell Carlson, Cool Fall Fisherman, overall winner in the Places category for the 2015 Upstate Lake Living Photo Contest
The Journal see expansive mountain vistas from the porch of Chattooga Belle Farm in Long Creek, where a new distillery also merits a visit. Bill Bauer’s Revolutionary War tour will take you through some beautiful country as well, and plenty of color awaits golf enthusiasts trekking toward Myrtle Beach to play a couple of Bill’s favorite golf courses. But, for all the beauty of the mountains, sometimes it’s what’s under the mountain that is really interesting. That’s where we found the heart and soul of the Bad Creek Hydroelectric plant, and you can join us for a visit. Don’t miss George and Sydney Davenport’s beautiful Lake Keowee home, the culinary expertise of Evangelos Dimas, Charles Wood’s musical talent or the keen eye of marksmen enjoying the Palmetto Shooting Complex … all in this edition. The list of upcoming events is pretty extensive, and theater companies throughout the region are debuting their 2016-’17 seasons. Have a colorful fall and, if you can find a few minutes, shoot us an email — lakeliving@upstatetoday.com — to tell us what you like or what you would like to see more of in Upstate Lake Living. We would love to hear from you. Brett McLaughlin, editor
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PUBLISHER Jerry Edwards, jerry@edwgroupinc.com 864-882-3272
ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHICS Melissa Bradley, mbradley@upstatetoday.com
Dear Readers, This edition of Upstate Lake Living is all about color … fall color to be exact. And, as residents of the Golden Corner, you know better than anyone that when it comes to fall and color we’re all about orange … as in Clemson orange. That’s why we lead off with Coach Dabo Swinney’s take on the importance of the Upstate fan base to his nationally recognized football program. We caught up with the coach as he was hitting a 7-iron from the 7th tee at The Reserve at Lake Keowee. It was his annual media golf outing, and he was doing his best to help some struggling reporters improve their scores. By now, he’s moved on to the gridiron and pleasing thousands of fans — including some of you — whom he clearly admires. And, if you can tear yourself away from Memorial Stadium or that recliner, you might want to consider the abundance of color Mother Nature brings to other Upstate areas every fall. Inside are several suggestions on ways to enjoy spectacular color, from riding a train to exploring part of the Palmetto Trail that will soon be extended through Stumphouse Mountain to downtown Walhalla. You can also
FALL 2016 Volume 11 • Issue 3
UPSTATE LAKE LIVING™ is published quarterly by The Journal 210 W. N. 1st Street , Seneca, SC 29678, USA Ph: 864-882-2375, Fax: 864-882-2381 Mail subscription: $40 includes 4 issues Single issue: $4.95, available at The Journal office U.S. Postal Permit #18 UPSTATE LAKE LIVING™ is a trademark of Edwards Group. Contents copyrighted. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE Upstate Lake Living, upon receipt of a new or renewal subscription, will strive to provide first-copy delivery of Upstate Lake Living to the Postal Service for the next issue (March, June, September and December). Renewals must be received at least two weeks prior to expiration to assure continued service. Address subscription inquiries to: UPSTATE LAKE LIVING, P.O. Box 547, Seneca, SC 29679; phone 864-882-2375; fax 864-882-2381. Two weeks advance notice is required for address changes; please send old and new address.
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FALL 2016 › 11
color the upstate
ORANGE Fans contribute passion to football success story by Brett McLaughlin
F
all brings a multitude of colors to the Upstate, but none is more dominant than orange, especially as one cruises into Clemson and the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium. When Dabo Swinney touches Howard’s Rock and leads the 2016 Tiger football team down the hill and onto the field this September 10, he will do it in front of more than 84,000 fans. Fall, in all its colorful splendor, will be upon us. Those fans — and several thousand others who will watch the game from under tailgate tents and awnings outside the stadium — are, according to the coach, a crucial component in a formula that has earned Clemson a place among the elite college football programs in the nation.
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Clemson established a school record in terms of average home attendance and total overall attendance for all games in any location in 2015. The Tigers drew over a half-million fans to seven home games and played in front of more than one million fans as they compiled a 14-1 record. (photo by Trent Randall)
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“Obviously the players are the biggest factor to our program’s success, but the fans also play a huge part,” Swinney said as Upstate Lake Living caught up with him during Media Day at the golf course at The Reserve on Lake Keowee. It was an appropriate meeting place for a discussion of Clemson football fans since Reserve residents and other lake community homeowners comprise one component of a remarkably unique fan following. Membership at The Reserve is a perk of Swinney’s job, but it’s a bonus with a purpose: staying in touch with one facet of a fan base the coach clearly admires. “They create the environment and the passion that surrounds the program,” he said, “and our players love it.” Earlier in the day, the coach had told assembled reporters about a recent experience he had in New York City, which he said epitomizes Clemson’s emergence on the national stage. “We were walking down the street, and I see this person with a Clemson shirt on,” he recalled. “We stopped and chatted, and I told them it’s crazy that I got to go 1,000 miles to see them instead of just running into them at Chipotle’s downtown.” With the increased success of the program under Swinney’s guidance, the fan base has grown setting records for average home game attendance (84,038) and total overall attendance for all games — home and away — with more than one million people in the stands. As a relatively small college — 21,857 students last year — the school has a small alumni base, which only makes Swinney more appreciative of the enormity and passion of Clemson’s fans. “There’s a village mentality among our fans,” he said, describing them as a mix of blue- and white-collar workers, retirees, students and alumni. “As a group, the fans show that they have great respect for how we play — tough and with a great work ethic — and for what we are trying to accomplish,” he said. “They’re smart. They get it.” He’s also very cognizant that many of the fans have moved to the Upstate from all over the country and have become Tiger diehards, while also maintaining allegiances to other leagues and teams. “There’s something special in these hills,” he added, smiling and looking out over the range of mountains visible from the 7th tee. “People come here for the lakes and the mountains and everything that comes along with that. Then they get sucked into it. People are just plain happy in Clemson.” That happiness, he acknowledges, is often 14 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
{at top} The coach never hesitates to greet fans even as he walks into the stadium for another big game. He credits the passion of Clemson fans for creating an environment in which his program can thrive. (photo by Brian Hennessy) • {above} Fans line up for autographs by coaches and players during the annual Fan Appreciation event held just before the start of the season each year. (photo by Allen Randall)
reflected in financial contributions. “They provide us with so many resources through their giving, from our facilities, to academics, to being able to have the resources necessary to hire and maintain an outstanding staff,” he said. “I think they appreciate the consistency of our program, the way we perform on the field and off, the way we graduate our players and the way we make our players into good men … all those things. “The culture that surrounds the program is something I think all our fans look up to,” he said. The coach himself does his best to acknowledge the passion of Tiger fans. Before the first game each fall he hosts a Fan Appreciation Day. Other game-day events recognize select groups of fans. And, last December 6, after the Tigers won the ACC championship, Swinney hosted a pizza party at Memorial Stadium, serving lunch to some 20,000 devotees. In return, a few weeks later, the grounds crew at Swinney’s golf club gave the community’s great lawn a Death Valley feel, painting the lawn as a gridiron complete with an orange Tiger paw. “We have such a strong relationship with the university, and we wanted to find a unique way to show our support while the football team is on a truly historic run,” said Reserve Director of Sales Rutledge Livingston at the time. “We think this is a pretty cool way of doing that. We even have a hill to run down.” On December 31, many Reserve residents — part of that unique lakeside component — gathered on the lawn to tailgate and watch their beloved Tigers defeat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, advancing to a national championship game. n
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RIDING THE RAILS INTO
FALL SPLENDOR story by Brett McLaughlin | photos courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
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A
tapestry of fall color is never far away from the Upstate, and, if a leaf-peeping pilgrimage is on your schedule, you really should talk with the people at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Riding the rails into the heart of Western North Carolina produces some of the most colorful vistas to be found on this side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. And, the best part is you simply sit back and enjoy the ride. Once you’ve made the 90-minute trek from the lakes of Upstate South Carolina to the train’s hub in the quaint hillside borough of Bryson City, NC — a trip that will be colorful unto itself — Mother Nature and the good folks at GSMR take care of the rest. The most difficult decisions you will face are how far you want to travel and how much luxury you can take. The options are many but hardly mind-bending, and the easiest way to make them is online. A little time spent at GSMR.com beats standing in line at the station. There are two excursions. The first is a 44-mile, 4.5 hour outing to the Nantahala Gorge. Highlights include recurrent views of the white water of the Nantahala River — generally complete with rafters — and a trip across the sky-high Fontana Trestle Bridge. There is also a relaxing layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The second option is a 32-mile round trip along the Tuckasegee River to Dillsboro. Highlights of the 4-hour outing include the man made Cowee Tunnel and a partial action movie set from The Fugitive. A layover in Dillsboro offers time for exploring a variety of unique shops. » CONTINUED ON PG. 19
Riding the rails into the heart of Western North Carolina produces some of the most colorful vistas to be found on this side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here, the Great Smoky Mountains train traverses a trestle bridge at Lake Fontana.
HOW TO GET THERE From the Upstate, take US 23/US 441 out of Clayton, GA or Highway 64 out of Highlands to Franklin and then US 23/US 441 north to Bryson City. The GSMR station is located at 45 Mitchell St.
{opposite page} If it is fall color you seek, you can literally be pulled into the spectacular beauty of the Upstate aboard this diesel engine or by a vintage 1942 steam locomotive, both operated by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
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1207 Laurens Rd. Greenville, SC 29607 864.331.2077
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» CONTINUED FROM PG. 17
You will also have to decide whether to travel by diesel engine or aboard a train pulled by a 1942 steam locomotive. The steam train costs a little more, but comes with an up-close and personal opportunity to learn about the engine from its conductor, ask questions and get a souvenir pin and a punched souvenir ticket. At the end of the trip you can also settle into some bleacher seating around a new turntable and hope to be one of the two or three spectators chosen to actually “push” the engine and tender around the table. Finally, GSMR offers six classes of seating, ranging from open-air gondolas and coach class up to all-adult and family first class. Having made the Nantahala trip, first class or crown class seating is recommended. In first class, the seats are more comfortable, the linens are … well, linens, the air is conditioned and the windows are bigger. There are several meal options to choose from, and you have a private attendant. Crown class offers individual seating, larger windows, air conditioning and a private attendant. The open-air seating is worth considering, even in the fall when a jacket will be needed in the morning. Fall being one of GSMR’s busiest seasons, a premium open-air option is added. It offers many of the same amenities as first class. Our summer trip out to the Nantahala Gorge was a great “tease” for what awaits fall travelers. Minutes out of the station, the train passes over the Tuckasegee River and begins its ascent to over 3,000 feet. Even at a meandering pace, the train quickly engages dense forest and Kudzu-laden cliffs.
A COLORFUL HISTORY A year after iron rails reached Asheville, NC, in 1880, workers scattered to the west of the city, digging, filling and blasting what became the Murphy Branch of the Western North Carolina Railroad, a 116-mile path to the outside world. It was not easy to cut this branch line through the mountains. One of the most challenging tasks was the grade on the west side of the Balsams that was steep and curvy, with gaping ravines. A second obstacle was the 836-foot Cowee Tunnel through a shaky mountain west of Dillsboro. The railroad was built by convicts working under the gun. In one of the most chilling accidents during construction, 19 inmates drowned in the Tuckasegee River when a raft carrying the iron-shackled convicts capsized at the mouth of the tunnel. Once completed, however, rails changed the way of life for Western North Carolina residents. Conveniences and luxuries were not even dreamed of and cash was hard to come by. The iron rails brought a flood of salesmen who peddled oil lamps and New England “factory cloth.” From door to door they sold books, pump organs, enlarged pictures, jewelry, lightning rods, baubles and doodads. Passenger business was so good by the turn of the 20th century that four trains ran daily between Asheville and Murphy. The Murphy Branch experienced its heaviest use during wartime, in the early 1940s when the massive Fontana Dam was constructed. Thousands of carloads of cement, equipment and other materials reached the construction site by rail on a spur line built from Bushnell to Fontana. Huge shipments of copper ore from mines in the western end of North Carolina and Copperhill, TN, increased the line’s tonnage. With the increasing popularity of the automobile, passenger traffic on the Murphy Branch began to decline. All passenger traffic was discontinued on July 16, 1948, ending 64 years of service. When freight traffic dropped off by 1985, Norfolk Southern closed the Andrews to Murphy leg of the Murphy Branch and the State of North Carolina purchased the Dillsboro to Murphy tracks to keep them from being destroyed. By 1988, many entities had come together to form the Great Smoky Mountains Railway, which then began running excursions. Rolling stock was purchased from various railroads around the nation. American Heritage Railways purchased the GSMR in December of 1999, and upward of 200,000 passengers enjoy the scenery each year aboard excursion trains. The history of steam engine No. 1702 is equally colorful. Built in August 1942 for the Corps of Engineers of the U.S. Army War Dept., it was intended for service in Europe during World War II. However No. 1702 was never sent to Europe, but sent to Ft. Bragg performing domestic wartime services. The engine is one of two, 120 2-8-0 class engines built, making it one of the world’s largest engine classes. After the war the engine circulated around several different rail line owners until 1991 when it was purchased by GSMR.
The railroad doesn’t skimp on personnel and among the favorites are minstrels who move from car to car, sharing some Smoky Mountain favorites and answering questions from inquiring passengers.
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{at left} GSMR offers six classes of seating, ranging from open-air gondolas and coach class up to all-adult and family first class where adult beverages are served. {below} First class seating is more comfortable, the linens are … well, linens, the air is conditioned and the windows are bigger. There are several meal options to choose, all served by a private attendant.
Several times, outcroppings of rock seem to be within reach before the gorge opens up near Fontana Lake. The panoramas are stunning, especially as the train crosses the trestle and settles into a soothing rock and roll rhythm along the Nantahala River. GSMR doesn’t skimp when it comes to personnel. In addition to private attendants in first
and crown class, knowledgeable staff can be found throughout the train, including Tim the storyteller, a backwoods kind of guy who professes to answer all questions, even if he has to make up the answers. “You won’t know the difference anyway,” he jokes. Minstrels move from car to car, sharing some Smoky Mountain favorites, only some of which
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you have probably ever heard. Coach and regular open air-seating customers can pre-order box lunches for delivery along the line, and practically everyone on board seems to know the colorful history of the rail line and its surroundings. While the sheer beauty of a fall excursion is reason enough to make a GSMR memory, the railway offers a variety of options and packages. Given the distance to Bryson City and the duration of the train trips, a two-day outing may be in order. There’s plenty to do and see in the area, especially with historic Cherokee (and its hotel and casino) just 15 minutes away. GSMR partners with Sleep Inn and Microtel in Bryson City and will make those arrangements for you. There are, however, plenty of additional accommodations you can arrange, including the 9-room Everett Boutique Hotel, the Frye-Randolph House, the Calhoun House Inn & Suites and McKinley Edwards Inn. It’s fall, however, so act quickly to secure a room. A GSMR option worth putting on your calendar for next year is the Railroad Reserve, an evening wine and rails pairing. It is offered a couple of times each summer. In collaboration with the French Broad Vignerons, passengers can enjoy a first class, alladult ride to the Fontana Trestle and back during which a narrator presents each pour to guests and shares knowledge of the Western North Carolina wine region and history of eight
MUSEUM IS A MUST A ticket to ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad provides free admission to the Smoky Mountains Trains Museum and the largest collection of Lionel trains in the Carolinas. Train aficionados will not want to miss it! With more than 7,000 Lionel engines, cars and accessories, the operating layout that has been created — and continues to be created — is more than impressive. It features over one mile of track on three levels, six trains running simultaneously, steam and diesel locomotives and an operating roundtable. There is a live, cascading, 5-foot waterfall, 12 animated scenes and more than 60 scratch-built buildings. The entire layout measures 24 by 45 feet, including a new 15 by 21-foot children’s interactive layout. Admission is charged without a train ticket. Visit: www.gsmr.com/smoky-mountain-trains-museum for more information. selected wines. Passengers also enjoy an exclusive sampling of local cheeses, their choice of a freshly-made entrée and a chef-selected dessert. Finally, if you are adventuresome or traveling with family and friends who are, GSMR offers several adventure add-ons. Among them are a Raft N’ Rail option that includes an 8-mile raft trip down the Nantahala River; a Rail & Trail
option that includes a customized Jeep ride up to the Appalachian Trail and back; and a Zip & Rail offering that involves 13 ziplines and 8 skybridges. n For details on options, add-ons, seating options, departure times and much more, visit GSMR. com.
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Sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains pair with opulent luxury in this builder’s custom estate home on the Lake Keowee shoreline. Three living areas are aligned and elevated to fully capture the breath taking views from this 8200 square feet of indoor living space. With six bedroom suites, six bathrooms and two half baths, five indoor living/ gathering areas, an elevator and located on one the prime spots of Lake Keowee. Private but not secluded from shopping , Seneca or Clemson and only 40 minutes to Greenville. Offered at $2,995,000.00
Spacious and sophisticated one of a kind home on the stunning shores of Lake Keowee in prestigious Waterford Pointe. Enjoy all your main living areas with expansive breathtaking water views. The abundant lower level invites you to a gracious stone terrace and impressive one of a kind waterfall. No detail has been omitted in this custom designed home. 5 bed/4.5bath, 5 fireplaces, office, exercise room, pub, bonus room, billiard area, 2 separate outdoor living areas, 3 car garage, generator, exquisitely landscaped grounds, covered dock. This luxurious mountain retreat has the true ambiance of relaxation and grandeur. Offered at $2,475,000
Call Diane or Delane for a showing today!
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CHATTooGA BELLE Where Fall Color Meets Fine Spirits story by Brett McLaughlin | photos courtesy of Chattooga Belle Farm
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T
he yellow leaves on the Muscadine vines will soon wither and fall, but for now they are simply a sun-colored opening act for a rainbow of color that reaches miles into the highest peaks of the
Blue Ridge Mountains. It is fall color at its finest and, from a rocking chair outside The Farm Store at Chattooga Belle Farm, it is simply a breathtaking sight. For Ed Land the cacophony of color that reaches far beyond his 138-acre farm is both soothing — signaling the harvest is nearly complete and that there will soon be time to catch one’s breath — and inspiring — spurring him to build anew on a business plan that, like nature, is ever-changing. “You have to constantly grow, develop, plan and create something new,” Land told The Journal newspaper earlier this year. It’s a theme he and his wife Kitty cling to. It is a premise that led them to see a beautiful piece of property in 2010 and envision it as a wedding venue, U-pick orchard and farm store. It is what led them to add Belle’s Bistro two years later, to suggest that the rolling hills along Damascus Creek Road would be a fun place to play disc golf, and, most recently, to open Oconee County’s first legal distillery. “The plan just keeps growing,” Land said, noting that the addition of the distillery is entirely in keeping with his desire that the entire farm — from apples and Muscadine vines to chickens and grass (and apple) fed beef — be self-sustaining.
{above} Two hundred gallon batches of four different brandies and a corn, wheat and barley-based whiskey are produced in this still at Chattooga Belle Farm. The dome of the still is a 1946 vintage Army cook pot.. {at left} Early mornings can be special at Chattooga Belle Farm, where clouds often settle between the hills and even the vineyards join in fall’s spectacular color transformation.
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“We grow the fruit, ferment it, distill it, bottle it, label it and sell it all right here at the Chattooga Belle Farm Distillery,” he said. But, for as laissez-fair as he makes the creation of the distillery sound, the venture actually fermented for months. “I was thinking about it for quite a while,” he said. “We had created our own line of wines and it seemed like the next logical step. I took a course in Kentucky four or five years ago, and Kitty and I visited several micro-distilleries, just watching to see what I could learn. Having excess fruit every season made the final decision easy. “We grew 13 tons of Muscadines last year, and I’ve got some of the 2015 apple crop in the cooler right now,” he said, referencing the two primary ingredients for the four brandies currently being produced. The production area of the distillery features two fermentation vats and a 210-gallon still whose dome is a 1946 military cook pot. After being cut to 80 proof, the distilled product is stored in South Carolinaproduced white oak barrels on both the ground floor and in a loft. Before even being asked, Land tells touring guests that the bed wedged in between two stacks of aging barrels of brandy was put there
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Ed Land does a tasting for visitors
as a joke in case he sampled too much of to the Chattooga Belle Distillery his own product. earlier this fall. Land works long “We thought about branding it as days on the farm, but has vowed Chattooga Belle: A Bottle and Bed,” he never to take his work home with him. (photo by Brett McLaughlin) quipped. The Back Door Store also sits above the production area and has been open for business since October 2, 2015, offering four varieties of brandy infused with various flavors, as well as Block and Tackle, a corn, wheat and barley grain whiskey. All the varieties come in 750ml bottles at a cost of $25 each. The brandies are: • MuscaShine: made exclusively from Muscadine grapes; • Cinnamon Stick: an apple/Muscadine brandy aged with cinnamon sticks; • Oconee Belle: an apple/Muscadine brandy aged with Madagascar vanilla bourbon beans; and • Camp Fire: a charcoal filtered apple/Muscadine mix aged with charred White Oak chips. Land enjoys providing tours and tastings, telling visitors — 28,000 people visited Chattooga Belle last year — the farm story and urging them to try a special fall brandy that features allspice, cloves and cinnamon. He proudly proclaims, “We recycle everything,” noting that leftover fruit pomace is fed to his cattle, which, in some form, can eventually be purchased both in the farm’s bistro and farm store. He expects MuscaShine to reach the retail market within 18 to 24 months because of the volume of grapes grown on the farm. Meanwhile, 26 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
{left to right} Brandy and whiskey age in the barrels that line a loft at the Chattooga Belle Farm Distillery. The bed was put in the loft as a joke and prompted a suggestion that the new distillery be named Chattooga Belle: A Bottle and A Bed. • Four brandies and a whiskey are being distilled at the new Chattooga Belle Farm Distillery in Long Creek. Currently, the products are only available through The Back Door Store at the farm.
Block and Tackle and the other brandies, will continue to age as he builds his stock. “I look forward to coming to the farm every day,” he said. “I work 10 to 12 hours, and then I’m done and I look forward to going home. I can do that because I have great support from my wife and our employees.” On the farm or at home, however, one can expect that Land will always be thinking about “the plan” and how to keep Chattooga Belle growing. n
For more information on Chattooga Belle Farm, its events venue, farm store and distillery visit: chattoogabellefarm.com. or call 864.647.9768.
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Blaze a ‘Palmetto’ Trail into color Statewide trail system expanding into Walhalla story by Brett McLaughlin | photos courtesy of Palmetto Conservation Foundation
T
he hills above Walhalla typically come to life in the fall with hikers following trails into the colorful splendor of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. This fall, however, may be different. Those hikers and waterfall enthusiasts could very well be joined by a platoon of contractors and volunteers, whose mission it will be to make this corner of South Carolina an even greater attraction for those who love the outdoors. Widely reported efforts to create a new passage and terminus for the Palmetto Trail, South Carolina’s longest pedestrian and bicycle trail — 500 continuous miles when fin-
ished — are expected to get underway by late fall or early winter. “We will be having scheduled volunteer days for people to come out and help,” said Palmetto Conservation Foundation Executive Director Natalie Britt, “but we still have some preliminary work to do with the Forest Service, and we are still waiting on additional funding requests.” Britt recently announced approval of $250,000 in grant funds to be split between an extension of the trail through Jocassee Gorges in Pickens County, and a 1.5-mile biking and hiking section that will anchor an extensive mountain biking trail system
planned for Walhalla-owned property on Stumphouse Mountain. The new section is part of a 16-mile extension from Oconee Station State Historic Site into downtown Walhalla. Together, the two projects comprise part of PCF’s “Finish the Trail” campaign. Britt said a “chance meeting” between PCF representatives and officials with Walhalla’s Partners for Progress spurred the project. Officials on both sides of the table are now touting it as an exceptional opportunity to increase tourism, stimulate economic development and provide a fun recreational venue with potential impact on local public health.
Stumphouse Mountain Multi-use Trail System
RTP - Project Begin RTP - Project End
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USGS 1:24,000 Whetstone, SC Quadrangle
Palmetto Trail
USGS 1:24,000 Walhalla, SC Quadrangle
-- RTP Funding Request --
-- Phase I Trails (Not RTP) --
Entry Loop
Boundary Loop
Easy Trails
Middle Loop
More Difficult Very Difficult
_______________________ -- Phase II Trails (Not RTP) --
Lake Loop
Conceptual Only
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t
Stumphouse Tunnel
na
lF
or es
Isaqueena Falls
rN at te m
Parking - Proposed New Parcel Boundary
io
Parking - Isaqueena Falls
Su
The Palmetto Trail (yellow) passes through the heart of the multi-use Stumphouse Mountain Trail System, which is expected to be developed over the next several years. When completed it will offer a variety of hiking and biking trails of various lengths and ranging from easy to strenuous.
Kilometers 0 0
© 2016 Palmetto Conservation Foundation
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0.125 0.25 Miles
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0.5 0.5
“We got feedback that there was no camping, no restrooms, no restaurants at Oconee State Park,” Britt said. “There was no shuttle for people to use once they reached the end of the trail, and even the phone service is spotty. By having the terminus in Walhalla, we will have all those services and the city will benefit.” So, what is this Palmetto Trail? Established in 1994, it is the longest trail and the largest trail construction project in South Carolina, with approximately 360 miles completed. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Intracoastal Waterway, the Trail winds through 14 counties. As it meanders, the Trail connects state parks, national forests, Revolutionary War battlefields, county recreation areas and historic military posts. While showcasing the state’s diverse natural beauty, history and cultural heritage, it also inspires active, healthy living. Built as a series of 26 passages, ranging in length from 1.3 to 47 miles, the Trail is accessible for day trips, weekend jaunts and longer treks. Passages lead users along wilderness and backwoods paths, urban bikeways, converted rail-trails, greenways, country roads and even the steps of the State Capitol.
{above} Backpackers are pictured making their way through the Poinsett Reservoir Passage. This moderate, 6-mile hike runs along the northern boundary of Poinsett Watershed, a 19,000-acre area that contains the headwaters feeding Poinsett Reservoir of the Greenville Water System. {below}Lake Marion Passage skirts along the high-water mark of the lake’s north side between Santee and Mill Creek County Park. Trail users are rewarded with magnificent vistas of the upper coastal plain and opportunities to spot abundant wildlife and colorful flora, especially in the fall.
FALL 2016 › 29
{clockwise from left} The Saluda Mountains Passage runs along the ridge defining the northern perimeter of the Poinsett Watershed and the border between the Carolinas. Although it is a moderately difficult, 9.1-mile hike, it provides an abundance of color in the fall. • Thousands upon thousands of volunteers work each year on various parts of the Palmetto Trail. These volunteers range from local individuals interested in the environment and being outdoors to large groups of students enjoying “alternative spring breaks.” • This map shows the various passages throughout the state. On the Palmetto Trail website — palmettotrail.org — visitors can click on each passage name to get details as to the length and severity of the hike as well as highlights of the passage.
The entire Palmetto Trail is open to hiking and backpacking. Designated passages and sites are available for mountain biking, horseback riding and camping. Various passages offer easy, moderate and strenuous levels of difficulty. Britt said Upstate residents in search of new fall color experiences should try some of the passages, an experiment she clearly hopes will spark additional volunteer enthusiasm. “There are three passages near Spartanburg — Cedar Springs, the Blue Wall Preserve (Landrum) and the Mary Black Rail Trail — 30 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
that are relatively flat and easy to hike,” she said. “It’s not unusual to see toddlers and their grandparents hiking together.” While design work on the series of looping trails that will extend off the Palmetto Trail’s Stumphouse passage is complete (see map), officials caution that it will likely take 5 to 6 years to obtain funding and complete construction of the mountain’s entire multi-use system. “There’s a lot of technical work to be done and (environmental) clearances to obtain,” Britt said. “It will be at least five years to com-
pletion, but I expect the city will be able to complete its downtown portion within a couple of years. They are waiting on that funding right now.” The Palmetto Conservation Foundation trail website — palmettotrail.org — is extraordinarily useful for those wishing to explore some of the trail passages. A map (pictured here) shows the entire trail, while clicking on the “passages” tab provides information on each passage, including the Walhalla and Oconee passages. n
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WALK WHERE HEROES WERE BORN story by Bill Bauer
Historic Brattonsville is a living, working replica of life in the South during the turbulent times of both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. (photo courtesy of Historic Brattonsville)
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South Carolina played pivotal role in America’s revolution
B
ecause it was the first state to secede from the union at the onset of the American Civil War, South Carolina’s pivotal role in the success of founding that original union is often overlooked. Before there was a USA and America was simply 13 colonies struggling to find an identity and gain independence from England, South Carolina was the setting for over 200 battles and skirmishes — more than in any other state — in America’s Revolutionary War. Southern Patriots have deemed several of those incursions key triumphs, and history buffs and sightseers can relive four significant battles within a few hours of the Upstate. Sites preserved and restored by the National Park Service at Cowpens, Kings Mountain, Ninety Six, and historic Brattonsville create a chronological circuit that, with an overnight stay, allows visitors to walk where battles were fought and heroes were forged.
At historic Brattonsville seasonal events, reenactments and programs routinely interpret life in the Carolina Backcountry from the 1750s to the 1850s. (photo courtesy of Historic Brattonsville)
Wily Patriots made their way around Kings Mountain, picking off Loyalists with long rifles and staving off repeated attacks by the British. (photo courtesy of National Park Service)
The journey begins just outside of Greenwood, in Ninety Six, where the first land battle south of New England was fought from November 19-21, 1775, and where South Carolina’s first casualty of the war, James Birmingham, met his demise. His death came as 560 Patriots led by Major Andrew Williamson fought to recapture ammunition and gunpowder confiscated by Loyalists. Hopelessly outnumbered by 1,900 Loyalist forces, the Patriots eventually surrendered and were permitted to leave with stipulations. Ninety Six was also the site of the longest field siege of the Revolutionary War as American General Nathanael Greene laid siege to what had become a Loyalist stronghold, hoping to push the British out of South Carolina. However, anticipating Greene’s May 22, 1781, attack, Loyalist soldiers erected additional barriers atop the earthen walls of the infamous Star Fort and settled in for 28 days. In a last ditch attempt to take control of the fort, 50 of Greene’s soldiers stormed the eight-pointed structure on June 18, but were repelled, and with 2,000 Loyalist reinforcements a day away, were forced to withdraw. Surprisingly, the victorious Loyalists would eventually abandon the fort, but not before burning down the town. FALL 2016 › 35
Today, the National Park Service maintains a one-mile interpretive walking tour that leads to the remains of the Star Fort and a small artifactfilled museum. A 20-minute live-action film about the historic battle, “Ninety Six: Crossroads of a Revolution,” is available upon request, and visitors can also obtain a selfguided audio tour of the park. The 1,022-acre Ninety Six National Historic Site is located two miles south of the present-day town of Ninety Six, on South Carolina Highway 248. Allow about 90 minutes to visit the site and see the video. The visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. British Major Patrick Ferguson was killed and lost The Battle of Kings Mountain despite holding high ground. He was shot from his horse during a final charge. This marker honors his service. (photo courtesy of National Park Service)
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A self-guided walking trail begins below the Kings Mountain ridge where Patriots attacked. The paved, 1.5 mile trail continues to where the Loyalists surrendered. Along the way visitors can view The Centennial Monument, the U.S. Monument and Major Ferguson’s gravesite.(photo courtesy of National Park Service)
Depending on your itinerary for this trip back in time, one option would be to travel to Ninety Six for an afternoon visit and spend the evening in Greenwood. (See related story.) A visit earlier in the day, could propel you on to your next site at Historic Brattonsville, again about 90 minutes away, prompting a stay in and around McConnells or Chester at one of several wonderful B&B’s where you can relax before venturing on. The Battle of Huck’s Defeat It was July 1780, when British General Banastre “Bloody” Tarleton ordered Captain Christian Huck and his force of 100 men to “push the rebels as far as you deem convenient.” However, when Huck arrived at William Bratton’s home
FALL 2016 › 37
History buffs and sightseers can relive four significant battles within a few hours of the Upstate. Sites preserved and restored by the National Park Service at Cowpens, Kings Mountain, Ninety Six and historic Brattonsville create a chronological circuit that can be enjoyed with a single overnight stay. (photo courtesy of National Park Service)
he was unable to determine the colonel’s location from his wife, Martha. So, Huck set up camp for the night only to be awakened in the morning, surrounded by Bratton and a band of Patriots who ambushed the waking Loyalists and killed Huck. It was a quick battle and a handful of Loyalists escaped, but historians view the victory as a morale booster that added to a chain of events in the South that ultimately led to victory at Yorktown. Today, Historic Brattonsville is a living, working replica of life in the South during the turbulent times of both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Artisans, farmers, and the like, all dressed in period attire, are busy going about their work in and around several restored buildings. Food is harvested, farm animals are raised and the kitchen next to the Bratton’s original family home usually has something cooking in the fireplace. The site of Huck’s Defeat was first opened to the public in 2014 after years of archeological research. Visitors can walk an interpretive trail of the actual battlefield site and also visit over 30 colonial and antebellum structures spread 38 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
over the 800-acre plantation. It is living history at its best with miles of hiking trails and seasonal events, reenactments and programs that interpret life in the Carolina Backcountry from the 1750s to the 1850s. Historic Brattonsville is open to the general public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. A visitor center provides maps and additional information. The Patriots prevail About 30 minutes north on Highways 321 and 161 is site number three, the National Military Park at Kings Mountain — home to the battle that Thomas Jefferson dubbed, “The turn of the tide of success.” It was October 1780 when, after capturing Charleston, British General Henry Clinton headed north and ordered General Charles Cornwallis to finish off South Carolina and rid the South of Patriots. But, under the leadership of Colonel William Campbell, the wily Patriots made their way around Kings Mountain, picking off Loyalists with long rifles and staving off repeated attacks by British Major
Patrick Ferguson who held the high ground. During a final charge, Ferguson was shot from his horse and killed as his remaining Loyalists surrendered, but not until suffering heavy casualties from a band of militia seeking revenge for the havoc created by infamous “Bloody” Tarleton at the Battle of Waxhaw. Today, the battle site remains one of the most visited National Military Parks, commemorating a decisive victory that effectively ended British control of the Carolinas. Begin your visit by viewing the History Channel’s 26-minute film, “Battle for Kings Mountain.” Next take the self-guided walking trail that begins below the ridge where the Patriots attacked and continues to where the Loyalists surrendered. Along the 1.5-mile trail are The Centennial Monument, the U.S. Monument and Major Ferguson’s gravesite. Although it is steep in places, the paved trail is easily walkable and open to motorized wheelchairs. Complete your visit at the Museum, where trees come to life and tell stories about the battle and its heroes as you meander through a simulated forest. The park is open 9
a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Admission is free. One final stop Depart Kings Mountain on Highway 216 north and hop on I-85 south at Exit 2. In about 10 miles you’ll come to Highway 11 leading you to your final destination, Cowpens National Battlefield. In January, a few months after the victory at Kings Mountain, Tarleton got back into the fray in an attempt to stop Patriot General Daniel Morgan from cutting off British supply lines. With the rain-swollen Broad River about six miles away and with Tarleton’s Dragoons in pursuit, Morgan pulled off a brilliant victory employing a classic military tactic known as a “double envelope or envelopment.” Appearing as if in retreat, Morgan’s militia turned and stood their ground while Tarleton’s experienced regulars were being outflanked by the Patriot cavalry in a perfectly timed maneuver. “Bloody” Tarleton barely escaped, leaving what was left of his British forces to surrender. In all, the British totaled 110 dead and 600 captured or wounded, while Morgan
ACCOMMODATIONS AND DINING ON THE HISTORIC TRAIL Dubbed the “Emerald City,’ Greenwood is in the heart of the South Carolina Olde 96 Historic District. Its revitalized uptown features a host of restaurants and shops, as well as the Inn on the Square, a great spot to spend an evening after touring the first of the state’s Revolutionary War sites. Billed as a full-service, boutique hotel, preservation of the Inn’s original architecture allows it to stand tall in its uptown location. An attentive staff provides guests with old-fashioned, Southern hospitality, while luxurious rooms, a complimentary served breakfast, and nightly specials in the Carriage House Restaurant and Fox & Hound Lounge cover most other needs. Contact the Inn at 864.330.0051 or email info@innonthesquare.net and see their website at innonthesquare.net for information and reservations. Should you decide to venture out for dinner, The Mill House Brick Oven Bistro is just a few blocks from the Inn. While the menu has a wide assortment of Italian appetizers and dishes, it’s all about the brick oven pizza at the Mill House. Using six sauces and every topping imaginable, the one-size, personal pan pizza is worth waiting for. You can make your own concoction, but specialty pies like Fungus Amungus with a white sauce, four types of gourmet mushrooms, light mozzarella, blue cheese, and a truffle oil crust or the Jack Sparrow with its Caribbean mojo sauce spread across chicken, bacon and diced mango will more than satisfy your appetite. Annexed to the Good Times Brewing Company, Mill House guests can savor seasonal beers and ales brewed onsite, at the bar or in one of two dining rooms. If you elect to visit the Ninety Six site and head over to Historic Brattonsville, the nearby town of Chester is home to “An Inn on York Street,” and will place you less than an hour from Kings Mountain and Cowpens. Innkeeper Sandie Woodard will meet you at the door and escort you to one of three elegant rooms in a wonderfully restored, 1898 former hospital. The Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and Noel Coward suites all have large queen-sized beds, plasma TVs, cotton robes and slippers, and luxurious baths. Spend the evening strolling the beautifully landscaped grounds, taking a dip in the outdoor pool, or relaxing in one of several sitting rooms before retiring to your suite. Be prepared to start the morning with a full, 3-course breakfast. Guests can check in between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sandie will be happy to recommend dining options in Chester. Sandie can be contacted by phone at 803.581.8681 or by email at info@ innonyorkstreet.com. Visit the website for photos and other information at www.innonyorkstreet.com.
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The 1,022-acre Ninety Six National Historic Site is located two miles south of the present-day town of Ninety Six, on South Carolina Highway 248. Allow about 90 minutes to tour the site and view a film of the battle of Ninety Six. (photo courtesy of National Park Service)
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suffered only 24 killed and 104 wounded. It was another turning point, perhaps the biggest of the war in the South and definitely the biggest Patriot victory in South Carolina. Unlike the other parks, Cowpens has a tour road around the perimeter of the battlefield in addition to a walking trail going through it. The visitor center has maps of the trails, and information about the battle and the entire Southern Campaign. “Cowpens: A Battle Remembered,” is an 18-minute action film, shown at the top of the hour.
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Cowpens National Battlefield is free and open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The auto-loop and picnic area close at 4:30 p.m. You are now a short drive from home via I-85 south. The actual driving time for the entire tour is just under six hours, and the journey from Greenwood to Brattonsville and on to Kings Mountain takes you through some of the most scenic areas of the Palmetto State, particularly in the fall. Historic Brattonsville and Olde 96 come alive with special activities, and October 1-9 is Revolutionary War Weekend at Kings Mountain and Cowpens. Both sites feature weapons demonstrations and family friendly activities including live drama presentations. The National Park Service website, https://www.nps.gov, will lead you to everything you need to plan your visits to Ninety Six, Kings Mountain and Cowpens. Information on Historic Brattonsville is available at http://chmuseums.org/brattonsville, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HistoricBrattonsville. n
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Bad Creek?
Not so much any more — little stream is now big power source story by Brett McLaughlin | photos by Rex Brown
This is the view of the Bad Creek Hydroelectric Plant from Lake Jocassee. After passing through massive turbines, water from the Bad Creek Reservoir some 1,200 feet above is discharged into Jocassee, only to be pumped back up during non-peak periods for repeated use.
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C
herokee Indians didn’t think much of the little creek that trickled down out of what is now North Carolina just west of the Whitewater River. It had so little flowing water and was of so little use that they named it Bad Creek. The flow hasn’t really improved that much but, nearly two centuries later, Upstate settlers sweltering under the summer sun should have a better appreciation for that little creek. Today, with an assist from Duke Energy, Bad Creek plays a big role in keeping air conditioner units humming in the summer and will power-up heat pumps in the winter months ahead. Much of what it takes to make that happen goes largely unnoticed since the heart of Duke Energy’s Bad Creek Hydroelectric Plant is located securely behind barbed wire fencing, off the beaten path, and — uniquely and quite literally — in the middle of a mountain.
The Visitor’s Center that opened with the plant in 1991 closed seven years later, and public tours are few and far between. Bad Creek is a “peaking station.” It operates primarily when the demand for energy is at its highest — the hottest summer days and the coldest winter nights. Four generators produce 1,065 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 700,000 homes. However, it is also one of only two “pumped storage” hydro stations in the Duke system, the other being just “downstream” on Lake Jocassee. That means that when it isn’t producing electricity, such as at night and on weekends, its turbines can be reversed to pump water up from the lower reservoir, which just happens to be Lake Jocassee. “We operate much like a rechargeable battery. We store energy until it is needed at another time,” explained Duke Corporate Communications spokesperson Mikayla Kreuzberger. No small feat Although Duke began securing some property in the Upstate in 1914, the $1.3 billion construction of Bad Creek didn’t begin until 1982. The first order of business was to clear land and build a 5-mile access road. That alone took three years.
{at left} With the Bad Creek Reservoir as their backdrop, Oconee Nuclear Station Communications Director Chris Rimel (left) and Communications Consultant Andrew Beckner (center) stand atop the dam that collects water to power the Bad Creek Hydroelectric Plant. The 360-acre reservoir could be drained in 27 hours if all four generators at the plant operated non-stop. {middle} This July 31, 1985 photo shows construction of the access tunnel at the Bad Creek Hydroelectric Station. Much of the 20 million cubic yards of dirt and stone used to build the Bad Creek dam and create the reservoir came from excavating this tunnel and the massive, underground powerhouse that it led to. The entire project took nine years to complete. (photo courtesy of Duke Energy) {below} Some 20 million cubic yards of soil and stone were used to construct the Bad Creek dam. The structure stands 360 feet high, is 2,600 feet long and is 1,850 feet wide at its base.
FALL 2016 › 45
One of the four generator housings inside the Bad Creek powerhouse is pictured. Giant turbines at the base of this spiral staircase provide power to the generators, which are capable of producing enough electricity to power 700,000 homes.
TOURS ARE LIMITED The World of Energy offers only 4-6 public tours of the Bad Creek facility each year. These tours are not scheduled until the beginning of each year and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis by calling (864.873.4600) or visiting the World of Energy. Each tour can accommodate approximately 20 people. Duke’s World of Energy Education Center offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about Bad Creek, along with other generating facilities within the Keowee-Toxaway Project. The center offers a self-guided, interactive tour of the Story of Energy, along with a 3D topographical map of the K-T Project, historical exhibits and more. The enormity of the powerhouse cavern is obvious when compared to this full-size pickup, one of several utility vehicles that traverses the three miles of tunnel some one-quarter mile below the surface.
Workers then set about damming Bad Creek and West Bad Creek to create a 360acre Bad Creek Reservoir. Two earthen dams and one dike were constructed, using roughly 20 million cubic yards of rock and soil. (That would fill about 40 million half-ton pickup trucks.) The dam itself is 360 feet tall, 2,600 feet long and, at its base, is 1,850 feet thick. It holds in check a body of water that is, at some points, 350 feet deep. At full pond the elevation is 2,310 feet. When the demand for power surges, water is released into a 30-foot diameter underground power tunnel that drops more than 850 vertical feet, over three-quarters of a mile. At the base of the dam the water pow46 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
ers turbines connected to large generators in the powerhouse. The powerhouse itself is an engineering wonder. Located some 500 feet below ground, the powerhouse cavern is 75 feet wide, 160 feet high and 433 feet long. An elevator from the Visitor’s Center lobby provides access, but employees are more familiar with the main access tunnel, a quarter-mile road complete with speed bumps and double yellow lines … apparently to indicate it is a no passing zone. All in all, there are about three miles of tunnels throughout the facility. Stone from the excavation contributed to the dam’s construction. When the plant is running at full capac-
ity, the Bad Creek Reservoir drops about six feet an hour. “It’s really like a giant toilet once we open the valves,” Kreuzberger said with a smile. “That’s why no one is allowed to swim or boat.” Not that the upper reservoir has ever been completely drained (since it can be refilled from Lake Jocassee), but if Duke ever needed to run all four generators non-stop, it would take just 27 hours to empty a full pond. Once water passes through the turbines, it travels through a final tunnel and is discharged into Lake Jocassee some 1,200 feet below … that is until it’s pumped back up to Bad Creek … a place that might merit a name change. n
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Quickly addicted Palmetto Shooting Complex offers top-notch experience story by Bill Bauer | photos courtesy of Palmetto Shooting Complex
I
used to think that shooting skeet, trap and sporting clays was pretty much loading a shotgun and blasting away at little round discs that seemingly came from nowhere and flew rapidly past one’s eyes. In my stereotype it also wasn’t much of a sport, but more of an activity reserved for the rich and famous. That was until I spent an afternoon with Jeff
Biggs, a 20-gauge shotgun and two boxes of shells at the Palmetto Shooting Complex. Boy, was I wrong! What I discovered was that not only are there three distinct types of shooting, but that they have no age or gender barriers, and they are affordable, addictive and actually awesome. Constructed and operated by the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Complex is a
world-class, $16 million facility, carved out of 800 acres of forest in west-central South Carolina. Since the first shots were fired near the town of Edgefield in October 2015, the PSC has grown steadily in size and stature and, when completed, will be the largest facility of its kind east of the Mississippi. Rhett Simmons manages the PSC, provides instruction and describes the facility as a
All the stations on the North and South Clay Courses are adorned with seasonal plants and wildflowers, natural grasses, marshlike areas and native trees.
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one-of-a-kind operation for shooters of every type and ability. “We have kids, ladies, young girls, boys, men, families … you name it. And they are shooting at every level from novice to expert,” he said. Facilities The PSC offers two sporting clay courses — North and the South — and five dedicated trap and skeet fields. Both clay courses disappear into the woods and are accessed by rugged carts with tandem gun holders. Meanwhile, a centrally located, 9,300-square foot pavilion overlooks the trap and skeet fields providing perfect views during frequent competitions. The office, where shooting supplies and time on the courses can be purchased, is located in a cabin near the pavilion and soon ground will be broken on a 9,500-square foot roundhouse containing a well appointed pro shop, restaurant and meeting rooms. “We will have a 3-D Archery course in September and a rifle and pistol range in the near future,” noted instructor Biggs. The ease with which visitors get locked and loaded is amazing. “We use the Promatic Claymate WiCard System for buying clays on the
skeet and trap fields and sporting clay courses,” explained Simmons. In layman’s language shooters purchase the number of clays they want and the data is loaded on a plastic card that they then swipe in a card reader at each station or trap and skeet field. Once that is done, the buttons that launch the clays are active and it is game on. “The system is great because it lets experienced folks buy their clays, grab a cart and head out on their own,” Biggs said. The learning curve Being a beginner, Biggs took me on the North Course where he schooled me in the process and provided excellent instruction in safety and shooting. At each clay station visitors find a wooden shooting stand with a card reader and a sign describing what to expect. Shooters are entitled to push the launch button once to see where the clays are coming from and plan their shots. The pattern will differ at each station. “Each station tries to simulate a type of hunt,” Biggs explained as the clays at station eight flew across a natural setting, giving the appearance of a pair of wood ducks coming into a wetland. All the stations are adorned with
{at top} Both the North and South clay courses at PSC disappear into the woods that are accessed by rugged carts with tandem gun holders. Couples are frequently among the hundreds of shooters who can be using the facility at any given time. {above} The Palmetto Shooting Complex is a one-of-a-kind operation for shooters of every type and ability.
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The Palmetto Shooting Complex is a world-class, $16 million facility, carved out of 800 acres of forest in west-central South Carolina.
seasonal plants and wildflowers, natural grasses, marshlike areas and native trees. The courses are also void of power lines as the entire operation utilizes solar energy to charge batteryoperated machines. Despite the shotgun blasts, it is not uncommon to see deer and other wildlife roaming the trail. George Thornton, CEO of the NWTF,
helped in the design and has dubbed stations seven through 15 on the North Course “Amen Corner” as shooters make the turn and head back. At Number 13, the clays come from behind and fly overhead as if you were in a duck blind and the fowl were coming into a pond that lies in front. Number 15 features a “house pair,” meaning that two clays can be hit with
one shot as they pass next to each other when crossing paths. Testimonials Throughout the afternoon I heard the sounds of shots all around the complex, but never saw a soul until they reported in with their scorecards or arrived to purchase clays
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and head onto the range. Kristina Williams, owner of a hospitality and recreational event planning firm, was invited to a Cabala’s Ladies’ Day Out, which included an experience at the PSC. “I had only shot a shotgun once before, and by that I mean it was 35 degrees and I pulled the trigger three times!” said Williams, who promptly hit the first target thrown her way. “When we arrived, Rhett Simmons gave us an overview of the sport, an outline of safety and gun handling, helped us determine which eye was dominant, showed us how to hold the gun and was with us every step of the way. He was incredibly helpful and made us all feel very comfortable, and at the end of the day I was addicted. “You can actually see your progress, and I find it therapeutic and cheaper than therapy!” she smiled. “It’s also a wonderful place for a couples day or a day out with friends and, if you are interested in shooting sports, PSC is a wonderful place to get started,” Williams said, adding that she and her husband shoot clays together and her kids will both be joining the 4-H Shotgun Club. Cameron Huston, 14, regularly shoots with his father. He said he loves the ease of access to everything at PSC, and his dad is proud to say that his son’s squad came in third at the
State 4-H championships. Both father and son are impressed with what they think is a “stateof-the-art facility,” the beautiful surroundings and the ability for the family to get together through the sport of shooting.
After my shooting excursion, I met Summers Pendarvis who had just returned from the sporting clay course. Now 27, she began shooting on the farm with her dad at age five, but had never shot competitively or had any training. “I took some lessons at the PSC from Josh Webb and found him and the rest of the staff to be nothing short of outstanding. I started on the skeet range and now shoot sporting clays and walk the courses for exercise. I’m hooked! “It’s contagious, and I’ve raised my scores from under 20 to a high of 67 out of 100 clays,” she added, noting that she tries to shoot once a week to stay sharp, and often goes with a group that is diverse in age and gender.
The National Wild Turkey Federation and the Palmetto Shooting Complex not only encourage ladies through “Women in the Outdoors” and youngsters through “JAKES” (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship), but actively support “Wheelin’ Sportsmen,” making all the shooting venues wheelchair accessible. The PSC complex, in part constructed with a $2 million grant from the South Carolina DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hosts hundreds of shooters at a time and is the site for club and competitive shooting events throughout the year. In August 2015, some 500 shooters and nearly 1,000 spectators attended the NWTF Turkey Shoot. For its part, NWTF is dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of our hunting heritage. It offers adult, youth, sponsor and life memberships in the organization. n Palmetto Shooting Complex is located at 535 Gary Hill Road, Edgefield. Currently, it is open to the public Wed.–Sun., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. While it is not necessary to reserve a spot on the range, call ahead at 803.637.7480 to see if there is a group outing or competition going on. For pricing and directions, view the PSC website at http://www.nwtf.org/about/hunting-heritagecenter/palmetto-shooting-complex.
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FALL 2016 › 51
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That’s why curious minds are always welcome at Duke Energy’s WORLD OF ENERGY, the education center at Oconee Nuclear Station. More than 3 million visitors have enjoyed our exhibits for nearly 50 years. All for free. Come see our new Global Balance station, featuring a giant interactive globe. Try your hand at one of our energy games. Explore the Story of Energy exhibit. Get outside and hike our nature trail by beautiful Lake Keowee. Or come out to one of our events, featuring live music, educational lectures, movies and art shows, just to name a few. THE WORLD OF ENERGY. EDUCATION ENERGIZED. Check us out at WWW.DUKE-ENERGY.COM/WORLDOFENERGY, or call us at 1 (800) 777-1004, OPTION 1.
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7812 Rochester Highway, Seneca, S.C.
FALL 2016 › 53
LIVIN’ THE DREAM
YOUNG CHEF PACKS THEM IN ON THE ALLEY story by Brett McLaughlin | photos by Rex Brown
Chef Evangelos Dimas prepares to pan sear a Chilean Sea Bass in the kitchen of Seneca’s popular Vangeli’s Bistro.
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I
f your dream is to be the chef of your own successful restaurant, Evangelos Dimas will tell you that it takes more than extraordinary taste buds and the agility to handle a razorsharp blade. In his case, it has also required the devotion of an entire family and countless hours researching the psychology of color and the science of sound. Those weren’t necessarily things Dimas was thinking when he took a job as a dishwasher at one of the area’s most successful restaurants back in 1998. But, after buying the wellworn space behind one of the smallest storefronts on Seneca’s Ram Cat Alley, they quickly moved up on his list of priorities. Now, just seven months after opening the doors of Vangeli’s, Dimas is livin’ his dream. The biggest concern he and his brother, Spiro, and their wives and children share today is one most restaurateurs can only hope for — finding a table for everyone who wants to eat at what has quickly become the hottest dining spot in town. “Make a reservation,” he urges, acknowledging that there have been times that the two evening seatings — roughly 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. — have been fully booked two months in advance. “Sometimes we have some availability right at 5:30 and, after 8 p.m., we can sometimes take a few walk-ins, but it’s best to make a reservation.”
Blackened salmon is another customer favorite. It is served with an ample portion of cherry tomato, ricotta and asiago cheese polenta, and is topped by a tasty mango salsa. Seasonal vegetables accompany the dish.
FALL 2016 › 55
Spiro Dimas not only was Because the menu at Vangeli’s changes daicrucial to the remodeling ly depending on the availability of fresh meats, of Vangeli’s, but he also fish, poultry and vegetables, customers making works as a prep chef in reservations days in advance can’t always count the kitchen. on a specific dish being available. That’s not an issue, however, for many diners who followed Dimas’ rapidly rising career from dishwasher to executive chef at Frank Maassena’s popular Paesano’s Italian Restaurant. Simply put, they know he can cook and they can count on a good meal. “The menu is constantly evolving,” Dimas said. “I love ingredients that work together, and I want to use whatever is fresh and really pops. “We do a lot of business with Greenfield Organic Farms (in Westminster), and I want to use more local, but getting enough seasonal, fresh product to serve 200 people is difficult.” The menu is posted daily — lunch and dinner Thursday through Saturday and brunch on Sunday — on the eatery’s Facebook page. And, while it varies, it will nearly always include a pork or beef entrée, some form of wild-caught fish or seafood, a chicken dish and a pasta entree that can be served with meat or as a vegetarian dish.
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“We do a lot of business with Greenfield Organic Farms (in Westminster), and I want to use more local, but getting enough seasonal, fresh product to serve 200 people is difficult.” — EVANGELOS DIMAS —
One fairly consistent offering is perfectly seared diver scallops, which we enjoyed with a tasty fire toasted corn and crab salad quenelle. The plate also included miniature heirloom tomatoes served with a 12-year-old aged balsamic reduction. Choice or better beef is also on most menus. The Stockyard brand filet we were served came
atop a tasty helping of goat cheese risotto and was garnished with Swiss chard and grilled portabella mushrooms in a Marsala wine reduction. Blackened salmon is another customer favorite. Generally it comes with asparagus when in season, an ample serving of cherry tomato, ricotta and asiago cheese polenta, and is
topped by a tasty mango salsa. Specialty and garden salads are standard fare, as well as a couple of dessert options. (Lucky diners will hit a night when the Ghirardelli triple chocolate mousse cake with homemade whipped cream is on the menu.) One of the most popular periodic offerings — even bringing one group of diners from Charleston — is She Crab soup. Dimas won’t divulge the recipe he has been perfecting for years, but said he will make the soup on request. The restaurant has a good selection of domestic and craft beers and a substantial wine selection, featuring both East and West Coast wineries. Together, the brothers, friends and family members have created a delightfully quaint dining atmosphere that will astonish regulars to Ram Cat Alley. “We completely gutted the place except for one section of flooring,” Dimas said, giving most of the credit to his brother. “We wanted to create a kind of ‘alley off the Alley’ feel as if you were walking between a couple of buildings. I had plans for streetlamps and a cobbleOnly choice or better filets are served at Vangeli’s. Here, the beef is served with goat cheese risotto and garnished with Swiss chard and grilled portabella mushrooms.
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{at left} Although the menu changes daily, perfectly seared diver scallops are frequently on the menu. Here, they are paired with a fire toasted corn and crab salad quenelle and miniature heirloom tomatoes. {below} Diners are in for a real treat if they are lucky enough to reserve an evening meal when the Ghirardelli triple chocolate mousse cake with homemade whipped cream is on the menu.
stone floor, but we needed to better utilize our space. “I definitely wanted to expose that wall,” he said, gesturing toward a clearly old red brick wall that runs the length of the building. “It gives it an outdoor feel, and that’s also why we built the pergola.” A lot of research and thought went into the choice of colors and methods for reducing noise in the 40seat dining area. “It sounded like a football game when we first opened,” Dimas said, “but we added sound panels in the ceiling and fabric panels on the walls. It has really helped. It’s not hard to hold a conversation now.” With Spiro doing most of the work, the walls were painted a shade of greenish gray that is welcoming and soothing. While two full seatings are the goal each evening, Dimas has worked closely with his wait staff to assure that customers don’t feel rushed. “We have gotten great feedback on the fact that the menu is different every night, but people have to have time to make choices,” he said. “Not having a set menu opens things up, reduces our stress and gives us the freedom to be creative with the product we have. It also gives our customers a chance to experiment if they want to.” n Vangeli’s is open Thursday-Saturday for lunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursday for dinner, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30-10 p.m.; and Sunday for brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The daily menu can be found by liking Vangeli’s on Facebook. Reservations can be made by phone at 864.973.8887. Lunch prices range from $8$16; dinner entrees range from $15-$38. Inquiries regarding Vangeli’s catering services, private party options, Thursday night Jazz on the Alley menus or the Vangeli offerings available at nearby Brews on the Alley can be made by email to vangelisbistro@gmail.com 58 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
Evangelos Dimas explains the efforts that were made to best utilize the small interior space at Vangeli’s on Seneca’s Ram Cat Alley.
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The New South Architecture & Exhibit “Speaking in the One Historic Voice”
A 1909 American Queen Anne style bungalow, carriage house and “two-seater outhouse”. Architect Charles Christian Hook Former residence of Dr. W. J. & Lilian Mason Lunney. The arts & crafts interior features art glass windows, original chandeliers, long-leaf pine woodwork, quarter-sawn oak mantel, English fireplace tiles, flat panel wainscot with burlap inserts, and an 1866 Chickering & Sons “cocked hat” parlor grand piano.
Open to the Public | Thursday through Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 PM Other hours by appointment | Admission by donation For a pictorial tour & events schedule visit www.LunneyHouseMuseum.org
211 W. South 1ST. Street, Seneca, SC 29678 info@LunneyHouseMuseum.org | 864.882.4811
Come discover Seneca’s premier cultural museum
The Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum Honoring the Past • Elevating the Future
BERTHA LEE STRICKLAND CULTERAL MUSEUM (BLSCM) Downtown Historic District - Seneca’s premier cultural exhibit museum focuses on the richly compelling, authentic local African American history and culture of Oconee County. The museum incorporates technology and tradition to create a meaningful and educational experience for all ages. BLSCM rotates over 85% of its exhibit space 2-3 times annually. It also features “Bertha’s Kitchen” with its orginal bead board walls and ceiling, fireplace and mantels, flooring, and some original furnishing to create an interpretive look into the early 20th Century kitchen in Mrs. Strickland’s home. Call: 864710-9994, Email: blscmuseum@gmail.com or LIKE US on Facebook: facebook.com/cultural
208 West South 2nd Street, Seneca For more information www.blscm.org
Open Thursday - Saturday 11:00 AM- 4:00 PM Some holidays excluded. Admission is free. FALL 2016 › 61
Seneca resident and Upstate native Charles Wood is all about the banjo, from performing and winning national competitions, to teaching classes, to transposing other genres of music for the banjo, to even buying, repairing and selling banjos.
Pickin’ Away Upstate’s national banjo champion covers many genres story by Brett McLaughlin | photos courtesy of Charles Wood
O
n a quiet evening when school isn’t in session and the commuters have all settled into their La-Z-Boys® for the evening, if you listen closely from the furthest corner of the Seneca High School parking lot you could very well hear strains of Mozart’s “Turkish March” or Harold Arlen’s “Over the Rainbow” wafting up from the 62 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
nearby woods. Listen closely, though, because it won’t be an orchestra you hear. Rather, it will be the sharp, distinctive twang of a 5-string banjo. Mozart and the Wizard of Oz, you ask. Absolutely, answers Charles Wood whose talent and passion for the banjo have taken him from the Ryman in Nashville, to concert halls in the Austrian Alps to a regular Wednes-
day night gig at the Ugly Dog Pup in Highlands, NC. Wood is all about the banjo, from teaching lessons online and from his home outside of Seneca, to transposing classical piano masterpieces and contemporary pop tunes, to playing gigs — big or small, to even repairing banjos. “You can’t make a living winning competitions,” the soft-spoken musician said.
And, he ought to know. He has won every major competition in the country, including 1999 and 2006 national championships in Winfield, KS. “It does help you get your name out there,” Wood admitted, adding that he is more motivated to compete by the prospect of winning a $3,000-$4,000 banjo than he is the prize money to be earned. Inspired by a legend Wood, who grew up in the Upstate, was drawn to the banjo at age 14 after listening to an album by the legendary Earl Scruggs. The following year he got a banjo for his birthday, put aside the piano, and began taking lessons from the late Al Osteen, who spent more than 30 years working with young banjo pickers in north-central South Carolina and east Tennessee. While hundreds profited from Osteen’s expertise, Wood, as a two-time National Banjo Champ and former Banjo Player of the Year and Grascals gal Kristin Scott Benson are listed among his most notable protégés. As he studied, Wood developed the ability to learn by ear and, inspired by musicians like Bela Fleck, whose innovation and technical proficiency led him to take the banjo from bluegrass to jazz, classical, R&B and avant garde, Wood was led to transposing jazz, pop and classical pieces for the banjo. “The banjo is really one of the most versatile acoustical instruments there is,” he said. “Over the last 25 years it has been deemed a worthy instrument for playing genres other than just bluegrass.” Big stage – little stage In what would turn out to be a gleeful coincidence for Wood, he was invited to perform with Scruggs and actor/comedian and banjo aficionado Steve Martin at a New York festival in 2005. That appearance led to a subsequent performance on The David Letterman Show. “Someone had sent (Martin) a couple of my CDs, and he got a hold of me because he wanted to learn my arrangements of ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’,” Wood said. “When this thing came up in New York, he called.” Similarly, someone sent Garrison Keillor a Wood recording, and an invitation to appear on Prairie Home Companion ensued. “He’s got 4 million listeners, and I actually got more feedback from that than I did from Letterman,” Wood recalled. In 2007 an Austrian woman who had been a Wood student while living in Hendersonville, NC, arranged two weeks worth of gigs for him in southern Austria. Audiences were captivated. He returned to Europe with the Lonesome Road Band in 2008 and again in
{above} Currently, Wood anchors Nitrograss, a hybrid group of performers whose material stretches the boundaries of bluegrass to include classic rock and pop favorites. The group performs monthly in Hendersonville and as booked throughout the year. {at left} Charles Wood’s notoriety as a national banjo champion grew after actor/comedian and fellow banjo player Steve Martin asked for two of his arrangements and then invited Wood to join him at a festival in New York City. That appearance led to an appearance on The David Letterman Show.
2010 as an instructor at a banjo camp in Munich. “There was a folk music boom in the ’60s and there are tons of American servicemen living in Germany. They’re very keen on old blues and bluegrass, and I was invited to teach,” he explained. This past April, Wood was invited to perform in “Come Away to the Skies: A High, Lonesome Mass” at the Ryman Theater in Nashville. But, despite the allure of Europe and the hype that accompanies performances in Nashville, New York and on National Public Radio, Wood said making a living with the banjo rests much closer to home and in significantly smaller venues. “I can make more money with local gigs than major venues,” he said. “I make more playing a wedding in Highlands than I did playing the Ryman.” So, today, he teaches (roughly 30 students in Greenville, Hendersonville and via Skype); buys, repairs and sells banjos; and collects in-
creasingly smaller checks for CD sales and online downloads. His bread and butter are oneman shows — he appears every Wednesday at the Ugly Dog in Highlands — and regular performances with Nitrograss, a four-man group specializing in a hybrid blend of rock and bluegrass that has become known as “newgrass.” “It’s basically complex bluegrass,” Wood explained. “We play a big variety of old classic rock tunes as well as bluegrass.” The group consists of Wood on banjo, brothers Caleb Hanks on mandolin and Micah Hanks on acoustic guitar, and Dakota “Smoky” Waddell on bass. They perform the first Thursday of every month at the Southern Appalachian Brewery in Ashville. n To learn more about Wood, his music, his performance schedule or to book a performance, visit: charleswoodbanjo.com. More about Nitrograss is available at: nitrograss.com; or for bookings contact Wood by email at charleswoodbanjo@ bellsouth.net or call 864.906.8283. FALL 2016 › 63
Keowee Smiles would like to thank
our loyal patients for their continued support in making us the “Best of the Best” for the 6th year in a row!
We welcome new patients.
Kenneth C. Dobson, DMD
Madison Lanford, DMD
Keowee Smiles Dentistr y 241 Stork Way, Seneca 882-SMILE (7645)
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and share a photo of lake living, big or small in all seasons, that you’ve snapped while exploring our beautiful area.
Whether you are an amateur or professional, we welcome your photos! In addition to the overall winner being awarded $500, Upstate Lake Living will publish the top three winners and honorable mentions in next year’s spring issue.
We invite you to begin submitting your best shots now for next year at lakeliving@upstatetoday.com. 64 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
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SUGAR AND SPICE and a house that’s very nice story by Brett McLaughlin | photos by Rex Brown
From their vantage point on the end of Cardinal Pointe, George and Sydney Davenport have a 270-degree view of Lake Keowee. From any window or outside seating area one has the feel of being on an island.
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F
George and Sydney Davenport only intended to stay in their Lake Keowee home for a few years. But, 18 years after purchasing the house at the end of Cardinal Pointe, the couple wouldn’t think of living anywhere else.
or George and Sydney Davenport life on Lake Keowee is all about Sugar and Spice. Their splendid home in the Spinnaker Cove community is also “all things nice” but, when you get right down to it, the home at the very tip of Cardinal Pointe is really all about a pair of Ragdoll cats named Sugar and Spice. “The house really is theirs,” Sydney said, noting that after buying the home 18 years ago they enclosed a screened porch, creating a sunroom that the cats quickly claimed as their own. “We lived in Greer, and always thought that someday we would move to the beach,” Sydney explained. “But, we found Lake Hartwell and decided that a lake would be much better. We were riding around one day and saw Lake Keowee. We knew we wanted a house on a point, and this is the one we found.
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{above} The great room of the home is spectacular, particularly when viewed from the second level. Among its highlights are views of the lake at every turn, Sydney’s knack for decorating using art and items brought home from various trips around the world, and the massive stone fireplace they added after purchasing the home. {opposite page clockwise from top} The master suite is expansive with wonderful views of the lake. • The master bath was recently remodeled with new cabinetry, additional mirrors and contemporary lighting. As the only room in the house without a view of the lake, the Davenports also had backlighting installed behind the glass panes pictured in the upper right. • This second floor lounging area is one of the most used rooms in the home. A second tier of windows in the adjacent great room makes views of the lake even more amazing from this vantage point. • Sydney Davenport’s underwater macro-photography is on display in one of the upstairs rooms. • The former sundeck is now an enclosed sunroom, whose ownership has been claimed by the couple’s two Ragdoll cats, Sugar and Spice.
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The Davenports have “Honestly, we planned to live here about three years and traveled extensively, and then build our own house, but here we are,” she smiled. “We their home reflects their love it.” interest in collecting native Given that one can see the lake from every room in the art, particularly pieces from home with the exception of the master bath and the garage, it’s South America, Africa and hard not to love the home. It sits snuggled against the lake on Southeast Asia. three sides, leaving only enough room for ample outdoor entertaining, which the couple enjoys doing quite often. In fact, the home is so closely situated to the lake that, standing in the kitchen, great room or master suite, one sees lake — not shoreline — creating a sense of being on an island, if not aboard a boat. “When we first moved in, it took me a while to get my sea legs,” George quipped. Enclosing the porch was one of the few changes the couple made after purchasing the home. Additionally, they built a massive stone fireplace that highlights the great room, turned a bonus room over the garage into a combination art studio for Sydney and exercise room, and converted a guest room into George’s office. Spinnaker Cove, the only area of Keowee Key with an architectural theme — various colored cottage-style homes, all with white trim — has its own marina and beach, and its members delight in what are referred to as monthly flag parties. And, while the Davenports do most of their entertaining outside, Sydney found a semi-circular piece of iron, had an archway built to fit it beneath the stairs and converted a “wasted space” into a bar, complete with wine racks and an icemaker. It comes in handy for house parties. The great room dominates the lower level and offers an immediate glimpse into both the couple’s passion for travel and Sydney’s knack for decorating. Multiple trips to South America, Africa and the Southeast Asian nations of Malaysia and Indonesia have yielded an array of artwork from rugs to paintings to pottery, all of which are tastefully displayed in and around the fireplace and on adjacent shelving. Adjacent are the kitchen and formal dining area. Rich wood cupboards line the walls of the kitchen, which also features granite countertops, modern appliances and a unique mobile island that gives the room added flexibility. A large wood dining set serves as a visual island from the “workable” area of the kitchen to the comfort of the great room. A spacious master suite is also located on the ground level and offers stunning views of the lake. His and her closets are located down a short hallway leading to the recently remodeled master bath. While the bath lacks a view of the lake, backlighting behind a bank of glass blocks, combined with a light color scheme, brighten and “enlarge” the room. Wallpaper features faint images of elephants and zebras and a large picture of a zebra peers out from a separate commode.
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FALL 2016 › 73
Sydney Davenport will be the first to admit that her two Ragdoll cats, Sugar and Spice, rule the roost when it comes to life in the house at the end of Cardinal Pointe in Spinnaker Cove.
PETS RULE THE ROOST
The kitchen and dining area are open and also afford visitors wonderful views of Lake Keowee.
A massive lounge area on the second level is, according to Sydney, “where we live.” Looking down from this level, one has a splendid view of the great room and an array of outdoor seating areas. However, a second tier of windows on the two exterior walls of the great room provides breathtaking views of the lake. “When we moved in the trees weren’t quite as tall, but the view is still pretty good,” George said. Sydney has used various themes in the adjacent upstairs rooms. George’s office is the boat
room and features art with a beach theme. The guest room holds great sentimental value for the couple as it contains wicker furniture that belonged to George’s family and a priceless desk inherited from Sydney’s mother. The attic/bonus room that has been converted for artistic work and exercise is also the bedroom for Sugar and Spice. Humans entering the room are expected to provide the cats with treats and to stay away from their respective sleeping quarters. Skylights were added upon remodeling, and Sydney has decorat-
Sugar and Spice rule the roost at the Davenport home. They are Ragdoll cats, a breed that features blue eyes and a distinctive soft and silky colorpoint coat. They are best known for being docile and affectionate and get their name from often going limp and relaxed when picked up. Like all Ragdolls, Sugar and Spice are “puppy-like” in their behavior, following people around the house and making themselves available for affection at every opportunity.
ed the room with many of the macro-photographs she took as she and George were scuba diving over 20 years. “George did underwater video, and I did macro-photography,” Sydney noted. The lakeside exterior of the home features an expanded deck and canopy, as well as several lakeside areas where one can find shade and simply lounge in a variety of comfortable chairs. Two chairs and a small table — large enough to hold two cocktails — and a benched deck afford the perfect place to watch sunsets across the lake. The couple commissioned the creation of a life-sized metal horse, which George has adorned with lights. It brightens evenings spent entertaining outside, while a nearby cannon, brought back from a trip to Malaysia, has been known to be fired occasionally. The dock features a boat George takes out almost daily, and the couple’s mutual love for the outdoors is still apparent by the water skis and jet skis displayed dockside. n The views of the lake are splendid from any of the many sitting areas the Davenports have created around their Lake Keowee home.
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Taming the Lowcountry’s fiercest tandem story by Bill Bauer | photos courtesy of Caledonia & True Blue Golf Clubs
Caledonia is not a long course, but its mix of stately, moss-draped oaks, ponds, streams and yawning bunkers provides plenty of challenges to golfers of all skills.
G Mike Strantz
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olf course architects hail from a variety of backgrounds. Some, like Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman, highly successful golfers on the PGA Tour, began designing golf courses as a second career. Others, like Tom Jackson, Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones, while they have been known to play a round or two, have made golf course design their life’s work. Many have left their mark on courses around the globe. Then there is the late Mike Strantz. Considered by many a “maverick” in the field, Strantz left his unforgettable legacy right here in the Carolinas. Under the tutelage of acclaimed architect Tom Fazio, Strantz began a short but distinguished career by readying the famed Inverness Club in Toledo for the 1979 U.S. Open. Fazio quickly became impressed with Strantz’s imagination and skill, and hired him to work on his Moss Creek project in Hilton Head. Strantz went on to assist Fazio with such notable Carolina courses as Wild Dunes, Wachesaw, Wade Hampton and Osprey Point, before striking out on his own. He crafted his first solo design, Caledonia Golf and Fish Club on Pawleys Island, which was quickly added to Golf Magazine’s Top 100. That was in January 1994, and
for the next decade, before succumbing to cancer at the age of 50, Strantz had created six courses in the Carolinas, two in Virginia and one in California. In 1998, just a few miles down the road from Caledonia, he opened True Blue Plantation. Overnight, Golf Digest added both courses to its prestigious list of the Top 100 Best Modern Courses in America. Still hailed as two of the finest the Myrtle Beach area has to offer, Caledonia and True Blue remain as the gems of the Waccamaw Golf Trail. Viewing these sister courses is like reading “A Tale of Two Cities,” and playing them is like encountering “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” So different are they, it is hard to believe Strantz de-
Both Caledonia and True Blue are built on expansive 18th century rice and indigo plantations. A warm and friendly Southern atmosphere begins at the entrance {inset} and is further enhanced by Caledonia’s compact layout. • Bermuda fairways and immaculate, championship Bermuda greens are encapsulated in natural surroundings throughout the Caledonia course as witnessed by this approach to the 13th green.
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True Blue is a ruggedly beautiful, 7,000+ yard layout where massive, sandy waste areas, such as this approaching the number two green, help define wide, lush fairways and ample, manicured greens.
signed them both. While both courses are built on extensive 18th century rice and indigo plantations, Caledonia’s layout is tight and compact — providing a warm and friendly Southern atmosphere. Not long at 6,526 yards, it is a testy par 70 that winds its way amid stately, mossdraped oaks, ponds and streams and along the Waccamaw River. In stark contrast, True Blue is demanding in a different way. Billed as “Golf’s Heaven & Hell,” it is a ruggedly beautiful, 7,000+ yard track where massive, sandy waste areas define wide, lush fairways and ample, manicured greens. After recently playing them both, Traveler’s Rest golfer Duey Davis loved the layout and landscaping of each and said, “Playing one and not the other would be half the experience and incomplete.” Driving south on Highway 17, you leave the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach and arrive in the 80 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
Much like Caledonia, the green on True Blue’s 18th hole sits in front of the clubhouse, a welcome sight after completing your round at what Golf Digest rates the #1 golf course in Myrtle Beach and the 7th best in all of South Carolina. A good approach shot can earn you applause from nearby clubhouse diners.
real Lowcountry — the Murrells Inlet, Litchfield and Pawley’s Island area — where Southern charm and serenity abound. The road to Caledonia is a harbinger of what is to come as row after row of hovering oaks dripping with Spanish moss lead to a dignified clubhouse reminiscent of an antebellum mansion. From the first tee it is game on, as closely-cropped Bermuda fairways and immaculate championship Bermuda greens are encapsulated in natural surroundings. Undisturbed by Strantz, the tidal marshes and fresh water creeks and ponds are home to an abundance of wildlife and offer picturesque views, hole-after-hole, as you weave your way through his challenging, but playable, layout. The five par-3s are simply spectacular, causing golfers to stand on the tee box to absorb the beauty while carefully choosing a club. Each green, while generous in size, allows for little error from the tee, and a miss will make for a difficult up and down to save par. Large bunkers or water hazards protect the putting surfaces, some requiring a full carry, and demand proper club selection and knowledge of daily pin placements. The par-4s mimic the par-3s once you get off the tee and hit the fairway. Carefully placed bunkers on each dogleg and along the fairway
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In between the tee and the green at the signature 18th hole — a tough 383-yard, par 4 — lie a lake and a fairway that narrows decidedly as you get closer to the water’s edge.
edges, combined with nasty Bermuda rough, make the old saying “keep it in the short grass” ever so important. The 18th, a par-4 hole, is considered the signature hole, but is also one of the toughest finishing holes you’ll experience as Strantz saved the best for last. Despite being only 383 yards from the tips, it is the number one rated hole as a well-bunkered green sits below the covered veranda of the clubhouse. It is not uncommon for an audience to await your arrival. In between lie a lake and a fairway that narrows decidedly as you get closer to the water’s edge. The further you get off the tee, the shorter the full carry to the green, but the smaller the landing surface. Whether it’s 150 yards or 100 yards, the approach is formidable. Stick the green and you just might hear a clap or two from the onlookers. After meeting Dr. Jekyll, it’s time to head down the road to True Blue for an encounter with Mr. Hyde. Unlike the shorter and narrower tree-lined layout that characterizes Caledonia, True Blue is longer, wider and defined by elongated waste bunkers. Approaching the first tee, the starter informs you that cart paths disappear quickly and your journey from tee to green is often in the sand, and that in all bunkers, you can ground your club without penalty. Wide fairways allow you to blast away and attempt to 82 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
shorten the design, but playing out of the bunkers is no easy task should you stray from the fairway. “It’s like they plopped fairways and greens on a sand bar,” says Wayne Vollentine, a local golfer who described True Blue as, “the most unique golf course he’s ever played.” Built on acreage from the original Midway and True Blue rice and indigo plantations, Strantz strung together 18 unique golf holes in a maze of marshes and wetlands, leaving the natural terrain virtually undisturbed. Like Caledonia, the five par-3s are exciting to play with each offering its own distinct challenge. With five tee boxes there is a chance for players of every caliber to stick the green and par out. Number three is an island hole, seven and 11 have tiered greens and 14 drops 50 feet from tee to green and is protected by waste areas and a perilous pot bunker. Then there is 16 and the start of three signature finishing holes. There is little water in play after the fourth hole, but that all changes when you arrive at the tee on 16, which requires a full carry between 208 and 165 yards. The green is large, but is also surrounded by bunkers. The final pair, each a lengthy par-4, wrap around the same body of water bordering slender fairways from tee to green. Favor the left on 17 and the right on 18 to avoid getting wet, but as expected, waste areas will greet you on the opposite sides. Much
like Caledonia, the green on 18 sits in front of True Blue’s clubhouse, a welcome sight after completing your round at what Golf Digest rates the #1 golf course in Myrtle Beach and the 7th best in all of South Carolina. The accolades for Strantz and his golf courses are endless, but according to Howard Ward, noted Carolina golf reporter and columnist, “His greatest honor came when Golf World looked at the young designer’s incredible work and named him the number one golf course designer. Golf Digest followed suit, listing the top 10 greatest designers of all time. Strantz was on this short list, along with Alister Mackenzie, A.W. Tillinghast, Pete Dye and Tom Fazio.” Caledonia and True Blue are shining examples of Strantz’s legacy. They are tough, but can be tamed. One trip to Caledonia and True Blue will only whet your appetite, leaving you hungry to return again and again and try to straighten out those lines. n Stay and play packages are available in the Litchfield, Pawleys Island area, along with other dining and accommodation options in nearby Murrells Inlet. Call Caledonia Golf Vacations at 1-866-954-8311, visit online at www.caledoniagolfvacations.com or email calevacations@sccoast.net for pricing and access to Caledonia and True Blue.
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Parents and friends attending a Walk to Remember in Seneca this past summer hold pictures and/or the names of sons and daughters “gone too soon.” A few folks honored the sons or daughters of someone who wasn’t able to attend the walk but had submitted their names via the Compassionate Friends’ website — compassionatefriends.org (photo courtesy of GHS Hospice of the Foothills)
Compassion comes close to home story by Jeannie Simms Dobson
M
elanie and Paul Prichard’s perfectly healthy daughter, Chrissy, died suddenly of a brain aneurism in 2002. In our society, deaths usually occur as part of a natural progression. Parents burying children goes against nature. When it happens, parents are devastated. In some cases they turn to lifelong friends some of whom may not know what to say, so they don’t say anything. When this happens, the isolation that bereaved parents can feel only deepens.
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The Prichards reached out to a generic grief support group, but they soon realized they needed to learn coping skills from other parents surviving the loss of a child. For several years, they coordinated a parents’ group in Clemson. “Other parents who were further along in their grief journeys told us their stories,” Melanie recalls. “Since Chrissy’s passing, I have learned a skill. I can let go of my own grief long enough to listen with my heart to another grieving parent.” With that realization, it was easy to accept when Eunice Lehmacher, bereavement coordinator at GHS Hospice of the Foothills in Seneca asked the Prichards for assistance in starting a chapter of The Compassionate Friends in Seneca. “We offered to help as we know how important this is to the healing of family members with this special loss,” Paul says. “Assisting other parents in this dire situation is also a way to help ourselves heal.” “Some of my clients who have lost children are stunned. Often they can’t eat or sleep,” Lehmacher says. “They become so distracted that it is sometimes impossible for them to pay the bills, take care of their own health or concentrate on their jobs. Suggesting that they fight the traffic in Greenville and return (from a support group meeting) late at night just
THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS’ MISSION When a child dies at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated. The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or daughter, brother or sister, or grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family.
seemed to add more stress. It became a priority to establish a local support group so that grieving parents could connect as they struggle through this most profound adjustment.” To that end, bereaved parents in Oconee, Anderson and Pickens counties will have an opportunity to affiliate with a new chapter of The Compassionate Friends at an initial meeting September 27, at 6 p.m., at the GHS Cottingham Hospice House on Keowee School Road. The Oconee Memorial Hospital Foundation and GHS Hospice of the Foothills are assisting The Compassionate Friends with startup funding and space to meet. TCF will provide train-
ing for group leaders, national conferences and support materials. In addition to support groups all over the country, Compassionate Friends sponsors a Walk to Remember in July and a WorldWide Candle Lighting in December to give grieving parents opportunities to remember their children “gone too soon.” Among those joining an Upstate walk this past July were Sue and Glenn Ginther, who lost their only child, Ryan, in a car accident in December 2015. The walk was a postscript to a spring event that remembered their son. “Because our son was a hiker, we started a tradition of celebrating his life with a hiking adventure. In April, for his birthday, 30 friends and family from all over the country joined us hiking Table Rock,” Sue said. “Plans are in place to celebrate Ryan’s 2017 birthday with a trek on a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Our son will always be with us as we listen to stories about Ryan shared on the hiking trail.” Organizers of the new Compassionate Friends chapter hope their group will be part of the journey for others who have lost children. n For more information, contact Lehmacher at 864.882.8940 or email her at elehmacher@ ghs.org.
Skilled Nursing Care
Clemson Downs has expanded our top-tier skilled nursing offerings to a new level of excellence. Skilled Nursing beds are now available with the addition of private room settings. We offer expert care and compassion that have become the hallmark of our community. An on-site geriatric certified physician, coordinated medical and professional nursing support, as well as physical therapy, respite care, and rehabilitation services are available to our residents.
864.654.1155 • ClemsonDowns.com FALL 2016 › 85
Members of the Lake and Mountains Quilters Guild look over some of their colorful creations in preparation for the upcoming show in Seneca. (photo courtesy of Denise McCormick)
The art of fabric returns to the Upstate Guild to hold September show in Seneca story by Brett McLaughlin | photos courtesy of Lake and Mountains Quilters Guild
September 16-17, 2016 Sponsored by the Lake and Mountain Quilters Guild
uilting is both a big part of and a simple pleasure in Cheryl Keith’s life. “There is inspiration everywhere,” said the president of the Lake and Mountains Quilters Guild, which will sponsor its biannual show in Seneca this month. “It doesn’t matter where you turn.” Like so many quilters, Keith did not set out to make art from fabric. “I took my sewing machine in to get it in shape so I could make clothes for my grandkids,” she said, recalling the beginning of her quilting career in 1998. “They just laughed at me and told me everything was computerized now.” Eighteen years later, Keith has clearly conquered the learning curve of quilting. She not only produces “best of show” quality quilts, but has been teaching the techniques of her specialty — digitized applique embroidery — for the past 10 years. 86 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
IF YOU GO Shaver Center 698 W. S. 4th St., Seneca Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $5
Both Keith and 2016 Show Chairman Donna Barnhill said that while the show is a lot of work, it is essential to support the organization and its community projects. “LMQG tries to have inspiring speakers, who give members an opportunity to learn and develop new skills. In turn, members use those skills to support many projects such as Wounded Warriors, Comfort Quilts for children and nursing homes and the GHS Hospice of the Foothills,” said Barnhill, who took up quilting after her retirement.
Cheryl Keith, president of the Lake and Mountains Quilters Guild, adds some final stitches to a quilt that will be among those on display during the organization’s biannual show this month in Seneca. (photo courtesy of Denise McCormick)
“I was asked by a friend to attend a LMQG meeting. The speaker was Martina House, who is a creative artist from North Carolina, working with fiber and fabric. I was hooked and signed up for a workshop the very next day,” she said. “Although I make some bed quilts my main focus is on small quilts, which allow even more creativity,” Barnhill added. “I use a lot of recycled ma-
terials and unusual materials in my work. Quilting soothes my soul.” This year’s show will feature some 200 quilts in 22 categories, focusing on the rich heritage of the craft in the Upstate and beyond. The show will offer handmade and consignment items for sale and feature a selection of vendors chosen for variety and quality. There will also be silent auction items and an opportunity to win the beautiful Symphony Quilt being created specifically for this show. In addition, visitors will be able to view fabric quilts on display throughout Oconee County at no charge. The offsite exhibits, many of which will continue throughout the month, will feature historic to modern quilts as well as other visitor points of interest in Oconee County. In Walhalla, there will be a patriotic quilt displayed at Patriots’ Hall and the Oconee Heritage Center will host a quilt exhibit through October 31. Historic quilts of Westminster will be on display at the General Store Museum in Westminster and fabric quilts on the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail will be displayed at The Depot. In addition to the primary show at Shaver Center, past show winners will be displayed September 16 and 17 at the Ballenger House; the Lunney House Museum will feature the creations of the Kaffe Fasset Fabrics group through October 15; and Blue Ridge Arts Center will display creations by the HiFiber Quilt Group through October. Duke’s World of Energy, meanwhile, will feature additional quilts by the LMQG. The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail’s painted quilt panels can be viewed as you drive to the venues displaying fabric quilts. A map will be available at the Guild Show to guide you to locations throughout the county as well as take a self-guided driving tour of the Upstate trail. n The photos accompanying this story represent the winning quilt entries from the last Guild show. For additional show information on this year’s show, check the LMQG website at www.lmqg.org or their Facebook page.
MANY BENEFIT FROM QUILTERS’ SKILLS The proceeds from the biannual Lake and Mountains Quilters Guild show help pay the organization’s operating costs. However, the returns the community receives are extraordinary. Following is a partial list of the outreach efforts of the LMQG: • Christmas stockings for needy children in Anderson, Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties • Christmas boxes to residents of Lakeside Assisted Living • Over 45 quilts each year for Wounded Warriors • Therapy dolls for hospitalized pediatric patients • Habitat for Humanity wall hangings • Bed quilts for the new Safe Harbor facility • Comfort Quilts to Lila Doyle Rehabilitation Center, Morningside Assisted Living Center and GHS Hospice of the Foothills • Children’s quilts to Oconee Memorial Hospital Pediatric Department • Quilts to senior centers • Hats, pillows and quilts to the Cancer Centers of the Carolinas • Quilts to Helping Hands of Clemson • Monetary help to Our Daily Bread, Safe Harbor, Helping Hands of Clemson, Rosa Clark Clinic and Lakeview Assisted Living. FALL 2016 › 87
upstate theatre CENTRE STAGE 501 RIVER STREET, GREENVILLE, SC INSIDE THE SMITH-BARNEY BUILDING 864.233.6733 OR TOLL FREE 877.377.1339
SEPT. 8-24 IS HE DEAD? Mark Twain’s brilliant, but rarely-seen, stage comedy is the hilarious story of a talented young painter named Jean-Francois Millet, who is deeply in love, but deeply in debt. To escape his money woes and become rich and famous, he fakes his own death and masquerades as his “country sister.” Now a rich widow, he must find a way to get out of a dress, return to his life and marry his true love.
torn in two, and the women in love with both angel and devil.
OCT. 25-26, NOV. 1-2, 8-9 LUNA GALE Veteran social worker Caroline will do whatever it takes to protect the baby named Luna Gale in her care. She unwittingly sparks a family conflict that exposes a shadowy, secretive past — and forces her to make a risky decision with potentially disastrous consequences. Powerful and arresting, Luna Gale is a heartbreaking and unforgettable tale of love and betrayal.
CLEMSON LITTLE THEATRE 214 S. MECHANIC STREET, PENDLETON, SC RESERVATIONS 864.646.8100 EVENING PERFORMANCES 8 P.M.; MATINEES 3 P.M.
SEPT. 9-18 YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU
SEPT. 13-14, 20-21, 25 THE VOLUNTEER
Kaufman and Hart’s comic masterpiece set during America’s Great Depression proves you might as well enjoy life, because you can’t take it with you. The Vanderhof family pursues their various hobbies such as collecting snakes, ballet dancing, candy making, xylophone practice and sculpting.
OCT. 20 – NOV. 12 JEKYLL & HYDE THE MUSICAL
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OCTOBER 14-16, 21-23 THOSE CRAZY LADIES IN THE HOUSE ON THE CORNER What do you do when you have three geriatric sisters as patients and all they want to do is sit at home and talk to one another — all at the same time? You move another person in with them. At least, that’s what Doc Lomax does when he has a new nurse needing a place to live — a nurse with a secret, that is. In no time, Nurse Jean has them planning parties, pulling Halloween pranks and wearing jogging suits while they race each other to the corner. But when the nephew shows up with a plan to sell the family house, things seem to get complicated again.
GREENVILLE LITTLE THEATRE 444 COLLEGE STREET, GREENVILLE, SC 864.233.6238 OR WWW.GREENVILLELITTLETHEATRE.ORG ALL SHOWS 8 P.M., EXCEPT SUNDAYS AT 3 P.M.
SEPT. 16 – OCT. 2 FOOTLOOSE
It’s the first day of volunteering in a prison for a nervous, but driven, grad student in psychology, in her first session with a strong-willed prison inmate. As lights flicker and sirens wail, the two are caught in a lockdown that forces hidden agendas to be revealed and the desperate battle of the minds to end in a startling conclusion.
The epic struggle between good and evil comes to life in this hit musical phenomenon! Based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson and featuring a thrilling score of pop rock hits, Jekyll & Hyde is an evocative tale of one man
OCONEE COMMUNITY THEATRE 8001 UTICA STREET, SENECA, SC RESERVATIONS: 864.882.7700, 10 A.M. – NOON AND 2 P.M. – 4 P.M. EVENINGS 8 P.M., SUNDAY MATINEES 2:30 P.M.
OCT. 20-23 BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA Jesse, alienated from his rural family upbringing, dreams of becoming someone special. Leslie, the new girl from the city, an “outsider,” opens a world of imagination, art and literature for him. They create Terabithia, a fantasy kingdom where both feel safe from others as their friendship grows. Tragedy strikes, but the strength gained in Terabithia takes Jesse forward and lets him share the magic of his dreams.
The explosive and popular contemporary movie bursts onto the stage as a full-fledged musical! In this rousing story, a young outsider named Ren attempts to revitalize a small town that banned dancing and loud music after the death of five teenagers. Ren’s feelings for the local minister’s daughter complicate his mission. The rocking, Oscar-nominated score includes “Let’s Hear it for the Boy,” “Holding Out for a Hero” and, of course, “Footloose!”
OCT. 28 – NOV. 13 I’LL BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT Scream, laugh, scream again, and hang onto your seat! I’ll Be Back Before Midnight has
upstate theatre it all: an isolated farmhouse, the hilarious and eccentric neighbor, a malevolent ghost, a manipulative sister and tales of murder. The plot takes unexpected twists and turns for a night of unforgettable suspense.
UPCOMING EVENTS American Pride Statler Brothers Tribute
WALHALLA PLAYERS WALHALLA CIVIC AUDITORIUM, WALHALLA, SC EVENINGS 8 P.M. AND SUNDAYS 2:30 P.M. 864.638.5277 OR 877.368.5318 WWW.WALHALLACIVIC.COM
NOV. 18-20 JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (CHILDREN’S PLAY) This classic tale is faithfully told by James himself and the insect characters — Miss Spider, Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybird and Earthworm. The play begins at the end of the story when James and his friends are living in the giant peach stone in Central Park, New York. A tour guide brings a party of tourists (the audience) to see this attraction, and James and his friends tell the story of how they came to live in New York.
ELECTRIC CITY PLAYHOUSE 514 NORTH MURRAY AVENUE, ANDERSON, SC 864.224.4248 ECPLAYHOUSE.COM
OCT. 14-16, 21-23, 28-30 SWEENEY TODD A tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat, Sweeney Todd has simultaneously shocked, awed and delighted audiences across the world. An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to 19th century London seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up, and the carnage has only just begun.
PEACE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 300 SOUTH MAIN ST., GREENVILLE, SC 864.476.3000 OR 800.888.7768
SEPT. 27 – OCT. 2 A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER Gentleman’s Guide tells the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, a distant heir to a family fortune, who sets out to jump the line of
Saturday, Sept. 24 • 7:30 pm Advanced tickets $30, children $15, group $25 Day of show $35 americanpridecountry.com
Acoustic ConnXions (Folk Music)
Saturday, October 8 • 7:30 pm Advance tickets $12, children $6. Group $10 Day of Show $14
Elvis & Conway come to Oktoberfest!!!
Rick Wade’s Tribute to Elvis and Conway Twitty
Saturday, October 22 • 7 pm Advance tickets $16, children $8, group $12 Day of Show $20
Bluegrass Music
with New Dixie Storm and Tugalo Holler
Saturday, November 5 • 7:30 pm Advance Tickets $12.00, children under 12 $6.00, group rate $10.00 – Day of Show tickets $14.00
James & the Giant Peach (Children’s Play)
November 18, 19 & 20 Evenings 7 pm, Sunday 2:30 pm Tickets $5 each, bring your entire immediate family for only $15
Emile Pandolfi at Christmas
Friday, December 2 • 7:30 pm Advanced tickets $28, children $14, group $24 Day of Show $32 www.emilepandolfi.com
A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas (play)
December 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18 Evenings 7:30 pm, Sunday 2:30 pm Advance tickets $14, children $6. Group $12. Day of Show $16
For more info on these & future events, visit www.walhallacivic.com. Order tickets online or call 864-638-5277 You can also buy tickets at the following local merchants: The Wine Emporium in Keowee/Salem, H&R Block in Seneca and Westminster. Community 1st Bank in Walhalla and the Walhalla Chamber of Commerce.
FALL 2016 › 89
Green Springs 114 Ram Cat Alley, Seneca
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upstate theatre succession by — you guessed it — eliminating the eight pesky relatives (all played by one fearless man) who stand in his way. All the while, Monty has to juggle his mistress (She’s after more than just love.), his fiancée (She’s his cousin, but who’s keeping track?) and the constant threat of landing behind bars! Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance … and be done in time for tea.
OCT. 25-30 THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent, but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever.
NOV. 29 – DEC. 4 AN AMERICAN IN PARIS An American in Paris is the new Tony Award®-winning musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war.
BROOKS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 141 JERSEY LANE, CLEMSON, SC 864.656.7787 WEEKDAY PERFORMANCES 7:30 P.M.; SUNDAYS 3 P.M. HTTP://WWW.CLEMSON.EDU/BROOKS/EVENTS/
SEPT. 23-24 CINDERELLA A Tony Award-winning delight with a contemporary take on the beloved classic tale, Cinderella features jawdropping transformations and all the moments you love. Be transported back to your childhood as you rediscover some of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago.”
OCT. 25 TWELFTH NIGHT Shakespeare’s comic masterpiece is set against a background of romance and mystery. This hilarious story of identical twins and mistaken identity, set in the mystical world of Illyria, explores the universal themes of love and all its ambiguous effects on human behavior. 90 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
calendar of events SEPT. 2-5
SEPT. 18
OCT. 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-30
70th North Carolina Apple Festival, downtown Hendersonville, features arts & crafts, entertainment, children’s activities, parade, food; Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Mon. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., no pets allowed, King Apple Parade on Labor Day at 2:30 p.m.; 828.697.4557
Bring a picnic, enjoy fresh air and unwind as Clemson University carillonneur Linda Dzuris performs on a 47-bell instrument; 5 p.m. with tours of the playing cabin following the performance; free.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad features the Peanuts Pumpkin Patch Express; trains depart from Bryson City, NC, at noon and 3:30; for reservations call 800.872.4681 or visit GSMR. com.
SEPT. 6-10
SEPT. 20 – OCT. 15
OCT. 3
The ARTS Center of Clemson, 212 Butler St., Clemson, presents Clay Different Ways; 20 artists from SC and NC bring 20 pieces each for exhibit and sale.
Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University presents the Branford Marsalis Quartet, joined by guest vocalist Kurt Elling; 7:30 p.m.; for tickets visit: clemson.edu/ centers-institutes/brooks/events
Westminster hosts the 55th South Carolina Apple Festival. Events begin with golf tournament on Sept. 6, followed by Chattooga Float from Wildwater Ltd. and the Apple Growers’ Celebration at Chattooga Belle Farm on Sept. 7. Friday and Saturday feature car, quilt, and arts and crafts shows, a two-day rodeo, live entertainment and children’s activities. The annual Apple Festival Parade is Friday, 4 p.m. For more information visit: scapplefestival.com/ events
SEPT. 9-18 NC Mountain State Fair, WNC Agricultural Center, the third largest fair in North Carolina celebrates the heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including agriculture, music, crafts, art, food, entertainment, display of livestock, competitions and midway rides; Fletcher; 828.687.1414
SEPT. 12 Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University presents a Shuffle concert at which the audience chooses what pieces will be performed; an ensemble provides a menu of more than 30 musical works from the classics to jazz to Broadway, and neither the audience nor the performers know which works will be requested; 7:30 p.m.; free event.
SEPT. 13 Mandolin virtuoso, composer and vocalist Chris Thile, a member of Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, appears at The Peace Center, Greenville; peacecenter.org or 864.467.3000 Bonnie Holmes returns to share “Aging with Vitality” at The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Founder’s Hall, 4-5:30 p.m.
SEPT. 17 Annual South Carolina State Old Time Fiddling Championship at Hagood Mill in Pickens County; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; see historic 1845 grist mill as well as a variety of local craftsmen and artisans bringing traditions to life; petroglyph site is open; admission is free; $5 parking charge; bring lawn chairs or a blanket for seating.
SEPT. 23 Great Smoky Mountains Railroad hosts Railroad Reserve: A Wine and Rails Pairing; 6:30 p.m.; departing from Bryson City, NC; for reservations call 800.872.4681 or visit GSMR. com.
SEPT. 24 Duke World of Energy, Salem, SC, hosts National Hunting and Fishing Day; an allday, free, family-friendly outdoor event with all kinds of outdoor fun; 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
8th Steak in Oconee farm to table dinner is a salute to agriculture. This year the dinner will be at WhetstonePlace in Mountain Rest, a beautiful plantation built in 1835. Dinner consists of local grown produce and meats. For tickets or more information visit: oconeechambersc.com
OCT. 3-8 Rides, games, exhibits and more await visitors to the 2016 SC Foothills Heritage Fair; 2328 Sandifer Blvd., Westminster; for hours and more information: carolinafoothillsheritagefair.org.
Walhalla Civic Auditorium presents American Pride: A Statler Brothers Tribute; relive the songs, memories and authentic sounds of the “Spirits in the Clay” most award-winning act in country music Gallery Exhibit history; 7:30 p.m.; visit: walhallacivic.com/ Spirits in the Clay Exhibit events
Invitational Clay Show & Sale
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OCT. 1-2 Arts Council of Henderson County presents 57th annual Art on Main festival; shop for fine art and fine craft by artists from the Southeastern region; media includes clay, metal, glass, fiber, wood, painting, photography, jewelry; also features many local artists and crafters giving live demonstrations; Hendersonville, NC, 828.693.8504; www. acofhc.org
Sept. 20 - Oct. 22 This thematic exhibition features ceramic forms for holding spirits.
Collectors Preview Gala Friday, Oct. 21, 6:30 – 9:00PM Fine food and drinks, music, and outstanding collection of ceramic works, mingling and more. Tickets at explorearts.org.
20x20 Invitational Clay Show and Sale Saturday, Oct.22, 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Select from over 400 ceramic art pieces created by NC and SC artists featured in this event. Event is free and open to the public. Breakfast and lunch will be available.
212 Butler Street, Clemson 864.633.5051 | info@explorearts.org www.explorearts.org FALL 2016 › 91
calendar of events OCT. 4
The Branford Marsalis Quartet will be joined by guest vocalist Kurt Elling in a collaboration of musical forces at The Peace Center in Greenville; peacecenter.org or 864.467.3000
OCT. 7
Music on Main in Westminster features beach music and Southern rock as well as a cruise-in with old cars; 6:30-9 p.m. Event moves into the Westminster Music Hall if it rains.
OCT. 8
Walhalla Civic Auditorium presents Acoustic ConnXions; Alice Martel, Connie Lowe and Mike Crane play a diverse assortment of popular folk songs from the Everly Brothers, Peter, Paul & Mary, the Kingston Trio and old country from the ’60s; 7:30 p.m.; for tickets visit: walhallacivic.com/events
OCT. 11
Duke World of Energy, Salem, SC, hosts Super Tuesday; free entertainment events to be announced will begin at 10 a.m.
OCT. 13
Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University presents WindSync, a fresh, energetic wind quintet recognized for dramatic and engaging interpretations of classical music; 7:30 p.m.; free
OCT. 15
Hagood Mill in Pickens County hosts Storytelling Festival featuring some of the nation’s best storytellers; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; see historic 1845 Grist Mill as well as a variety of local craftsmen and artisans bringing traditions to life; petroglyph site is open; admission is free; $5 parking charge; bring lawn chairs or blanket for seating.
OCT. 17
Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University presents Parsons Dance, a troupe known for its athleticism and stunning ensemble work; 7:30 p.m.; for tickets visit: clemson.edu/centers-institutes/brooks/events
OCT. 20
Brooks Center for the Performing Arts presents Clemson University’s premiere choral ensemble, the CU Singers, to present a varied program of a cappella and accompanied selections; 7:30 p.m.; for tickets visit: clemson.edu/centers-institutes/ brooks/events
OCT. 21-23
Walhalla Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the 92 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
2016 Oktoberfest on Main Street and at Sertoma Field; Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; food, arts & crafts vendors; rides; games; entertainment tent and more; for information visit: http:// walhallachamber.com. Saturday night, Rick Wade’s Tribute to Elvis and Conway Twitty comes to the Walhalla Civic Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; for tickets visit: walhallacivic.com/events
OCT. 27
Oconee Humane Society presents 2016 Wags and Whiskers Gala. The evening will include a social hour, music, dinner, a not-so-silent auction and a great opportunity to spend an evening with others who care about animals: For tickets visit: oconeechambersc.com. All proceeds will benefit Oconee Humane Society. Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University presents David Gonzalez’s “Cuentos: Tales from the Latino World”; Gonzalez is a professional storyteller, poet, playwright, musician and public speaker; 7 p.m.; for tickets visit: clemson.edu/centers-institutes/ brooks/events Great Smoky Mountains Railroad features Masquerade Train; departs from Bryson City, NC, at 8 p.m.; must be 21 or older; for reservations call 800.872.4681 or visit GSMR. com.
NOV. 3 Brooks Center for the Performing Arts presents Clemson University’s top marching, concert and world percussion ensembles sharing the stage in a celebration of percussion; 8 p.m.; for tickets visit: clemson.edu/centers-institutes/brooks/events
NOV. 5 Walhalla Civic Auditorium presents Bluegrass music with New Dixie Storm and Tugalo Holler; 7:30 p.m.; for tickets visit: walhallacivic.com/ events
NOV. 10 The Peace Center in Greenville hosts seventime Grammy winner Gladys Knight, who has enjoyed No. 1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B and Adult Contemporary; peacecenter.org or 864.467.3000
NOV. 11 Veterans Day program with Heart Songs for Veterans at The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Founder’s Hall, 7:30-9 p.m.
NOV. 11 THRU JAN. 1
OCT. 30
Bring your children to the Historic Ballenger House, 212 E. South 3rd St., Seneca, for spooky tales, stories and fun for all ages; 3 p.m.
OCT. 31
Westminster hosts Boo on Main; for more information visit: westminstersc.com Put on your costumes and enjoy free hot dogs, candy giveaways and games at Seneca’s annual Halloween on the Green; downtown; for more information: Seneca.sc.us. Annual Hartwell Mayor’s Monster Mash on Depot Street, runs from 4-6 p.m. featuring music, dancing, a costume parade with prizes, games and lots of trick-or-treating.
NOV. 1
ride through American history guaranteed to confuse any American voter just in time for the 2016 presidential election; 7:30 p.m.; for tickets visit: clemson.edu/centers-institutes/brooks/ events
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Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University presents The Reduced Shakespeare Company; in 90 minutes, the “bad boys of abridgment” go from Christopher Columbus to Neil Armstrong, from George Washington to Barack Obama in a roller coaster
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad features Polar Express train rides; departure times from Bryson City, NC, vary; for reservations call 800.872.4681 or visit GSMR.com
NOV. 15 Brooks Center for the Performing Arts presents the Clemson University Symphony Orchestra’s performance of “Make Gentle the Life of This World,” a moving work that features a recording of Robert Kennedy’s speech on the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.; 8 p.m.; for tickets visit: clemson.edu/centers-institutes/brooks/events
NOV. 17 Donning their signature Clemson-colored sneakers, the CU Jazz Ensemble performs an eclectic mix of timeless jazz favorites and new works at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts; 8 p.m.; for tickets visit: clemson.edu/ centers-institutes/brooks/events
NOV. 19 Hagood Mill in Pickens County hosts Native American Celebration featuring customs,
calendar of events traditions, food, music and dance from many different tribes including, but not limited to, the Cherokee and the Catawba; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; see historic 1845 Grist Mill as well as a variety of local craftsmen and artisans bringing traditions to life; petroglyph site is open; admission is free; $5 parking charge; bring lawn chairs or a blanket for seating.
NOV. 22 Hartwell DDA sponsors a Christmas tree lighting on the town square; 5-7 p.m. Children will have time with Santa and there will be roasting of marshmallows, carriage rides and Christmas carols.
NOV. 28 Seneca Christmas Parade; 6 p.m.
NOV. 29 THRU DEC. 2 Beautifully decorated trees and wreaths, luncheons, a cookie walk, a holiday market Santa’s Surprises and more are all part of the 13th GHS Hospice of the Foothills Christmas Tree Festival; Tues. thru Thurs. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Bountyland Road, Seneca; and
Friday gala, live auction and live music at the Club at Keowee Key; contact Oconee Memorial Hospital Foundation Office for information and tickets 864.885.7912. •••••
ONGOING Hartwell DDA hosts the return of the Scarecrows throughout the month of October. Everyone is invited to come to town to enjoy creativity throughout the community. Jazz on the Alley, Ram Cat Alley, Seneca; every Thursday thru October at 6:30 p.m.; features America’s touring jazz musicians. Cruizin’ on Main, antique car show and entertainment; first Saturday of every month thru October; Norton-Thompson Park, Seneca, SC. The Lunney House Museum, 211 W. South 1st St., Seneca, is open Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; admission by donation. The Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum, 208 W. South 2nd St., Seneca, is open Thursday
Celebrating 18 Years!
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N I V E R S A RY
thru Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; admission by donation. Historic Ballenger House tours and rentals; Seneca Woman’s Club preserves this historic home, 212 E. South 3rd St. Call Debbie, 864.324.8417 or Ruth, 864.882.7162. Visit www.ballengerhouse.org Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, has monthly “First Saturday” house concerts in the Visitors Building from noon – 2 p.m. and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. to tour the grounds and pick up “mill products.” Guided tours available by appointment. The site is available every day during daylight hours to picnic or walk the nature trail. For information contact Hagood Mill at 864.898.2936 or Pickens County Museum at 864.898.5963. Silver Dollar Music Hall in Westminster, SC, features open mic each Friday at 7 p.m. with regular pickers performing at 8 p.m.
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FALL 2016 › 93
The Bass Chaplain
BY PHILLIP GENTRY
I
n the military, the chaplain serves as spiritual leader of the troops. He travels with the forces, eats with them, assists where he can, conducts Bible studies and worship services and ministers to men and women whenever and wherever he can find the time. The Bassmaster Elite fishing tournament trail also has a chaplain. His name is Chris Wells, and he is a former youth pastor from Brushy Creek Baptist Church in Taylors, SC. Partly due to his great love of the outdoors, Wells felt a calling to depart from a “regular job” in the ministry and create WellSpoken Ministries. From his home in Greer, he routinely travels to speak at church wild game banquets and men’s ministry functions that focus on the outdoors. After the 2008 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell, the tournament winner — Alton Jones from Texas and a friend of Wells — convinced him to begin touring with the Bassmaster Elite Series, not as an angler, but as the tour’s chaplain. It was an offer Wells could not refuse. “These guys are all well-known sports figures, but they mostly travel alone or in small groups and are on the road a lot,” said Wells. “It is a solitary lifestyle, and these guys and the folks who travel with them range from a few who speak in front of churches about their faith on a regular basis, to those who run the other way when you talk to them about God.” With a big ministry field in front of him, Wells’ biggest challenge is battling misconceptions; the first being that he is a paid Bassmaster staff member and that the tour funds his ministry. In fact, Wells said Bassmaster is very cooperative with what he does, but like everyone else on tour, he operates at his
94 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
Chris Wells of WellSpoken Ministries spends the fishing season traveling the Bassmaster Elite Tournament Trail serving as chaplain. [photo courtesy of Chris Wells]
own expense. Similar to the anglers, however, Wells is always on the lookout for sponsors. “Both Bassmaster and the North American Mission Board are supportive of what I do,” he said. “Bassmaster provides me with space to meet with the anglers who choose to attend our Bible studies and focus groups, and the NAMB promotes my ministry. But, the financial part is done all on my own through speaking engagements and the sponsorships and supporters I have.” During the off-season as well as the weeks
and days in between Elite tournaments, Wells speaks at various locations, incorporating his love of fishing and the outdoors into an outreach that features a blend of humor, passion and his intensity to convey his concern for people who don’t know Jesus Christ. His messages are exciting, expositional and inspirational with a strong evangelistic emphasis. “I’m always on standby as a fillin marshall in case one doesn’t show up,” he said. “There are lots of small roles that put me where I need to be on the tour. On Wednesdays right after the rules meeting we hold a Bible study and focus group. On Fridays after the cut off, when half the field of anglers goes home empty-handed, there are always guys struggling with a lot of things … their chosen career, their ability to compete at this level and their faith.” Wells was even called in once to provide counseling services when a suicide attempt was brought to his attention. “One of the support crew was in a low spot in life and thought he had nowhere to go,” said Wells. “God used me that night to turn a potentially negative event into a really positive one.” Learn more on WellSpoken Ministries at chriswells.org.
Phillip Gentry is the host of “Upstate Outdoors,” broadcast from noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays on 106.3 WORD FM. Contact Gentry at pgentry6@ bellsouth.net.
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Layaway Now For Boats Rentals • New & Used Boat Sales • Full Service Shop • Slip Rental Marina Store: Lake Attire, Airhead Inflatables, Sanuk Sandals and Much More 864-882-2047 • keoweemarina.com • 150 Keowee Marina Drive, Seneca
C hristmas • Lessons • SALES • REPAIRS 110 Miracle Mile Drive, Suite C Anderson, SC
"A unique Store where the musician is understood" FALL 2016 › 95
Docking your boat
L
earning how to dock a boat can be a stressful and challenging endeavor. Many of us, including myself, have figured this out through a lot of trial and error and fiberglass. I do find it interesting to put this into words as it is kind of like giving someone directions on how to tie their shoes. Here are a couple of likely scenarios you will encounter when docking your boat on our inland lakes. The key to this, like most things, is to take time to practice and build your confidence. A good place to start is in the middle of the lake away from any docks or shoreline. Pick a calm day during the week when there is less boat traffic. This is a good way to get a feel for how your boat handles. Once you are on the water bring your boat to a full stop, then put it into gear at idle speed. Get a sense of what this speed feels like. Shift back to neutral and let your boat glide while turning the wheel to test the reaction you have with no power. Do the same thing at idle speed. You can also experiment with stopping your boat at a determined point in the water from idle speed by shifting into reverse. There are times that you may need to apply more than idle speed in reverse when approaching a dock due to wind or miscalculating your speed. Give it a try while you are on the open water. While in reverse turn your wheel left and right; you will find that your boat, particularly inboards, will be more responsive in one direction than the other. Having practiced this will give you more confidence when you are ready to try it at the dock. SLIP DOCKING When docking your boat into a slip, there is really only one method, although the process will vary slightly depending on conditions. One of the most important factors is the speed of the boat, and remembering that speed requirements will change based on the condition of the water. You really want to approach the slip at a slow and controlled speed.
96 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
BY DAVE KROEGER
Remember this old saying: “Never approach the dock any faster than you’re willing to hit it.” That said, there needs to be enough speed applied to continue your boat on its intended path. If there is wind or the water is choppy from waves or boat wakes, you will want to have just enough forward speed to overcome the influence of the water conditions. Once you are close to the dock you can maintain your direction by applying short bursts of power, instead of steady power. This allows you to maneuver without building up too much momentum and getting out of control. Keep in mind that the direction of the boat can be guided even when in neutral as long as there is forward momentum. While gliding, you will have to make more aggressive turns of the wheel to change your direction. Once your bow is in the slip, be prepared to reverse the engine to a controlled stop. If there is wind hitting you broadside, I find it helpful to angle into the wind slightly and then straighten up just before entering the slip. This will help counter side drift. PARALLEL DOCKING USING AN ANGLED APPROACH When using an angled approach, aim your boat at about the center of the finger or pier that you want to tie up to. Approach the dock at about a 30-degree angle at a slow speed. Use intermittent power, bumping the engine in and out of gear as you approach to control your speed. When you are about a boat’s length away with the engine in neutral, swing the wheel hard away from the dock. Now give your engine a little bump into forward and back to neutral. The stern of your boat will now swing toward the dock. When the boat is parallel to the dock, turn the wheel all the way back towards the dock and give a quick bump of reverse thrust and back
to neutral. The boat will now come to rest against the dock. This sounds more complicated than it really is. Try to visualize the process and, after a little practice, you will get a feel for the timing of the swing and it will become second nature. KEY POINTS • Controlled speed is the key to docking. • Your boat will not have an immediate reaction to a turn like a car. It will help to turn the wheel before you put the engine into gear for tighter turns when you are close to the dock. • The stern moves first; the bow only looks like it is doing the turning, but the stern is in charge. • Have lines and fenders ready before you dock. • Don’t kill the engine and let the boat glide and hope for the best. • Don’t be afraid to abort your landing and try again. I hope this helps you and your boat enjoy many years of great boating. Dave is President/CEO of Kroeger Marine Construction, which has excelled for decades, offering unmatched experience and quality in boat dock building, erosion control and boat lift installation.
City of
Seneca upcoming events
Howl-o-ween on the green
Downtown Seneca October 31st Free candy from Mayor Dan Alexander and his city council members at Norton Thompson Park in downtown Seneca
December 3rd. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Santa’s Workshop
296
S a st 212 E
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212 E. South Third St. Seneca, 29678
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T h i r d S t. S e n e c
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FREE
Pictures with Santa
Historic Ballenger House Christmas Event!
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a st 212 E
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Every Thursday April - October. Starts at 6:30 on Ram Cat Alley.
CHRISTMAS AT THE LUNNEY DECEMBER 11th
1st Saturday April - October. Downtown on Main Street.
Tea & Social • September Lake & Mountain Quilters Show September 16-17 • 11:00 - 4:00 p.m (FREE) Christmas Craft Boutique December 2 • 11:00 - 4:00 p.m (FREE) Christmas Open House & Tea Social December 3 • 2:00 - 4:00 p.m
Follow us on Facebook
Seneca SC Events
More info at www.seneca.sc.us
FALL 2016 › 97
Dry Falls
D
ry Falls, located in the Nantahala National Forest a few miles outside of Highlands, NC, gives visitors the rare treat of going behind a waterfall as a 75-foot cascade plummets over an overhanging cliff under which is an easily accessible walkway. Located roadside on US Highway 64, everyone can enjoy the view from a fully accessible observation area adjacent to the parking area. And, while the view is nice from that location, the real treat is getting a closer look by climbing down the stairs and short path. There are many great vantage points along the way for photos. You may be able to see a rainbow if you and the sun are in the right position. Dry Falls flows on the Cullasaja River and is part of a series of waterfalls on a 8.7-mile stretch of the river that eventually ends with Cullasaja Falls. In the narrow and deep Cullasaja Gorge, the Cullasaja River rushes and drops in a series of cascades and waterfalls to the Tennessee River near Franklin, NC. A two-lane highway called Mountain Waters Scenic Byway, which is the combined route of US 64 and NC 28, has been designated a National Scenic Byway, and runs through the Cullasaja Gorge. Though the road is narrow and the curves are frequent and sharp, it can be a fun and beautiful drive, particularly during the fall color season. There are many places to pull off, get out and enjoy the views of the river. DIRECTIONS Coming from Highlands: Take Hwy. 64 west for just over 3 miles from its intersection with Hwy. 106. Pass or stop at Bridal Veil Falls, then look for a brown and white forest service sign for Dry Falls and turn left into the parking area. If you are coming from Franklin, Dry Falls is about 16.5 miles east on U.S. Hwy 64. GPS coordinates for the falls are: 35.068091°N 83.239067°W
98 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
Creating Community through People, Parks and Programs Stay & Play In Our Parks! We offer over 200 campsites in our three beautiful county parks. Electricity and water at each site, friendly staff, clean restrooms, hiking trails, playgrounds, Lake Keowee and Chauga River access, tent only areas as well as large RV sites.
Chau Ram County Park • 28 Camp Sites • Primitive Camping Areas • 4 Shelters, 1 Recreational Building • Waterfalls • Hiking Trails • Chauga River Access Closed Nov. 20 thru first weekend in March
High Falls County Park
South Cove County Park • 88 Camping Sites • 1 Shelters •1 Recreational Building • Boat Ramp • 4 Tennis Courts • Playground • Fishing Pier • Lake Keowee
• 100 Camping Sites • 2 Shelters, 1 Recreational Building • Boat Ramp • Fishing Pier • Miniature Golf • Playground • Softball Field • Volleyball • Basketball • Tennis • Lake Keowee Day Use & Lake Access Open Year-Round Camping closed Nov. 20 thru first weekend in March
All Areas Open Year-Round
Experience Oconee, SC
www.ExperienceOconee.com Make MakeYour YourReservations Reservationsatatwww.reserveamerica.com. www.reserveamerica.com. FALL 2016 › 99
We are proud to be elected Best Real Estate Agency.
Becky Rutkiewic
Len Abbatiello
Allen Funk
Donna Absher
Gundi Simmons
Gretchen Griffin
Bob and JoAnn Hill
Brad Reed
Lee Ciarcia
Heather Morse
Mike Hill
Mary Lee Bolen
Linda Moore
Teara Price Barnwell
Celebrating 20 years of service in the Upstate
Bob Hill Realty www.BobHillRealty.com
Seneca (864) 882-0855 | 528-D ByPass 123 Keowee Town, Salem (864) 944-0405 | 1231 Stamp Creek Road