9 Quirkiest South Carolina Towns You Didn't Know Existed
When you think of South Carolina, you likely think of windswept beaches, breathtaking plantations, and the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But what makes South Carolina special is the small, quirky communities that have somehow managed to stay off everyone’s radar. These small towns are home to offbeat attractions like the World’s Smallest Police Station to abandoned tunnels used to age Blue Cheese. So, when you are ready to experience the unexpected in South Carolina, be sure to check out some of these cities that lie just off the beaten path.
Bishopville
Bishopville was just another lonely city off Route 20 in Central South Carolina until the 7-foot-tall Lizard Man allegedly attacked a man changing his tyres in the late 1980s. The story garnered national attention, and Bishopville quickly became a tourist destination for cryptid enthusiasts. The Legend of Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp became a focal point of Bishopville’s identity, and they’re having a lot of fun with it! The Lizard Man Stomp Festival is a family-friendly event held every summer that celebrates the creature with a parade, food trucks, and live entertainment.
Lizard Man often steals the spotlight, but there’s so much to see in Bishopville. It’s also home to beautiful gardens, like the Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden. What started as a personal project by a local, quickly evolved into a 3-acre garden displaying native South Carolina shrubbery. One of the more offbeat attractions in Bishopville is the Button King Museum, a private collection of items (like cars and pianos) accented with thousands of buttons!
Travelers Rest
In Northern South Carolina, just outside of Greenville, is the sleepy community of Travelers Rest. If you want to take in the beautiful landscape of Travelers Rest, there’s no better spot than the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. This trail connects Travelers Rest to Greenville via a paved route traversing rivers and densely wooded paths. To whet your whistle after a long ride or hike, the Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Taproom is a fun and funky favorite of the community. If you visit during the summer, be sure to swing by Trailblazer Park, where the local farmers’ market is held.
But what makes Travelers Rest unique is the Poinsett Bridge, located just 20 minutes to the north. It is considered the oldest surviving bridge in South Carolina, and its spooky Gothic style makes it ripe for local ghost stories. Aside from ghost stories, the origins of the bridge are intriguing. The humble bridge, located off U.S. Highway 25, is believed to have been designed by Robert Mills, who also designed the Washington Monument!
Walhalla
The Northern South Carolina community of Walhalla was founded by German immigrants in the mid-1800s. The name Walhalla, inspired by Norse mythology and meaning "Garden of the Gods," reflects both Walhalla’s cultural roots and its natural beauty. There’s no shortage of ways to experience the stunning beauty of Walhalla. There’s the 100-foot waterfall of Issaqueena Falls or the 60-foot waterfall of Station Cove Falls. You can visit Native American landmarks like the Oconee Station State Historic Site and learn more about the native people at the Museum of the Cherokee.
What makes Walhalla truly unique, however, is the Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel. This spooky site was originally intended to be a part of the Blue Ridge Railroad project, but once the Civil War took hold in the South, the project was abandoned. Today, the eerie unfinished tunnel is used as a tourist attraction. It was once used for curing Blue Cheese by Clemson University in the 1940s, and is the perfect home for colonies of bats today!
Yemassee
North of Savannah, Georgia, is the small community of Yemassee. This small, friendly city is known for its pristine southern architecture and friendly streets where you can dine in kitschy cafes like Fletcher's and Company Cafe Antiques and Rugs or the Swimming Mermaid Coffee House and Wine Bar. One of the biggest architectural triumphs worth checking out in Yemassee is the Auldbrass Plantation, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. He didn’t design many structures in the south, but this sprawling plantation is one of his best.
However, one of the best things to see in Yemassee is the Old Sheldon Church Ruins. But in the mid-1700s, it was destroyed during the Revolutionary War. They rebuilt, but then were once again destroyed during the Civil War. However, some of the original walls of the church are still standing (as well as a few remaining graves), covered in moss and absorbed into the lush greenery of Beaufort County. It’s a stunning spot to admire what once was and take in the beauty of this historical landmark in Yemassee.
Gaffney
If you’ve ever driven down Interstate 85, you’ve likely seen the Peachoid, Gaffney’s 185-foot water tower shaped like a peach. Peachoid is so famous that it even made an appearance on the Netflix series House of Cards where a driver got into an accident when distracted by the giant peach. The tower highlights Gaffney’s history in peach farming and its importance to the local economy. Gaffney takes its peaches so seriously that they are the home of the South Carolina Peach Festival at the beautiful Henry L. Jolly Park.
However, there is so much more to Gaffney than just peaches! For thrill-seekers, the Cherokee Speedway is where you can watch short-track racing events during the racing season and then grab some good old-fashioned Southern food at the Carolina Cafe. Or, if you like a slower pace of life, Cherokee Lake is a peaceful public park that’s ideal for fishing, hiking, or just taking in the scenic views.
Jamestown
Halfway between Charlestown and Myrtle Beach is the hidden gem of Jamestown. The area is small, but the main attraction to this lonesome Southern hamlet is what lies just beyond its city limits: the delightfully eerie Hell Hole Swamp. Located within the stunningly beautiful Francis Marion National Forest, Hell Hole Swamp has quite a sordid past. It was once used as a moonshine operation during Prohibition but has since been abandoned. What stands now are eerie structures, slowly being swallowed by the lush greenery of the forest.
Hell Hole Swamp has become such a local legend that Jamestown holds an annual Hell Hole Swamp festival during the first weekend of May. Held on the Northern edge of the swamp, the festival includes arm wrestling contests, a children's cocoa spitting contest (which was once a tobacco spitting contest but has since changed for obvious reasons), and a beauty pageant. It also holds the Hell Hole Gator Trot 10K race, which is one of the state’s longest-running races.
Ridgeway
North of Columbia is the village of Ridgeway, known for its stunning views, friendly downtown district, and teeny tiny police station. The station, which is a 10-foot-by-12-foot structure, was originally built in the 1940s to cover up an old well and was utilized as the Ridgeway’s operating police station until 1990. Today, it’s a fun tourist destination similar to kitschy stops along Route 66.
Another notable stop in Ridgeway is the Ruff Chapel. It’s a perfectly preserved church that feels like stepping back in time. It was built in the 1870s and visitors can tour the inside, still with its original pews and creaky wooden floorboards. Or, you can visit Vaughn's Stagecoach Stop to experience a unique slice of Ridgeway’s history. Constructed in 1771 and restored to its former glory, it’s a testament to the importance of Ridgeway from the Revolutionary War onward.
Allendale
In Southern South Carolina, you’ll find the friendly community of Allendale. The best time to visit Allendale is during the annual Spring Cooter Fest. This event celebrates South Carolina’s native wildlife: the cooter, which is a type of freshwater turtle. Every year, there is a cooter race where turtles race in front of the opulent Allendale County Courthouse. It’s a cute, wholesome event that brings the whole area together. The festival also brings food trucks, fireworks, carnival rides, and live music.
Outside of turtle races, Allendale also hosts an annual Allendale Farmers Market from April through October, offering fresh produce and baked goods. If you want to absorb the natural beauty of the rural location, the Cathedral Bay Heritage Preserve is a short drive from central Allendale and provides tranquil vibes amongst the densely wooded trails.
Edisto Beach
South of Charleston, along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, is the unusual seaside retreat of Edisto Beach. There are plenty of beach towns in South Carolina with kitschy roadside attractions like mini golf and gift shops, but the residents of Edisto Beach do things a little differently in this slow-paced community. The Edisto Island Serpentarium isn’t your average beachy roadside attraction. It’s the first true serpentarium in South Carolina and works to educate while it entertains. It’s a great place to learn more about serpents and also serves as a rescue center!
What makes Edisto Beach truly unique isn’t necessarily what it has but what it lacks. The area is completely free of high-rise hotels and chain stores, giving it a unique laid-back vibe. Visitors can stock up on beach snacks at the charming Edistonian General Store or dine on fresh seafood at the chill Waterfront Restaurant or Whaley's Restaurant and Bar, located in an old gas station just on the other side of the public beach.
Visit South Carolina’s Most Delightfully Quirky Towns
From cocoa spitting contests in Jamestown to the giant peach-shaped water tower in Gaffney, things can sometimes get a little strange in South Carolina in all the best ways. If you have a flair for ghost stories and relics of the past, the Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel in Walhalla is sure to scratch that itch. Or, if you just want a relaxing seaside retreat with roadside attractions that are a little on the weird side, be sure to check out Edisto Beach. These small towns prove that life in South Carolina is never boring!
