Paris Mountain State Park - Misplaced Pages

State park in South Carolina, United States

Paris Mountain State Park
Bath house at Paris Mountain State Park

Location	2401 State Park Road, Greenville, South Carolina
Coordinates	34°55′32″N 82°21′56″W / 34.92556°N 82.36556°W / 34.92556; -82.36556
Area	1,540 acres (6 km)
Elevation	2,000 feet (609.6 m)
Created	1935
Camp sites	39 standard sites, 5 primitive sites
Hiking trails	Sassafras, Brissy Ridge Loop, Sulphur Springs Loop, Fire Tower Trail, Kanuga Trail,Turtle Trail, Lake Placid Trail, North Lake Trail
Other information	14 miles (23 km) of hiking trails


Paris Mountain State Park Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district

Area	1,275 acres (516.0 ha)
Built	1937
Built by	Civilian Conservation Corps; U.S. Forest Service
Architectural style	Late 19th and early 20th century American movements, rustic style
MPS	South Carolina State Parks MPS
NRHP reference No.	98000416
Added to NRHP	April 30, 1998

Paris Mountain State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of South Carolina, located five miles (8 km) north of Greenville. Activities available in the 1,540-acre (6 km) park include hiking, biking, swimming and picnicking. The 13-acre (52,609 m) Lake Placid offers swimming and fishing. Canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats are seasonally available for rental; private boats are not permitted. Camping is allowed and campsites range from rustic, back country sites to paved sites with water and electricity hook-ups. The park's Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) structures, including the Camp Buckhorn lodge, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. m.

History

Cherokee Indians once dwelled on Paris Mountain, before European men began to colonize North America. The first white man settled in what is now known as Greenville County in 1765. He was an Scots-Irish man from Virginia named Richard Pearis. He married a Cherokee woman and became close to the Cherokee tribe. The Indians continually gave Pearis land until his property extended 10 square miles (26 km). Richard Pearis is the source of the name "Paris" Mountain. In 1775, a letter from the superintendent of Indian affairs, Jonathan Stuart was written to the Cherokee Indians chastening the Indians for selling their lands to white men. In one part of the letter, Stuart writes, "You are constantly listening to Richard Pearis, who cheats you of your lands." Some of the land which Richard Pearis possessed contained the mountain known today as Paris Mountain. Therefore, the name "Paris" is a construed form of "Pearis". A legend surrounding the mountain speaks of the first white men to visit the mountain. The chief of the indwelling Cherokee tribe tried to protect the mountain, and when he grew old, he passed on the responsibility to his daughter and her husband. The husband failed in this task and sold the mountain; in anger, the daughter of the chief killed her husband.

One of the earliest uses of the mountain by the city of Greenville was as a source of water between 1890 and 1916. Numerous lakes and dams in the park were built in 1890 by the Greenville City Water System as part of the reservoir. In 1928 Table Rock Reservoir was put into service, and the use of Paris Mountain as a water supply declined.

The mountain also had other uses. In the 1890s, a popular resort resided on Paris Mountain named Altamont Hotel. However, the resort failed and was sold to N. J. Holmes, who in turn, founded a Bible institute on the site. The institute was first known as Altamont Bible and Missionary Institute and later as Holmes Bible College. The college opened its doors in 1898. The institute was later sold to another citizen, and the building later suffered a fire in 1920.

The state park on Paris Mountain was built in the 1930s by the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Sixteen other parks in the state of South Carolina were also created due to the work of the CCC. The land for the park was acquired in 1935 from the city of Greenville.

The nearby liberal arts college, Furman University, founded in 1826, is located near the foot of the mountain for which the park is named.

Geography

Paris Mountain lies in the Piedmont region of the United States. The mountain is a monadnock, a mountain that stands alone in an area. The word "monadnock" comes from Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire. The elevation of Paris Mountain exceeds 2,000 feet (609.6 m). The Piedmont region where Paris Mountain is located is a raised plateau. The Piedmont, which means "foot of the mountain", covers a third of South Carolina and contains several other monadnocks in addition to Paris Mountain.

Flora and fauna

Plant life

Paris Mountain State Park is home to around 73 different types of flora. The majority of the plant life on Paris Mountain is similar to plant life found on mountains farther north. Virginia Pine populates the highest elevations of the mountain. While the plant life resembles that of the mountains to the north, there are exceptions. Holly is evident on many parts of the mountain, even though the plant is not native to the region. Another plant covering the mountain in the springtime is arbutus. A special type of honeysuckle is also found on the mountain. This unusual honeysuckle was first discovered by Governor John Drayton. Rosebay rhododendron also grows on banks along the park's rivers.

Wild life

The animal life on Paris Mountain consists mostly of possums, foxes, and snakes. Bass, bream, and catfish also populate the different park lakes. There are over 20 different species of birds inhabiting the mountain.

Geology

Mica, graphite and iron ore deposits have all been found on Paris Mountain.

Recreation

Paris Mountain State Park is a center of activity for the city of Greenville. The park is host to nine trails for hikers and mountain bikers alike. George Hincapie, a Tour de France participant, lives in Greenville and is known to train in the park. Features to the trails include blazes, foot bridges, and trail signs. Paris Mountain State Park has a 40 site family campground with a mix of tent and RV sites. Camp Buckhorn is a group facility located on Buckhorn Lake at the north end of the park and consists of a lodge with a dining/meeting room for 75 people and 10 primitive cabins. Cabins are not rented separately. The 15-acre Lake Placid located in Paris Mountain State Park is the park's main spot for boating and fishing. North Lake, also known as Reservoir 3, is larger lake located in the park, is closed to boaters and reserved for fishermen. The lake is home to crappie, bream, and catfish. The visitor center, also known as the Park Center, is located next to Lake Placid and has maps and information about facilities.

Camp Buckhorn

Camp Buckhorn was built by the CCC in 1936-1937 as a place for groups. It has a lodge, and 10 cabins for overnight guests. and accommodates 40 people. In 2011, the main lodge underwent renovations funded by Paris Mountain Friends, the state government, and local establishments.

Paris Mountain Downhill Mountain Biking Race

The Paris Mountain Downhill Mountain Bike Race is part of the South Carolina Gravity Championships and acts as a qualifier to the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships. The 2012 national championships took place at Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Limited to 99 riders, the course runs from Sulphur Springs trail around the top of the mountain to the park's archery range.

References

^ "South Carolina's Paris Mountain State Park" (PDF). Retrieved November 3, 2011.
^ "Paris Mountain State Park". South Carolina State Parks. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
"South Carolina Parks - South Carolina Parks Official Site". southcarolinaparks.com.
^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
^ Ebaugh, Laura (1970). Bridging the Gap to Greenville. Greenville County Events – S. C. Tricentennial. pp. 18–21.
^ "Welcome to Paris Mountain". South Carolina State Park Service. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
^ "Paris Mountain State Park". South Carolina State Parks. South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
^ "Paris Mountain State Park". South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
Hester, Albert; Linda Lake (May 25, 1997). "Paris Mountain State Park Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
^ "Paris Mountain State Park Historic District, Greenville County (2401 State Park Rd., Greenville vicinity)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
"SCDAH National Register Properties in South Carolina". August 1, 2008.
^ Encyclopedia of South Carolina. New York, NY: Somerset Publishers. 1993. p. 220. ISBN 0-403-09906-4.
^ Cannon, James M. Richardson; with new index by Margaret H. (1980). History of Greenville County, South Carolina: narrative and biographical. Spartanburg, S.C.: Reprint Co. p. 33. ISBN 0-87152-343-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Ashmore, Nancy Vance (1986). Greenville: woven from the past: an illustrated history. Northridge, Calif.: Windsor Publications. pp. 183, 269. ISBN 0-89781-193-3.
"History of Furman". Because Furman Matters. Furman University. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
^ Giffen, Morrison (1997). South Carolina : a guide to backcountry travel & adventure. Asheville, NC: Out There Press. pp. 72–75. ISBN 0-9648584-2-8.
"Upstate Monadnock". Geocaching. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
"Hincapie challenge". Paris Mt. State Park Friends. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
"Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville, SC". The official reunions site of South Carolina's state parks. South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
^ Foley, Mike. "Camp Buckhorn lodge gets a facelift". GreenvilleOnline.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
"Welcome to Paris Mountain Downhill". Paris Mountain Downhill Race. parismountaindownhill.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
^ Foley, Mike. "Paris Mountain bike race resumes after one-year hiatus". GreenvilleOnline.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011.

External links

Paris Mountain State Park Friends
Paris Mountain State Park official website
South Carolina Parks

v t e State Parks of South Carolina
Upstate	Caesars Head Croft Devils Fork Jones Gap Keowee-Toxaway Kings Mountain Lake Hartwell Musgrove Mill Oconee Oconee Station Paris Mountain Rose Hill Plantation Sadlers Creek Table Rock
Midlands	Aiken Andrew Jackson Baker Creek Barnwell Calhoun Falls Cheraw Chester Dreher Island Goodale H. Cooper Black Jr. Hamilton Branch Hickory Knob Lake Greenwood Lake Wateree Landsford Canal Lee Poinsett Redcliffe Plantation Rivers Bridge Santee Sesquicentennial
Coastal	Charles Towne Landing Colleton Colonial Dorchester Edisto Beach Givhans Ferry Hampton Plantation Huntington Beach Hunting Island Lake Warren Little Pee Dee Myrtle Beach Woods Bay

Protected areas of South Carolina

Federal

National Parks	Congaree
National Historic Sites and Historical Parks	Charles Pinckney NHS Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie NHP Ninety Six NHS Reconstruction Era NHP
National Military Parks and Battlefields	Cowpens NB Kings Mountain NMP
National Historic Trail	Overmountain Victory
National Forests	Francis Marion Sumter
National Wildlife Refuges	Cape Romain Carolina Sandhills Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin Pinckney Island Santee Savannah Tybee Waccamaw
National Estuarine Research Reserves	Ashepoo Combahee Edisto Basin North Inlet-Winyah Bay
Wilderness Areas	Cape Romain Congaree Ellicott Rock Hell Hole Swamp Little Wambaw Swamp Wambaw Creek Wambaw Swamp
Wild and Scenic River	Chattooga River

State

State Parks	Aiken Andrew Jackson Baker Creek Barnwell Caesars Head Calhoun Falls Cheraw Chester Colleton Croft Devils Fork Dreher Island Edisto Beach Givhans Ferry Goodale H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area Hamilton Branch Hickory Knob Hunting Island Huntington Beach Jones Gap Keowee-Toxaway Kings Mountain Lake Greenwood Lake Hartwell Lake Warren Lake Wateree Landsford Canal Lee Little Pee Dee Myrtle Beach Oconee Paris Mountain Poinsett Sadlers Creek Santee Sesquicentennial Table Rock Woods Bay
State Historic Sites	Charles Towne Landing Colonial Dorchester Hampton Plantation Musgrove Mill Oconee Station Redcliffe Plantation Rivers Bridge Rose Hill Plantation
State Forests	Harbison Manchester Poe Creek Sand Hills Wee Tee
Heritage Preserves	Aiken Gopher Tortoise Altamaha Towne Ashmore Bald Rock Bear Branch Belvue Springs Bennett's Bay Blackwell Botany Bay Plantation Brasstown Creek Bunched Arrowhead Buzzard Island Buzzard Roost Capers Island Cartwheel Bay Cathedral Bay Chestnut Ridge Childsbury Towne Clear Creek Congaree Bluffs Congaree Creek Crosby Oxypolis Daws Island Ditch Pond Dungannon Plantation Eastatoe Creek Eva Russell Chandler Fort Frederick Fort Lamar Forty Acre Rock Glassy Mountain Gopher Branch Great Pee Dee River Green's Shell Enclosure Henderson Janet Harrison High Pond Laurel Fork Lewis Ocean Bay Lighthouse Inlet Little Pee Dee Little Pee Dee State Park Bay Long Branch Bay Longleaf Pine Lynchburg Savanna Nipper Creek Old Island Pacolet River Peachtree Rock Peters Creek Poinsett Bridge Rock Hill Blackjacks Savage Bay Savannah River Bluffs Segars-McKinnon Shealy's Pond South Bluff St. Helena Sound Stevens Creek Stoney Creek Battery Stumphouse Mountain Tillman Sand Ridge Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve Waccamaw River Wadakoe Mountain Wateree Watson-Cooper Woods Bay
Wildlife Management Areas	Bear Island Belfast Bonneau Ferry Campbell's Crossroads Canal Causey Tract Cliff Pitts Clinton Reservoir Tract Crackerneck Donnelley Draper Edisto River Fant's Grove Gray Court Tract Hamilton Ridge Hatchery Herbert Kirsh Hickory Top James L. Mason James Ross Jim Timmerman Keowee Landsford Canal Forest Liberty Hill Marsh McBee McCalla McConnells Tract Moultrie Hunt Unit Nine Times Oak Lea Palachucola Pee Dee Station Samworth Santee Coastal Reserve Santee Cooper Santee Cooper Tract Santee Dam Santee-Delta Thurmond Tract Turtle Island Webb Wild Turkey Woodbury Worth Mountain
Seabird Sanctuaries	Bay Point Shoal Bird Key - Stono Crab Bank Deveaux Bank Joiner Bank North Santee Bar

v t e U.S. National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina
Topics	Contributing property Keeper of the Register Historic district History of the National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Property types
Lists by county	Abbeville Aiken Allendale Anderson Bamberg Barnwell Beaufort Berkeley Calhoun Charleston Cherokee Chester Chesterfield Clarendon Colleton Darlington Dillon Dorchester Edgefield Fairfield Florence Georgetown Greenville Greenwood Hampton Horry Jasper Kershaw Lancaster Laurens Lee Lexington Marion Marlboro McCormick Newberry Oconee Orangeburg Pickens Richland Saluda Spartanburg Sumter Union Williamsburg York
Lists by city	Charleston Columbia Greenville North Charleston Rock Hill
Other lists	Bridges National Historic Landmarks
Keeper of the Register History of the National Register of Historic Places Property types Historic district Contributing property

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