Posted in South Carolina History November 15, 2020 by

Ferguson, An Underwater Ghost Town In South Carolina, Peaks Above The Water In Lake Marion

The history of South Carolina’s man-made lakes include accounts of entire towns that were moved to make way for the new lakes. In a few cases at least parts of some towns were flooded with buildings having not been moved at all. Such is the case with the state’s largest lake. You may be surprised to learn there’s a fascinating underwater ghost town in South Carolina in Lake Marion and part of it can be seen above the waterline.

If you have a boat you can paddle the few hundred yards out to see it in person.
Google Maps
A little more than a hundred years ago, the town of Ferguson was a thriving lumber town on the banks of the Santee River.
Ferguson sprang up after a man from Chicago started a large lumber mill at the site.
Facebook/BrickYard Grill and Pub
The land was actually purchased by two gentlemen from the Windy City. Their names were Francis Beidler (sound familiar?) and Benjamin Franklin Ferguson. But Ferguson died before the mill (and town) were built.
Facebook/BrickYard Grill and Pub
When the surviving partner got the mill up and running in 1910, the town's growth soon followed. Beidler named the town Ferguson after his deceased business partner.
Facebook/BrickYard Grill and Pub
The mill was named the Santee River Cypress Lumber Company. Sadly, only 5 years later in 1915, Biedler lost his eyesight and closed the mill. He died in 1924.

By the 1930s the project to build Lake Marion was well underway. The mill at Ferguson was abandoned by then and was subsequently flooded when Lake Marion was filled with water.
The few surviving details of Ferguson illustrate the mill as being a massive operation.
Facebook/BrickYard Grill and Pub
The town was thriving. It had a church, a hotel and school, among other things. One of the roads leading to the landing from which you can access Ferguson by boat was the old railroad bed for the rails that carried the wood from the lumber company.
Today the most visible signs of this ghost town are easily seen by canoe or kayak. One of the kilns is located on the edge of the "island."
Facebook/BrickYard Grill and Pub
It juts up proudly out of the water and is an eerie representation of what lies beneath the waters of Lake Marion, at least at this spot on the lake.
The kiln is located on the north side of the island along with a few other above water skeletal remains of this ghost town.
Google Maps [enhanced]
The massive South Carolina drought 10 years ago made it possible to walk the few hundred yards from Ferguson Landing Way to the dried up and exposed ghost town. But today, it's simply impossible to walk there.
Want to paddle out to see this ghost town for yourself?
Google Maps
The closest access to the ghost town of Ferguson is from Ferguson Landing Way in Eutaw Springs.
There used to be a local restaurant and pub at the end of Ferguson Landing Way.
Facebook/BrickYard Grill and Pub
It was called The Brickyard. Many thanks to them for sharing the above photos of this underwater ghost town on their Facebook Page. Unfortunately, The Brickyard at Ferguson Landing closed in 2018.

Did you know about this underwater ghost town that juts above the water line on Lake Marion? What about other ghost towns? We’d love to hear about either in our comments!

Learn more about Lake Marion in South Carolina’s “inland sea,” in this article we published previously.

In 2008 during the drought, Times and Democrat columnist Dr. John Rheney of Orangeburg walked on foot from Ferguson Landing to the skeletal remains of Ferguson. The drought exposed the town making it possible to see all. Read about his excursion to the ghost town of Ferguson in this online article from The Times and Democrat.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Ferguson Landing, SC 29048, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

Underwater Ghost Town In South Carolina

November 20, 2020
Leah

Can I visit any abandoned places in South Carolina?

Lake Marion in South Carolina is not the only place with an abandoned spot. You can find spots being reclaimed by nature all over the state, some that you can see for yourself up close. The Donnalley Wildlife Management Area, located in Colleton County, South Carolina, has an abandoned farmhouse that's haunting to behold. It was built in the 1800s and abandoned in the 1930s as a result of the depression. A well-known spot of ruins in the Palmetto State is also Castle Pinckney. What was once a Civil War fort, then a national park, now just an abandoned spot is quite fascinating both to look at and to learn about.

What are the most beautiful lakes in South Carolina?

You may not find notoriously mysterious places in South Carolina under all of these lakes, but they're great to visit regardless. Whether you're spending the day out fishing, swimming, boating, or just strolling along the shore, here are a few beautiful lakes in the state. Lake Keowee is the definition of picturesque. Distant mountains make up the backdrop of the lake, giving it spectacular views. Lake Hartwell is a popular destination for boaters and fishers. It's also great for hikers and bikers that want to view the lake from the trails. Another well-known recreational retreat in South Carolina is the huge Lake Jocassee, perfect for just about any lake-related activity.

Are there any ghost towns in South Carolina?

Check out some of the spookiest, yet fascinating abandoned places in South Carolina when you visit these ghost towns. We've put together an easy-to-follow road trip to visit them all. The route will take you to places like Pinckneyville, which was envisioned to be "Little Charleston" back when it was platted. Now, it's just piles of rubble and a stone marker in the forest. It'll also visit even earlier places like Colonial Dorchester, built as a trading post in the late 1600s, that now remain as just ruins. They are all fascinating in their own ways, and some quite eerie to visit.