Ask anyone from Lancaster, South Carolina about "Springs Park" and you'll get an ear full of nostalgia, delivered with a huge dose of happiness that's also coupled with a little sorrow. That's because this once thriving and lively destination in their own backyard is now slipping all alone into a state of ruin and decay.

Somewhere off the beaten path in Lancaster, about 10 miles out of town, lay the remains of Springs Recreation Park, a rare sort of park built in the early 1900s by Springs Mills primarily for the enjoyment of their mill workers and their families. Very little "official" information exists about this park, except that it opened somewhere around 1925 and closed before the end of the summer season in August of 1989.

The park was elaborate and boasted a massive concrete swimming pool complete with a triple-decker diving platform and a concrete viewing stadium fit for a mini olympic venue. It was, by all accounts, the best pool in the whole state. At 16 feet deep, it may also have been the deepest!

In addition to the gargantuan pool and stadium, the park boasted several "amusement" rides, including a small ferris wheel and a miniature ride-on train.

As if all this wasn't enough, Springs Park also had a skating rink, a miniature golf course and a bowling alley. Is it any wonder folks in Lancaster remember this park with such pride and fond memories? We say "folks in Lancaster" used this park, but people came from all over South Carolina for decades to Springs Park. It was the place to be and the place to be seen for a long, long time.

Take a look at some of what remains of this park that's now abandoned in the woods near Lancaster.

If you can figure out the location of this park, it's a walk down an overgrown road to get there.

But what you'll see is both amazing and devastating at the same time.

Parts of the park are nothing but debris at this point. This could possibly be part of the train station for the train ride.

While other parts, like this picnic table, are seemingly untouched by anything other than the leaves falling from the surrounding trees.

Remnants of the mini-golf course can be seen.

As well as these metal handrails seen in the middle of this photo.

The skating rink at Springs Park was a popular activity.

Now, all that remains are remnants is the slowly rotting skeleton of this favorite attraction.

Looking at the ruins, you can almost hear all the kids skating in this venue way back when.

Here, the concrete posts of an unknown structure hold their original position.

A doorway leads into an unknown space. There is so little information available about Springs that we couldn't identify this space. (Maybe a reader will lend a hand in the comments?)

Of couse, the "crown jewel" of Springs Park was the swimming complex. Here you see what appears to be the kiddie pool.

And in other spots you'll see only remnants of pool-like items, like these tiles indicating how deep the water was at this point.

But the best view of all is of the monumental concrete stadium seating and the pool.

What once looked like this...

Is now sadly empty and covered in graffiti.

The triple-decker diving board...

...has fallen into the pool

..and is now face down in the bottom of the deep end into which it used to propel so many visitors in this amazing recreational park.

If you want to check out the full video, you can do so below:

Springs Park was at the heart of many family outings and those memories remain deeply embedded in the hearts of those who regularly enjoyed this wonderful park.

Did you know about this (former) destination in South Carolina? And were you one of the lucky ones to have enjoyed this park when it was open? We'd love to know in our comments and see your vintage photos if you have them!

While this abandoned park is intriguing, we don't condone trespassing. If the signs are up, please heed the warning.