AUSTIN — Fall is a beautiful time of year in Texas and a great time to lace up those hiking shoes and get a little dirt on your feet.
Not only is there clean, fresh air to breathe and lots of lovely sights to see, but hiking has also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, increase self-esteem and mood, and ease depression — not to mention burning calories and improving physical fitness.
John Muir, an American naturalist and conservationist known as Father of the National Parks, once wrote this:
“Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”
In other words, getting out into nature makes you feel good.
So, how about a list of seven recommended fall hikes just a hop, skip and a jump away from Killeen-Fort Hood down Interstate 35 in the Austin area.
According to www.onlyinyourstate.com, Homestead Trail at McKinney Falls State Park “shimmers with beauty” during the fall. Located at 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, this easy 3.1-mile trail inside the state park courses through a lush forest and along the lower falls area. Along with hiking, there is biking, fishing, swimming and camping available at this 700-acre park a short distance from downtown.
Next up is Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, a 277-acre nature habitat on the Balcones Fault Line that divides the state’s prairies and the scenic Hill Country region. These 2.5 miles of trails surround a forested area full of gorgeous views and autumn sunsets and are open daily at 805 North Capital of Texas Highway.
Zilker Nature Preserve provides an especially kid-friendly hike through the woodlands inside the Austin Nature and Science Center at 2389 Stratford Drive and is considered by some to be one of the best quick and easy treks in the state when fall leaves change colors and drop to the ground.
Perhaps the best view in Austin comes from the top of Mount Bonnell, known as the highest point inside the city limits at 775 feet above sea level. This always popular and historical sightseeing destination at 3800 Mt. Bonnell Dr. along the eastern bank of Lake Austin attracts hikers and climbers of various abilities, as it features a 100-step ascent along a limestone staircase to reach the top. Panoramic…
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Looking for an outdoor adventure close to home this summer?
Consider these preserves and parks where you can mountain bike, picnic, hike, paddle, fish, swim, bird watch and generally just forget about work and commune with nature.
Some are in Charlotte. Others are less than an hour’s drive away, including the massive 606-acre Mountain Creek Park that opened June 18 on the northwestern tip of Lake Norman in Catawba County.
It’s time to get outside. You deserve it.
Colonel Francis Beatty Park
Address: 4330 Weddington Road, Matthews.
What you should know: The 265-acre Mecklenburg County park includes walking and biking trails, five lighted soccer fields; two lighted, full-court basketball courts; two playgrounds; two softball fields; six tennis courts; 10 picnic areas; 12 miles of mountain biking trails and a lake with kayak and canoe rentals and fishing.
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A main 3.7-mile mountain biking trail loop offers a “notorious” optional technical section called “Beatty’s Black,” according to Tarheel Trailblazers, a nonprofit mountain bike organization.
“This trail system feels less like it was created and more like it was discovered,” according to the group. “The main loop is fairly open and sandy, with roots and gullies occasionally in play. ‘Beatty’s Black’ is a different story. It is tight and technical, but also features some of the most unique wooden technical trail features in the area.”
The park also houses “The Colonel,” the largest pump track in the area that Tarheel Trailblazers describes as “smooth, fast, and truly a joy to ride at any age.”
The park’s main trail features practically no elevation and can be completed in a single loop.
Mountain bike trails rating: Intermediate to difficult, according to the MTB Project, a crowd-sourced mountain bike guide
Who uses the park? Walkers, mountain bikers; soccer,…
Hiking and mountain biking trails and Oneonta creek are the most popular parts of Oneonta’s Wilber Park, according to a public opinion survey conducted by the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
There were 382 people, mostly city and town residents, who completed the online survey about existing facilities and what new developments they’d desire in Wilber Park. The information collected will be used to develop a master plan for the park, and will help the commission prioritize improvements.
Of the respondents, 57% visited the park at least weekly, and 95% said they used the hiking and walking trails. The area along Oneonta Creek is also popular, used by 83% of visitors.
61% of visitors said they use the trails every week, and 41% spend time along the creek every week.
While the bike trails get used by fewer total people, they have a large core group of users — one third of respondents said they use those trails weekly or more often. The mountain bike trails are intermingled with the hiking trails in the upper part of the park, but tend to zigzag with many switchbacks.
“What makes Wilber Park special is that it is sort of a place in nature, in the heart of the city. And a lot of people don’t want to see that change,” said Council Member Kaytee Lipari Shue, D-Fourth Ward. She also serves as the Council representative on the parks commission. “I was really relieved to see this, because as somebody who lives in close proximity to the park, it’s a sentiment that I share.”
The Wilber Park playground placed fourth among most-highly-used spots, after the natural areas. In contrast, the basketball courts, tennis courts and the “family play space” — an empty field between the tennis courts — were the least visited by survey respondents.
Survey takers were asked to evaluate existing features in terms of quality. Trails, roads and parking areas got high marks, while restrooms got the lowest score.
The survey also asked what new features people would like to see added to the park. Additional bathrooms got the most votes, followed by a stone-dust running path, a tennis backboard wall, volleyball courts and Frisbee golf. Lipari Shue said she was surprised to see the popularity of disc golf; after Googling it to learn more, she concluded that it seemed “passive and serene” and a good fit.
“The catalyst for this is that we have a master plan for Neahwa Park, which lists upgrades that have been suggested and, for all intents and purposes, approved — even though you know virtually none of them have funding,” Lipari Shue said. Wilber Park does not have a master plan, and so the community preferences identified will drive decisions.
Parks projects usually aren’t passed and funded easily. “They’re sort of seen as low, low priority,” she said. “Streets and drinking water come first.” However, over the long term — five to 10 years — she said the city is committed to making these most popular ideas happen.
Mike Forster Rothbart, staff writer, can be reached at [email protected] or 607-441-7213. Follow him at @DS_MikeFR on Twitter.
At 9 a.m. May 20, Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron, Zionsville Parks and Recreation staff, members of the Town Council, and residents will celebrate the official opening of Overley-Worman Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The wooded 53-acre park is at 6040 Godello Circle, across from Starkey Nature Park and behind the new Vonterra subdivision on Zionsville Road.
“Rather than a traditional park, we’ve only taken a small footprint,” said Jarod Logsdon, superintendent of Parks and Recreation. “Our impact is just around three acres, linear throughout the site, and we’ve left the majority of the site untouched, with plenty of wooded and wetland areas.”
The park entrance bridge connects with the southern portion of the Big 4 Rail Trail extension and is adjacent to Eagle Creek, offering several paved and natural trails for walking, hiking and jogging.
“With Starkey Park and Overley-Worman up against Eagle Creek it will allow us to protect that area, focusing on the stream banks and controlling erosion,” Logsdon said.
In addition, two playgrounds for children up to 12 years old will be available, including shelters and picnic areas. Also, some unique amenities have been added.
“We will have an 18-hole disc golf course, which is a first in our parks systems. We’re pretty excited about that,” Logsdon said. “We will also have one mile of mountain bike trail. The site used to be a fill from other work sites in the city, so we chose to embrace the landscape there and create something unique.”
Logsdon said the mountain bike trail will offer challenging offshoots for seasoned mountain bikers, but also a short trail for those that just want the experience.
“I think of it as a gateway park for those that want to try out mountain biking,” Logsdon said. “If you get a taste of it and decide it’s for you, there are other parks in the region, just a short distance away, for more challenging courses.”
There will be a fishing pond with two fishing piers and a boardwalk, including some park overlooks.
“We’re really providing seclusion with nature at this park,” Logsdon said. “I think it’s the best of both worlds because we can develop nature programs and summer camps in this area and we’d love to activate that body of water at the pond for some aquatic programming as well. There’s something for everyone.”
The Friends of Overley-Worman Park is a non-profit community organization with a mission to help ensure success and activation at the park using community advocacy and fundraising for future investment.
For more information, visit the website at www.owpfriends.org or the Town’s website at www.overleywormanpark.com.
TRAVERSE CITY — More snow may hardly seem thrilling for anyone anxious about spring finally coming to Traverse City.
But Preserve Hickory President and co-founder Laura Ness is excited about a $125,000 grant from the Great Lakes Sports Commission that will help make even more of the frozen stuff for the ski hill, Hickory Hills. Along with $75,000 in funding from Preserve Hickory, the grant will buy additional snowmaking equipment, trail improvements and more.
“We’re really excited to partner with the Great Lakes Sports Commission on this next step for Hickory (Hills),” she said.
Grants like this are right in line with what the Great Lakes Sports Commission aims to achieve, nonprofit board Chairman Fritz Erickson said. The nonprofit, with locations in Marquette and Traverse City, looks to boost sports and recreation to drive economic development. It also aims to drive even more community support for sports and recreation.
Preserve Hickory raised more than $2.5 million for a $4 million-plus overhaul for the city-owned ski hill, with other grants and $1.5 million from a city parks improvement fund providing the rest, as previously reported.
That demonstration of local support for the park was one factor that made Preserve Hickory’s project stand out, Erickson said.
“We’re kind of big fans of different kinds of events that bring people in, particularly around youth,” he said. “We love to see how we can support activities that keep kids active and engaged and so forth, and so the ability to provide this kind of support really fulfills the mission that we have as a sports commission.”
Several parts of the first phase for Hickory Hills’ upgrade aimed squarely at kids, including a bunny hill and “magic carpet” lift to boost young learners uphill before they can handle the tow ropes elsewhere, as previously reported.
Next, Preserve Hickory wants to partner with the city to install lighting on roughly a half-mile of a Nordic cross-country skiing trail, plus other trail improvements to ready them for more high-level official racing events, Ness said.
Downhill racers won’t be left out, either, as part of the second phase will include improvements to the alpine race hill, Ness said. And Preserve Hickory and bicycling advocacy organization El Grupo Norte is partnering on a design for mountain biking trails there, although the development isn’t funded just yet.
It all builds on an effort to make Hickory Hills a four-seasons park, Ness said.
That includes disc golf course improvements and a new lodge available for event rentals — city commissioners in March approved a rental policy and updated fee list.
But the next grant- and Preserve Hickory donor-funded additions that should get underway in the summer aren’t the last step, Ness said. More warm-weather activities are possible, and the grant will help pay for feasibility studies to see which ones will work at the park. A 2014 plan identified some potentials but wasn’t the final word on which ones will be there.
Erickson said he and several board members will tour the hill Thursday to see firsthand the home of what he thinks is a “really cool project.”
“I think most of the board members felt the same way, because what it does is really provides, I think, an exciting set of opportunities for people in the community to be able to really enjoy the outdoors, to be engaged, to promote a variety of events and activities,” he said.
The park sits northwest of city limits at the end of Randolph Street, between Hickory Meadows downhill and the soon-to-be-public Hickory Forest uphill, as previously reported.
Johnson City has a robust variety of recreational options for residents and visitors who want to get some fresh air, and those opportunities are continuing to grow.
Hiking and biking
Tweetsie Trail: This 10-mile trail for walkers, runners and riders is a rails-to-trails project built along the former East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad right-of-way between Johnson City and Elizabethton. The railroad was known as the “Tweetsie.”
The Tweetsie Trail begins at the corner of Alabama and Legion streets in Johnson City at a trailhead that includes paved parking, benches, water fountains, a bike repair station, and a portable restroom.
Buffalo Mountain Park: Buffalo Mountain is a 725-acre mountainside park featuring nine miles of looping hiking trails of varying difficulty. The park functions as a nature preserve primarily for hiking, picnicking, and nature programs.
Pinnacle Fire Tower Trail: The 4.5-mile Fire Tower Trail goes to the top of Buffalo Mountain and provides a view of the Buffalo Valley, Unicoi and the surrounding mountains.
Tannery Knobs: Tannery Knobs is a 40-acre, wooded bike park crisscrossed with seven, professionally-designed off-road and paved trails of varying difficulty.
The park also offers scenic views and opportunities for hiking and trail running.
Parks
Winged Deer Park: The 200-acre Winged Deer Park features softball fields, batting cages, an 18-hole disc golf course, half-mile walking track and paved fitness trails.
The park’s lakefront area features two sand volleyball courts, picnic shelter with restroom, public boating access, green space, lighted handicap accessible boardwalk, amphitheater, and a Festival Plaza multi-use area with restroom.
Soon, the city will be adding a new athletic complex that will include diamond fields for softball and baseball as well as new soccer fields. The facility will help the city host large tournaments.
Willow Springs Park: This 36-acre park in southwest Johnson City includes walking trails, picnic pavilions, and the Johnson’s Depot playground that features train and village-themed play elements. Willow Springs also has a 1.6-acre enclosed dog park.
Founders Park and King Commons: These two parks feature unique green spaces in the heart of downtown Johnson City. The 5-acre Founders Park includes an amphitheater, walking paths, a creek, and a variety of public art.
King Commons is a 3-acre recreational and event space with walking paths, an amphitheater, the Wildabout mural, a playground featuring natural elements, and a history circle highlighting significant dates from Johnson City’s first 150 years.
Rotary Park: The 10.4-acre park include six covered picnic shelters, restrooms, picnic tables, multi-use playing field, and an all inclusive playground area.
Pine Oaks Golf Coure: Pine Oaks is an 18-hole municipal golf course suitable for golfers of all skill levels. The course features a learning center, league play and a pro shop.
Kiwanis Park: This 9-acre neighborhood park was established in 1949. It includes a baseball field, basketball courts and a new playground funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Foundation.
The playground includes a swing set, play areas for children ages 2 to 12, a community pavilion and fitness stations. In December, the city announced plans to build a new pavilion at the park.
Metro-Kiwanis Park: Located on Guaranda Drive, this park totals 15 acres and is used primarily for softball league games. The park includes a concession area, restrooms, two picnic shelters, a playground, two lighted softball fields and five tennis courts.
Keefauver Farm park project: Johnson City is developing a new park at the former Keefauver Farm in the Boones Creek area. The 50-acre property is at the corner of Hales Chapel Road and Shadden Road. The city has hired McGill Associates to develop a master plan for the park, and the firm has presented three concepts to city leaders derived from public feedback.
1 — Shady Ridge: neighborhood park with play equipment and picnic table
2 — Woman’s Club: shelter picnic area and playground
3 — Miller Woods: a native prairie area with a half-mile loop summer walking trail, winter cross-country ski trail in a restored oak savanna
4 — Rotary: one of Hutchinson’s larger playgrounds, shelter with large serving counter, paved half-mile trail around park and outdoor fitness equipment, restrooms
5 — Oddfellows: outdoor archery, picnic shelter, restrooms, play equipment along the Luce Line State Trail
6 — Roberts: four regulation softball/baseball fields, boat landing, restrooms, basketball court, sand volleyball, gravel trail through native tall grass prairie. Hutchinson Public Schools’ ecology site borders the east side of the park.
7 — AFS: a memorial park with various tree species, a statue and plaque remembering foreign exchange students
8 — Masonic/West River: showers, boat landing, restrooms, picnic area, sand volleyball, play equipment, shelters, RV and tent camping sites, permanent stage (available for rent), paddle sport equipment such as canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards are available for rent in the summer months at the garage building on site
9 — Riverside Jaycee: horseshoe courts, restrooms, picnic area, play equipment, ball field, shelter and a native prairie area on the east end of the park
10 — Kiwanis: also known as Rocket Hill; play equipment, enclosed picnic shelter with restroom, snow sliding hill with warming house
11 — Eheim: scenic area north of dam with look-out pier and seating, statue of Little Crow
12 — Girl Scout/Gateway: scenic area south of dam with mass perennial plantings and seating benches, large mural painted on building with seating area
13 — Fireman’s: a memorial park honoring firefighters with sheltered picnic area, play equipment, WPA fountain pool and bridge
14 — Kimberly: neighborhood park with play equipment and access to Luce Line State Trail on city’s east side
15 — North Woods: volleyball, restrooms, Little League fields, play equipment, enclosed picnic shelter, in winter outdoor hockey/pleasure skating rink
16 — Lions Park East: picnic area near State Highway 7 with play equipment
17 — Boy Scout: picnic area near State Highway 7 with a Boy Scout statue
18 — Old Bass Pond: natural area next to the Crow River and Luce Line State Trail
19 — Tartan Park/VMF Field: fenced baseball field and top flight baseball field (home to the Hutchinson Huskies town team) with a sand volleyball court, playground, walking trail, skateboard park, picnic area and BMX terrain bike course
20 — North/Community Playground: tennis/pickle ball courts, pleasure/pond hockey ice rink with warming house, extensive playground behind Park Elementary School
21 — South: 10-acre park with mature trees, three picnic shelters, restrooms, play equipment, 9-hole disc golf course available year-round
22 — Legion: along State Highway 15 South with a picnic shelter
23 — VFW: youth baseball field, play equipment, basketball court, picnic shelter, restroom -the park is adjacent to Oakland Cemetery
24 — Elks: picnic shelter, restrooms, recreational ball field, volleyball, extensive inclusive play equipment, along with off-street parking
25 — Linden: park is adjacent to the Hutchinson Family Aquatic Center/Recreation Center and two indoor ice rinks at Burich Arena, an outdoor paved walking path and two T-ball-sized ball fields
26 — Lions Park West: neighborhood park with picnic table and play equipment
27 — Junior Community Women: a neighborhood park with new play equipment in 2021, area near high school with a basketball hoop and picnic tables
28 — Crow River Recreational Area: adjacent to Crow River and Luce Line State Trail with picnic areas
29 — McLeod County Veterans Memorial: a memorial park with a Walk of Honor, monuments, sculptures, large picnic shelter and restrooms
30 — Library Square: home of the 1904 Carnegie Library and site of an 1862 Dakota U.S. War stockade. Is used for many community activities; Dairy Days in June, summer Monday Music in the Park series and Arts & Crafts Festival in September. Contains a band stand for concerts and private events, center fountain and Hutchinson Brothers statues, along with other art pieces
31 — Rolling Meadows: small neighborhood park with playground equipment and single sunshade shelter
32 — Driftriders: a scenic outlook, sledding hill, 1/4-mile walking trail, picnic shelter, nature-theme playground
33 — Law Enforcement: a statue of a police officer honors those who have protected Hutchinson, including fallen officers
34 — Community Dog Park/East River Park: The fenced in area offers space for both large and small dogs. The park is on the south side of Crow River, east of Depot Marketplace, home of the Hutchinson Farmers Market
For more information about Hutchinson parks, call Sara Witte, parks supervisor, at 320-234-4228.
Some spots are just so good they don’t deserve to be kept secret.
From the best under-the-radar restaurants to the parks and trails that are literally off the beaten path to a small town that’s as close to idyllic Mayberry as you’ll find in these parts, Midlands residents shared their favorite hidden gems in the Columbia area and just beyond.
Take these ideas to plan your next lunch date or weekend outing.
Places to please your palate
Bierkeller Columbia pop-up beer gardens: Bierkeller is Columbi-ja’s nomadic brewery, the child of Scott Burgess, who lived nearly a decade in Germany. You’ve got to catch these traditional German brews at occasional pop-up events — sometimes at the Columbia Canal Park or at the Saluda Riverwalk. “It’s actual beer and food and fun on one of the most underutilized (and beautiful) places in the city,” hidden gems nominator Clair Hann said.
Follow Bierkeller on Facebook and Instagram to find out when and where upcoming pop-ups are planned.
Pro tip: You can actually order Bierkeller beer once a week for crowler pickup at Swamp Cabbage Brewery, 921 Brookwood Drive, Columbia. And coming sometime soon, Bierkeller plans to settle down and open a brewery of its own, the Post and Courier has reported. Further details have not yet been revealed.
Bierkeller Columbia will host pop-up beer gardens at Riverfront Park from September through December. In this provided photo, a Bierkeller event is held at the Guignard Brick Works site near the river in Cayce. Provided photo Bierkeller Columbia
No Name Deli: Its name is as unassuming as its humble building at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Marion Street in Columbia. But the food here is not to be overlooked.
“Food is great, soup, cornbread, etc., and the staff is extra friendly,” nominator Coleman Catoe said. Some (including at least one editor at The State) might argue this longtime capital city gem is not so hidden, especially given the line at lunchtime. No Name has stood the test of time as an enduring lunchtime staple. Interestingly, it only recently began accepting credit and debit cards as payment.
As Catoe noted, “It’s been in business 30 years, so you know they do something right.”
Granby Grill: Opened in 2020, Granby Grill is a relative newcomer to the Columbia dining scene, compared to a long-timer like No Name Deli.
This restaurant’s nominator makes a bold claim: “The burgers are the best in Columbia.” Oh, really? Only one way to find out — visit this lunchtime-to-late-night spot in the redeveloped Granby Mill complex at 612 Whaley St. in Columbia.
Boca Grande Burritos: Another superlative assertion: “Hands-down the best burritos in town. They’re still new but deserve the spotlight!” said nominator Meredith Taylor.
Boca Grande has made a splash at 4525 Forest Drive, offering a robust selection of hefty-sized burritos. It looks like the secret might be out about this gem; Taylor recommends that you “go on a week night to beat the crowd!”
Manny’s Shaved Ice: Nominator Sandra Kay says go here for “the most yummy desserts & snacks. Strawberries & Cream is the simplest & most delicious sweet I’ve ever had. And the chicharon preparado is my favorite light lunch!”
Manny’s, indeed, has you covered for a variety of sweet shaved ice concoctions, shakes, smoothies and even some savory fare, including elote (Mexican street corn) and the aforementioned chicharron preparado (a crispy fried flour snack with toppings). Discover this hidden gem at 1228 Augusta Road in West Columbia.
Loveland Coffee Cafe: The Midlands’ caffeine game is strong, but the Loveland Coffee in Irmo stands out as a hidden gem “like a mini retreat there, hidden right off the main (road),” nominator Ann Jones said. What started with a crowdfunded drive-thru kiosk in 2012 turned into a full-fledged roastery by 2016, and in 2020 Loveland opened its brick-and-mortar cafe at 7475 Carlisle St. in Irmo. You can also swing by the drive-thru at 7001 St. Andrews Road.
If you love Loveland, then you might also love their local coffee-beer collaboration: Steel Hands Brewery’s popular coffee lager.
Brunch at NoMa Warehouse: Perhaps you’ve been to the new(ish) NoMa Warehouse at 2222 Sumter St. in Cottontown for the weekly Friday night NoMa Flea market. But apparently you’ve been missing out on the weekly Sunday brunch: “You can have authentic Mexican brunch while shopping from local artists, jewelry, clothes, plants,etc,” a nominator said.
Follow NoMa Warehouse on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on events planned there.
Peebles BBQ & Wings: “They have the best boneless wings and their mop sauce is *chefs kiss*!” nominator Peyton Robbins said.
Peebles recently doubled its footprint in Columbia, opening a new spot at 902 Gervais St. in the Vista. Of course, you can visit the original at 1332 Rosewood Drive (you’ll know it by the yellow painted building with the rooster mural).
The catfish po’boy at Peebles Wing Shack on Rosewood. Susan Ardis [email protected]
The Other Store: The very definition of a hidden gem, The Other Store just may be responsible for the “best Salads and Sandwiches in town,” a nominator said. It might look like “just” a convenience store from the outside, but step inside to enjoy comforting lunch fare — even chicken bog!
You’ll find The Other Store at 4130 Bethel Church Road, where there’s also a “Starry Night” mural on the building, so that’s nice.
“The iced honey vanilla latte and the cinnamon brown sugar with oat milk are fabulous! But they also serve smoothies and danish!” a nominator said. “This is a traveling coffee trailer owned and run by Logan, whose dream as a little girl was to own her own coffee truck!”
You’ll find this traveling coffee trailer most often parked at 130 Highway 378 in Lexington (near the intersection with West Main Street) on weekday mornings, or you might catch them at a party or neighborhood event. Visit Nomad’s website, www.nomadcafeco.com, to book them for yourself.
Pontiac House of Pizza: Some might say these are the finest pies in Elgin, and perhaps beyond.
“Delicious Greek, Italian, American entrees, great staff and service,” a nominator said.
When you visit Pontiac House of Pizza at 10531 Two Notch Road, you might as well pop into another hidden gem next door, Ivy House Antique Mall at 10511 Two Notch.
Family Fresh Mex taqueria: Tacos, burritos, flautas, tortas — Family Fresh Mex has all that and more. And if you once loved taco night at The Whig, you may love that downtown Columbia’s newest taqueria is located right upstairs from the beloved underground bar.
“It’s cheap, it’s DELICIOUS, and it’s really close to where I work,” a nominator said.
You can find Family Fresh Mex at 1200 Main St., across the street from the State House.
Fire and Spice restaurant: You can get a Cuban sandwich, a Greek gyro and a Vietnamese bahn mi sub all in one place at Fire and Spice in Irmo.
“Super food,” a nominator said. See for yourself at 7971 North Woodrow St., Irmo.
Bonus: We wish we could give you more details about this hidden gem, but one nominator simply highlighted a “food truck that parks at the gas station and beer outlet on Augusta Road near the junction with Jarvis Klapman.”
“Amazing tacos, very authentic, street food like I would eat in Mexico,” nominator Lydia Pappas said.
If you find it, let us know how it is.
Enjoy nature, skip the crowds
South East Park: “60 acres of almost pure woods, fields and a pond that you can fish in. The tennis courts are an added bonus,” nominator John Hart said. The tennis courts, in fact, are the newest and largest among Columbia’s city-run parks.
Hart also praised the park’s walking paths and disc golf course. Enjoy them at 951 Hazelwood Road, Columbia.
Cayce Riverwalk chainsaw carvings: Nominator Ashley Hunter suggests a scavenger hunt to find all the clever pieces by local chainsaw artist Wade Geddings, who created a slew of “incredible” artworks carved into tree stumps and logs along the riverwalk. How many can you find? Keep your eyes peeled for a fox, a bear, an alligator and more. There are multiple entrances to the Cayce Riverwalk, including the main entrance at 201 Naples Ave.
Wade Geddings uses a chainsaw to carve animal sculptures in fallen timber at the Cayce Riverwalk. Tracy Glantz [email protected]
Wade Geddings uses a chainsaw to carve animal sculptures in fallen timber at the Cayce Riverwalk. Many of the trees fell during the historic 2015 floods. Tracy Glantz [email protected]
W. Gordon Belser Arboretum: Nominator Whit Ashley describes this gem as “a true forest in the middle of an urban neighborhood. The Arboretum features amazing biodiversity, provides a buffer from busy city life, and preserves precious natural habitat, along with local culture and history.”
Belonging to the University of South Carolina, the W. Gordon Belser Arboretum encompasses 10 acres in Columbia’s Sherwood Forest neighborhood. There you’ll find 10 unique plant biomes, a waterfall, walking trails, a botanical garden and several exhibits.
Ashley notes that “until her recent passing, (the Arboretum) was maintained tirelessly by UofSC biology professor Dr. Patricia Decoursey. Dr. Decoursey deserves recognition for her work to protect and care for the Arboretum and all of the life within its ecosystem.”
Belser Arboretum, a woodland preserve in Columbia off of Kilbourne road. the state
Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve: Escape the city and head to Saint Matthews in Calhoun County to experience this 201-acre nature preserve bordering the Congaree River. According to the Blue Trails website, Congaree Bluffs offers a birds-eye view of Congaree National Park and is home to more than 100 species of trees, shrubs, and woody vines, and possibly hundreds of species of other plants.
“Quiet, fewer crowds than the riverwalks, beautiful view of the Congaree River,” a nominator said. What more could you ask for?
Place to plan a day trip
Downtown Ridgeway: Nominator Boyd Brown said, “If a mountain town or a Mayberry exists in the Midlands, it’s Ridgeway. Three local restaurants, one which doubles as a tea room; antique stores; a historic hardware store and just charm.”
About a half-hour drive from downtown Columbia, the small town of Ridgeway is known for its annual Pig on the Ridge barbecue festival, which the town claims to be “the biggest barbecue cookout in the state,” held the first weekend of November.
The water tower in Ridgeway. File The State
Sites to see and enjoy
University of South Carolina School of Music Recital Hall: Nominator Phillip Bush notes that this is a place to catch free concerts “almost every night” from September to April. Ahem: FREE CONCERTS!
“Aspiring talented musicians from around the US to South America to China, giving their all, instruments from strings to winds to piano, their recitals for their degrees all free to the general public, in an acoustically excellent 200-seat gem of a hall,” Bush wrote. “Columbia’s best-kept secret for high-quality, zero-cost entertainment.”
The recital hall is located at 813 Assembly St. in Columbia, and a calendar of concerts and recitals can be found on the School of Music’s website.
Arcade Mall: The historic Arcade Mall — built in 1912 as Columbia’s first shopping center — is somewhat hidden in plain sight right on Main Street in downtown Columbia. Inside, you’ll find Odd Bird Books, Swanson’s Deli (a big hit for weekday lunches), Ally & Eloise bakery, Ophidian tattoo parlor, His and Hers tailor shop, Stoner’s Pizza, artist Blue Sky’s studio and more. And soon, you’ll find Takosushi restaurant, which is opening in the spaces formerly occupied by Indah coffee shop and Pita Pit.
In one of the Arcade Mall’s most memorable uses, former owners built Columbia Down Under, which offered bars and restaurants in the basement from 1972 to 1974.
“A bit of Gilded Age splendor right here in Columbia. Neatest building downtown,” nominator Matt Bohn said.
The Arcade Mall is located at 1332 Main St.
Customers eat lunch at Swanson’s Deli in the Arcade Mall in downtown Columbia, South Carolina on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. After years of renovation, all of the ground floor retail suites are occupied, with the last spot going to Odd Bird Books, an independent book shop. Joshua Boucher [email protected]
Customers eat lunch at Swanson’s Deli in the Arcade Mall in downtown Columbia, South Carolina on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. After years of renovation, all of the ground floor retail suites are occupied, with the last spot going to Odd Bird Books, an independent book shop. Joshua Boucher [email protected]
Saluda River Factory ruins at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden: Along a trail leading from the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden to the Saluda River, you’ll find the blue granite stone walls and arch, all that remain of one of South Carolina’s first textile mills and, at one time, one of the South’s largest. The Saluda River Factory was built in the 1830s, burned during Gen. William T. Sherman’s occupation of Columbia, rebuilt after the Civil War and destroyed again by fire in 1884, according to Riverbanks.
“To the average visitor walking through the Botanical Gardens, you might miss the directional sign pointing to the natural foliage path leading to the ruins. The mill, prior to the Civil War, was one of the largest textile mills east of the Mississippi. Sherman knew of the importance of this mill to Columbia’s economy and ordered it to be burned. All that is left along the banks of the Saluda River are the granite ruins of this once thriving mill,” a nominator said.
Historic Columbia’s Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens: This historic home, built by wealthy merchant Ainsley Hall in 1818 and sold in 1823 to wealthy planter Wade Hampton I, is one of the capital city’s oldest remaining structures, according to Historic Columbia. “For the next 50 years, the estate grew to be Columbia’s grandest residence under the Hampton and Preston families and the many men, women and children they enslaved,” according to Historic Columbia.
“Beautiful gardens surround both of these significant house museums,” a nominator said. “A great place to take your lunch or walk through the gardens any time of the year. New event space opening there next month that is actually a greenhouse that will facilitate plant propagation for the gardens.”
A new feature has just opened at the site: A greenhouse and historically inspired gatehouse. The mansion and garden are located at 1615 Blanding St. and are open for tours Wednesday through Sunday.
The most obvious update to the Hampton-Preston Mansion is its exterior paint color. The home’s new ochre yellow paint with brown trim is a palette more fitting with its antebellum origins than its previous gray and white color scheme. Courtesy of Historic Columbia
A restoration of the Hampton-Preston Gardens is scheduled to be complete this spring. Courtesy of Historic Columbia file photo
Some secrets are meant to be kept
You don’t want the masses crowding up all your favorite spots. Can’t argue with that.
“(It’s) some place I wouldnt share with the rest of the world. Nobody else knows about it! Why are you asking your readers to help destroy these places?” one person said in response to The State’s recent hidden gems poll.
Another: “Why in the wide world of sports would anyone want to publicize a hidden gem. It would certainly (lose) its designation as a hidden gem when the masses converge on it!”
And another: “I cant tell U where it is, coz woont B secret anymore, but it is a nice zenful road w/beautiful folieage most times of the yr. Nice to drive down this hidden in plain site street. It can B peaceful & one might even see deer or snake crossing the road. I take pics. of the foliage. its not in Cola, but in the tri-city area. Maybe some can guess this place. Beautuful wild foliage.”
Understood; we’ll let you keep some gems to yourselves.
Sarah Ellis is the editor of The State’s statewide enterprise team covering Greenville, Charleston and tourism in Myrtle Beach. She is also a reporter who covers Columbia and Richland County. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she has made South Carolina’s capital her home for the past decade. Since 2014, her work at The State has earned multiple awards from the S.C. Press Association, including top honors for short story writing and enterprise reporting.
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A handful of area residents and a Tahlequah city councilor agree there is a need for an elite-level disc golf course.
The Tahlequah Sports League is requesting to share acreage with the Tahlequah Trails Association to install the course.
According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, the ideal course has a range of hold lengths, pars and a mixture of holes requiring controlled left, right and straight throws.
Ward 4 Councilor Trae Ratliff said the city-owned property where the Tahlequah Trails is being constructed would be the ideal place for the course.
“There’s the one at the middle school and there’s one at NSU now, and initially, the conversation started with utilizing the trail system in front of my office,” he said. “They didn’t like the idea of having to cross traffic, and that wasn’t ideal.”
Ratliff got in contact with professional disc golf athlete Matt House, from the Cherokee County Disc Golf Association, and a group went out to the property to take a look.
“What we are trying to incorporate at the Tahlequah Trails property was something that would be a draw. To my understanding, the tougher the course –the more trees and obstacles and the tighter the fairways – the bigger the draw,” said Ratliff.
Ratliff said the idea of having the course co-exist with Tahlequah Trials would be to bring in more tourism and hold two professional tournaments a year.
The group presented the idea to the TTA during a forum, and Ratliff said it was a gracious request.
“We feel like the two are very similar as far as their goals: be outside, be active, do something with the family and enjoy nature,” he said. “Our intent is to do it right and to do something that’s good for the community, good for tourism.”
The intent was to apply for a grant through the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners for American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“I personally have a difficult time trying to find the downside. If there are negatives, do the negatives outweigh the positives and I have a hard time finding a lot of negatives,” said Ratliff.
The city partnered with the commissioners to create the park on 200 acres.
In 2018, city councilors accepted a lease bid from Tahlequah Trails Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship to spearhead work on a trail system on 65 acres of surplus land owned by the city, adjacent to Diedrick Lane. The council also voted to purchase an additional 40 acres west of the proposed bike trail acreage.
However, during a City Council meeting in 2019, the board unanimously agreed to settle three lawsuits filed against the city regarding bike trails and the purchase of property. The acreage is between South 550 Road and South 540 Road, and is landlocked.
The trailhead –- the parking lot and entryway – are owned by the Tahlequah Trails Association. That one acre was donated by City Administrator Alan Chapman.
Ratliff asked if the request is turned down, whether that means it dies – and he hopes it doesn’t.
“The intention is not to be simple, and this is 18 holes, whereas the other are nine holes. The intention of this one is to hold PDGA tournaments, to be a professional disc golf association-sanctioned location, and that’s where the tourism piece comes in,” said Ratliff.
Pittsburg Ice Bowl Benefit Tournament set for Feb. 26
The Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department and Pittsburg Disc Golf Club are teaming up to host the Ice Bowl Benefit Tournament on Feb. 26 starting at 11 a.m. at the Schlanger Park Disc Golf Course.
Registration will take place from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the day of the event and the entry fee for the tournament is five nonperishable food items or a $10 cash donation, with all proceeds being donated to the Wesley House in Pittsburg.
For additional information regarding the Ice Bowl Tournament, contact the Pittsburg Parks & Recreation Department at 620-231-8310.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum added to U.S. Civil Rights Trail
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is the third site in Missouri to be included on the trail, which highlights individuals, events, and locations in 15 states and the District of Columbia that have been vital to the advancement of civil rights in the United States.
“The fight for racial equality in our country has taken on many forms, including marches, conflicts and court cases. The inclusion of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum adds yet another layer to the history that is preserved by the U.S. Civil Rights Trail,” said Stephen Foutes, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism.
MDT nominated the museum for inclusion on the trail, which was created through a collaboration of participating states in 2018.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum opened in Kansas City in 1991. It tells the story of why the leagues were formed and how they ultimately contributed to social advancement in the United States. The Negro Leagues produced some of baseball’s greatest players including Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and James “Cool Papa” Bell.
The Negro National League — one of seven leagues nationwide — was established in Kansas City in 1920 and included the Kansas City Monarchs.
Robinson, a member of the Monarchs, was the first player to break baseball’s color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. Buck O’Neil, a 2022 inductee in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, was the first Black coach in Major League Baseball and was instrumental in establishing the museum.
“We are deeply honored to be part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail,” said Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “The Negro Leagues played a tremendous role in the social advancement of America. Our inclusion to the trail will undoubtedly help more people understand that the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a Civil Rights and Social Justice institution that documents a powerful story of triumph over adversity as seen through the lens of baseball.”
Missouri’s other two sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail are the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, where the Dred Scott trial was heard, and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum in Independence. Truman is recognized for his executive order to desegregate the military — a decision that helped pave the way for desegregation throughout society.
Learn more about Missouri’s sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and other civil rights history in the state at visitmo.com/in-the-spotlight/missouris- civil-rights-stories. For more information about the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, visit civilrightstrail.com.
WGU Missouri launches new scholarship
In celebration of WGU Missouri’s ninth anniversary, the nonprofit, fully accredited, online university has announced it is awarding $450,000 in scholarships to new students who are interested in furthering their education. Since its establishment in February 2013, WGU Missouri has been committed to providing high-quality, convenient and career-boosting college education to residents across the state, including working adults who have some college experience but no degree. The WGU Missouri ninth anniversary scholarships, valued at up to $9,000 each, underscore WGU’s mission of helping make higher education even more attainable for adults across Missouri, especially those looking to strengthen their skill sets as the ongoing pandemic continues to impact the local workforce.
While many universities have experienced a decline in enrollment since the onset of the pandemic, WGU Missouri’s enrollment continues to hold steady and actually managed to grow over the past 12 months. The university, which was created through a partnership with the national Western Governors University and Gov. Jay Nixon, currently has 3,340 enrolled students, an increase of 2.8% over last year, and has conferred degrees to 6,011 graduates, a fifth of whom graduated in the past 12 months. In fact, WGU Missouri has shown consistent growth since its establishment nearly a decade ago. Across the state, WGU Missouri employs 191 staff members, has awarded more than $3.4 million in scholarships and has built partnerships with more than 85 businesses, institutions and organizations in an effort to create new opportunities for their employees to pursue higher education at an even lower cost and advance their careers.
WGU Missouri has been credited with helping individuals earn their college degrees who otherwise couldn’t easily complete or afford a traditional college program. The average student age is 35, with more than 65% of attendees coming from underprivileged populations or being first-generation college students. Additionally, 72% of students work full time while pursuing their degrees. These grads are quickly seeing a difference in their lives as more career opportunities become available. As a result, students earn an average of $21,800 more within four years of graduation, which is significantly higher than the national average of $11,500.
“As we commemorate the ninth anniversary of WGU’s establishment in the state of Missouri, we want to recognize our students, many of whom have previously faced challenges in completing their degrees through traditional means,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, chancellor of WGU Missouri. “We are proud to provide the 900,000 Missourians who have some college but no degree with an alternative, affordable pathway to earning their bachelor’s and master’s degrees — and, ultimately, advancing their careers and transforming their lives. We look forward to continuing to empower many more adults to go back to school and earn their degrees in the years to come.”
WGU Missouri offers more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, information technology, K-12 teacher education and health professions, including nursing. Unlike a traditional college program, WGU caters to adults with previous or current work experience who are looking to further their careers through education. WGU Missouri’s competency-based education model allows adult students to take advantage of prior learning and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn.
To be considered for WGU Missouri’s 9th Anniversary Scholarship, new and prospective students must be Missouri residents, be admitted to WGU Missouri, and submit a scholarship application by June 30, 2022. Scholarships will be awarded based on the student’s academic record, previous college experience, readiness for online study, current competency, and other considerations. The scholarship will be applied at the rate of $2,250 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms toward WGU’s already-low tuition of approximately $3,800 per six-month term for most programs. For more information about this scholarship, visit missouri.wgu.edu/9th.
Thank a Farmer week wraps up March 7
Farm Bureau’s presidents Lana Couch and Ben Fizette from Barry & Lawrence, join forces to co-sponsor a free-of-cost Market Outlook and State of Industry meeting featuring Kelly Smith and Sam Polly for farmers and future farmers in our area.
Following the chili dinner and dessert, we will begin the evening with Sam Polly, Missouri’s new state director of pesticide safety education with MU Extension.
“The greatest threat to modern agriculture is a negative public perception leading to over regulation. The ensuing runaway costs of regulatory compliance, lawsuits, and enforcement actions is stripping both our agricultural economy and heritage.” said Polly.
Sam will discuss the roots of this problem and what we can do about it while there is still time.
Then Missouri Farm Bureau’s senior director of marketing and commodities, Kelly Smith, will take the stage to provide an expansive summary of agriculture market outlook.
“Kelly will cover a wide range of topics that impacts our ag market including the pendulous cattle market, input costs, supply chain hiccups all the way to the impact of Russia stand-off’s on your feed grain flows,” said Ben Fizette, Lawrence County Farm Bureau president.
We hope you’ll join us for the opportunity to learn from these knowledgeable speakers on the final day of “Thank a Farmer Week” — Monday, March 7, 2022, at 6 p.m. beginning with chili dinner at the University of Missouri’s Southwest Research Center, 14548 Hwy H, Mount Vernon, MO 65712. Please kindly RSVP by Friday, March 4, by calling Tosha at 417-466-7679.
UScellular announces $70.3 million network investment in Missouri in 2021
UScellular announced that it made a $70.3 million investment in its Missouri network in 2021. This includes $11.3 million in general network upgrades, $24 million in 5G modernizations, and $35 million in 5G spectrum that will bring additional benefits in the coming years while advancing the company’s multiyear 5G network strategy.
Additionally, in 2021 UScellular provided $38,405 in funding to nonprofit organizations, teachers and youth organizations across Missouri, including $30,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia, $4,094 to teachers through donations to DonorsChoose.org and $4,311 through its Community Connections program. Three Boys & Girls Clubs in Missouri also received $316,525 worth of hot spots and service to help their members connect to the internet at the clubs or at home as part of the company’s After School Access Project.
“Connectivity is more important than ever right now, and at UScellular we are committed to keeping our customers connected to the people and places that matter most to them,” said Joe Cabrera, director of sales for UScellular in Missouri and Kansas. “We will continue to invest in creating a great wireless experience for customers, while also ensuring we provide critical resources for youth in our local communities.”
To help ensure customers have a great shopping experience, UScellular also invested $1.15 million in its Missouri retail store environments in 2021. This includes 12 new, relocated, redesigned or upgraded stores that better showcase the variety of products and services the company provides, making it easier for customers to find what they need.
For more news and information about UScellular, please go to newsroom.uscellular.com.
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