Area Attractions
Natural/Historic Areas
Located nine miles north of Lancaster, the 360-acre Andrew Jackson State Park features a museum and one-room schoolhouse reminiscent of the Jackson era. Recreational opportunities include a 25-site family campground, a seven-acre fishing lake with rental boats, picnic shelters, nature trails and a playground. Both a Meeting House (complete with kitchenette) and a 7,500 square-foot outdoor amphitheatre can be rented for special events. The focal point of the grounds is an equestrian statue of young Andrew Jackson by famed sculptress Anna Hyatt Huntington.
Forty-Acre Rock is a geological phenomenon featuring a 14-acre flat granite rock and at least twenty unusual and endangered plant species. A National Natural Landmark, the Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area encompasses 2,267 acres of the most diverse protected area in the Piedmont region that also includes waterslides, waterfalls, beaver pond, caves, hardwood and pine forests, and a variety of wildflowers and wildlife. Located 15 miles southeast of Lancaster on Conservancy Road.
Hanging Rock Battleground, a Revolutionary War battle site, features a walking trail along which can be seen the Hanging Rock's unusual shape and appearance, wall flowers, an old mill site and a bridge spanning the Catawba Indian Path. Approximately five miles south of the town of Heath Springs, off Flat Rock Road.
Landsford Canal State Park spans Lancaster and Chester Counties on both sides of the Catawba River. The last of a dozen 19th century South Carolina river canals, Landsford Canal has all of its major features intact. The park has a trail along the canal and a Lockkeeper's house which contains interpretive exhibits on the canal system in South Carolina. The park is home to one of the largest populations of the rare rocky shoals spider lilies that are beautifully in full-bloom from mid-May to mid-June.
Golf, Golf, Golf!
Four outstanding 18-hole courses ready to challenge both new and experienced duffers….Begin in Indian Land with the Sun City Carolina Lakes Golf Club—Opened in 2006, the course has already been nominated by Golf Digest as one of the best values to tee off. Drive down to Lancaster to enjoy the 6500-yard championship Lancaster Golf Club which boasts fast greens and some cleverly designed holes, including its signature island par-3 #7. Ten miles from downtown Lancaster, Edgewater Golf Club held its grand opening in September, 2008. Golfers enjoy the panoramic views that look more like a mountain course. Water does not come into play on many shots, although several holes border Fishing Creek Lake. Complete your golf trip at the Kershaw Golf Course, 15 miles south of Lancaster. The 5000-yard course has a creek that runs the perimeter and bunkers in just the right places.
Special Arts Interests
The Lancaster County Council of the Arts (LCCA), housed in the historic Springs' House(birthplace of Col. Elliott White Springs) in downtown Lancaster, offers gallery exhibits, classes and workshops, arts/science camps. Under its umbrella, the community enjoys four yearly performances from the Community Playhouse; quilt guilds and displays; arts crawls in downtown; music concerts; artists' openings and much more.
USC Lancaster's Performing Arts Series brings headliners to Lancaster County---groups such as the Atlanta Rhythm; Fifth Dimension; Cab Calloway Orchestra; The Tams; Ricky Skaggs fill the Bundy Auditorium with music and interact with the audience during their performance. For more details and a schedule, see http://usclancaster.sc.edu/bundy/index.html
Partnering with the LCCA, Bob Doster's Backstreet Studio is home to internationally recognized stainless steel sculptor Bob Doster. His monumental sculptures and functional artwork can be seen in galleries, museums, private collections and in public displays from the corporate collections of Saks Fifth Avenue and Founders Federal Credit Union to the State Art Collection of the SC Arts Commission. View his beautiful pieces at www.bobdoster.com.
USC Lancaster's Native American Studies Program holds a growing collection of Native American art, particularly the Phillip Wingard Catawba pottery collection and USCL's own collection of Catawba pottery and Native artifacts. The collection may be viewed in the Bradley Building Atrium, USC Lancaster. USCL is also home of the Catawba Nation's annual Yap Ye Iswa ("Day of the Catawba") Festival, a celebration of Catawba art, music, and dance. See http://usclancaster.sc.edu/NAS/index.html.
Unique Attractions
One of the largest commercial soaring centers in America---Bermuda High Soaring School offers beginners and experienced pilots the opportunity to take to the skies almost any day of the year. www.glider.org.
Carolina Motorsports Park is the only purpose built road racing facility in the Carolinas. Designed by Alan Wilson, the Park is a 2.235 mile, 14-turn road course in the Kershaw area of Lancaster County. See www.carolinamotorsportspark.com.
Lancaster Motor Speedway, the "Grand Daddy" of local tracks, is known as the "fastest dirt track in the South." For a schedule, see www.lancasterspeedway.net.
In the Neighborhood
Carowinds Theme and Water Park features 108 action-packed acres with more than 60 world-class rides, and all-new in 2010—The Intimidator—the tallest, fastest, longest coaster in the Southeast! Located on the North and South Carolina border. See www.carowinds.com
For a complete list of tourist/area attractions in the area—visit the Olde English District Tourism Commission at www.sctravel.net