Wedding & Event Venue near Pickens, SC

Inside: A list of local parks and playgrounds in the Easley and Pickens, SC areas, with details and tips from local parents.

Looking for parks in Easley? My favorite time of year has arrived, and I am so excited! Spring is working hard to break its way into the Southern summer. Recently my kids and I decided to leave the “big city” to check out the suburbs. We set out on a mission to explore some of the Easley parks and were pleasantly surprised with what we discovered!

We’ve also added some information for you about all parks in Easley and Pickens Counties, even if we haven’t had the opportunity to visit them yet.

Our Favorite Parks In Easley, SC

Once Upon a Time, in my former life, I was a baseball wife. My family spent countless hours at baseball parks. I’d been to JB Owens Complex on many occasions. I had no idea there was a playground – obviously, my visits took place before I was a mom. The playground has a climbing structure, one slide, and a swing set. A nice covered picnic shelter has seven tables and a Powerade machine. This might come in handy if you are like me and always manage to forget drinks!

While the playground itself is pretty ordinary, it’s the surrounding area that caught my attention. In a very large wooded area, you’ll find a disc golf course. There are plenty of places to tie up your hammock, too. I saw several of these the day we were there. You have no idea how badly I wanted to join them! Can you say relaxing?!

Are you familiar with free libraries? Well, good news! Pickens County has placed one at this playground. If you have books your family has memorized, bring them and make an exchange. There’s one other feature I have to tell you about before moving on. Red Owens Complex has a “Born Learning Trail.” If you’re like me, you have no idea what that is. It’s just what the name says… a trail where you learn. Stations for younger children are set up across the field. Your job is to follow the directions on each sign. It is one of the coolest things I’ve seen outdoors! It provides such a wonderful teaching opportunity.

Pope Field is a small playground for ages 5-12. What stood out to me most were the four slides. Three are side by side. I didn’t have the kids with me on this particular trip, but I can easily imagine the races that would take place. In addition to the playground, there are two ball fields and a picnic shelter.

This park will appeal to you for several reasons. There are two separate playgrounds. The one for ages 2-5 is simple and somewhat secluded. There are two covered shelters and a bathroom. Please note, I am using the term “bathroom” loosely. I’d suggest you make everyone go before heading to this park.

The upper playground, for ages 5-12, is pretty large. It sits beside a basketball court and two volleyball stations. Remember to bring balls to take advantage of these courts. There are no shelters, but several picnic tables and plenty of green grass with perfect spots to throw down a blanket.

Hagood Park is also the perfect place to bring your furry friends. There are two separate fenced-in parks for your dogs. You heard that right! One park is designated for pups, the other for larger dogs.

Picnic tables, a shelter, a concrete walking trail and trains are just a few of the features this park offers. If you have a kid who loves trains, this should be on your list of places to visit. And three cheers for a nice clean bathroom at Doodle Trail Park.

Learn More About Having Fun on The Doodle Trail in Easley, SC

Alice Mill Park102 Nalley Street, Easley

Kings ParkOak Circle, Easley

Nalley Brown Nature Park380 Adger Road, Easley

Woodside Park200 South 8th Street, Easley

Check Out Our Guide To Spending A Day in Easley, SC For More Fun Things To Do

Our Favorite Parks In Pickens County, SC

I saved the best for last. Jaycee Park is located off Main St in Pickens. I was so excited about this park, I picked the boys up from school and drove all the way to Pickens a SECOND time so they could see it. With the price of gas, that speaks volumes.

I followed the GPS the first time to get photos and check it out. I immediately fell in love. The largest structure is wooden with a slide, ladders, and a bridge. It reminded me of Kids Planet. Everything else is made of tires. There’s a zip line, swings, balance beams, and even ladders made of tires. The boys were fascinated. The climbing wall was ocean-themed and the walking trail was paved. There was even a Born Learning Trail on the other side of the fence.

A gate from the playground leads to a shallow creek with a sand bar. If your children are into skipping rocks and wading in ankle-deep water, you could easily spend the majority of your time here. It wouldn’t hurt to throw water shoes and a towel in your bag. You might be sorry if you don’t – I may or may not be speaking from experience.

This is just a rough overview of some of the family parks in the Easley/Pickens area. A short drive from Greenville, you’ll enjoy checking out these new discoveries as much as I did.

Town Creek Bike Park545 State Road S-39-190, Pickens

The Town Creek Bike Park (TCBP), is an off-road bicycling facility with a number of features, including:

TWH- In an abundance of caution, The Wild Hunt is sharing this story with our community. We have learned that Stillwater Christian Fellowship recently announced plans to return to The Market on the Mill, stating their intent to “bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have been deceived and enslaved by the lies of witchcraft and paganism.”

The post below was released on social media earlier today, Thursday, May 8, 2025, presumably calling for a gathering on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Concerns about the Stillwater Christian Fellowship targeting the local Pagan and Witchcraft community first emerged in early 2025. As TWH reported, members of the church confronted vendors at a local market, allegedly harassing at least one Wiccan vendor selling Witchcraft materials and tools. Witnesses reported that church members condemned the vendor and supportive individuals to hell, citing Exodus 22:18, the often-quoted and likely mistranslated verse, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

The specific incident reportedly took place on February 15, 2025, at The Market on the Mill—a venue known for hosting local businesses, boutiques, antiques, and flea market items. While no physical harm was reported, the confrontation sparked concern within the Pagan and Witchcraft community, leading to calls for increased vigilance.

The church’s involvement was later confirmed through an online broadcast. On February 18, Kevin Harden of Gaining Ground Ministries released a YouTube video titled “Witches Be Crazy with Pastor Barry Vaughn.” The video opened with Harden quoting Deuteronomy 18:9-12, which warns against practices like divination, sorcery, and necromancy. During the broadcast, Vaughn confirmed that he and others had attended a recent witchcraft festival in Pickens, where they initially protested outside the venue before being asked to leave by event organizers.

In response to criticism, Stillwater Christian Fellowship continued to escalate its messaging through sermons, podcasts, and videos. Members called on pastors to “chase the wolves out,” a phrase that some critics argue refers to witches, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and abortion rights supporters. Vaughn later attempted to clarify his stance, stating in a follow-up video that he does not advocate for physical violence but supports the enforcement of what he calls “God’s law.”

We encourage community members to remain aware of their surroundings and take appropriate precautions.

TWH will continue to follow the story and report as we know more.

The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content.

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Inside: Local parents share what to do when you spend a day in Pickens, SC. Plan a day trip and explore.

If you’ve never spent a day exploring Pickens, SC, you should add it to your bucket list. Pickens County is home to some of the most naturally beautiful locations in South Carolina, including Table Rock and Lake Jocassee. You can also find excellent shopping at the Market at the Mill and local antique shops. There is just so much to do in Pickens, SC! We went on a search for fun in this beautiful area of the Upstate and came back with a long list of things to do on a day trip to Pickens, SC any time of year.

This article includes:Summer: Pickens, SCFall: Pickens, SCWinter: Pickens, SCSpring: Pickens, SCWhere to Eat in Pickens, SCShopping in Pickens, SC

Are you looking for a not-too-far-away place to escape to this week with your kids? Possibly a place or two where they can run free and explore without a care in the world (well almost). One of the things that are incredible about the Upstate, is that there’s always something new to discover. Just when we think we’ve covered everything there is to do locally, we discover more.

There are so many unique things to do in Pickens, SC, so I decided to split this up into a seasonal guide. Most of the outdoor activities that don’t include getting in the water can be done at any time of year, weather permitting.

A Summer Day In Pickens, SC

One of the best times of day to enjoy the state parks in Summer is in the morning (fewer crowds for the win!). So head out early and grab breakfast at You Drive Me Glazy. You can get a dozen mini cake donuts with custom toppings to take on your adventure. Then choose one or more of the following places to cool off in the summer sun. Pickens County has so much natural beauty, you can fill an entire day with outdoor fun!

Other Popular Places For Summer Fun In Pickens, South Carolina

Be sure to visit one of the many parks in Pickens County!

“Fall” In Love With Pickens, SC

Once the weather cools off a bit, and doing things outside is a little more hospitable, Pickens has plenty of trails and other things to explore

The playground at the Pickens end of the Doodle Trail is so much fun!!! We Even took my daughter before she could walk since there’s a structure for babies. Plenty of fun for babies, toddlers, and big kids.

Heather H.

Other Popular Places For Fall Fun In Pickens, South Carolina

Things To See During The Winter In Pickens, SC

Spring Time Fun In Pickens, SC

Other Popular Things To Do During Springtime In Pickens, South Carolina

Places To Eat In Pickens, SC

Shopping in Pickens, SC

Pickens, SC is loaded with antique shops and refurbished mill spaces that have transformed into the ultimate shopping experience. If you are heading to Pickens, SC, then add these local places to shop to your day trip list!

Looking for something fun indoors during your day trip? Check out our Indoor Things to Do guide for Pickens County!

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Pickens’s city leaders hosted a town hall after a petition against a 200-acre annexation request drew over 900 signatures.

Developers are proposing to build a large subdivision off Mauldin Lake Road. The small conference room wasn’t large enough to fit the crowd of residents.

“If we let one national builder in here, they’re going to be knocking on our door like they have been Easley and we’re going to get overrun,” Jessica Merrill who lives near the project site.

A development team is seeking to annex around 200 acres into the city of Pickens in order to build a subdivision with around 142 homes. City council paused voting weeks ago after concerned residents gathered hundreds of signatures against it.

“Everybody has a right to build a house to live in, but high density block development is not appropriate here,” said Peter Greenberger who lives near the project site.

Neighbors fear the development would interrupt the rural characteristics that drew them outside the city in the first place. They also worry about it creating heavier traffic, infrastructure challenges and strain on schools.

Developers say all the concerns have been debunked by studies.

“But you can’t at least acknowledge the way this has been handled with more detail, more accountability, and more demands --we’re going on 2 1/2 years--than any other project I’ve ever seen in this county, in the upstate,” Dan Bracken, land broker.

Developers said they’ve dropped 67 homes, increased some lot sizes, added more buffer and greenspace to help appease neighbors.

“We need to make sure we can still have a project that’s economically viable,” said Brian Gullette from BRD Land & Investment.

City council will discuss the project during Monday’s work session.

“We also welcome a man to be able to do with his land like he wants to, under the premises of community, we’re trying our best to do the best that we can for everybody affected,” said Mayor Isaiah Scipio.

Even if the annexation is approved council will then have to approve a development agreement before the developers can break ground on anything.

Copyright 2025 WHNS. All rights reserved.

PICKENS, S.C. —

The future of a massive development project has been the center of debate in Pickens County. On Wednesday, Pickens City Council hosted a town hall to provide updated plans and hear from the public.

An overcapacity room and subsequently a hallway were packed full of people for Wednesday's town hall meeting in Pickens County.

It was hosted to discuss a highly contested potential project in Pickens County that would put 142 homes along Mauldin Lake Road.

"We've now taken and changed our game from smaller houses on smaller lots to bigger houses on bigger lots, and then more expensive houses on smaller lots that have incredible views," said Brian Gullette with BRD Land and Development.

The property sits untouched, less than a quarter mile from Pickens city limits, meaning it would need to be annexed and rezoned.

Developers say a development agreement would need to be approved by multiple parties.

"It's a higher standard than zone site, green space, firm buffer, numbers of homes, it's all nailed down in writing. The developer can't change the city, can't change. The land ever changes hands, and the developer leaves. The next person can't change it," explained real estate broker Dan Bracken.

Peter Greenberger lives down the road from the property and thinks Pickens can find other ways to bring people in.

"Special events and, working on the downtown core, I think, is a path to success and prosperity, not bulldozing agricultural land," he says.

This Pickens mayor ended the town hall on this note -

"Let's work together to make this as good as possible, because I made a commitment that I wanted growth, but I did not want to lose our identity," he says.

Developers also say the 142 homes will cost between $400,000 and $600,000, but they did not express how those values would impact taxes for surrounding properties.

The city council will also discuss the project in a meeting on Monday.

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