Thanks to our Volunteers that helped on a very Productive SPI Clean Up Day!
THANKS TO: Susan McKinney, Karen Kaiser, Deanna “Super-Organizer” Houston, Teresa Ess, Gretchen Delameter,
Christy Passannante, Mark LeBreton, Norma Jones, Brian Barron and Dan “Livin’ on the Edge(r)” Roberts
Click to View the Photo Show!
The Spring Park Inn, one of Greenville County’s oldest inns, is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Greenville County Historic Register. Located behind the Gazebo on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, the Inn is a treasured historic landmark for Travelers Rest and the surrounding community.
The site’s history stretches back to Cherokee hunting grounds prior to settlement in northwestern South Carolina following the Revolutionary War. Architectural evidence suggests that the front section of the building may date to the 1820s, when it served as a private residence owned by Aquilla and Mary Turner Bradley.
By 1850, Chevis and Mary McCarrell Montgomery had acquired the property, expanded the building, and promoted it as a stagecoach stop and resort for travelers journeying to the mountains of western North Carolina. In the 1870s, Robert Wright and Mary McCullough Anderson added a railroad stop for guests. Their daughter, Minnie Anderson Hillhouse, and her husband, Edward, later named the property the Spring Park Inn, inspired by the refreshing spring located on the grounds.
The Inn continued as a private residence throughout much of the 20th century, housing local teachers and members of the Anderson family. In 2020, Nell Anderson Gibson donated the property to the Travelers Rest Historical Society, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Today, the Spring Park Inn stands as a living testament to the rich history of Travelers Rest and Greenville County. Visitors are invited to tour the Inn, explore its fascinating story, and discover the people who shaped its legacy. Those interested in sharing this history with others are encouraged to become volunteer docents.
Donate to the Spring Park Inn.
Watch an interview with Mrs. Gibson and her cousin Frances Lockaby.
Catch up on all the media coverage of the Spring Park Project in Downtown Travelers Rest:
- Greenville News: Historical Travelers Rest house, property to be developed for community enjoyment
- Upstate Forever: Historic property in Travelers Rest permanently protected
- Greenville Journal: This historic inn witnessed the birth of Travelers Rest. Now it’s being preserved for future generations
- We loved having Homes of Greenville visit the Spring Park Inn for a Sneak Peek.