Hickory Knob State Park and Resort in South Carolina hugs the Georgia border and the shores of Lake Thurmond. Many know this park as an exquisite {golfing} vacation spot, because of the award-winning Tom Jackson-designed course inside.
In fact, it’s potential to spend all of your time on these greens and fairways. We simply suppose it is best to find out about all that lies past them.
Throughout a visit hosted by the Previous 96 District Tourism Fee, we discovered 7 methods to take pleasure in the remainder of South Carolina’s solely resort park. And that’s what we wish to share on this information, together with all of the marvel that awaits throughout your subsequent trip to Hickory Knob.
This put up is a part of our collection on superior locations to go to in South Carolina.
Hickory Knob State Park and Resort (Keep, Eat, and seven Issues to Do)
Group Observe: For those who’re searching for one thing particular in our information, right here’s how we’ve organized it.
- Background
- Keep at Hickory Knob State Park
- 7 Outside Issues to Do
- Locations Close by
- Map of Hickory Knob State Park (and Close by Locations)
Background
Hickory Knob State Park is definitely one among many parks and recreation areas that sit on or close to J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake. This 1,100-acre park was developed in 1973 and is South Carolina’s solely State Park Resort.
Hickory Knob is a big financial driver to McCormick County and its environment, with roughly 100 staff on workers and annual tax income from lodging and leisure actions.
Keep at Hickory Knob
You’re greater than welcome to go to Hickory Knob State Park all year long however we expect the expertise is a little more particular when you keep right here. Throughout busier occasions of 12 months, weeklong stays are required however completely value it.
You’ll be able to guide through Hickory Knob’s reservation site or by calling their workplace at 864-391-2450.
Listed below are the resort park’s lodging choices.
Guillebeau Home
$115 to $161 per evening
For essentially the most distinctive keep at Hickory Knob State Park, name and ask for a reservation on the Guillebeau Home. It was inbuilt 1753 by French Huguenots and lived elsewhere in McCormick County for a lot of its existence.
The home was shipped to its present location contained in the park in 1983. Whereas some additions and modifications have been made to the house, you’ll see that it nonetheless retains many authentic options inside and outdoors.
Inside, there are two bedrooms, which encompass a grasp with one double mattress and a loft with two twin beds. As much as 4 individuals can keep right here. You’ll even be handled to a fuel fire, kitchen with a full-sized fridge and freezer, and oven vary.
One other nice motive to strive for the Guillebeau Home is that you simply’re proper throughout the road from the Boat Ramp & Dock.
Lodges
$70 to $128 per evening
The Lodges (rooms and suite) are good for households or {couples} looking for a pleasant escape at Hickory Knob. They accommodate between two and 4 individuals and provide both two double beds or one king.
For the suite, you’ll have almost all the things that the Guillebeau Home provides, apart from the fireside. We stayed right here and beloved the house for stretching out.
The balcony overlooking the pine-covered shores of the lake is an additional bonus while you’ve traveled with somewhat one and must take pleasure in a morning cup of espresso in peace. If your loved ones features a furry pal, a few of these rooms are pet-friendly as of 2020.
Cabins (Suites)
$78 to $134 per evening
Suites (also called Cabins) are just like the Lodges however not as near the lake. The inside has not acquired the identical latest renovations because the Lodges however they’re nonetheless nice for households or teams.
One other bonus to staying within the cabins is that they’re nearer to the swimming pool, customer middle, and restaurant.
The Barrack
$231 to $315 per evening
The Barrack is subsequent to the cabins and preferrred for big teams touring collectively. Inside, there are 4 bedrooms and 10 beds complete (six single beds and two units of bunk beds).
To your time earlier than and after getting exterior, there’s a separate front room with sofas and bogs. A business kitchen is prepared for everybody, too, with a full-sized fridge/freezer, two ovens with rangers, microwave, and place on the desk for 10.
Tenting Spots
Whether or not you’ve come totally loaded in an RV or simply introduced your tent and provides, there’s a tenting spot for you at Hickory Knob. The 43 websites’ suface is packed gravel and each has its personal water and electrical hookups.
And for meals or only a place to take a seat, all websites have one picnic desk.
Eat at Hickory Knob
Being a full-service resort, there are a few choices for meals at Hickory Knob they usually begin with the on-site restaurant. Throughout typical years, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a meal at their buffet all through the day.
For those who’re {golfing}, the Professional Store’s Shagbark Snack Bar provides meals as properly, together with sandwiches, pizza, and different munchies.
And when you really feel like grabbing some meals exterior the park, our “Close by Locations” part shares a number of spots.
E-book the Barn
The Barn (also called the Lengthy Cone Conference Middle) is the primary place that you simply’ll see after coming into Hickory Knob State Park. It may well accommodate as much as 200 individuals and is ideal for conferences, company retreats, and another giant gatherings you’d wish to arrange.
7 Methods to Benefit from the Outside at Hickory Knob
{Golfing}
I promised you we wouldn’t solely give attention to the golf at Hickory Knob. However if you’re a golfer, then you could know concerning the Tom Jackson-designed course that awaits.
The greens and fairways of this wonderful course hug the shores of Lake Thurmond, creating beautiful surroundings and backdrops on your spherical of golf. And for simply $30/spherical, you will get began from the clubhouse.
These are only a few explanation why this public course (sure, public) does so properly in opposition to the non-public ones within the space. For apply between rounds, there’s a placing inexperienced behind the customer middle.
Trace: that’s another excuse it is best to keep at Hickory Knob.
Fishing
Bass, crappie, striper, and different species await your traces at Hickory Knob State Park. You’ll be able to fish from the dock on the boat ramp and the park will even offer you fishing rods and reels when you want them.
In fact, you too can trip the waters of Lake Thurmond searching for the proper spot. There are almost 20 different locations to launch your boat from, together with the favored Dorn Sport Fishing and Boating Facility exterior the park.
Boating (and Kayaking!)
And talking of boats, you will get within the water with a kayak, canoe, SUP (stand-up paddleboard). For those who didn’t carry any of the above with you, leases can be found contained in the park, beginning at $5/hour for SUP and $10 for 4 hours/$15 for eight hours for kayaks and canoes.
Outdoors the park, Earth Connection Outfitters is a superb useful resource for Lake Thurmond. They’ll additionally ship boats to you when you didn’t carry a automobile geared up to haul them.
Swimming
Proper behind the customer middle is the pool, with chairs and tables, but additionally umbrellas to offer much-needed shade on sizzling Carolina days. To enter, you’ll want your room key.
Multi-Use Trails (for Mountaineering and Biking)
We actually loved Hickory Knob’s Multi-Use-Trails, as they’ll take you into the woods and additional away from seemingly all the things. You’ll be able to stroll these paths (keep on path) or carry your mountain bike, although I’d recommend warning on the latter because of rocky and slender sections we encountered.
Personally, we beloved the Beaver Run Path (2.5 miles a technique) most of all. It’s a pleasant mixture of tree cowl and runs alongside the principle street from the customer middle towards the capturing space, which we’ll point out shortly.
The Turkey Ridge Loop Path (1.7 miles) is the shortest path, taking you thru oak and pine-covered paths and throughout streams.
And eventually, there’s the Lakeview Loop Path (7.2 miles). You’ll stroll by way of a mixture of forest and open areas, with a number of the path hugging alongside the lake, viewable by way of the timber.
Taking pictures (Skeet and Archery)
The outside recreation at Hickory Knob additionally consists of capturing skeet or archery, relying in your desire. Periods are made by appointment through the park. For those who’ve introduced a bunch of 5 or extra, you will need to make an appointment not less than one week upfront.
Right here’s a breakdown of price and choices for every:
Skeet
- $20 per spherical of 25 clay pigeons, with your individual gun and ammo.
- $27.50 per spherical of 25 clay pigeons, with park-provided gun and ammo.
- Out there for ages 13 and up.
Archery
- $5 per particular person, with your individual tools.
- $10 per particular person, with park-provided tools.
- Every particular person receives half-hour of instruction.
- Out there for ages seven and up.
Playground (and Video games)
For households touring with little ones, you’ll like to know that there’s a playground at Hickory Knob. Letting them get their wiggles out, as you understand, makes the day go a lot simpler so both an early morning or late afternoon cease here’s a should.
Able to Take pleasure in Hickory Knob State Park?
We completely loved Hickory Knob State Park and sit up for seeing how you probably did, too. For those who’re able to take pleasure in this park, what are you ready for?
Because you’ve already learn this information, isn’t it time so that you can look into reserving your subsequent trip right here? We sit up for seeing how a lot you really liked this park and personally, can’t wait to come back again.
Close by Locations to Go to
McCormick
The closest meals and grocery retailer is about quarter-hour away in McCormick. You’ll cross by way of this city when you’re coming from Greenwood or elsewhere to the east.
McCormick is an attention-grabbing city, with various good eating places and streets to stroll round and stretch your legs. We beloved the pizza and Philly Steaks at Michelle’s on the town and the fried hen at McCormick Drive-in is value exploring. Simply name upfront earlier than they prepare dinner to order on the Drive-in and it takes about half-hour to get issues prepared for you.
A few spots between downtown McCormick and the park are value a cease. Undoubtedly Scrumptious makes some superior wings with quite a lot of sauces that’ll hold you coming again. And the final cease earlier than the park it is best to make is on the Ice Cream Parlour, particularly on sizzling days.
Surrounding Counties and Cities
Greenwood, Edgefield, and Abbeville counties border McCormick on the South Carolina aspect. Simply throughout the Savannah River is three extra counties bordering McCormick on the Georgia aspect (Lincoln, Elbert, and Columbia).
State Parks (in South Carolina and Georgia)
There are a number of parks and guarded areas close to Hickory Knob State Park, so we’ll follow the principle two which are closest.
Baker Creek State Park
On the South Carolina aspect is Baker Creek State Park, managed by the US Military Corps of Engineers. There are two campgrounds, picnic shelters, and boat ramps that’ll get you on Lake Thurmond.
A ten-mile nature path cuts by way of the park and is standard for climbing and mountain biking.
Elijah Clark State Park
Elijah Clark State Park is a highly regarded park in Lincolnton on the Georgia aspect of the Savannah River. It’s additionally well-known for boating and fishing, but additionally for tenting and picnicking.
Many people additionally come right here to benefit from the seaside and keep at one of many 20 lake-front cottages.
Map of Hickory Knob State Park (and Locations Close by)
Our map consists of the placement of Hickory Knob State Park, all of the issues to do there, and the close by locations we talked about. Choose each for more information, together with instructions.
Extra Issues to Do in South Carolina
Disclosure Observe
Particular because of Previous 96 District Tourism Fee for internet hosting us throughout our keep. All opinions inside this text are our personal.
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