There are tons of benefits to spending time in nature. Ask any RVer and they will tell you that one of the best things about the RV lifestyle is being able to be in the great outdoors anytime they want. Scientists have recently been studying the effects of nature on people and the results are really not that surprising for the adventure seekers and restless wanderers - restored mental energy, reducing depression, stress relief, and just about anything else that can relax both the body and mind. Lisa Butler was someone who turned to nature to relieve stress from her job. "About every weekend we would go out RVing just to relieve stress from the work week," Butler says. Eventually, she made her job align with her stress relief. Her and her husband, Rick, built an RV campground from the ground up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in South Carolina. It is called Iron City Campground and has been open for business since Labor Day of this year.
"Rick's grandparents owned the land and about 8 years ago it went up for sale so we bought it," Butler recalls, "And a few years back we decided to build a campground." It took about a year and a half to get it ready for opening. They have 46 full hook-up sites on 40 acres. “We are geared towards RVers, but there are a few sites that are ideal for tent camping,” she says. Butler did not want to open it on a busy holiday weekend, but her husband convinced her otherwise. It worked out very well for the duo that Labor Day. "We dove head first and were completely booked that first weekend," she says. The grand opening went off without a hitch.
This family-oriented and pet-friendly campground is situated on 40 acres near the Broad River. [Photo/Iron City Campground, Inc.]
So what is there to do in the area? Lots, actually. "We are about an hour from Greenville, SC and an hour from Charlotte, NC, so a great spot right in the middle," she laughs. “People can come in and go shopping or enjoy the big cities and then come back to see the stars at Iron City right off Interstate 85.” Greenville is a particularly interesting place. It has been growing for a while and consistently gets awards for being a green city with plenty to offer commercially and recreationally. Speaking of recreation - the Broad River is a great place to boat, canoe, kayak, or float. Conveniently, the Bowen River Canoe Launch is less than a mile away from the campground.
There is also a great state park minutes away called Kings Mountain State Park. There are over 6,000 acres filled with hiking, equestrian trails, fishing, and views. Adjacent to the state park is the National Military Park which hosts may historic Revolutionary War events. The battle of Kings Mountain, in October of 1780, was called "the turn of the tide of success" by Thomas Jefferson. It was the first major patriot victory to occur after the British invaded Charleston in the spring of 1780. Interestingly, the battle was fought entirely by Americans - the British were not in the area. Instead it was a battle between Americans loyal to the Brits and the ones fighting for independence. The militia wanting independence mainly used rifles, a hunting weapon, unlike the Loyalists who had muskets. Rifles were very slow to load (about one shot per minute) but much more accurate than a musket. This kind of history, along with reenactments of life in the late 1700s, is available at the military park.
Iron City Campground has a lot of amenities itself, too. Many are family-oriented amenities, something Butler really wanted to offer in her campground. “We really want to have kids and pets welcome as we think being outside is one the best things for them,” Butler says. They have a swimming pool with shady spots and a splash pad for younger kids. One of the events that just passed at the campground was a Trick or Treating event with a live pirate show. Pirates, dressed in all their might, showed up and performed sword fighting acts and dancing. It turned out to be a big hit and afterwards, kids could trick or treat at the different campsites.
Also, there is a 7,500 square foot dog park, something the website humorously notes is, “Pawesome and Snification certified by our Chief Pawesomeness Officer, Bella Grace and Chief Snification Officer, Riley.” They have a playground and plan events for birdhouse building, fun games, and numerous activities for kids. “That first weekend we opened I saw some kids riding their bikes and enjoying being outside,” Butler says, “And I knew that this was the right choice.”
“On the highest point of the property you can see the Peachoid,” Butler says. Along with being a great place to see the sunset, 7 miles away in Gaffney, one can view a water tower that is shaped like a peach. It was built in 1981 and was shaped like a peach as a playful rip at Georgia, known as the Peach State. At the time, Cherokee County, which Gaffney is in, produced more peaches than the whole state of Georgia so the town wanted to make that known in a big way.
The area around the Appalachians is gorgeous and relatively easy to access to a large population. Iron City Campground in Blackburg, SC provides a great base to venture out onto the ancient rocks and explore.