The Small-Town Lake In South Carolina That’s An Idyllic Summer Day Trip

When it comes to spending a day on the lake, there’s no shortage of options in South Carolina. The first lakes to come to mind, though, are likely our more popular or larger ones, such as Lake Moultrie where a world-record catfish was caught! But you may want to consider looking to the less traveled areas if you’d like to find somewhere that’s quieter and less crowded. Consider Lake Cooley in South Carolina, located in a small town in Spartanburg County.

Lake Cooley is a 330-acre, 1.7-billion-gallon reservoir located near the small town of Inman on Jordan Creek with beautiful mountain views. It was constructed to help with flood control and is used now for recreation.

The Spartanburg County lake is accessible to the public via Lake Cooley Park, which includes an ADA-accessible dock and kayak launch, a boat ramp, four picnic shelters ...

... kayak and paddleboard rentals ...

... a playground ...

... and an outdoor education center, a two-story facility offering classroom space filled with live and mounted wildlife and a ground-level area that can be rented to accommodate 40 people.

Some days or times of the year may be busier than others, but generally, it's a very peaceful spot, perfect for some quiet relaxation.

Fishing is a popular activity on Lake Cooley, with most common species caught including largemouth bass, rock bass, spotted bass, redear sunfish, white and black crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish.

Pontoon boats with up to a 30-hp engine and other motorized watercraft with a 15-hp engine are allowed with a permit.

An interesting activity on Lake Cooley that would be a lot of fun to see is yacht model racing. The Greenville Model Yacht Club meets at Lake Cooley on scheduled Saturdays for racing. Seawinds races start at 1 p.m. and end by 3:30 p.m., and all others race from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Check the Greenville Model Yacht Club website for the racing schedule.

After a full day of fun at this small-town South Carolina lake, the sunset views are picture perfect.

If you'd like something more than a picnic lunch while at the lake, check out Chips and Cheese Mexican Food on Little Mountain Road in nearby Wellford. The restaurant gets a lot of to-go business but there's seating available if you'd like to eat there before heading back to the lake.

Averie's Ice Cream Shoppe on Asheville Highway is the place for a delicious cold, summer treat. You could stop by on your way home if you're able to get there before it closes!

Pictured here is a Christmas in July special offered in the past. Maybe it will come back around again in July, but if not, the menu is full of regular offerings, including things like stuffed shakes, specialty sundaes, and more.

Have you ever been to this small-town lake in South Carolina, Lake Cooley? What’s your favorite lake activity? Have you ever explored our smaller lakes?

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