SCIWAY thanks Charles K. Hardin of Greer for this picture he took in April 2012.

Get more information and detailed directions to Kings Creek Falls.

The waterfall’s secluded location and misty atmosphere creates a perfect habitat for fabulous flora and fauna. Hikers have reported seeing Oconee bells, bulblet ferns, mosses, unusual amphibians, and much more near Lee Falls.

SCIWAY thanks photographer Steven Faucette for submitting this beautiful photo in April 2011.

Get directions to Lee Falls.

According to OconeeCountry, the new courthouse was built to handle the volume of county government business that transpires in Oconee County. Its new offices provide the appropriate facilities needed by employees who work hard to meet the ever-increasing demands of an expanding population.

Learn more about the history of St John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Many thanks to Gary Dubose of Seneca for providing this information and picture he took in June 2010.

The King Creek Falls Trail is one of three major hikes along the the Chattooga River. The river is one of the few remaining free-flow streams in the Southeast – meaning it is not dammed anywhere along its course.

Special thanks to Carolyn Smith of Westminster, who took this photo of King Creek Falls in May 2007 after a moderate 30-minute hike along the trail.

See a video of King Creek Falls.

Located near the City of Walhalla, in Oconee County‘s Stumphouse Tunnel Park, the falls were apparently named for a Native American girl who discovered her tribe planned to attack a nearby community of white settlers.

She quickly dashed away on her horse to warn the settlers of their peril. During her ride, she named the places she passed – such as Mile Creek, Six Mile, Twelve Mile, and Eighteen Mile – until she finally reached the threatened settlement now known as Ninety Six.

Learning of her betrayal, Issaqueena’s tribe chased her to the falls, where the young maiden pretended jump but hid behind the wall of water instead. Assuming she was dead, the tribe called off its search and Issaqueena was able to make her escape.

Another version of the legend holds that Issaqueena was protected not by the falls but by a nearby stump, from which both Stumphouse Mountain and the famed Stumphouse Tunnel in turn received their names. The falls are located just down the path from the tunnel, which has quite an interesting story in its own right – learn more about Stumphouse Tunnel.

Visiting Issaqueena Falls makes for a fairly easy hike. It takes just about 15 minutes to reach them from the nearby parking lot. Get directions to Issaqueena Falls. Also, check out this video of Issaqueena Falls.

He writes: “This is a view of the back of Issaqueena Dam near Clemson. The dam forms a small lake that is located in the Clemson Experimental Forest. This land was given to Clemson University during the Depression when the government was buying up land that had been abandoned by farmers. The area is popular today with hikers, joggers, and mountain bikers.”

Be sure to check out more history and directions to Issaqueena Dam.

Clemson University bought the tunnel in 1951 and used it to cure their famous Clemson blue cheese for many years. The tunnel is still owned by Clemson, but is managed by the State Parks System.

In this photograph, a person emerges from the depths of the Stumphouse Tunnel to the light outside. This shot was taken in fall 2005 by Brian W. Lackore.

If you are able to visit the tunnel, make sure to also see the legendary Issaqueena Falls.

The brick house pictured below, known as the Richards house, was built in 1805 by William Richards. He was a soldier who fought nearby during the Revolutionary War and decided to stay once the war ended. It is thought to be the first brick house built in the northwest corner of South Carolina.

Many thanks to frequent contributor Steven Faucette for submitting these great pictures.