Paris Mountain State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paris Mountain State Park |
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Bath house at Paris Mountain State Park
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| Location | 2401 State Park Road, Greenville, South Carolina |
| Area | 1,540 acres (6 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,000 feet (609.6 m) |
| Created | 1935 |
| Camp sites | 39 standard sites, 5 primitive sites |
| Hiking trails | 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 |
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Paris Mountain State Park Historic District
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| Area | 1,275 acres (516.0 ha) |
| Built | 1936 |
| 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 fun place to visit in South Carolina. It is located about five miles (8 km) north of Greenville. This park covers about 1,540 acres (623 ha) of land. You can enjoy many activities here, like hiking, biking, swimming, and picnicking.
Lake Placid is a 13-acre (5 ha) lake in the park. It is a great spot for swimming and fishing. You can also rent canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats during certain times of the year. However, you cannot bring your own private boats. The park also has places for Camping, from simple back-country spots to paved sites with water and electricity. Many buildings in the park were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). These historic structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Park History
Long ago, the Cherokee people lived on Paris Mountain. The first European settler in the area was an Irishman named Richard Pearis. He came to what is now Greenville County in 1765. Richard Pearis married a Cherokee woman and became friends with the tribe. The Cherokee people gave him land, and his property grew very large.
The mountain is named "Paris" after Richard Pearis. The name "Paris" is a shorter version of "Pearis." In the late 1800s, the city of Greenville used Paris Mountain as a source of water. They built several lakes and dams in the park for this purpose. By 1928, the city found other water sources, and Paris Mountain was used less for water.
The mountain was also home to a popular resort called Altamont Hotel in the 1890s. Later, it became a Bible institute called Holmes Bible College. The college opened in 1898, but the building was destroyed by a fire in 1920.
The state park we know today was built in the 1930s. This was during the Great Depression, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) did the work. The CCC helped create 16 other parks in South Carolina. The land for Paris Mountain State Park was bought from the city of Greenville in 1935.
Mountain Geography
Paris Mountain is located in the Piedmont region of the United States. The Piedmont is a raised flat area that covers about one-third of South Carolina. Paris Mountain is a special type of mountain called a monadnock. This means it is a mountain that stands alone in an otherwise flat area. The top of Paris Mountain is over 2,000 feet (610 m) high.
Plant Life
Paris Mountain State Park has about 73 different kinds of plants. Most of the plants here are similar to those found on mountains farther north. For example, Virginia Pine trees grow at the highest parts of the mountain. You can also find Holly plants, even though they are not originally from this area. In the spring, the mountain is covered with a plant called arbutus. A special type of honeysuckle, first found by Governor John Drayton, also grows here. You might also see Rosebay rhododendron along the park's rivers.
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Wild Life
The animal life at Paris Mountain includes possums, foxes, and snakes. The lakes in the park are home to fish like bass, bream, and catfish. More than 20 different kinds of birds live on the mountain too.
Fun Activities at the Park
Paris Mountain State Park is a busy place for people in Greenville. It has nine different trails for both hikers and mountain bikers. Even famous cyclists like George Hincapie, who rode in the Tour de France, train here. The trails have signs, foot bridges, and markers to help you find your way.
The park has a family campground with 40 sites for tents and RVs. There is also Camp Buckhorn, a special area for groups. Camp Buckhorn is located on Buckhorn Lake. It has a lodge with a dining room for up to 75 people and 10 simple cabins. These cabins are rented only to groups, not separately.
Lake Placid is a 15-acre (6 ha) lake and is the main spot for boating and fishing. Another larger lake, North Lake (also called Reservoir 3), is only for fishermen. You can catch crappie, bream, and catfish there. The Park Center, which is the visitor center, is next to Lake Placid. You can get maps and information about the park's facilities there.
Camp Buckhorn
The CCC built Camp Buckhorn in 1936-1937 for groups to use. It has a main lodge and 10 cabins for people staying overnight. The camp can host up to 40 people. In 2011, the main lodge was updated with help from local groups and the state government.
Mountain Biking Race
Paris Mountain State Park hosts the Paris Mountain Downhill Mountain Bike Race. This race is part of the South Carolina Gravity Championships. It also helps riders qualify for the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships. The race course goes from the Sulphur Springs trail around the top of the mountain to the park's archery range.
