Hiking to a plane crash site off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 In the early 1980s, a small plane crashed into the mountain side near Water Rock Knob, above the Blue Ridge Parkway at MM. 451.2.

November 24, 1983, a Cessna 414 was traveling from Chicago, to the Jackson County Airport in N.C. The plane crashed at a altitude of around 6,000 feet.  Neither the Pilot nor the one passenger survived the Crash.  Weather conditions and poor visibilty at the time, was a major factor in the crash, among other reasons.

We drove up the BRP in July of 2017 with the goal of finding the crash site, and what remained of the plane.  I had read earlier in my research that only the engines were salvaged from the crash.  We parked at the Water Rock Knob overlook parking area, and began the hike of the paved trail to Water Rock Knob.  Per my research, I knew we would be looking for a faint unmarked trail leading to the left just before reaching Water Rock Knob.  We found the trail.  

To say the trail out to the crash site is unmarked is a under statement.  Makeshift signage on a tree, and a occasional piece of survey tape on a limb, was the only indicators we had.  We marked our track on the GPS in case we needed it to be able to find our way back out, but luckily, we did not need it.

 

The hike out to the crash site was strenuous at times, but beautiful.  On the way up, we encountered Turks Cap lilies, North Carolina's state flower.

Turk's Cap Lily

On the trail..

When the plane came into view, we wondered if the passengers died on impact, and if not what were their final moments like.  It was a somber experience.

First look.

We continued on down to the site, and observed a moment of silence to honor the lost.  We had a look around, took a few photos a left.   It was a strange feeling being there.  It was also a great adventure.

Here are some photos of the plane. 

Rest their souls.

That day a Atomic bomb was dropped in South Carolina.

Yep, that post title will reach out and get you.

It is true though, one day in 1958, a Air Force jet on a training mission bound for England, accidentally dropped a atomic bomb here is South Carolina.  Mars Bluff is the exact location. The bomb was not armed, but the blast created a huge crater.

On March 11, 1958, a B-47e bomber released their nuclear bomb accidentally.  This type of event is referred too as a Broken Arrow, it is the only time a nuclear bomb has ever been dropped on America.

Historical marker about .40 mile away from site.

We had read about this site years ago, and have always wanted to view it.  We were in the area this weekend and decided to make a short side trip to the location.  Once we found the historical marker, the next problem was to figure out how to access the area.  After settling on a parking area at a nearby abandoned gas station, we walked onto property that many years ago was a RV park.

Old RV park, now overgrown

It was about a half mile trek through the park to where  we would enter the woods to find the crater site.  Apparently, there used to be a trail, and some type of metal signage in the area explaining about the bomb and damage it done to the nearby home and properties, however through neglect or vandalism, they are no longer there.

We had to bushwhack about halfway through the patch of woods until we entered a more open pine forest.   It was then a short trek to the crater site..

 Information board at GZ

A plywood sign indicating the size of the bomb

Large crater from impact

This area is very historic and we very much enjoyed exploring here.  I am however, sadden that area is so overgrown and in such  

need of up keep.  One would think the County

or the State would maintain this site.

I have included a link from Roadside America that has a more detailed story of the events.

Read more here.

Exploring Glendale Shoals

Located in historic Glendale SC, Glendale Shoals Preserve follows Lawson's Fork Creek and is 13

acres of scenic property, with a waterfall that cascades over a dam below a beautiful old metal bridge.

Bridge over Lawsons Fork Creek

The property is the former site of the Glendale Mill.  The mill was destroyed by fire in March of 2004.  Skeletal remains of the mill dot the landscape, and make for a interesting backdrop along the creek.

Spartanburg Area Conservancy  (SPACE) now cares for the property.  The preserve is very popular spot for photography, nature lovers, and geocachers.

An old sentinel.

My favorite shot of the day, the old smokestack.

A different perspective.

Anderson Mill site

We recently visited the Anderson Mill site in neighboring Spartanburg County.  It is a beautiful old mill that sits on the banks of the Tyger River.  This site is thought to be the beginning of Spartanburg County.

The Tyger River Foundation has acquired this property and is actively fundraising with hopes of full restoration.

The Capri Theater

 

The Capri Theater in downtown Gaffney SC has been in business for over 70 years.

When I was in grade school, the owners Clyde & Mary Hudson always provided free movie passes to area school children during summer or holiday breaks.

 

As a teenager, my friends and I were steady customers and saw a many of movie here. The place was close enough to our Mill Hill neighborhood, we could just walk to the show.

 

Slowly, folks stopped going to the small theaters, choosing either the large mega theaters or just staying at home and enjoying a rented DVD.

 

In about 2009, the Capri re-made itself.  I has turned into a live music venue, along with comedy shows and poetry readings.  Its got a real eclectic feel to it, and it is something Gaffney needs.

 

We went by there recently prior to attending a nearby outdoor concert during the SC Peach Festival.

 

The Hudson family still know how to make folks feel at home. Their son, came out and talked with us at length over drinks, and Beau has some great ideas for the place. 

Best of luck!

 

 

 

Harold's

Whenever we have a few days off together, we always try and make a stop at Harold's in downtown Gaffney SC.   This hole in the wall is a local favorite, and now thanks to the Food Networks show called "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" is now famous nationwide.
And for good reason, chili burgers just are not meant to be this good.  This place has been in business since the 1930s, you do not have that kind of longevity without a great product.  When I was a child, the menu was basically chili burgers, hot dogs, Coke, Pepsi or chocolate milk,  Over the years the menu has grown considerably, now it even includes pinto beans.
 But the foundation of the Harold's nation is still the chili burger, with the big fat meatball right in the center.  I love this place!

 

 



Here is the video segment from The Food Network.

 

 



Gaffney Rapid Transit?

Several years ago while metal detecting, I found this token in the yard of a property I own in Gaffney.

The front of the token is stamped "Rapid Transit Company" Gaffney SC

The rear of the token is stamped "Zone one"

In the words of Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton, we are dealing with a serial killer. It has been one week today, since a killer has been claiming victims in this county. To date, four killed and one severely injured teenager, with a gunshot wound to the head. Folks in this small community are scared. There is an eerie quietness around town, like I have never seen. News crews are everywhere. Last night, we were driving around, and saw intersections being watched by armed officers on foot and in vehicles. Patrol cars both marked, and unmarked are parked randomly around the community and ready to react. I feel our Sheriff and Chief of Police are doing everything in their power to bring this to an end. Gods speed to them and their officers.

A good friend of ours called us last night, and said she was having trouble sleeping, and has barely ate in three days. She is terrified. It is sad. It is sad for the community and I can not image the pain the families and friends of the victims must be going through.

I for one will not be a prisoner in my home. Yes, I give everyone a second look now, I notice more vehicles. I am carrying a weapon. I guess I have changed my routine. The gate stays closed on my driveway for the time being. But I am doing everything I normally do, just a little differently. The police scanner stays on now. Its very interesting to hear the dispatches coming in. One Ford Bronco was stopped and a license plate check ran yesterday, the dispatcher told the officer it was the 3rd time this vehicle had been ran.

Our guys are on it!

This monster will be caught. And I hope he gives the officers a reason to shoot!

More on Mulberry.

Mulberry Chapel article in todays Spartanburg Herald Journal(Thanks Amy).

Here is a photo of the new marker I took today, 4/13/09.

An out of the way place....

Cherokee County has many historical sites. One of the oldest and most interesting is the Mulberry Chapel, located on Ashbury Rd. in one of the more rural parts of the county. Mulberry Chapel was the first African American church in the area.
The chapel was built in 1869, and has not been used in around 40yrs. The building has clapboard over a log structure. The chapel will be recognized this spring with a historical marker. The Cherokee County Historical Society is working protect the structure.
Here is a short (very short) video of the chapel. I was able to get a shot of the inside through a window (pane already broken on arrival). Please look over the unsteadiness of the camera, as I was balancing on a rock. I just love the little pulpit.
I hope this church can be preserved. It is hauntingly beautiful, and I know it has a lot of meaning to the descendants of the church family.

It is not wanted...

As I have noted in a previous post. Waste Management is wanting to build a landfill/ recycle center in Cherokee County in the Mckowns Mtn. community. There is a lot of opposition to it, and for good reason. This is one of the most beautiful areas of our county. Wildlife is abundant. Abington Creek originates on the property the site is proposed for, and Abington feeds into the nearby Broad River. The "hill" at the landfill is projected to be about 200ft high. That is taller than Gaffney's famous Peach Watertower. I have contacted my county council member and voiced my opposition, as have many, many others to their respective elected officials. However, I am under the impression its pretty much a done deal. The County wants and needs the tax base. I feel the vast majority of Cherokeans are against this and our wishes should be represented by our council. But most importantly, the wishes of the folks that will live nearest to it need to be heard. We were in the area yesterday, and I would say 97% of the yards had signs posted in opposition to this. These are the voices that matter, and these are the folks that are most effected. I wish the wildlife could speak as well, as I am sure they do not care to live by a trashpile either.

Old style

We love road trips, especially through the rural south. One of my favorite things is the old signage used for advertising back in the day.
This photo was snapped yesterday in Rutherford Co. North Carolina





Here is a shot from right here in Cherokee Co. of another "sign" of the south.

Gaston Shoals

This past Saturday we were out doing maint. on some of our caches. We had one hidden near the Gaston Shoals hydro-electric station on the Broad River. The cache had been muggled for the second time, so we decided to archive it. However, just up the way, we discovered that Duke Energy was celebrating the 100th anniversary this weekend of the hydro-electric station and damn.

Duke represenatives were giving tours of the damn, and station, so we decided to go in and have a look. Honestly, I did not know that this station was still in operation.

We took some photos of the interior and exterior of the structure, and learned some more local history. By accident, time well spent.

Sadie Mae's

When I was a child, on the weekends, my dad would get the family in the car and drive out to the country. My dad knew an elderly gentleman that lived in the Draytonville area of the county. His name was George Lamaster. Mr. Lamaster owned hundreds of acres of pasture, and forrest land, and my family had permission, to fish, hunt, hike, whenever we wanted. We were there most weekends exploring the creeks, walking the dirt roads etc.

When we would leave, my dad would drive us to an old shotgun shack that was made into a very limited country store. We would get coca colas, and honeybuns, and sit on the hood or the trunk of the car outside the store. Mr. Lamaster passed away many years ago, his old farmhouse is gone, and most of his land is in the hands of a hunt club. My dad passed away two years ago. The store closed long ago.

Recently, a family purchased the old shotgun shack that was once a country store, added on a very small addition and opened Sadie Mae's, a country little resturant with a very limited kitchen in the old store section, and limited seating in the new addition. The new addition has a small stage built in the corner of the dinning area, and when the owner is not busy, he will come onto the stage a play his guitar and sing while you eat. His wife is the only cook. This is a VERY down home place, clean as a pin and reminds you of days gone by.

Here are the coordinates:

N. 34.58.484 W. 081.32.274