Abandoned properties and places are quite intriguing, especially when they are combined to make up one of the many creepy road trips in South Carolina. Paying a visit to a place once filled with life and activity can mean you’ll reap many different kinds of rewards. For example, some people chase abandoned properties for nostalgia, others for amazing photo opportunities. Still, others are ghost chasers who love the adrenaline rush. If you’re a thrill-seeker in pursuit of any of the above, then the seven abandoned places in South Carolina on this road trip are for you.

We’ve put together the ultimate road trip, filled with tons of scary, abandoned places that you may have never heard about. Visit everything from an abandoned recreation park to a fort where the ghost of a former soldier has been seen looking for his missing head. Ready for the ultimate South Carolina ghost stories?! Because you’ve come to the right place.

If you’re new to our road trips, the route is all mapped out for you at this Google Maps link.

Google Maps [enhanced]
So what are you waiting for? Round up the troops and let's get this road trip party started! The first stop is a former luxurious mansion with quite the checkered past.
1. Bon Haven Mansion - Spartanburg (Editor's Note: Since the publication of this article, Bon Haven has been demolished after failed attempts to save the property and preserve it.
Abandoned Places in South Carolina
Bon Haven Mansion, 728 N. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA
Southern Accents Architectural Antiques / YouTube
This luxurious mansion in Spartanburg was built by John B. Cleveland, the man considered to be the city's first citizen. It's been slowly decaying and the owners recently received approval from the city council to tear it down. Bon Haven is located at 728 N. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC. It's on private property but you'll be able to see this beautiful ghostly home from the street. Read more about the history of this gorgeous mansion from our prior article about abandoned places in Spartanburg SC.

2. Landsford Canal - Catawba
Ken Fager / Flickr
Landsford Canal State Park, 2051 Park Dr, Catawba, SC 29704, USA
HABS photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Visit the once-busy canal that was forced out of business by the railroad industry. Wander freely around the ruins and get a chill up your spine when you visit the skeletal remains of the Lockkeeper's house. Landsford Canal ruins are located at Landsford Canal State Park, 2051 Park Dr, Catawba, SC 29704. Read more about this abandoned ruin in our featured article about the Landsford Canal ruins.
3. Springs Recreation Park - Lancaster
adamthewoo / YouTube
adamthewoo / YouTube

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Springs Park, Lancaster, SC, USA
Google Maps
Down a dirt road and in the woods near Lancaster sits a former recreation park that helped to create many fond memories for baby boomers who grew up spending weekends at this former park. Springs Recreation Park was part waterpark and part amusement park. It had an Olympic-size swimming pool, a steam-powered train, a Ferris wheel, a bowling alley, pony rides, and much more.

Built by Springs Industries for their employees to have family time together, the former Springs Recreation Park and its Olympic-sized pool and other amenities are worth exploring. Read more about the ruins found in this former family park in our previous article.

4. South Carolina State Hospital - Columbia
Ken Fager / Flickr
Babcock Building, South Carolina State Hospital, 2110 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Ken Fager / Flickr
Update: Since this article was written, there has been more progress on the renovations being completed. It is potentially a 20-year project.

Few places in the Palmetto State are more creepy or more haunted than the abandoned buildings that loom over the grounds of the former state mental asylum, one of the abandoned places in Columbia, SC located on Bull Street. A few businesses are hard at work renovating the property here, but as you know, renovations can sometimes anger spirits left behind.

You may not be able to visit all of the buildings, but some businesses have braved to open their doors in parts that have been renovated. And if you're lucky, you'll be able to wander into a part of this complex that hasn't been renovated yet. At the very least, you'll see the outside - and any ghostly beings that may be leering out the windows. Read more about this eerie property in our featured article about the South Carolina State Hospital.
5. Saluda Mill - Columbia
Saluda Mill, West Columbia, SC 29169
Willard / Flickr
The ruins of this former factory sit on the Saluda River in Columbia. You're free to wander around the ruins and the scant remains of the old cemetery which is reportedly where mill workers and their families were buried. The ruins are inside the Riverbanks Zoo. Once you arrive, you'll head to the Saluda Factory Interpretive Center. Note: visiting these ruins requires paid admission to the zoo. Read more about this fascinating factory ruin in the woods at Riverbanks Zoo in our previous article.
6. Building M17, Charleston Navy Base - North Charleston
Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial, Everglades Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405, USA
R Willy / YouTube
The eerie remains of M17 have been empty since 1996, after the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's recommendation to close the Navy Base in North Charleston. The massive building was once used to house sailors before it was converted to administrative offices for the base. Read more about this relic in South Carolina in our previous featured article.

7. Fort Freemont - St Helena Island
Fort Freemont, St Helena Island, South Carolina 29920, USA
Lea Austin / TripAdvisor
Walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who manned this fort for the short time it was in service for the U.S. Military. Oh, and you'll also walk in the footsteps of the ghost who haunts this place looking for his missing head. Spooky. Read more about this beautiful but creepy abandoned fort and how that ghost may have lost his head.

We love road trips, especially the ones like this one exploring fascinating abandoned places in South Carolina! If there’s a road trip you’d love to see us put together just let us know in the comments! Are there any abandoned buildings near you that you have discovered?

Love getting chills up your spine from creepy places? You’ll love these two road trips: South Carolina Terrifying Places (Upstate) and South Carolina Terrifying Places (Lowcountry). Load up the car or rent an RV from RVShare and hit the open road in search of interesting discoveries.

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More to Explore

Creepy Road Trips In South Carolina

Marisa Roman | July 30, 2021

Can I visit any abandoned places in South Carolina?

Why yes, you can definitely visit some abandoned places near you in South Carolina. Try these for example:

 

For anyone who is brave enough to try, there are quite a few abandoned places in South Carolina worth visiting, outside of this road trip above. In fact, we have a list of the eight abandoned wonders of South Carolina that make for quite the experience. Start by checking out The Boynton House in Colleton County and then adventure on to Castle Pinckney sitting on Shute's Folly, an island in Charleston Harbor. Suffice it to say, there is never a dull moment here in South Carolina.

What are the creepiest places in South Carolina?

Some of the creepiest places in South Carolina include:

 

While some people prefer abandoned attractions, others just want to go straight to those scary places in South Carolina. We’re talking about those places that will truly haunt your dreams. Anyone who loves the thrill of South Carolina ghost stories will truly enjoy visiting these haunted spots. Start by experiencing the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum in Columbia, and then see if you can spot any ghosts when you cross Crybaby Bridge in Anderson. But if you start getting spooked, don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Are there any urban legends in South Carolina?

A few urban legends in South Carolina include:

 

Maybe you don’t want to go visit any places in the state that are haunted or abandoned but you love a good tall tale. The good news, there are plenty of South Carolina ghost stories to get your goosebumps raised. We have a list of eight urban legends in South Carolina that are equally as disturbing as they are terrifying. For instance, did you hear the one about the famous Lizard Man? Talk about creepy! Or how about the Gullah urban legend involving a creature that sucks the energy from its victims in order to grow stronger?!

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