A forgotten wagon wheel discovered on a wooded ridge overlooking Table Rock reveals a surprising truth about the Upstate foothills. Long before the forests returned, these hills were home to farms, pastures, orchards, and families who worked the land beneath the shadow of the mountains.
Built in 1918 as Oolenoy School, the Oolenoy Community Center has been the heart of the Oolenoy Valley for generations. From educating local children to hosting community events and the annual Pumpkin Festival, this historic landmark continues to preserve the rich heritage of Pumpkintown and the surrounding foothills.
Built in 1918 as Oolenoy School, the Oolenoy Community Center has been the heart of the Oolenoy Valley for generations. From educating local children to hosting community events and the annual Pumpkin Festival, this historic landmark continues to preserve the rich heritage of Pumpkintown and the surrounding foothills.
From Cherokee chiefs and Revolutionary War heroes to natural springs, mountain legends, and pioneer families, many of the names found around Pumpkintown have fascinating origins. Discover the stories behind some of the most recognizable names in the Oolenoy Valley.
Historic storefronts, local businesses, and small-town charm. Take a stroll through downtown Pickens and discover why this Upstate community remains one of South Carolina’s hidden gems.
Before lights, televisions, and refrigerators, families in Pumpkintown relied on kerosene lamps, wood stoves, spring houses, and one another. Step back in time and discover what daily life was really like in the Oolenoy Valley before electricity arrived.
Before Pumpkintown existed, Cherokee hunters, traders, and families traveled a network of footpaths through the Oolenoy Valley. Discover the forgotten trails that once connected the mountains of the Upstate to the Cherokee Lower Towns.
A traveler once crossed the fertile Oolenoy Valley and declared he had never seen so many pumpkins in his life. More than two centuries later, the name he gave the community still remains. Discover the fascinating story behind Pumpkintown, South Carolina’s most unusual place name.
Discover the historic churches that helped shape Pumpkintown and Oolenoy Valley, from the frontier-era roots of Oolenoy Baptist Church to the community landmarks that continue serving the South Carolina foothills today.