Lee and Karen Duquette
took two separate day trips
through Historic Downtown Lancaster, SC
and stopped at Springs Park Access Area
May 8, 2020 and April 2, 2023

The city of Lancaster is in the north central part of South Carolina, just south of the North Carolina state line in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area. Its motto is "Forward Together, the Spirit of Lancaster".

Known as the Red Rose City, it was settled in the 1700s by pioneers from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In turn, the Pennsylvanians traced their city's founders to English areas under the House of Lancaster, which had a red rose as its emblem.

The Houses of Lancaster and York (represented by a white rose) battled each other for the English Crown in the late 1400s in a conflict most history students will recall as the "War of the Roses."

The city still goes by its nickname and uses a red rose as a city symbol.

Below: Main Street intersecting with Dunlap Street

Below: In front of the courthouse, the two RV Gypsies photographed the Lancaster County Confederate Monument and Inscription 1861-1865.

Worthy: The fadeless fame which Lancaster's soldiers won in defending the honor of the South, the rights of the States, the liberties of the people, the sentiments of the South and the principles of the Union, as they were handed down to them by the fathers of our common country.

Below: Around the corner of the courthouse, the two RV Gypsies came upon the Lancaster County Hall of Fame Murals. (2023 photos)

Below: Close-up photo shots of the above photos and signs on the building shown above. The Wall honors community natives who have contributed significantly to society. Included among the likenesses of Andrew Jackson, our seventh president, US astronaut, Charles Duke and others is Nina Mae McKinney, actress and Broadway star. Ms. McKinney was the first African-American actress to perform in a sound movie, Hallelujah, directed by the famed King Vidor (MGM Studios) in 1929. She also starred with the great Paul Robeson in the film, Sanders of the River in 1935. In 1938, Nina was inducted into the Black Film Makers Hall of Fame. Her singing, acting and dancing techniques served as a model for such successors as Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge. She died at age 54 in New York on May 3, 1967.

Below: The below photo is a close up of one of the columns shown above. The two RV Gypsies loved how the flat one-dimensional posts appeared as if it was 3D art.

This small town has history, as shown above, but when the two RV Gypsies drove down the main street in 2020, they were not aware of all the art around them (except for the flags on main street of course - which are shown a bit further down this page).

IN 2023, The Two RV Gypsies noticed two murals, shown below, that were on opposite walls, facing each other. The small space in-between them was roped off so the photos had to be taken on an angle from the sidewalk. Obviously, the two RV Gypsies do not know how the small space in-between these two lovely murals is going to be finished off.

Below: Driving past The Springs house in 2023, the two RV Gypsies noticed three giant, colorful cubes, so they stopped to get a closer look at them, and took some photos of course. Some of the sides were ripped and in need of repair.

Art Cube #2

Below: Art cube #3

Below: Leaving the "cubes" that were behind the building was a weird piece of art which Karen Duquette photographed from each side.

Below: Lancaster County Historical Jail

Below: In 2023 - more art around the streets in Lancaster, South Carolina

The Sprit of Lancaster - Forward Together mural

Below: "Spirit" the dog

"The Spirit of Lancaster" was written on top.

Below: The front legs of "Spirit"

Below: The back legs of "Spirit"

Below: Karen Duquette photographed a few of the flags that were hanging on light poles in 2020.

Below: Flag photos taken in 2023

Below: mural in Lancaster SC

Below: Lancaster Prayer Hospital signs

In 2020, The Two RV Gypsies drove on to Springs Park Access Area at 1184 Springs Park Road, Lancaster SC. It was totally deserted on the date that the two RV Gypsies were here. But be sure to scroll down for the fascinating history of this area, as it was once a bustling, amazing place to visit. However, it did appear that perhaps some restoration was possibly being done because the two RV Gypsies could hear construction noises coming from down below the tree area.

Springs Recreation Park is a park built in the early 1900s by Springs Mills primarily for the enjoyment of their mill workers and their families. Very little official information exists about this park, except that it opened somewhere around 1925 and closed before the end of the summer season in August of 1989.The park was elaborate and boasted a massive concrete swimming pool complete with a triple-decker diving platform and a concrete viewing stadium fit for a mini Olympic venue. It was, by all accounts, the best pool in the whole state. At 16 feet deep, it may also have been the deepest!

In addition to the large pool and stadium, the park boasted several amusement rides, including a small Ferris Wheel and a miniature ride-on train.

As if all this was not enough, Springs Park also had a skating rink, a miniature golf course and a bowling alley. It was the place to be and the place to be seen for a long, long time.

Not much remains of this park except the boat ramp. That is such a shame.

Most above quote from https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/south-carolina/hidden-abandoned-park-in-sc/

Continue on in order to Cedar Creek Dam in Heath Springs, SC and more

OR

Return to the 2020 MENU FOR THE CAROLINAS to explore the sites in the order of your choice - a link to other states in 2020 is at the bottom of that menu.