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Brief History Of
Croft State Natural Area
Today
Croft State Natural Area is a green retreat in the heart of
fast-growing Spartanburg County. With its rich history, the
park boasts many exciting and fun filled activities for the
entire family. There are excellent resource based
recreational opportunities such as: camping, fishing, bird
watching, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, picnic
area, picnic shelters. These activities bring you closer to
the resources. They give you the chance to become one with
nature and observe its true beauty. However, it has not
always been the get away that it has come to be.
Croft State Natural Area has an interesting history that
makes it a destination worth every minute of your visit. The
park, many years ago, served as rich farmland for many
people. The area of Glenn-Springs was the Spartanburg we
know today during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. This
area was a big destination area during its time due to the
Whitestone Springs located in the Whitestone Community
section of Croft State Natural Area. This section of the
Whitestone Community housed a large 250 room hotel for guest
to come a get away. Visitors during that time would visit
the Whitestone Spring Hotel and drink the water from the
Whitestone Springs. This spring water has been said to cure
many bladder, kidney, and liver ailments.
In the early 1940’s the park
served as an Infantry Replacement Training Center and was
officially activated on January 10, 1941, as a part of the
Fourth Service Command, with housing for some 20,000
trainees and support military reservation was named "Camp
Croft" in honor of Major General Edward Croft (1874-1938), a
South Carolinian who had served in action as an officer in
World War I and retired as Chief of Infantry. It was located
on the Southern Railroad about five miles southeast of
Spartanburg. The Camp served as a prisoner of war (POW)
camp. During this time the camp held approximately 250
German POWs.
Having had the chance to speak with several who served our
country and received training at “Camp Croft”, and came back
to take part in the peaceful beauty the park now offers; and
having explored the land to see the old homesteads and
farmland, the history really comes alive, but you don’t have
to take my word for it. Come visit us at Croft State Natural
Area and explore it all for yourself.
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