Spring Park Inn has been standing in Travelers Rest since 1820. Now — after a meticulous restoration — you can finally walk through it.
From Bethany, “A couple of weeks ago, I was walking in downtown Travelers Rest and realized that there was a new historic building open for tours. Little did I realize that it was Spring Park Inn. If you don’t know about Spring Park Inn, you aren’t alone. I didn’t either.
What I found was a treasure of local history and artifacts preserved close to their original form. Beyond the home, the property will eventually be developed into a large new public space, including walking trails.”
History of Spring Park Inn
The original home dates to 1820, which means it was standing before the Civil War, before electricity, and before most of the landmarks you use to give someone directions in this town. Originally built as a home, the structure was later expanded into an inn that eventually even had a depot built right in front of its doors.
Charleston visitors came up to rest and recover, drawn by the promise of “healing spring waters.” There are photos of guests in Victorian swimwear using the outdoor spring-fed wading pool. That pool is believed to be the only surviving Victorian wading pool in South Carolina.
The inn passed down over generations and eventually became a single home dwelling owned by Nell Anderson Gibson, who having no children chose to donate it rather than sell it to developers. She wanted it to be a community hub again.
About 85% of the furnishings you’ll see inside are original to the house, passed down through her family across generations. That is not a replica chocolate set or a period-appropriate dresser sourced from an antique dealer. That is the actual furniture people in this region used, in the actual rooms they used it in.
The Exhibit Rooms include childhood photos of Nell and video interviews with people who knew her. By all accounts, she was the kind of woman who waved people down from her front porch well into her later years.
What to look for when you visit
Quick Facts: Spring Park Inn
- Historic inn dating to 1820, restored with original furnishings (85% are the real deal)
- Victorian wading pool believed to be the only one left in South Carolina
- Free to explore exhibit rooms; located right beside the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest
- Free parking onsite.
The restoration was done by Preservation South.
When they pulled the paneling off the walls, they found original hand-hewn surfaces underneath and kept them.
The staircase was reversed during the inn era to create a grander entry — you can see where the original went.
The front transom was discovered in a shed.
A lot of this place was hidden for a long time.
Soak Up the History: Spring Park Inn
A few rooms worth slowing down in:
- The Turkish Corner — one of only four in the United States. A Victorian novelty inspired by international travel, with a tête-à-tête chair (two seats facing opposite directions, attached at the hip) and mica wallpaper that catches light in a way no modern material does.
- The Ladies’ Parlor — where you’ll find a chocolate set (taller and thinner than a tea set, because chocolate was served warm and needed to stay that way) and, yes, a ladies’ spittoon.
- The Acetylene Gas Lighting — the property had its own on-site gas plant. The original wall sconces are still there, and one pulley-operated ceiling fixture was never electrified. It is exactly as old as it looks.
- The Eastlake Furniture Room — includes Nell’s baby cradle, made by her grandfather, and a travel wardrobe that folds completely flat for transport.
The Reconstruction Exhibit Room documents the restoration with before-and-after photos — worth seeing so you understand what this place looked like when they found it.
The grounds are still becoming something
The property includes 20 acres of surrounding land that will eventually be developed into public-use green space. Muscadine grapevines over 100 years old are being restored with help from a Clemson extension specialist and TR High School’s FFA chapter, which pruned the vines and is currently building a new trellis. Walking paths are planned that will weave through tall trees.
They’re also working to restore the Victorian wading pool — currently getting concrete repair quotes. When that’s done, it will be a pretty remarkable thing to stand next to.
Go to the Spring Park Inn, and bring someone who likes history
This is not a children’s museum with touchscreens and activity stations. It is a real historic home with real original furniture, staffed by people who know it well and love talking about it. If you want your kids to understand what Victorian-era life actually looked like or what daily life in the Upstate looked like before electricity, running water, and the interstate, this is one of the best places in the region to do that. Older kids who are curious will get a lot out of it. Adults will get more.
The exhibit rooms are free with a requested donation, which means there is genuinely no reason not to go. Tours of the home are available on select hours on Saturday for $5/children and $10/adults. Tickets can be purchased online.
Plan your visit to TR’s Spring Park Inn
301 Old Buncombe Road, Travelers Rest, SC
(Note: This is the correct address, no matter what Google Maps says.)
Spring Park Inn Website
Check the website for current tour hours and group booking options
Free to enter. Tours $5-10.
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