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heartland towns
Aiken, SC
Bennettsville, SC
Camden, SC
Cary, NC
Chapel
Hill, NC
Charlotte, NC
Cheraw, SC
Columbia, SC
Durham, NC
Fayetteville, NC
Florence, SC
Greensboro, NC
Greenwood, SC
Hartsville, SC
Hickory, NC
High
Point, NC
Lexington, SC
Lincolnton, NC
Manning, SC
Marion
County, SC
Newberry, SC
North
Augusta, SC
Orangeburg, SC
Pinehurst, NC
Raleigh, NC
Research
Triangle, NC
Sanford, NC
Santee, SC
Sumter, SC
Vance
County, NC
Winston-Salem, NC
Books About The
Carolinas
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The joy of utter simplicity.
That’s what Greenwood offers. You can fish in the Saluda River, pontoon around Lake Greenwood, or stroll the gardens at Park Seed Company. Life here is old-fashioned, quiet, respectful. Big enough for a small university, small enough not to have traffic, Greenwood is pure comfort.
Photos courtesy of Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce
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Health, happiness, and a little bocce.
At Wesley Commons retirement community, you can concentrate on having fun. Try some exercise, enjoy cultural and recreational programs, and join your friends in the
restaurant. No more cleaning, cooking, or yard work.
Photo by Jon O. Holloway/
Wesley Commons
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Greenwood Pop.:
22,071
Greenwood County
Pop.: 66,271 |
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GREENWOOD, SC
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:
interesting insights
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oots in the past, wings for the future
and plenty to enjoy today.
“We feel as though we’ve died and gone to heaven,” said Patti Gagstetter from her home in Grand Harbor on Lake Greenwood. She was born and raised in Michigan, but when she married her husband, Craig, the couple moved to Chicago and lived in the suburbs for the next 28 years. Things began to change in 2002.
“We have one child who was married in 2002 and as soon as the wedding was over, we decided it was time to plan our future. For years, we had discussed where we wanted to live and we had some parameters.” The Gagstetters wanted to be “somewhere in the Carolinas, in a golf community, below the snow line, and west of the hurricane line.” They started picking up literature and attending events that highlighted the Carolinas’ lifestyle.
They traveled to the Carolinas four times and looked at 17 communities. “We had narrowed our choices down to two, his first and second choice and the same two communities for me, but in reverse order,” she explained. “And then, we arrived at Grand Harbor, saw the pool area, cabana, beach and great golf course. It became the first choice for both of us and we agreed right then to buy property.” Six months later, they also bought a boat. And now, they can’t imagine life elsewhere.
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rs. Gagstetter is on the Grand Harbor Social Committee, which offers plenty of parties and social events to help newcomers meet others (the couple recently cruised Italy and the environs for two weeks with other Grand Harbor
residents – 13 cabins in all)!
“Everyone new just gets put into the fold very easily,” she said, “perhaps at least partly because we are still at a size where all are welcomed.”
“The thing we’ve been most pleasantly surprised at is the huge array of cultural activities available at our fingertips. In Greenwood, we have the Community Theatre. From Grand Harbor, Abbeville Opera House is a short drive in one direction, and Newberry Opera House is even closer in the other direction.”
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Each June, the
South Carolina Festival of Flowers turns the town into a riot of color and celebration.
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More than 15,000 varieties of flowers are on display at Park Seed’s Trial Gardens. There is a Railroad Museum on South Main Street which evokes travel in earlier days. Next door is the Heritage Trail, a two-mile paved path for skating, walking or biking. Then, there’s Lake Greenwood.
Families have enjoyed the lake for many years, and at 11,400 acres (and two miles across at its widest point) the lake is a big attraction.
Commercial and public boat landings, piers, picnic areas, restaurants and lounges keep the waterfront accessible. The new community of Palmetto Crossing will soon be home to a well-known restaurant, Larkin’s on the Lake, which will bring new upscale dining to the waterfront. Justifiably famous for an eclectic menu that includes “falling off the bone” BBQ ribs, herb-baked prime rib and pecan encrusted fresh mountain trout, the sister restaurant of the same name in Lake Lure, N.C., has received its third Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine.
Away from the water, there’s still plenty to do and see, starting with golf. The Greenwood Country Club, founded in 1929, has 27 holes. The Links at Stoney Point Golf Course is a semi-private course, and The Patriot Golf Club at Grand Harbor is private. There are others as well, providing still more variety.
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For some families, the lure of Greenwood is so compelling that it beckons them back, even after 50 years away.
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Ted and Jackie Braid have lived all over the world. Now, they are building a home in the community of Eagle’s Harbor, on the lake.
“We are golfers and looking forward to playing as much as possible,” Mrs. Braid said, adding, “We’re also water people.” The day the builders broke ground on their new home, they bought a pontoon boat. “It’s in storage now, but won’t be for much longer.”
The fact that Greenwood isn’t a large tourist destination translates to “not dealing with tourist pricing and congestion,” according to Mr. Braid. He likes that. “And we are really looking forward to four seasons.”
Although no one would qualify Greenwood as a major tourist haunt, it has entered the radar of an impressive number of well-known companies.
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Greenwood is corporate headquarters for Greenwood Mills, FujiFilm Manufacturing U.S.A. Inc., Capsugel, a division of Pfizer, and Velux Corporation. The county also is home to multi-national companies including Solutia, Eaton and Tyco Healthcare/Kendall.
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Karl Kelly is the CEO of the South Carolina Biotechnology Incubation Facility (SC Bio) and he is enjoying his adopted hometown. “We build young emerging technology companies in the life science field, throughout South Carolina,” he explained, adding that SC Bio has worked with a number of professionals, some retired, who have relocated to the state, and who have strong entrepreneurial and/or consulting interests that have become engaged in assisting new companies.
“From the personal side, as a professional, I've had the opportunity to live in many different locations. I remember long drives in the Bay area, and here, it's less than 20 minutes from my lake home to the office. That, and the more rural, less stressful, environment, has contributed to an increase in my productivity. Several months ago, I was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at a meeting. The conversation shifted to how those in the group planned to spend their retirement. They were talking about wanting more recreational opportunities, being near the water, and other activities which I currently enjoy in Greenwood.”
He contends that the quality of life is so much better in Greenwood, and his wife is just as enthusiastic. “I've found the opportunity to become strongly involved at Main Street United Methodist Church, and I work as a volunteer coordinator for emergency response teams, a FEMA-directed program. We feel happy, relaxed and fulfilled here and we're not leaving.”
For many, giving back to the community is an integral part of living the good life. The Greenwood area Habitat for Humanity is a strong group making a difference in the lives of area residents. The American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Hospice Care of the Piedmont and United Way have local chapters.
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Approximately 3,000 students attend Lander University, which has provided educational and cultural opportunities to the area since its founding in 1872 as Williamson Female College in Williamston, S.C. (The college changed its name and moved to Greenwood in 1904.)
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Self Regional Healthcare is the top-ranked hospital in the state for vascular surgery and neurosurgery, and the healthcare and wellness facilities are superb.
For almost two centuries, Greenwood has been a charming, hard-working, friendly community that thrived because its early families cherished their quality of life, yet welcomed newcomers. Although the face of Greenwood has changed in many ways, the beautiful older homes and towering oak trees are reminders of the past. An easy drive from larger cities, the Atlantic Ocean and the Blue Ridge mountains, Greenwood pulses with a life of its own.
It isn’t for everyone,
but then again, if it
were, this piece of
paradise would be a bit
more crowded.
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What to do & What to see
The Museum
The Museum is conveniently located in the heart of Uptown Greenwood. Enjoy exhibits and collections in cultural history, natural history and the arts, with emphasis on Greenwood County and the surrounding region. Special collections range from fossils to industrial robots. Return to the turn of the century, stroll down a nostalgic street and visit The General Store.
864.229.7093
Greenwood Community Theatre
The Greenwood Community Theatre offers year-round entertainment for the entire family. Located in beautiful Uptown Greenwood (Highway 25 leading into the Uptown area next door to the Greenwood Museum). The Greenwood Community Theatre is located in the historic State Theater building at 110 Main Street that opened to the public as a movie house in 1934. The theatre produces seven shows during its regular season, from August through May, featuring adult and youth performers. Throughout the year, special benefit productions are held spotlighting the talents of area musicians and singers.
864.229.5704 • www.greenwoodcommunitytheatre.org
The Lander-Greenwood Performing Arts Series
An annual series of concerts and cultural events is sponsored by the Greenwood Performing Arts at the Lander University Cultural Center. National and international musical, dance and theatrical performances are featured at Lander University’s state-of-the-art facilities. The Tokyo String Quartet, Westminster Choir, Grammy Award-winning soprano Dawn Upshaw, pianist Misha Dichter, the Royal Winnipeg and Royal New Zealand ballets, the San Francisco Western Opera Theater and a glorious two-hour festival of Shakespeare are just a few of the recent top-notch performances.
864.388.8326 • www.lander.edu/glpa
SC Festival of Flowers
2007 marked the 40th anniversary of this festival which features a variety of musical performances, children’s activities, tours of private home gardens and tours of Park Seed Company, the largest mail order seed company in the United States.
864.223.8411 • www.scfestivalofflowers.org
SC Festival of Discovery
With over 60 vendors participating in this Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned competition, Greenwood rolls out the red carpet during the second full weekend in July to host this Barbecue and Blues Cruise Festival.
www.festivalofdiscovery.com
Monsanto Gallery
Located in the Lander University Cultural Center, the Monsanto Gallery exhibits the works of Southeastern artists in all types of media. The gallery often hosts special openings and receptions for visiting featured artists. Free and open to the public, the gallery receives more than 600 visitors monthly.
864.388.8000 • www.lander.edu/gallery
Greenwood Festival Chorale
Made up of 40-50 community members who present three concerts each year, The Chorale offers spring and holiday performances, as well as annual performances during the SC Festival of Flowers.
www.gwdfestchorale.org
Live After 5
This Summer Concert series presented first and third Thursdays during summer months features a variety of performing artists. Located in uptown Greenwood at the Countybank Plaza.
419 Main Street • www.uptowngreenwood.com
Spend the Night
Clarion Collection, Inn on the Square
Recently received the Clarion Collection Boutique Hotel designation; this elegantly-appointed 48-room hotel is located in uptown Greenwood. 864.330.1010 • www.innonthesquaresc.com
Food, Glorious Food
Bermuda's
Dine in an atmosphere of casual fine elegance at the Links at Stoney Point Clubhouse and indulge yourself in a menu filled with classic favorites such as Lowcountry smothered catfish with crab cream sauce, or horseradish crusted salmon.
709 Swing About • 864.942.0903 • www.dinebermudas.com
Pascal’s Café
Chef-Owner Pascal Hurtebize learned his craft at a variety of remarkable restaurants in France. He has “innate love and respect for the ‘terroir’ and this is reflected in the dishes he creates, such as blue lump crab cakes and escargot Bourguignon.
307 West Cambridge Avenue • 864.223.2329 • www.pascalscafe.com
T.W. Boon’s
Family-owned and operated. Great salads and Southern sweet potato casserole.
405 Main Street • 864.227.3338
Larkin’s on the Lake
Coming summer, 2008, on the waterfront at Palmetto Crossing. Fabulous food and excellent wine. Discover Larkin’s considerable charms now at their restaurants in Greenville and Lake Lure.
www.larkinsonthelake.com
Worth
a Look ...
Park Seed
Largest seed catalog company in the U.S. An amazing collection of plants.
Highway 254 North • 800.845.3360 • www.parkseed.com
Emerald Farm
All natural Saanen goat milk soap and body products. Happy goats frolic in the pastures; natural food store and gift shops, a train and hobby shop.
409 Emerald Farm Road • 864.223.2247 • www.emeraldfarm.com
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Katherine O. Pettit
has worked as a writer,
magazine editor, printer
and public relations
consultant. The Columbia
resident has published
more than 250 articles
in magazines and
newspapers. Her writing
explores a variety of
subjects including
travel, lifestyles,
business and management.
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