Friday, county officials secured a deal to purchase 35 acres of land across from Hagood Mill that will be used for parking and other attractions, according to county administrator Chap Hurst.
The county purchased the property from Fred and Barbara Welborn for $350,000 after several months of negotiations.
“We are extremely pleased that they agreed to work with the county,” Hurst said.
Along with providing ample parking spaces, the property will also “allow the mill to expand to its full potential,” he said.
The administrator said county officials want to focus on the Hagood Mill as its premier site for tourism in the county.
Because of its central location, the historic grist mill will be a good starting point in efforts to boost tourism, Hurst said.
If the county had not been able to purchase the property, they would have had to consider other neighboring land with rougher terrain, he added.
Ed Bolt, who manages the mill, said that without additional parking, the site would not be able to grow beyond what it currently is.
“It’s something we’ve wanted and needed since 1997,” he said. “It will make so much difference in terms of convenience and safety.”
This is good news for everyone in Pickens County since we have so little industry, and the there’s such a big push to promote tourism, Bolt said.
“This can make all the difference in making this a tourism destination,” he said.
With additional parking, Hurst said tour buses will be able to park at the mill site, increasing the potential for bringing in more visitors.
“Right now, they have to drop people off and go park somewhere else,” he said.
Bolt said that along with the land, there’s also a storage building that will come in handy.
Hurst also pointed out that without the dedicated volunteers who help with the first and third-Saturday events at the mill, those efforts would not be possible.
“They are displaying unique talents that reflect the heritage of this area,” he said. “I don’t know how to say thank you enough to those people.”
Bolt said he hopes the purchase of the property will show the county’s commitment and faith to the mill site.
He said they hope to start using some of the new property for parking as soon as possible, but it was his understanding that the gate entrance needs to be widened to accommodate vehicles going in and out of the area first.
“We’ll probably let people park on the grass and let county engineers come in and study it,” he said.
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