Parks Mill Lilies Site with SC Native Plant Society

*note the early start time

Director’s Special
Parks Mill Lilies Site
McCormick County
Regional Director: Katherine Boyle

In 2016, the SC Native Plant Society (SCNPS) and the Naturaland Trust purchased, with the aid of a grant from the SC Conservation Land Bank, the Parks Mill Rocky Shoals Spiderlily (Hymenocallis coronaria) site on Stevens Creek in McCormick County. This purchase brought under protection the last significant population of this very rare and spectacularly beautiful native plant in South Carolina, second in area only to Landsford Canal State Park on the Catawba River. The lilies share the site with a largely intact, but non-functional water-powered grist mill, featuring late-19th-century turbine technology. The SC Native Plant Society has the challenge of preserving the site for posterity. There has been a keen interest by the public in learning more about this site, so SCNPS is planning an Open House event on the site for the weekend of May 19-20, 2018. I (Kathy) will be there at 10 AM on May 19 to lead a SCAN group.

Visitors will be able to step onto the historic grist mill site and to view the lilies in their full glory. There will be Native Plant Society members present to serve as guides and to answer questions during the hours of 10:00 till 12:00 and 1:00 to 3:00. There will be brief presentations on the lilies’ preservation and ongoing efforts to stabilize the historic mill facility.

For more info on the Parks Mill site, go to
http://scnps.org/activities/rocky-shoals-spider-lily-preservation-project/

Driving directions to the Parks Mill Lilies Site:
This site is located on Stevens Creek where it passes under SC 283. Entrance gate to the site is just to the west of the bridge over Stevens Creek. A temporary sign will be posted at the gate indicating “SCNPS Event”.

From Greenville, take US 25 to Greenwood, then take US 221 to McCormick, and continue south on US 221 to Plum Branch. At Plum Branch, take SC 283 1.8 miles to the intersection with William Self Road. The gate to the site will be on the right.

From Columbia, take I-20 towards Augusta to exit 18, where you take SC 19 towards Edgefield. From Edgefield, take US 25 approximately 12 miles north to the intersection with US378. (Do not turn left on SC 283, as the Stevens Creek Bridge is closed). Turn left on US378 and drive to McCormick. In McCormick turn left on US221 and go about 5 miles to Plum Branch. In Plum Branch turn left on SC283 and go to the intersection with William Self Rd. The gate to the site will be on your right.

There is very limited parking at the site, so carpooling may have to be implemented. Arrangements have been made for off-site parking in downtown Plum Branch, with a shuttle vehicle to transport visitors to and from the Parks Mill site. I’ll need a head count to better plan our transportation, so please let me (Katherine Boyle) know if you are coming.