Cedar Mountain Has Been Home to Several Camps

The Cedar Mountain area has been home to numerous camps through the years. The earliest mention of Cedar Mountain campers in the Sylvan Valley News appeared on August 20, 1909.  It read, “Professor Hugh Shockly of Spartanburg with 18 boys passed through Brevard Wednesday on their way home from a camping stay at Cedar Mountain.” 

Although it is unknown if this was the first such group, over the next several years Cedar Mountain became popular among upstate campers.  Greenville Boy Scouts, the Greenville Y.M.C.A. and Tangle Foot Girls of Greenville were among those who frequently camped in the Cedar Mountain area.

In 1922 there is a brief mention of Camp Comfort in Cedar Mountain which appears to have continued to operate until at least 1926.

Cedar Mountain was the home of three mill camps from 1925 to around 1950.  These camps provided a break from the heat and humidity of the piedmont region and from factory jobs for workers and their families.  Employees signed up for a week, packed up their families and enjoyed hiking, swimming, dances, games and a time to relax in the mountains.

Elks Club Camp at the former Piedmont Camp.

Piedmont Camp operated from 1925 until 1950.  After it closed the Elks Club of Greenville held a boys’ camp there for several years.  In 1979 Wilderness Journey, a Christian camp stressing outdoor skills for youth and adults opened on the property.  Campers had to climb a 100-foot cliff and hike into the camp when they arrived as an initiation.

Victor Monaghan Mills built Camp Reasonover on Reasonover Rd. for their employees and families.  It was sold to the South Carolina Education Association in 1954.  They operated it as Camp Socareda, a summer camp for teachers and students.   It was the Eva Good Presbyterian Conference Center from about 1969-1992.

Judson Camp, owned by Judson Mills, was never completely finished.  It was located where Sherwood Forest is today. 

Aerial view of Summit Camps.

Summit Camps was located on 1,400 acres that are part of the DuPont State Recreational Forest today.  It consisted of both a boys’ camp and a girls’ camp.  Camp Summit had its own airstrip, which was used by the camp owner and parents of campers.  The camp operated from 1969 through 1986.  In 1991 DuPont bought the property, including the camp buildings, Lake Julia and the airstrip.

Other camps in the Cedar Mountain area have included Camp Burgiss Glenn, Harmony Farm—a summer riding school, Camp Greenville-YMCA and High Rocks Camp. 

To learn more about Transylvania’s Summer Camps visit The Museum of Transylvania Heritage on West Main St. 

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.