Saving Five Forks: Land & History Protected

In November 2023, the Greenville County Historic & Natural Resources Trust partnered with Upstate Preservation Trust (UPT) to protect both:

• 52 acres of rapidly disappearing open space in Five Forks, and

• One of the region’s most intact 19th-century plantation properties.

This also marks the first planned regional county park in more than 15 years, a period during which the local population has grown by 25%.

A Property Rich in History

• Built in 1823 by Dr. Thomas Austin on land originally granted by King George III in 1761.

• Stewarded by generations of the Austin, Vaughn, and Rice families until the YMCA assumed ownership in 2002.

• The site includes one of the best-preserved slave cabins in South Carolina, offering a significant opportunity to interpret African American history.

Protecting the Future

• The YMCA sold the land for $1.2 million, well below the subdivision's potential sales price, to ensure conservation.

• Funding was provided equally by the Greenville Trust and the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

• Plans are underway for a passive public park, while UPT is raising $1 million to restore the historic home and its outbuildings.

Why It Matters

This project uniquely blends open space conservation with the preservation of irreplaceable cultural heritage, ensuring that both the landscape and the stories it holds will be protected for future generations.