Glenn Springs Historic Marker

I didn’t know this until I started researching for this post, but there are several mineral springs in the upstate of South Carolina, and Glenn Springs is the most well known. The Historical Marker for Glenn Springs is located near the intersection of Highways 150 and 215 between Pauline and Pacolet, in southern Spartanburg County.

Known for its supposed ability to “cure what ails you”, Native Americans often drank from the spring. It’s rumored that George Washington visited Glenn Springs on a trip to Savannah, Georgia.

In the mid eighteenth century, Henry Storey received the land in a grant from the King of England. In 1825 John Glenn purchased the land and built an inn for travelers to stay in while they were visiting the springs. The inn became so successful that in the mid 1830’s Glenn and a group of investors built a hotel that gained a reputation for its luxurious amenities. The hotel became so popular among judges, U.S. Senators and Representatives, and state officials that it was soon dubbed the “unofficial capitol of South Carolina”.  Unfortunately, the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1941 and was never rebuilt.

Glenn bottled the spring water and shipped it all over the country and even to Europe. In the 1930’s, the spring and the surrounding land was purchased by J.W. Bell. Mr. Bell drank the water every day until his death at the age of 97! After hearing this, I was going to try to find the spring and try the water for myself, but I’ve been told that it has ran dry.

There are several buildings in the Glenn Springs area that have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. There is the Glenn Springs Post Office, built around 1900, the Calvary Episcopal Church, built in 1897, and several historic homes. I’ll definitely have to make a return trip.

I want to give a shout out to my daughter/adventure buddy Cayce for taking the ride with me to find this one!

If you know of any historical markers or places of interest in your neck of the woods, please feel free to tell me about them in the comments. I would love to visit.