Cheraw State Park - Just After Hurricane Florence

Entrance right off Highway 52

Park Manager Robert Mahony

Located in Chesterfield County, Cheraw State Park has a rich history tied to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which built many of the structures found there today. A more recent chapter for Cheraw State Park is the championship golf course built in 1991. I visited with Park manager Robert Mahony on October 1 to learn more about the 7000-acre state park with centerpiece Lake Juniper offering recreational swimming, paddling and fishing.

"We just had Hurricane Florence come through here and we recorded 24-inches of rain," said Mahony. "Our campground road got washed out by the flooding and we cannot access about half of the park at this point, but repair work is already underway. Our Director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is Duane Parrish and he came here right after the storm to assess the damage. We do have some pine trees that came down in the storm to clean up and our picnic area behind the office remains flooded."

Mechanical management practices are also in use here

A serious outbreak of mosquitoes is also making that picnic area inhospitable, but I did notice some folks using the pet-friendly Boardwalk Trail near there. Deeper in the property is Turkey Oak Trail which incorporates a 2-mile loop and a 4.5-mile loop though the piney woods. No horses and no 4-wheelers are allowed, but foot traffic is welcome. The state park is popular with visitors from place in North Carolina like Monroe, Fayetteville and Pinehurst. Any guests wishing to spend the night may utilize one of the cabins on sight, built by the CCC. The cabins are quaint, rustic and set up to sleep four guests and I am happy to report a new effort underway to remodel and modernize them.

To view past blog entries about S.C. State Parks click Hickory Knob State Park - Edisto Beach - Huntington Beach - Myrtle Beach - Hampton Plantation - Barnwell / Tornado - Hunting Island

To view past blog entries about managed properties click on Congaree National Park - Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Botany Bay WMA / Coastal Geology - Donnelly WMA / Night Sounds - Belfast WMA / Benefit - Bear Island WMA / Birding

Cabin 5 on Oct. 1 before the remodeling process