Visit Historic Pickens
Tucked in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Pickens offers visitors a wide array of interesting, fun and exciting activities. With a rich Appalachian heritage, vibrant arts and live music scene, and numerous natural resources, you'll find the best of what the South Carolina mountains have to offer in Pickens. Here you will find people who value family, friends and a relaxed lifestyle. In Pickens, you become part of the community.
Our mountainous surroundings are what keep us grounded, and this natural beauty can be felt at the core of the City of Pickens in our historic downtown. Here, historic doesn’t mean a dying place with a few old, brick buildings. There’s a rustic swagger that breathes life into this history. Yoga, craft beer, green spaces, and cyclists mingle and coexist with a tight-knit, family vibe. Pickens maintains its character while also looking to the future by existing in a sweet spot between progressive ideas and tradition.
While you are in town, take a moment and visit the downtown amphitheater located at 114 West Main Street. In addition, Town Creek Bike Park opened off Sangamo Road in 2014 – an off-road BMX-style bike park that is one of a kind! Finally, stop and take a picture of the train located at Pickens Doodle Park, the trailhead of the Doodle Trail. This 8.5 mile, abandoned trail bed is now a multi-use paved trail that connects our downtown to the City of Easley’s downtown.
On June 15, 1869, a handbill distributed in South Carolina’s Upcountry advertised the “Last Sale of Town Lots” for the new county of Pickens. The ad stated, “The location is most desirable, one situated on a beautiful plateau and surrounded by a fertile region, with thrifty inhabitants and the village rapidly growing.”
The town of Pickens was founded in 1868 and named for the Revolutionary War hero General Andrew Pickens. Scottish-Irish settlers were the original inhabitants of the Pickens area, with a few traders who lived among the Cherokees. When the new Pickens was being created, Elihu Griffin offered 40 acres of his land for the courthouse; it was this land being offered for sale in the 1869 handbill.
For a map and list of businesses, check out the Historic Pickens Visitor Guide below! Guides are also available at City Hall and the Pickens Visitor Center!
For more information on visiting Pickens or the nearby area, visit explorepickenscounty.com