Southern hospitality is alive and well in Fort Mill, SC, one of the fastest growing communities in the greater Charlotte area, yet it has managed to retain its small-town atmosphere. Fort Mill takes its name from a colonial-era fort, built by the British, and a grist mill on nearby Steele Creek. Today, Fort Mill is home to a number of thriving businesses and corporate offices, in addition to abundant green spaces and a variety of recreational venues.
Fort Mill is also home to numerous attractions and, while a small town, Fort Mill has access to many amenities outside the town, in nearby Charlotte. The downtown historic district has a number of shops and locally-owned restaurants. Fort Mill is also known for its peach orchards and the Anne Springs Close Greenway. The Greenway is an extensive protected natural area, consisting of approximately 2,300 acres (930.8 hectares) of lakes, forests, and pastures, that provide trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Read on to learn about the best things to do in Fort Mill, SC!
1. Anne Springs Close Greenway
Opened to the community in 1995, Anne Springs Close Greenway provides opportunities for recreation, education and fitness, on over 2,100 acres (849.8 hectares) of land, in historic Fort Mill. Nestled amid beautiful lakes and hardwood forests, the Anne Springs Close Greenway is a natural preserve, that serves as a buffer from urban development and provides a wide open space for many outdoor activities, such as hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping and fishing and picnicking.
Fish, canoe or kayak on one of the four lakes: Lakes Haigler, Crandall, Frances, and Katherine. You can bring your own kayak, or rent one on site. Primitive tent campsites are located on the north side of Lake Haigler and are available for reservation. The Greenway contains native plants and animals, historic buildings, a 40-mile (64.4-kilometer) network of trails, a recreation center and facilities for weddings and other special events. The Recreation Complex includes fitness facilities, pools, and more.
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Address: 104 Adventure Rd, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Opening Hours Sunday-Saturday 7:00 am-7:00 pm
Website: Anne Springs Close Greenway
2. Fort Mill History Museum
The town of Fort Mill was established in 1873, taking its name from a colonial-era fort, built by the British, and a grist mill on nearby Steele Creek. Scotch-Irish settlers began arriving in the 1750s and 1760s and a small settlement soon developed. Fort Mill grew rapidly in the late 19th century, as textile mills were established. The mission of the Fort Hill History Museum is to preserve this history for future generations.
The museum collects, displays and preserves artifacts, writings, documents, photographs, and film footage, that contributed to the development of the town. Displayed in the Samuel E. White Gallery is the artwork by local artists. The John and Mary Sanders Research library houses a collection of research volumes on various topics, as well as original documents and photographs of people and events from Fort Mill’s history.
Fort Mill History Museum
Address: 107 Clebourne St, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Opening Hours Wednesday-Saturday 10:00 am-4:00 pm, closed Sunday-Tuesday
Website: Fort Mill History Museum
3. PuckerButt Pepper Company
The PuckerButt Pepper Company is a grower, harvester and producer of all-natural pepper products, including hot sauces, salsas, seeds, plants, mustards, jellies, seasonings and snacks. The most famous hot sauce, the Carolina Reaper, was awarded the Guinness World Record for the World’s Hottest Chili, in 2013. The Carolina Reaper® Collection includes seeds, merchandise and artfully-crafted, all-natural recipes, containing Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper®. Other flavored hot sauces are available, as well as packets of pepper seeds that vary in heat level from “mild” to “stupid hot”.
PuckerButt Pepper Company
Address: 235 Main St, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Opening Hours Monday-Tuesday 10:00 am-5:00 pm, Wednesday-Saturday 10:00 am-6:00 pm, Sunday 12-5:00 pm
Website: PuckerButt Pepper Company
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4. Twisted Beaver River Adventures
Twisted Beaver River Adventures is a river outfitter based in Fort Mill, SC, that provides canoe, kayak and inner tube rentals for self-guided water exploration on the Catawba River and its tributaries. Popular launch locations are the Catawba River launch at Fort Mill Dam, the landing at Rock Hill, the Catawba River Landsford Canal, the Fishing Creek boat launch, and the Lake Wylie Launch at Nivens Creek Landing, among others.
Launch times are from 8:00 am-3:00 pm. Advanced reservations are strongly suggested as routes are changed based on season or boaters’ requests
Twisted Beaver River Adventures
Address: 2012 W. Highway 160, Suite 49 Fort Mill, SC 29708
Website: Twisted Beaver River Adventures
5. Carowinds
Just a short distance from Fort Mill in Charlotte, NC is Carowinds, a 398-acre (161.1-hectare) amusement park. The rides at Carowinds are based around eight themed areas: Celebration Plaza, Crossroads, Carolina Boardwalk, Carolina Showplace, County Fair, Thrill Zone, Planet Snoopy, Carolina Harbor Water Park and the Paladium Outdoor Amphitheater. In total, there are 64 rides, 13 roller coasters, and 7 water rides. Each year the park hosts, SCarowinds, a Halloween event and Winterfest to ring in the holidays.
Carowinds
Address: 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
Opening Hours Sunday-Saturday 10:00 am-10:00 pm late March-early December
Website: Carowinds
6. South Carolina Strawberry Festival
Fort Mill celebrates spring, the first weekend in May, with the annual South Carolina Strawberry Festival, spotlighting homegrown strawberries. There are concert events, on site, Friday evening and all day Saturday. Other events include a golf tournament, pancake breakfast, car show, pig races, and contests such as hot wing eating, ice cream eating, and strawberry cake eating. On Thursday, prior to the festival, there is Pick N’ Flick, where you can pick your own strawberries and end the evening with a movie showing, at dusk.
South Carolina Strawberry Festival
Address: 345 N White St, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Website: South Carolina Strawberry Festival
Fort Mill preserving their historical past and natural beauty
Located near a major metropolitan area, Fort Mill has managed to retain the historical, small town atmosphere that has attracted visitors and newcomers alike. There are also well preserved green areas, waterways and an abundance of recreational activities to choose from, in both settings. Fort Mill has attracted business and corporate offices, that recognize the uniqueness of a small town with access to amenities in nearby Charlotte. The past easily coexists with the present in Fort Mill, which is why it is one of the fastest growing communities in the state.
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