Have you visited Tyger River Park in Spartanburg County? This giant park is home to ball fields, a huge playground, a splash pad, and more. Read on to hear everything parents need to know about Tyger River Park.
You definitely want to make the time to check out Tyger River Park operated by Spartanburg County Parks. It is located at 179 Dillard Road in Duncan, South Carolina. Don’t let appearances deceive you- there is more to this park than perfectly kept baseball fields. It’s a playground experience for all ages, especially with the brand-new renovation of 2023.
When you first enter the gates to Tyger River Park, you won’t be able to see the playground areas from the road that encircles the enclosure. Look for the tall tower in the center of the grounds. The brand-new playgrounds and giant sandbox are located on either side of it. Follow the signs to the Clubhouse and park there. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk to the play areas. You can get a sense of the park’s scale and use this handy park map to help plan your day.
Play Equipment for All Ages at Tyger River Park
There is truly play equipment for all ages.
The first playground is geared for younger children, toddlers to preschool age. There are slides, swings, play horses, and even a cute little house to stoke the imagination. This playground is within sight of the giant sandbox, too. Kids can bring their own sand toys or just play around in Duncan’s version of “the beach.”
The location is perfect for smaller children to independently play between the sandbox and the playground, and benches are provided for adult supervision if you are lucky enough to get a chance to sit down. The new playground includes shaded benches for parents as well.
The second playground is much bigger and caters to children ages 5-12. The many slides available are taller and faster than the smaller playground and climbing features are more challenging. There are also swings in this area.
The new playground has five benches with shade and is covered in astroturf.
Splash Pad at Tyger River Park
The splash pad is open 9 am to 8 pm between Memorial Day to Labor Day but they are opening early in 2024 on May 1st! Located just past the playground area (opposite the direction of the Clubhouse), kids can easily go from the playground to the splash pad to cool off and back to the playground. Double bonus: the splash pad is fenced in.
Clean bathrooms
The bathrooms for the public are located on the side of the Clubhouse building. They were clean and well-stocked with soap and both paper towels and air dryers. As parents, you can never underestimate the awesomeness of a park restroom that doesn’t make you cringe
A Couple of Considerations for Tyger River Park
Bring sunscreen and water
The new playground has benches with shade and the shade screen above the sandbox does provide some relief but the playgrounds have no shade. Especially in the hot days of summer, it’s important to bring sunscreen and water. On warmer days, it is definitely best to plan on arriving early in the morning or in the late afternoon/early evening or spend hotter parts of the day at the splash pad.
Supervision may be challenging for children of different ages.
Tyger River is a big park and the playgrounds are on opposite sides of the tower, which can make it hard to watch kids of different age groups. So plan on negotiating how much time you will spend on which playground or bring a second adult for help with supervision.
Our Review
With proper planning, Tyger River Park is a must-do for a positive play experience for all ages. And we just love the new play equipment! With so much to do, the kids will be occupied for hours, so don’t forget to pack snacks and water or bring along a lunch to eat at the nearby picnic tables.
Ready to get outside and play? These playgrounds in Spartanburg, SC are perfect for playtime! You’ve read about the wonderful playgrounds that Spartanburg and the surrounding area have, but after a long winter of planning indoor activities, here is a reminder of some of the best playgrounds in Spartanburg you can revisit, or check out for the first time.
The annual Spartanburg Spring Fling runs April 26-28, 2024 in the streets of downtown Spartanburg. If you are new in town or have not been to Spring Fling, plan to visit this special outdoor festival with your family. Most local families agree this is an event they look forward to all year.
Heading to Spartanburg’s Spring Fling? Here’s What You Need to Know
Are you looking for things to do in Spartanburg, SC? These are the events happening in Spartanburg now. Find events in Spartanburg this weekend, or plan things to do all month long.
These Spartanburg events are listed by date. Simply click on each event for more information.
One of Spartanburg’s lesser known parks, is also one of its best. Tucked away in the historic neighborhood of Converse Heights, Happy Hollow Park spans one block at the corners of S. Fairview and Glendalyn Avenue. Small and secure, Happy Hollow Park provides a safe and shady place for children of all ages to play.
Are you looking for things to do outside in Spartanburg, SC? Spartanburg has some of the most beautiful parks, playgrounds, gardens, waterways, and outdoor spaces to explore in the Upstate. Below you will find a comprehensive list of guides and Kidding Around reviews of places and activities we recommend your family explore while enjoying the natural beauty that Spartanburg County has to offer.
With our diversity of needs and desires, Kidding Around Spartanburg has put together a guide to help you find the park best for your family in Spartanburg County. ~Deborah Pope
You don’t have to venture far from the upstate to enjoy a day outdoors with your children. With these playgrounds offering such a different atmosphere, each one will create a brand-new adventure. ~Erika Morelli
Just off of Ashville Highway and right inside the city limits of Spartanburg is Cleveland Park, a large, beautiful old park with a new playground. It is one of my family’s favorite places to go for outings! Our kids love not only the amazing play structures but also the footpaths around the park where we can walk and enjoy the beautiful scenery together. ~Christina Goshorn
This park is perfect for a long day of fun in the sun, there is just so much to do! A FREE splash pad, two large playgrounds, over 60 ft climbing structure, and so much more.
If you have a plane lover in the family, this is the perfect park for them. Located right beside the airport, your kids can watch planes come and go while playing on the play structures and splashing in the free splash pad.
Located in Boiling Springs, this park has EVERYTHING! Seven sports complexes, soccer and football goal posts, Sholley Creek Disc Golf course, large play structures, and more.
This park it situated right beside Shipwreck Cove in Duncan. It has some nicely shaded areas to rest while watching your kids play on the playground structures.
Wooden dock, clear lake, tiny minnows sparkling in sunny shallow waters, tall trees, horses, hiking trails, and a playground. Sound good? Then you’ll want to check out Croft State Park the next time you’re looking for a family adventure. ~Maria Bassett
Anchor Park offers a fenced-in playground area to enjoy while your family fishes, enjoy the lakeside views, and you may even decide to rent a boat while there.
One of Spartanburg’s lesser-known parks is also one of its best. Tucked away in the historic neighborhood of Converse Heights, Happy Hollow Park spans one block at the corners of S. Fairview and Glendalyn Avenue. Small and secure, Happy Hollow Park provides a safe and shady place for children of all ages to play. ~Juliet Wright
The Vic Bailey Subaru Bike Park is located along Spartanburg’s Mary Black Rail Trail. The park has features for bikers of all skill levels from beginners to advanced including a pump track, easy street, and advanced skill features like table-top jumps, a vertical wooden bridge, and more. ~Maria Bassett
Looking for a place to take the kids where they can grow their skateboard skills? Hot Spot Skate Park is the place! Located at 339 Union Street in Spartanburg, Hot Spot features a variety of street style steps, ramps, ledges, rails, half-pipes, and bowls for kids ages 6 and up. ~Nikki Hulton
No matter what part of North Spartanburg you live in, these parks are all worth the short drive it takes to get your family out of the house. Each park is perfect for playdates with friends, picnics with families or even quiet solo walks. ~Jennifer Curry
Once it gets to be summer (and 90 degrees) in Spartanburg, it’s time to find the nearest or best water park to cool off. That’s why we have created this list of 11 water parks and splash pads that are near Spartanburg. This list includes some free splash pads connected to playgrounds as well as larger water parks that are worth driving to (one even is connected to a hotel). ~Erika Morelli
Park Hop has come to Spartanburg, SC and now you can join the fun with this FREE park scavenger hunt with prizes for the kids! Since 2013 the kids of Greenville County have been discovering the local parks and earning prizes with this annual summertime event.
Kids in Parks is a user-friendly website that includes an always-expanding list of nationwide locations that are considered TRACK trails. It allows families to search for locations near their hometown or even for an out-of-town adventure. That includes 160 TRACK Trails in 10 states, Washington DC, and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation with dozens of locations just a short drive away in North Carolina and Congaree National Park in South Carolina.
Ready to enjoy some camping in Spartanburg? With all of the natural beauty surrounding us in the Upstate, the best way to enjoy it is by immersing yourself. We have a guide to all the places you’ll want to check out when looking for a place to camp near Spartanburg.
Kings Mountain State Park offers both tent camping and RV camping. There are designated tent camping spots, as well as primitive camping spots to reserve.
Croft State Park has primitive camping spots for organized groups of up to 100! They also have RV spots that are packed with gravel with electrical and water hookups.
Just a couple miles off of I-26 in Spartanburg, amongst shopping and restaurants on the busy main thoroughfare of John D. White, Sr. Blvd, is a 10-acre botanical garden and woodland preserve. The beautiful space is full of ponds, waterfalls, wildlife, trees, and gardens with a wide variety of leafy and flowering plants. Hatcher Garden is open free to the public and should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Spartanburg. ~Maria Bassett
We are lucky to live near so many beautiful and diverse gardens. Here is a list of some of the best gardens and arboretums in Spartanburg and around the Upstate. ~Kristen Alcock
Hiking and Nature Activities in Spartanburg, SC
Drayton Mill Trail
Drayton Mills Trail & Beaumont Mill Village Pathway– This paved trail can be accessed at a couple of points, the easiest is probably the large parking lot across from Drayton Mills. Or, start at the small parking lot for the Beaumont Mill Village Pathway beside Adam’s Park on East Boundary Drive. This is where the Story Walk trail starts if you have kids who would enjoy that.
The Cottonwood Trail is the perfect space for your children to experience the seasons in the Upstate. Lush and green in the summer, crackling with autumnal colors in the fall, sparse and atmospheric in the winter, and brimming with new life in the spring, your children can observe the seasonal changes while exploring the great outdoors. ~Juliet Wright
Enjoy the South Carolina winter’s cooler temperatures and the great outdoors with a wintertime hike. There are several parks and trails perfect for cool weather hikes for the whole family near Spartanburg. ~Hope Evans
Lake Cooley has so much to offer, including boat and kayak rentals, fishing, a playground, plenty of spaces for picnics, and even the Lake Cooley Outdoor Education Center!
This trail offers 4 miles of perfectly flat ground to get outside and exercise or take a leisure stroll. The trail is perfect for biking, and is actually a converted trail rail!
We went out on a hot summer day for some visits around Spartanburg, SC. We had a great time each place we went! We spent our day inside the city limits and had an enjoyable family experience in this picturesque, friendly location. ~Christina Johnson
A FREE mini golf course in the heart of downtown! Sparkle City Mini Golf is located near Hub City Scoops. You can borrow a club and ball from several local businesses.
When talking to friends and acquaintances who live in Spartanburg, I’ve noticed that one particular attraction has come up repeatedly in conversation: the Hub City Farmers’ Market. This local market meets on Saturdays from March-December at Northside Harvest Park from 8 a.m.-noon. The market boasts an invigorating, exciting atmosphere with an emphasis on health, all while supporting local businesses and farms. The food and handmade goods sold there are all locally grown and produced. ~Christina Johnson
Looking for a unique and fun way to explore downtown Spartanburg? Look no further than Blue Duck Scooters. You can rent scooters for $1 plus 25 cents per minute, then drop them off once you’re done at multiple places throughout the city.
If you haven’t tried Disc Golf (frisbee golf), now is a perfect time. There are multiple courses throughout Spartanburg, many of them scenic and shaded so you can play throughout the summer months as well! Play as a family, or even on a day date with your loved one.
Whether it is strawberry picking, sunflower galore, or pumpkin patch season, there is always something going on at Stewart Farms in Enoree. They offer a u-pick for both strawberries and pumpkins, along with lots of other goodies and groceries in their store.
The Upstate was one of the country’s hubs for the textile industry, with remnants of those mills being renewed through a transformation into places to explore their ruins, including Glendale Shoals in Spartanburg.
Have a family of swimmers that crave the water when the temperature starts to warm up? Check out this list of pool memberships throughout Spartanburg so you can soak up the sun poolside all season long.
Waterpark! Say no more. Shipwreck Cove in Duncan will have you spending all day by the pool, or getting drenched under the splash pad. This water park has a lazy river, waterslides, and more!
This comprehensive list of places that offer outdoor dining in Spartanburg, SC is loaded! There is something for everyone to enjoy while hanging out on the patio or even under the stars while enjoying your meal!
You can enjoy dinner under the stars at Dray Bar + Grill, who offer an expansive patio as well as seating out amongst the mill area where you will find the location. They occasionally offer movie nights and other events outdoors as well!
Kite Flying is mesmerizing when it is just one kite, now imagine dozens whipping and gliding through the air. You can see that and more at Spartanburg Soaring!
This list of Spring Festivals in Spartanburg has a little something for everyone to enjoy as the weather begins to warm and we are all itching to get outside!
As the crisp, cool air and autumn begins to make its way into the Upstate, these Fall festivals will have you heading outdoors to enjoy the beginning of the season.
What are your favorite things to do outdoors in Spartanburg, SC?
Ever heard of Pinguinos Hermanos? Love a good shaved ice? A sure sign that warmer weather is on the way is the re-opening of the shaved ice establishments in Upstate. Of course, most people have their favorites.This is funny because, really, it’s all just the same. Somecrumbled-up ice topped with sugary syrup. Right?
What if we told you the newest frozen obsession for a bunch of Upstate, SC residents were different than the rest?
What if we also told you that people stand in lines two dozen people deep waiting to get their hands on one of these “Instaworthy” desserts?
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Planning out your spring weekends? How about one of the spring festivals in Spartanburg? The weather is warming up and families will be looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors. These springtime festivals are a great way to get out and soak up some sunshine. Just don’t forget the sunblock!
Looking for fun parks in Boiling Springs, SC to take your kids for playtime? If so, there are three great parks in Boiling Springs you are going to love. Read below to find out which of these Boiling Springs parks is the right one for your family to visit today.
