2 days Ago
As Table Rock burned, the staffs at Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks got their orders. Evacuate . The massive Upstate fires threatening lives, homes and Greenville’s water supply were also bearing down on some of South Carolina’s most beautiful land — and the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism couldn’t risk losing more than land.
The dedicated staffers who live inside those parks — their first line of defense — would have to retreat. Again. “We just don’t know where the fire’s going to go next,” explained Duane Parrish, the agency’s director for the past 14 years.
“It’s dry, there’s low humidity and a lot of tinder lying around because of Helene.” Parrish is referring to the last natural disaster our state parks faced, just six months ago, when Hurricane Helene closed 28 of South Carolina’s 48 parks ..
. in the week before the busy fall foliage season began. The storm barreled through South Carolina in late September and hit the parks in the northwest corner of the state particularly hard: Helene knocked down thousands of trees, damaged structures and sparked landslides that changed the very landscape of some state parks.
The storm destroyed the road to Caesars Head, and it was only through the quick work of the state Department of Transportation that the park was able to welcome visitors back a month later. Next door, Jones Gap had only recovered enough to reopen three weeks ago — with many of its trails still closed, covered in fallen limbs and trees. Now, all that debris is just fuel for the Persimmon Ridge fire and the Table Rock fire, which is gutting one of South Carolina’s most iconic state parks right before our eyes.
Jones Gap State Park sustained tremendous damage in Hurricane Helene, so much so that it was closed nearly five months. Three weeks after it reopened, it was closed again due to Upstate fires. The entire state parks system has been threatened by natural disasters in the past year, and that's heartbreaking for anyone who adores this network of preserved lands, lakes, mountains and beaches.
These parks not only represent the best of South Carolina's abundant natural beauty, they provide outdoor recreation to nearly 14 million people each year. They are places to unwind, find peace of mind and escape the challenges of an increasingly complicated world. In these parks, there is only nature and beauty, friendly staffs .
.. and South Carolina’s very soul.
With the National Park Service in disarray due to arbitrary federal budget cuts, we need state parks preserved, protected and open more than ever. State leaders need to recognize that. There are thousands of people who’ve visited all 48 state parks — part of PRT’s popular Ultimate Outsider program.
But many others simply don’t know what the parks have to offer. So, for the unacquainted, here are a few suggestions: • Watch the sun rise over Lake Marion from the deck of a Santee State Park stilt cabin at the water’s edge. • Explore the gnarled, prehistoric trees decorating the beach at Hunting Island outside Beaufort.
• Hike the Caesars Head State Park’s Raven Cliff Falls trail, a four-mile round trip with stunning views of the state’s tallest waterfall (estimated at 420 feet). • Wade into the clear water of Lake Jocassee in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Devils Fork State Park near Salem. • Play a round of golf before settling into a cabin overlooking Lake Thurmond at Hickory Knob State Park in McCormick.
• And finally, visit the new May Forest State Park on James Island for unmatched views of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor. Obviously, lives, homes and infrastructure are the priority during these fires. But the Legislature also should keep a close eye on what this cascading series of natural disasters is doing to our state parks.
Due to their remote locations and lack of nearby infrastructure, protecting the parks presents extraordinary challenges for the Forestry Commission and S.C. National Guard personnel fighting these fires.
Raven Cliff Falls, as seen from Caesars Head State Park near Cleveland, South Carolina. “Mother Nature is playing havoc on us,” Parrish concedes. The staff at PRT has handled the past year’s challenges well, but it now needs everyone’s help.
That begins with lawmakers, who haven't been unkind to PRT over the years. But the agency may need an extra boost this year. If these fires claim the historic cabins and campground at Table Rock, lawmakers should help the park rebuild quickly.
Gov. Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency, which qualifies the state parks for FEMA grants. But the General Assembly will still need to find the other 25% of any costs .
.. and PRT may need some help cutting through the federal red tape that could delay repairs.
The rest of us can help just by doing what we’d normally do: Visit these fabulous shrines to nature. “When we reopen, come out — come visit us,” Parrish said. For anyone familiar with South Carolina’s state parks, that’s the easiest ask of all.
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