There’s A Surprisingly Fun Scenic Train Ride Tucked Away In This South Carolina Park
Simpsonville. Some may think of Simpsonville as a sleepy little bedroom suburb of Greenville – but nothing, nothing could be farther from reality. Recently in the news (2018) for selling a lottery ticket worth 1.6 billion dollars in the Mega Millions Jackpot, this thriving community in the Upstate is home to many wonderful attractions, delightful restaurants, shops, and galleries.
The community actually sprang up in the 1820s because it was located in the crossroads of the Old Stage Road and Georgia Road (formerly the Cherokee Trail).
Then, in 1886, the railroad came to town as the Greenville and Laurens Railroad expanded down from Greenville. It was a period of quick expansion for railroads and the G&L quickly got absorbed by another rail line, and then another. Through it all, though, Simpsonville's ties to railroading were formed, especially since the line ran right down Main Street.
Today, over at Heritage Park, a massive sports and playground complex, the Heritage Park Railway pays tribute to Simpsonville's railroading history.
For a mere $3, visitors can take a ride on this train pulled by a miniature steam engine built to replicate the engines that pulled trains right through the heart of Simpsonville beginning more than a hundred years ago.
(Kids age two and under ride for free with an accompanying adult, by the way.)
All aboard for a scenic train ride in South Carolina passing through the enormous Heritage Park on a crazy-eight rail line built just for the the Heritage Park Railway.
Hours of operation are generally Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Please follow all current guidelines set forth by the CDC to allow for safe passage along the Heritage Park Railway. At the moment, face masks are recommended. Also, the train runs weather permitting. If you’d like to check the operational status of this scenic train in South Carolina for the day you’re headed to Simpsonville, the best place to do so is on the train’s Facebook page, here. Learn more about the train and Heritage Park on the official website, here.
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Address: Heritage Park, 861 SE Main St, Simpsonville, SC 29681, USA
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Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
