Saluda: History by the River and Experiences at Lake Murray
Accommodation in Saluda
Saluda brings together striking traces of history and experiences around Lake Murray. Saluda County is home to both the lake and historic sites that tell different chapters of the region’s story. For your vacation planning, this offers a choice between boating, exploring local history, and seasonal offerings—or a mix of all three.
Discover History Along the Saluda River
The Old Town Site was an abandoned Indigenous settlement on the banks of the Saluda River. It included a low mound and an open plaza, originally constructed about 1,000 years ago during the Mississippian culture. The Saluda Old Town Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Anyone interested in early settlement history will find a tangible starting point here for exploring the region’s past.
Another chapter in the region’s history is connected to a meeting on the riverbank: On July 2, 1755, a Cherokee delegation from Keowee and a British delegation from Charles Town met there. A mural and a plaque on Saluda County’s Courthouse Square depict the signing of the Saluda Old Town Treaty on July 3, 1755. The two dates refer to different events—the meeting and the signing shown in the depiction.
The founding of the Town of Saluda is also linked to a local institution. Red Bank Baptist Church was established in February 1784 and offered to have the courthouse built within 400 yards of the church. This led to the creation of the Town of Saluda. Other historic buildings include the Saluda Theatre, built in the Art Deco style in 1936, and the Bonham House, dating to around 1780. It is considered the only surviving birthplace of an Alamo hero.
Boating, Walks, and Getting Around
Lake Murray lies within Saluda County, where visitors can go boating. If being out on the water is the focus of your vacation, you can make this a distinct part of your travel plans. Those more interested in buildings, historic sites, and local stories can instead make these discoveries the focus of their trip. When searching for a vacation rental, it helps to first decide which of these interests matters most for your trip.
For a walk with a discovery challenge, try the Ridge Spring Downtown Walk – Mini. A brochure guides you to the history of buildings and works of art, and includes a scavenger hunt to spot objects and artworks in downtown. It offers a different way to experience a place than simply sightseeing: if you enjoy looking closely and following clues, you can plan your walk using the brochure.
Directions to Saluda Park are also clearly described: From West Church Street (US 378) in downtown Saluda, take South Main Street (SC 121). After 0.5 miles, turn right onto South Jefferson Street; the park is then on the left. These directions take you from downtown to the park and help you identify the turn.
Local Experiences and Seasonal Food
From June through October, the Ridge Spring Farmer’s Market offers seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as fresh flowers and herbs. Its offerings include peaches, okra, strawberries, cucumbers, squash, sweet potatoes, blueberries, blackberries, tomatoes, and watermelons. The season and changing selection make the market an appealing option for travelers who would like to include local produce in their vacation.
Peaches ‘N Such in Monetta combines a restaurant with a retail market. Its offerings include farm-to-table dishes, homemade ice cream, freshly baked goods, and locally made products. Patchwork Farm hosts public agritourism or farm events twice a year, in spring and fall. Because these events are seasonal, you can use them as a reason to plan your travel dates around your interests.
For further insight into local history, the Saluda County Historical Museum houses historical artifacts and genealogical information, as well as family history research records. The museum also provides directions to the Bonham House and the monument at Travis’s birthplace. For those who prefer to get active, Persimmon Hill Golf Club offers a public 18-hole course designed by Russell Breeden, with a driving range and practice green. The annual Saluda Young Farmer Tractor Pull offers a very different experience: various tractor classes pull a heavy sled along an unpaved track.
For more vacation planning, you can also explore the destinations Saluda and Lake Murray Shores.
For the main travel overview: South Carolina.
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