November 5 - Cabins in the Cove Tour a 1920’s restored log cabin, surrounding grounds and trails of nearly 1-mile on adjoining property that feature an early 1900s barn, and small waterfall. See the natural regeneration from the damage of 2018 tropical storm Zeta.

Walkers meet at the parking lot of the Saluda Library at 2 pm. A SCLT member will keep you aware of the terrain of the trail and share their insights about the history, flora, and fauna of the area.

Prepare for each walk with comfortable shoes, a walking stick, water, and a snack. Feel free to bring your field guides and a camera. Please provide any pertinent medical history to your guide. Many of these hikes will access private property. SCLT has obtained the owners' permission to allow you to access these areas that are normally not available to the public.

Call ahead to determine whether the hike will welcome four-footed companions. For more information contact Terri Arrington at the SCLT office (828) 749-1560 info@saludaclt.org

The Community Garden has one plot that will be coming available for the year 2024 (November – October). We are looking for committed gardener(s) to take the plot. The rent for the plot is $50 for the year.

If you are interested, please contact:

Bruce Hunt (bruce.hunt190@gmail.com) or

Walter Hoover (charlesstreetgarden@rsnet.org) to be considered and to review rules and regulations.

“It’s the hap-happiest time of the year”

Celebrate the beginning of the holidays by joining us to make a beautiful boxwood wreath at SCLT's annual wreath-making day at Twin Lakes on Saturday, November 25, from 11 am to 3 pm (rain or shine).

All the makings for a wreath of your own design will be provided at this merry activity for children and adults. Bring clippers if you have them as well as ribbon or ornaments. Dress warmly and bring folding chairs or blankets if you like.

Questions? Call the SCLT office (749-1560).

Directions to Twin Lakes: From Saluda on Greenville Street drive 1.7 miles. On left will be Linda Lane and a Twin Lakes sign. Drive .2 miles to the entrance of Twin Lakes.

This seasonal event is made possible through the generous support of the Polk County Community Foundation.

Many of you have some knowledge as to the recent history of Chocolate Drop Mountain. If not, here is a very brief synopsis of its history from 2007 until the present. A developer from Texas bought the mountain in 2006 and quickly started building subdivision roads to the top of the mountain, following the county rules which requires a 60 foot right of way for a major subdivision (up to 44 lots).

Unfortunately, the mountain slopes were too steep, so the side of the mountain simply slid downhill, filling the adjoining landowners’ small lake with sediment. What followed was years of lawsuits and foreclosures; it was not a pretty picture, to say the least.

In 2013 Save Our Slopes contacted SCLT to ask for help. Many of the Chocolate Drop lots were going up for foreclosure, and there were no buyers. SCLT asked the Polk County Community Foundation (PCCF) for help, and thankfully PCCF gave that support. Over the next 8 years PCCF and SCLT worked together buying the lots that were being foreclosed along with the (15) lot owners who chose to ‘hang in there’ for the long haul, with no clear vision of how it would all work out.

It was worth it, and it did work out! In 2021, the Town of Columbus bought the 46 acre ‘top of the mountain’ from SCLT to create “Chocolate Drop Park” that will be used for pedestrian trails. SCLT repaid the money that PCCF had loaned to SCLT, who now holds the conservation easement on this 46 acres which will leave it forever undeveloped. With PCCF support, SCLT also purchased a narrow strip of land connecting the high school to the future park. There is still lots of work to do, building trails and such; but the result will be far greater than any of us could imagine when this all began way back in 2007.

Footnote:

Excuse the SCLT newsletter team while they take a break from reporting. Expect the next newsletter in late February as Walks in the Woods start up again in March 2024.

YOUR MEMBERSHIP MATTERS !

We'd love to have you join us as a SCLT member. Our members provide vital volunteer and financial support in our mission of preserving Saluda’s rural small-town character by protecting its unique natural heritage. Just click on this link for more information: https://saludaclt.org/membership