A Fourth State Park?
Greenville County is one of only three counties in South Carolina with three state parks—and could someday become the only county with four?
In 2024, in partnership with Naturaland Trust, the Greenville County Historic & Natural Resources Trust helped protect Glassy Mountain Foothills, a 365-acre forested property with rolling ridgelines, granite outcrops, and a mountain stream flowing through the northern section of the county.
The land sits near Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve, other conserved Naturaland Trust properties, and Greenville Water’s North Saluda watershed, forming a significant protected corridor along Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway.
From Development to Conservation
At one time, the property had county approval for a golf course and residential development. When those plans fell through, the landowner explored alternatives. After learning of strong public interest in conservation, he agreed to a substantial bargain sale that made permanent protection possible.
Local neighbors played a key role. Through Preserve Gowensville and nearby residents, more than $60,000 in private donations were raised to support the purchase.
A Modest Share, a Major Outcome
The Trust’s $600,000 investment—its largest grant at the time and one of only two of that size to date— helped leverage a $4.2 million conservation acquisition. Today, the property is publicly accessible and stewarded by Naturaland Trust.
A Unique Opportunity
With Caesars Head, Jones Gap, and Paris Mountain State Parks, Greenville County—along with McCormick and Oconee counties—are the only South Carolina counties with three state parks. Could Glassy Mountain someday serve as the anchor parcel for a fourth? It’s an idea under consideration. Until then, the site remains one of the newest publicly available recreational lands along Highway 11, one of only four federally designated scenic highways in South Carolina.
Did you know? Strategic conservation today can create extraordinary opportunities for tomorrow.
Photo at top: A small waterfall within Glassy Mountain Foothills by Mac Stone
