Wedding & Event Venue near Spartanburg, SC

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WLOS) — In downtown Spartanburg’s Morgan Square in South Carolina, you’ll see the "I Love You” statue created by students from The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, and a statue commemorating Revolutionary War hero Daniel Morgan.

But the most talked-about piece of public art on the square may be the one that honors border collie Chaser, known as “the smartest dog in the world.”

“She knows a thousand words,” said Spartanburg philanthropist Monty Mullen. “She had 1,000 toys and they were all named, and she could identify them.”

Chaser was owned and trained by Dr. John Pilley, a retired professor of psychology at Wofford College.

“He started teaching her the names of objects, and everything was through play,” said Dr. Pilley’s daughter, Pilley Bianchi. “Everything was through positive reinforcement and engagement.”

Dr. Pilley knew that border collies are among the most motivated and intelligent breeds, and he set out to prove it. He taught Chaser the names of over 1,000 objects, which she learned to identify on command. In 2011 Dr. Pilley published a peer-reviewed scientific paper documenting Chaser’s amazing vocabulary.

“And the findings were so tremendous that it hit every major newspaper. It went globally viral in 48 hours in 72 countries,” said Bianchi, who helped her father write the best-selling book, “Chaser, Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words.”

Stories and live appearances soon followed on national television. A 2014 profile on 60 Minutes helped push sales of the book to 50,000 copies in the U.S.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson hosted a PBS segment on Chaser for the Scientific series Nova, and that caught Mullen’s attention. She met Chaser and the Pilley family at a book signing at Spartanburg’s Hub City Bookshop and still has a signed copy of the book.

Dr. Pilley passed away in 2018, and his best furry friend and research assistant Chaser, one year later. Mullen, who leads The Balmer foundation in Spartanburg, took action from there.

“I thought she was from Spartanburg; she was born and raised here. And she was smart and made a name for herself, and she needed to be remembered," Mullen said.

Mullen launched a fundraising campaign for the Hub City Animal Project, and in the process, commissioned sculptor Betsy Scott to commemorate Chaser in bronze.

“I still get emotional when I go and see her,” Bianchi said, ”and what I love so much, is that kids come and they sit on top of her.”

Imprints of Dr. Pilley’s boots were added to the project to honor the bond between the man and his faithful companion.

“My father said, ’If you give a dog your heart, they’ll give you theirs,’” Bianchi said.

SPARTANBURG — Want to learn about the city's broad influence on music? It's easy. Just follow the Spartanburg Music Trail and you'll find out why the city sparkles.

The 30-minute outdoor walking tour shares the city’s rich music history. It highlights artists across genres, including country, gospel, soul and rock ‘n’ roll, who have garnered national and international attention in the world of music.

From Pinkney “Pink” Anderson, who partially inspired the name of rock band Pink Floyd, to William "Singing Billy" Walker, who combined poetry and melody in the now-traditional hymn “Amazing Grace,” Spartanburg is connected to a variety of artists with lasting legacies.

The music trail is inspired by Peter Cooper’s book, "Hub City Music Makers," and was started in 2011 by Hub City Writers Project, beginning with six signs and the plan to add a sign every two years, Kathryn Boucher, executive director of the Spartanburg Philharmonic, told The Post and Courier.

The Spartanburg Philharmonic took over the trail in 2017 and began to revamp signs that had fallen into disrepair. Since that time, a few signs have been moved to reflect downtown's growth, and many have been added.

In 2023, the Spartanburg Philharmonic put on a concert with current artists performing the work of musicians honored on the Spartanburg Music Trail. In June 2024, organizers finished installing new signs. A committee dedicated to the trail now decides which artists will be incorporated in the future.

The Spartanburg Music Trail fits well with the three big standards of the Spartanburg Philharmonic: creating, responding and performing, said Hannah Simpson, education manager for the Philharmonic. Simpson developed lesson plans around the trail for elementary age students and is working with Drayton Mills Elementary to incorporate these plans.

The Philharmonic hopes to continue supporting teachers by making music education more accessible and personal, as well as help the trail to become a stronger tourist attraction.

“Opportunities are endless as to what it (the Trail) can be for Spartanburg,” Boucher said.

New signs will be revealed in 2026.

Which artists are on the Spartanburg Music Trail

With two musicians featured on each sign representing almost 200 years of music-making history, these are the current artists highlighted in the Music Trail:

Pinkney “Pink” Anderson (1900-1974): Beginning his career at 14 as a medicine show draw man, Anderson later sang the blues about his experiences of the South and Spartanburg, particularly his South Forest Street neighborhood and the Spartanburg city jail on Broad Street.

David Ball (1953-): While in high school, Ball played bass with the Spartanburg Symphony but was more interested in the music he made with this friends Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood, as they would come to form Uncle Walt’s Band. In 2010, Ball highlighted his hometown with the album “Sparkle City.”

Johnny Blowers (1911-2006): Blowers, who was born in Spartanburg and worked for Alexander Music House in downtown, came to play drums for Frank Sinatra’s classics like “Night and Day” and “All of Me” after moving to New York. Later, Blowers became a radio host who interviewed the like of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington and eventually joined the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band.

The Blue Ridge Quartet: Permanently settling in Spartanburg in 1958, the gospel group created a television show for the WSPA in downtown Spartanburg as well as a radio show for WWVA-AM, which broadcast from Canada to the Caribbean.

Marshall Chapman (1949-): Rock ‘n’ roll daughter of Inman mills owner James Chapman, Marshall Chapman is regarded as a pioneering Nashville presence, having released 13 albums and written two books, as well as other notable accomplishments.

Rev. Julius Cheeks (1929-1981): Born into extreme poverty in Spartanburg, member of the Nightingales and gospel singer the Rev. “June” Cheeks came to influence generations of gospel performers as well as secular artists like James Brown and Wilson Pickett.

Peter Cooper (1970-2022): Wofford College graduate and author of "Hub City Music Makers," Cooper was an award-winning country music journalist and Grammy-nominated musician who later helped establish the Spartanburg Music Trail, writing texts for the trail’s signs and website as well as lending his voice to the audio version of the trail.

Hank Garland (1930-2004): Born and raised in Cowpens, Garland’s skilled guitar playing was featured in dozens of country and rock hits from the 1940s to '60s, including Elvis Presley’s “Little Sister” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Garland would go on to release multiple highly admired jazz albums.

Champ Hood (1952-2001): Born and raised in Spartanburg and another founding member of Uncle Walt’s Band, Hood became a popular and influential act in Austin, Texas, after the band moved from Spartanburg to the Texas capital, later becoming a Texas Music Hall of Famer.

Walter Hyatt (1949-1996): Raised in a log cabin off Union Street, after two years at Wofford College, Hyatt became the third in the acoustic trio Uncle Walt’s Band. The band became a great influence for singer-songwriters like Shawn Colvin and Lyle Lovett.

The Marshall Tucker Band (founded in 1972): Named for local piano tuner Marshall Tucker, who rented a space downtown on Spring Street that later became the rehearsal space for the band, The Marshall Tucker Band remains well-known today with its songs “Can’t You See” and “Fire on The Mountain.”

Fayssoux McLean (1940-): Spartanburg native McLean sang harmony with Emmylou Harris, helping to bring millions a love for country music. McLean later rejoined the music scene after working as a Spartanburg school speech therapist, creating the Americana albums "Early" and "I Can’t Wait."

Carlos Moseley (1914-2012): Founder of the Friends of the School of Music at Converse College and generous patron of Converse, Wofford College and the Chapman Cultural Center, Moseley served a long career as managing director, president and chairman of the board of the New York Philharmonic.

Arthur Prysock (1929-1997): Born in the south side of Spartanburg, Grammy-nominated jazz, R&B and disco artist Prysock recorded a number of hits and has become known for his smooth baritone voice performing at Carnegie Hall and hosting his own television show.

James Reese (1942-): Spartanburg music teacher and director for the Spartanburg District 2 school system, Reese played trombone on tour for The Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and others. Reese later worked as the music director of the MLK Unity Celebration and Evangel Cathedral Church in Spartanburg.

Don Reno (1926-1984): Born in Spartanburg, Reno was a widely influential banjo player and founding figure in bluegrass. Penning around 500 songs and developing his own three-finger “single-string” style of playing, Reno helped decide what is now understood as the bluegrass sound.

Gianna Rolandi (1952-2021): After growing up in Spartanburg, Rolandi went on to become an internationally renowned soprano who was incredibly successful on opera, concert and recital stages, such as the San Francisco Opera, New York Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra and many others.

Clara Smith (1894-1935): Born to a family in the Highlands area off West Henry Street, Smith went on to work with some of the greatest names in blues and jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lonnie Johnson and Fletcher Henderson and recorded a pair of duets with her contemporary Bessie Smith.

The Sparkletones (Founded in 1956): Cowpens kids, The Sparkletones, with their rock ‘n’ roll rhythms, harmonious vocals and electric guitar, visited some of the nation’s grandest stages throughout the 1950s, playing the band’s song “Black Slacks” on the Ed Sullivan Show and American Bandstand. Spartanburg's Sparkle City nickname might come from the band.

Buck Trent (1938-2023): Born and raised in the Arcadia mill village community, the multi-instrumentalist invented an electrified banjo, which granted him access to tones typically heard from the electric guitar. Trent performed with various bands and is on many of Dolly Parton’s recordings.

Ira Tucker (1925-2008): Frontman of the legendary gospel quartet The Dixie Hummingbirds, Tucker’s impact on gospel music made him a key influence for artists including Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder. Tucker performed his last Spartanburg concert in 2007 and The Showroom on South Daniel Morgan Avenue.

Billy Walker (1809-1875): Director of vocal music at First Baptist Church, “Singing Billy” published “The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion” in 1835, which allowed choirs across the country to learn hymns without learning how to read music. In this book is the traditional hymn “Amazing Grace.”

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Wade’s Restaurant announced that it is expanding with a new to-go focused concept called Wade’s Jr.

The James Beard Award-winning Southern dining institution said it is scheduled to open a second location at 3008 Reidville Road in early 2026.

The new concept is expected to bring the same homemade southern cooking to guests in a faster and more convenient format.

“Wade’s Jr. is a natural next step for our brand, allowing us to serve more of our Southern comfort food in a format that fits modern lifestyles,” said Anna Lindsey Liles, third-generation owner and granddaughter of Wade’s founders. “We are proud to continue our legacy while bringing our beloved recipes to even more of Spartanburg.”

According to the restaurant, Wade’s Jr. will offer Wade’s most popular menu items served through counter service and a curbside pickup lane for online orders.

“Our family and team have been dreaming up the next version of Wade’s for years, and we are thrilled to finally introduce what we’ve been working on,” said Hamp Lindsey, owner of Wade’s Restaurant. “Spartanburg’s growth is truly exciting, and we are proud to expand within this vibrant community. Wade’s Jr. allows us to reach even more guests, especially those who may not always make it to our east side location.”

Lindsey said Wade’s Restaurant will continue to operate as usual from its flagship location on North Pine Street.

“Continuing our family’s legacy of serving great Southern cooking to Spartanburg is an honor we don’t take lightly. Our commitment to excellence and continuous improvement has been the cornerstone of our success for generations, and we remain dedicated to bringing the best of Southern hospitality to our community” said Wade Lindsey III, third-generation owner and grandson of Wade’s founders.

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Coming from Bay St. Louis, Miss., Hub City is much larger than her former town. She's already found a few favorites on West Main Street, including Delaney's Irish Pub.

Ashley is ready to add another favorite restaurant to her list — The Flying Biscuit Cafe. The new breakfast and brunch spot opened June 9, and Ashley was among the first to try the menu.

It was a celebration of sorts on opening day. Mayor Jerome Rice and Councilman Jamie Fulmer were joined by representatives from OneSpartanburg to mark the occasion. Offering Southern-inspired food, The Flying Biscuit in Spartanburg is at 121 W. Main St., in space formerly occupied by The Tulip Tree.

Menu items will include stuffed French toast and the Piedmont Omelet. Founded in 1993, Flying Biscuit Cafe has 39 locations nationwide. The Atlanta-based company has locations in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Mount Pleasant.

Chris Atchison, a local entrepreneur, owns and operates the new restaurant that serves breakfast during all business hours.

"I am excited to bring The Flying Biscuit to Spartanburg," Atchison said. "It's something that downtown has needed for a while. There's really been no other breakfast options."

Atchison's interest in one day owning and operating a Flying Biscuit Cafe started when he was a college student at Morris Brown College in Atlanta. He frequented the restaurant there and soon became a loyal customer. The food left a lasting impression. He's started several other businesses in Spartanburg and Greenville, including coffee shops, sports bars and meat-and-three restaurants.

Now was the time to follow his dream, he said. For Atchison, opening day was the culmination of hard work. The opening was delayed for almost a month to have more time to get everything organized. After a brief ribbon cutting, the line stretched outside the door with customers eager to try something new.

"This is a new journey for me," Atchison said. "I am thankful for all the support in getting to opening day."

Operating hours for the new location will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Other menu items include bacon-wrapped shrimp, creamy grits, burgers, wraps and mimosas. Each Flying Biscuit location bakes more than 5,000 biscuits each week.

There are Flying Biscuit Cafe locations also in Charlotte, Raleigh and Knoxville. The downtown Spartanburg location is expected to draw office workers from around Morgan Square and comes amid the heart of the city transforming into an entertainment and dining destination, complete with a minor league baseball stadium. Fulmer said he anticipates more new business downtown.

Are you looking for the best parks in Spartanburg, SC? With a little help from our readers, we’ve put together a list of the best parks in Spartanburg County based on their suggestions. Whether you’re looking for a park with a giant playground or one with a great walking trail, you’re sure to find it on this list!

Spartanburg County is home to several outstanding parks that each offer unique features. For example, some parks are perfect for hot summer days because they offer splash pads, while others offer lots of shade. Other parks offer walking trails or disc golf courses.

No matter what your family is looking for, there is sure to be a park that meets your family’s desires. The list of park options is huge, so, to make help you narrow down your choices, here are a few of the best parks in Spartanburg, SC.

179 Dillard Road, Duncan, SCWithin this large sports complex, there is a great park for kids to run, climb, dig in the sand, and get wet. It has a brand-new playground and lots to explore!

It’s big, has a splash pad, and has shade!

Ashley R./cite>

We love Tyger River Park because it has two age-divided playgrounds, a climbing pyramid, and a splash pad along with a walking trail and disc golf. It’s just a great selection, and it’s really close to our house.

Amanda H.

500 Ammons Road, Spartanburg, SCThe City of Spartanburg’s airport park is located right by the Downtown Memorial Airport, and the park is aviation-themed! In addition to the fun airplane theme, there is also a splash pad.

Note: The splash pad is slick so we recommend water shoes that grip well and to watch your kids carefully to make sure that they don’t run in the area.

Glendalyn Avenue between South Fairview Street and Connecticut Avenue, SpartanburgHidden within Converse Heights, this fenced-in park is well-loved by the community and is open to visitors.

Happy Hollow – shaded, fenced in, a short walk from parking to play.

Kristie M.

2100 Southport Road, Spartanburg, SCA reader describes this park as “a little playground on Southport near Big Lots. The park has soccer fields and baseball fields. The playground got rebuilt within the last year or so.”

*Recommended by a local kid!

141 N. Cleveland Park Drive, Spartanburg, SCLocated in the middle of Spartanburg, Cleveland Park is a gem. This large park offers a nice playground, as well as a lake and walking trails. It is the perfect park to visit to have a picnic, and there are a number of picnic shelters available, as well.

1160 Old Furnace Road, Boiling Springs, SCNorth Spartanburg Park in Boiling Springs is also home to Miracle Park. Miracle Park is a fun and unique park with a 100% handicapped-accessible playground. The playground is designed with ramps and a rubber surface.

*Recommended by a local kid!

182 Rainbow Lake Road, Boiling Springs, SCLocated behind a fire station and across the street from Walmart, this enclosed local park is also a fan favorite. It has a playground and a walking trail.Boiling Springs Community Park

591 McMillin Boulevard, Boiling Springs, SCThis sports complex also includes a huge fenced-in playground area. Additionally, it offers a disc golf course and a wooded trail.

Va-Du-Mar McMillian Park is always a favorite. It has one large playground and another one on the right when you first pull in. Not a lot of shade but they do have trails that are used for disc golf. I take the kids up in there. There’s also a little creek that the kids like to play in. Lots of soccer fields, and I believe tennis courts. Also has a nice bathroom, the only downfall is that it is a hike with small kids to walk.

Audrey S.

8515 Highway 9, InmanMy family lived in Boiling Springs for several years. When we lived in Boiling Springs, our favorite park to visit was Anchor Park at Lake Bowen. This park offers a large fenced-in playground overlooking beautiful Lake Bowen. Additionally, it has ample amounts of shade and separate play areas for little ones and big kids. Even though we live on the Westside now, we still take trips to this park.

Did your favorite Spartanburg County park make our list? Let us know which parks you recommend in the comments!