Fort Motte Cliffs (Arant Tract)

Fort Motte Cliffs (Arant Tract)

Calhoun County, SC

Saturday, April 27, 2023, 10:30 AM to ~4:00 PM

GPS Coordinates: 33.7542, -80.7009

Meet at the Second Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve Parking Area

On Turkey Track Lane (directly after making a left-hand turn toward the Education Center)

We will meet in the second parking lot for Congaree Bluffs HP and walk in from there. This is on Turkey Track Lane, Saint Matthews. GPS Coordinates are 33.7542, -80.7009. Tim Evans of Audubon South Carolina and Dick Watkins will be there for guidance.

In August 2023, Audubon South Carolina, Ducks Unlimited, and Friends of Congaree Swamp announced the permanent protection of 400 acres in the Fort Motte community of Calhoun County. This area of land is near the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers and has close to a mile of forested river frontage providing scenic views of Congaree National Park. It serves as an important migratory passageway for waterfowl and neotropical migrants.

Funding for the acquisition and conservation easement was made possible by a generous contribution by the landowner, Kam Arant, as well as a grant by the South Carolina Conservation Bank. This area of land has been owned by the Arant family since 1949 and permanent protection of it was very important to Kam Arant’s late husband, Tom, and her late brother-in-law Sam Arant.

Audubon South Carolina intends to restore a portion of the property to longleaf pine and mixed xeric upland hardwood and shortleaf pine forests that would have once occurred there. They will continue to allow guided public access to the property with approval from Kam Arant for research and educational purposes, as well as an annual homecoming for African American families to visit ancestral homesites and cemeteries.

The timber on the Arant tract consists of five timber stands which all appear to be natural in origin. Some of the trees are 150-200 years old. Part of the property was farmed and the trees in those areas are much younger.

When walking on the property, we’ll mainly be following old roadbeds covered with leaves. The black and white map (attached) shows the roadbeds. Watch for orange plastic ribbons tied to trees and branches to help you find your way. You might want to track your route. There are also areas where you can go down the cliff to the bottom.

Directions to: Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve Parking Area (per the SCDNR website)

The location to meet is the second parking lot on Turkey Track Lane (just after turning left).

Parking Area GPS Coordinates  =  Latitude 33.7542, Longitude -80.7009

General Directions:

• Take I-77 South.
• Take Exit 9B, Turn right onto Leesburg Road.
• Then take a Left turn onto Garners Ferry Road (Hwy. 378).
• Continue on Hwy 378 for 16.6 miles.
• Then take a right turn onto McCords Ferry Road (Hwy. 601).
• Continue on Hwy 601 for 17.2 miles.
• Turn right onto Fort Motte Road (SC-419).
• Continue on Fort Motte Road for 3.6 miles to Turkey Track Lane.
• Turn right onto Turkey Track Lane and go about 0.3 mile to the beginning of Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve property (which will be on your left).
• Continue on Turkey Track Lane for about another 0.66 mile (0.96 mile total) to the second parking lot (which is located immediately after the left turn towards the Education Center).

From Columbia:

• From I-26 East (toward Charleston), take exit 125.
• Turn right onto SSR31 known as Old Sandy Run Road. Drive 2 miles on Old Sandy Run Road until you come to a stop sign at Highway 176.
• Turn right onto Highway 176 and then you will travel 7.6 miles.
• Turn left just past West Bethel Church on SSR24 known as Old Bellville Road. Travel 7 miles on Old Bellville Road.
• Turn left on to Purple Martin Road just past Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Travel on Purple Martin Road until you come to a stop sign at SSR25 known as Fort Motte Road.
• Turn left on Fort Motte Road and travel for 2.8 miles to Turkey Track Lane. The Heritage Preserve sign is on the right.
• Turn left on Turkey Track Lane (dirt road). Two parking lots are available at the preserve along dirt road.
• Continue on Turkey Track Lane for about 0.96 mile to the second parking lot (which is located immediately after the left turn towards the Education Center).

From Charleston:

• Take I-26 West to Exit 145 (US 601).
• Travel north on US 601 approximately 15 miles.
• Turn left on SC 419. Follow SC 419 for 2.5 miles to the railroad tracks in Fort Motte. Cross the tracks and continue straight for approximately 1 mile.
• Turn right on Turkey Track Lane (dirt road). Two parking lots are available at the preserve along dirt road.
• Continue on Turkey Track Lane for about 0.96 mile to the second parking lot (which is located immediately after the left turn towards the Education Center).

Dinner: It has been suggested by a very special member that we try to get together for a meal after this outing. Consequently, we are proposing a gathering time of ~4:30 PM and have found, wait for the drumroll, a House of Pizza about 10 miles or 16 minutes away from our parking lot meeting place.

Calhoun House of Pizza

721 Harry C Raysor Drive

St Matthews, SC  29135

GPS Coordinates: 33.6582, -80.7806

(803) 655-7827

Directions to Calhoun House of Pizza:

• Head southeast on Turkey Track Lane toward Fort Motte Road (State Rd S-9-25) for about 1.0 mile.
• Turn right onto Fort Motte Road. Continue on Fort Motte Road for about 4.6 miles to Old Belleville Road.
• Turn slight left onto Old Belleville Road for about 0.8 miles to Preference Road.
• Turn left onto Preference Road (just after Calvary Church) for about 0.8 miles to Home Farm Road.
• Turn right onto Home Farm Road for about 1.1 miles to F R Huff Drive.
• Turn right at first cross street onto F R Huff Drive for about 0.5 miles to Depot Road.
• Turn left onto Depot Road for about 130 feet to Harry C Raysor Drive (US-601).
• Immediately turn right onto Harry C Raysor Drive (US-601) for about 0.8 miles. Calhoun House of Pizza will be on the left side of the street.