Wedding & Event Venue Near Abbeville, SC.

ABBEVILLE, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Piedmont region of South Carolina is home to an area that is rich in gems.

We visited Diamond Hill Mine in Abbeville for this week’s One Tank Trip.

Carol Sauercorwin and her husband love it here.

“We had to come back here. This is our second trip,” she said.

They’re on a trip from the Charleston area. Since they’re close by, they want to see what they could find at Diamond Hill Mine.

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“You see what other people are finding and you just want to come back and find it yourself,” said Sauercorwin.

Finding it yourself is what this place is all about.

“There used to be a really big hill right here, and people would ride by it and say look at the diamonds on the hill,” said volunteer David Brown.

What they actually saw were many different types of crystals.

There are still about a dozen types of crystals here and you can dig for them yourself.

Brown says it’s therapeutic.

“It’s fun. You get in there and you get in a zone, and you forget about all your troubles behind you,” he said.

When our Will Volk visited, the mine was muddy from recent rain, but he didn’t let that stop him.

“You’re gonna be dirty,” Sauercorwin told him.

Brown told him: “Wear your worst clothes, so you’re in trouble today.”

As it turns out, Volk was just fine. The rain helped bring crystals in the pile closer to the surface, meaning he didn’t have to dig deep to find something.

He found a couple of nice pieces.

At Diamond Hill Mine, you can try finding your own.

“Mother Nature’s just amazing,” said Sauercorwin.

Diamond Hill Mine is open every day, including holidays.

You pay one price for the day, and you keep everything you find. It’s $20 for adults, $10 for teenagers 13-17, $5 for kids 6-12, kids 5 and under are free, seniors 65 and older are $10, veterans are $15.

They suggest bringing your own tools to dig, or you can rent some.

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The adversity and outside noise have been there all season for Gray Collegiate. At one point, they didn’t know what kind of season they would have. They faced the prospect of playing a shortened season once it was decided all their region opponents would forfeit games.

At the end of the day, they’ve persevered. And they also know where the season will end: the Class 2A state championship.

BJ Mongomery accounted for two touchdowns and Tyler Waller threw for two more Friday and the War Eagles used a hard-hitting, tenacious defense to knock off Abbeville 27-12.

Gray Collegiate will be making its second state championship game appearance on Thursday, Nov. 30 when it plays Oceanside Collegiate, a winner over Hampton County, at 7 p.m. at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg. The War Eagles won the title in 2021, their only other appearance in the finals. The Landsharks lost to Abbeville in the Class 2A title game last season.

“It means everything. What these guys have been through all year,” Gray Collegiate coach Adam Holmes said. “We maybe were going to have a four-game schedule. But at the end of the day, our guys persevered. Football teaches you how to face adversity and our football team faced adversity. We went out and played great football teams and it got us ready for nights like this. (Abbeville) set the precedent for 2A and that’s what we’re working to be and get on that level.”

The War Eagles (14-3) had to come back from an early deficit. And it was a special teams play that turned out to be the turning point. Demarcus Leach sprinted 80 yards for a score to bring the visiting Panthers within 13-12 with 1:10 remaining in the third quarter.

That’s when Montgomery made the play of the game. He misplayed the ensuing kickoff and let it bounce around on the ground. He gathered himself enough to go 88 yards just in front of the Abbeville sideline to make it 20-12 with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.

“I had to stop and give it a second to make sure it didn’t roll through my legs,” Montgomery said. “Coach talked about it all week that if we take it back to the right side, we score. That’s what we did. We executed it very well.”

Holmes confirmed they thought they could make a big play on special teams.

“We worked on that all week,” he said. “We knew it was there. We just had to get our opportunity. We almost broke one every time. Finally, BJ hit it and broke the game open.”

Abbeville struck first on a 24-yard TD pass from Leach to Karson Norman on the opening drive.

But Waller, who was 13-of-22 for 165 yards, sandwiched a couple of TD passes around the half to give the War Eagles the lead for good. First, he connected with Blaine Redmond on a 7-yard TD just before the half to make it a 6-all game at the break.

Then after a turnover on the first possession of the second half, Waller directed 3-play, 23-yard drive that ended with an 18-yard TD strike to Jamarious Lockett with 5:21 remaining in the third. Lockett finished with six catches for 103 yards.

Montgomery, who was the workhorse on the ground with 96 yards on 24 carries, iced it on the next Gray possession with a five-yard run with 7:59 remaining.

The War Eagles defense took over from there.

“Our defense did an amazing job,” Holmes said. “They balled out tonight. Guys like (Michael) Boulware and (Trequan) Singleton played great. Other than that one long run, we held them and made them have to go on long, long drives. Proud of that defense and we just have to do it one more week.”

This story was originally published November 25, 2023, 12:36 AM.

ABBEVILLE COUNTY, S.C. —

A lawsuit has been filed in the case of a South Carolina woman who was brutally attacked by a pack of dogs two years ago.

Kyleen Waltman was left fighting for her life on the morning of Mar. 21, 2022, when she was mauled by three vicious dogs while walking down Ball Road in Honea Path, in Abbeville County.

Life-threatening injuries to her entire body left Waltman in critical condition and led to the loss of both of her arms as a result of the attack, her family previously confirmed. (Video below was published on Mar. 29, 2022.)

The lawsuit, filed on Feb. 15 in the Court of Common Pleas against Abbeville County, alleges gross negligence in the county's "handling of previous complaints about the aggressive and dangerous behavior of the dogs involved in the attack," according to a news release from her attorneys on Friday

Tombo Hite and T. Matthew Bradley called the attack a "horrifying incident that shook the Honea Path community," and said they have uncovered multiple complaints made before Waltman's attack about the "dangerous nature of the dogs" made to Abbeville County Animal Services.

"Kyleen Waltman and her family are enduring unimaginable pain and suffering as a result of this attack, and they deserve justice," Hite said in the release.

The lawsuit claims that appropriate measures were not taken by the county to ensure the safety of the community.

The attorneys said that Abbeville County Animal Services had repeated notice that there were vicious dogs that were unrestrained in the area of Ball Road.

They cited one man who they said was attacked by the dogs from the same property and bitten on his leg on Dec. 25, 2021, "just three short months prior to the attack on Kyleen Waltman."

They said the man was taken to a hospital, and both he and hospital officials reported the attack to Abbeville County Animal Services.

"The lawsuit charges that Abbeville County Animal Services failed to do an adequate investigation into the vicious dogs, failed to remove the dogs from the property to protect the public, and then the plaintiff was attacked at the same location three months later," attorneys said.

Had Abbeville County Animal Services taken proper action in response to the previous reports, "this devastating attack could have been prevented," the release said.

"The lawsuit seeks to hold Abbeville County responsible for their failure to protect Waltman and other residents from the foreseeable danger posed by the vicious dogs," attorneys said.

No specific financial amount of compensation was released.

"This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilant oversight and proactive measures to address potential risks posed by dangerous animals within our communities," Hite said.

"This is one of the most tragic cases that I have ever seen," Bradley said."Tombo and I will be working tirelessly to advocate for Kyleen and to ensure that no other family has to experience what happened to Kyleen in this heartbreaking case," Bradley said.

WYFF News 4 has reached out to the Abbeville County Director, David Garner, but has, so far, received no response.

The owner of the three dogs was arrested and charged with several misdemeanors after the attack, ranging from ownership of dangerous animals to letting the animals roam freely on the premises.

The sheriff's office said the dogs were immediately taken by animal control.

Abbeville County Animal Control later said the dogs were put down immediately after the attack.

Torin and Paige Rouse crossed the South Carolina state line, where they were greeted by people from all walks of life who were inspired by their journey.

ABBEVILLE, S.C. — Horns blew as cars passed Torin and Paige Rouse walking down Highway 81 heading north to toward Lowdesville, South Carolina.

As they walked, those horns were not in spite of the couple, rather a sign to keep going as they walked across America.

The couple, who reside in northeast Missouri, made the decision to start walking across the country a year ago in an effort to change how they perceived the world in a time of such uncertainty.

“We really want to be the example. I don’t see anything else that better showcases the mind than walking across the country. Right now, hitting South Carolina, we are on state 18, so we're maybe at or over a third of the way through it,” Torin told us as he and his wife walked across the South Carolina state line into Abbeville County.

“Prior to starting the journey, I was a lot more cynical and much more of a negative person. And I looked down on the fellow man,” Torin admitted.

That was one reason why the Rouses wanted to change that mindset by challenging themselves to cultivate an outlook on life where they felt hopeful, confident, and appreciative in a world of uncertainty.

“We went through a tornado in Kansas and we’ve learned to do it without stressing. And we’ve learned to be content in such an uncomfortable and uncertain lifestyle,” Paige said. That learning curve has come from the realization that discomfort enacts change.

“We’ve realized that you don’t find happiness in being comfortable or getting what you want. We’ve learned that we can change as people more than we thought, and we hope to show people that you’re not strong enough to walk across the county, you become strong doing it. We are all more malleable than we think,” Paige said as she reflected on their last year of travel.

That malleability and courage, which has been showcased daily on their social media, was what caught the attention South Carolinian Chrissy Boles, who has followed them on Facebook.

“I wish them all the best and I support them. I think its pretty rad what they are doing,” Boles said after ironically finding them at a gas station pausing their journey to use the restroom.

And Boles wasn’t the only one who had been following.

As folks noticed them walking down the roadway, honks continued to be given left and right. Some even stopped to give donations towards the couple's journey.

Whenever the couple was asked “why” they are taking on such a unique task, the answer was short.

“You must change the inside in order to change the outside,” Paige said.

And that change, according to them, starts with one’s perspective.

“We think it’s all about perspective, we can have a more positive perspective, we can be more content in our own minds, and we can learn how to empathize more and judge less and become friends with any type of person. We want to be the example and share the tools that we've learned to help alter that previous perspective,” Paige said.

The couple plans to finish their journey within a 4-year time period but told News19 the timeline isn’t the overarching goal. Rather, their goal is to hit all 48 states while sharing what they learn from living in uncertain circumstances, all to prove change is possible but it starts with mind and the perspectives with which we chose to see the world.

Feeling cooped up and ready to get back into the sunshine? It’s the perfect time to plan your getaway to South Carolina’s Old 96 District!

Famous for outdoor adventures, small town charm, and lively, family-friendly festival experiences, you’re sure to have an unforgettable time. Encompassing the five counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, and McCormick, South Carolina, the Old 96 District is teeming with festivals all year long! Here are some unique, small-town festivals to visit on your next weekend getaway.

Come explore Downtown Abbeville during the 42nd Annual Spring Festival on the beautiful downtown Abbeville square! From amusement rides to music, there is something for every member of the family. With an all-time record for food and craft vendors, this year’s Spring Festival running May 2-4, 2024 will be a festival to remember.

Each year on Memorial Day weekend, Ware Shoals hosts over 20,000 visitors to enjoy the large catfish feast. In addition to the star of the show—the catfish—the “feastival” also hosts a carnival, booths for arts and crafts, and the streets are roped off at night for dancing! Join the fun and festivities this year May 23-25, 2024.

A “blooming good time,” the award-winning South Carolina Festival of Flowers brings the streets of Greenwood, SC to life with an impressive and expansive display of live topiaries. The main weekend of the 57th annual event will be held June 6-9, 2024, featuring garden tours, live music, local artisans, vendors, and even a ladies’ luncheon. You can see famous topiaries on display throughout the summer, though, so be sure to take it all in during your visit to the Old 96 District.

Did you know South Carolina is the second largest peach producer outside of California? It’s true! We love our peaches here in the Old 96 District, and this festival is entirely dedicated to our favorite fruit. This annual celebration of the peach is held in Trenton, SC on the third Saturday in June each year, when the peach crop has come in. The festival features a parade, arts and crafts, food vendors, live music, and children’s rides and games.

Begun in 2009 as a Fireworks Extravaganza, the Festival of Stars has quickly grown into much more, featuring its own beauty pageant, street dance, Star-Spangled Community Parade, activities, games, and the final event, a major Fireworks Display. Watch for 2024 festival dates on their Facebook page. A quintessential summer festival with something for the entire family!

One of the most anticipated events in the Old 96 District, this KCBS-certified BBQ competition will transform Greenwood, SC into a Southern foodie’s paradise from July 11-13, 2024. The region’s best BBQ chefs gather to compete with other BBQ chefs from around the country for the crown in a wide range of categories. Visitors can also enjoy live blues performances throughout the event and explore local shops in the heart of Uptown Greenwood.

This two-day barbecue kick-off is sure of a good and tasty time! This is a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned event, bringing out the best of the best from South Carolina and beyond. Come out to shop local vendors, enjoy local artists, and of course—barbecue! Squealin’ on the Square typically takes place around the first weekend of October; follow the City of Laurens on Facebook for updates to the schedule.

Held annually on the historic downtown Abbeville square every third weekend of October, the festival boasts craft vendors, live music, and “some of the best BBQ this side of the Mississippi!” Read about journalist Hayley Hutson’s visit to the Hogs and Hens festival last year here!

Looking for more festival fun? This is just the beginning! From barbecue and fairground rides to live music and local shopping, South Carolina’s Old 96 District is full of unexpected wonders. Stay awhile at one of our local bed and breakfasts or lakeside campgrounds for an unforgettable getaway!