The site’s history stretches back to the Cherokee hunting grounds before settlement in the northwest of South Carolina after the Revolutionary War. Architectural evidence suggests that the front section of the building may date to the 1820s, when it was a private residence under Aquilla and Mary Turner Bradley.
The Spring Park Inn, one of Greenville County’s oldest inns, is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Greenville County Historic Register. Located behind the Gazebo on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, the inn is a treasured historic landmark for Travelers Rest and the surrounding community.
Beautifully restored to reflect its late 1800s–early 1900s Victorian era, the inn offers visitors a glimpse into the property’s rich history. Take a tour to explore its story and connections to the town, or become a docent to help share the inn’s heritage with others.
By 1850, Chevis and Mary McCarrell Montgomery had acquired the property, enlarged the inn, and advertised it as a stagecoach stop and resort for travelers heading to the mountains of western North Carolina. In the 1870s, Robert Wright and Mary McCullough Anderson added a railroad stop for guests. Their daughter, Minnie Anderson Hillhouse, and her husband Edward named it the Spring Park Inn, highlighting the refreshing spring on the property.
The inn continued as a private residence through the 20th century, hosting local teachers and family members, until it was donated by Nell Anderson Gibson to the Historical Society in 2020. Today, it stands as a living testament to the rich history of Travelers Rest and Greenville County.
Donate to the Spring Park Inn.
Watch an interview with Mrs. Gibson and her cousin Frances Lockaby.
Catch up on all the media coverage of the Spring Park Project in Downtown Travelers Rest:
- Greenville News: Historical Travelers Rest house, property to be developed for community enjoyment
- Upstate Forever: Historic property in Travelers Rest permanently protected
- Greenville Journal: This historic inn witnessed the birth of Travelers Rest. Now it’s being preserved for future generations
- We loved having Homes of Greenville visit the Spring Park Inn for a Sneak Peek.