The Largest Peach Makes for the Perfect Pit Stop in South Carolina

Have you ever been on a road trip and all of a sudden you see some strange, jaw-dropping object in the distance? I have, and I'm pretty sure you have, too! One of my favorite places in South Carolina for fun, quirky attractions is South of the Border in Hamer, located just south of the North Carolina border. Between the Sobrero Tower, the Sombrero Room Restaurant, and a small amusement park just for kids, you could spend an entire day here — it's one of those places that's both a destination and a roadside stop. But South Carolina is filled with all sorts of exciting and curious roadside attractions that will make you want to pull over or make a detour.

If you've found yourself driving along Interstate 85 in Gaffney, South Carolina, you may have seen a curious peach-shaped water tower in the distance. A popular spot for a photo op, it certainly entices drivers to make a quick pit stop. Would you stop here if you saw it in the distance?

The town of Gaffney is known as the "Peach Capital of South Carolina," due to its high production of peaches in the state. While the town of Johnston, SC, is referred to as the "Peach Capital of the World," it's missing something that Gaffney has — a 135-foot water tower in the shape of and painted like a peach.

You can spot it from miles away as you drive along the I-85 into Gaffney. Towering above the treetops, there's little doubt where you are — you have entered the Peach Capital of South Carolina. Welcome!

Seeing a massive peach tower should entice you to exit the highway to get a closer look. I live for kitschy roadside attractions like this one — it's part of what makes a road trip so much fun. Located between Exits 90 and 92 off I-85 on the aptly-named Peachoid Road, this peach-shaped water tower can hold up to 1 million gallons of water. Not only is it a roadside attraction, but it also has an important purpose.

So, how did Peachoid come to be? A member of the Gaffney Board of Public Works came up with the idea when the town was approved to construct an elevated water tower for water storage in 1981. Who would have guessed it would become a huge roadside attraction in South Carolina? It was even featured on an episode of the hit Netflix series "House of Cards." But the Peachoid isn't just a notable landmark in Gaffney — it's a symbol of pride for the Peach Capital of South Carolina.

Visiting a giant peach water tower in the Peach Capital of South Carolina is an exciting pit stop on a road trip. Have you seen the Peachoid in person yet?

I can't get enough of roadside attractions like the Peachoid — how about you? If you love discovering the weird, wacky, and wonderful attractions across the state, take the State Exploration Challenge to discover the most remarkable roadside stops in South Carolina.