It is important to note that none of these tunnels are lit, so a flashlight, although normally useful, is mandatory on this expedition. You get a little overheated, just spend 20 minutes in the tunnel and cool off. So if you are looking for a place to go for the day, down want to travel to far, and are looking to beat the heat, South Carolina’s Stumphouse Tunnel Park might just be the ticket.
Maybe they were just there to pickup up people. And as we drove out at 4:55 pm, we noticed two cars entering the park. Admittedly, because of this time constraint, we never made it to the third tunnel. The entry to the park is free, so the only drawback is that it is open only from 10am to 5pm. The park is also very near Yellow Branch Falls, maybe ½ mile down the road. 1¾ mile further, there’s the remains of Saddle Tunnel, which is mostly covered in water. A ¼ mile up, there is what is known as the Middle Tunnel, which can be entered on foot, but beware of wildlife. The path rises and falls along the side of the mountain. And there’s a Nice Hiking Trail along the mountain running along the proposed historical railroad line, going a bit over two miles one way. It is the centerpiece of the park, but there’s also a pretty magnificent waterfall there call Issaqueena Falls, purported named for an Indian woman who hurled herself from its rocks. The conditions are so naturally mild that the University of Clemson used to age Bleu Cheese in there, but have since moved to better controllable simulated environments closer to campus. The beauty of the tunnel is that inside it stays a fairly constant temperature of about 50 degrees. After spending more than $1 million on the project, the State of South Carolina stopped the project, leaving a 4,363 foot train sized cave in the mountain’s side, some 1500 feet short of the needed goal. That meant clearing a path through Stumphouse Mountain, with a tunnel stretching longer than 1 mile. Prior to the Civil War, the State of South Carolina tried to Build a Tunnel through the Oconee County mountains, so that trains could go from Charleston, SC to Cincinnati, OH. This little secret is known as Stumphouse Tunnel Park outside Walhalla, SC. I know it’s in South Carolina, but it’s a great place to visit. Well, I know a neat little place just over two hours from Atlanta that can provide a refreshing alternative.
#Stumphouse tunnel how to
But what if, like my most frequent travelling companion, you simply don’t know how to swim? It seems odd, but the refreshing cool liquid brings fear to some. The extreme heat (just like the extreme cold) has a tendency to diminish our desire to head outside for a good time. So while this is a unique spot to visit, caution is highly advised.Well, it’s hot. Bats have made this tunnel their home and can be dangerous if frightened.
#Stumphouse tunnel free
It's free to visit the tunnel however, visitors must be careful in the darkness. Follow winding Stumphouse Tunnel Road for 0. The tunnel remains at a cool 50 degrees at all times and has a consistent "wetness" in the air, making it perfect to cure the famed tunnel blue cheese. From Walhalla, SC, follow SC 28 north (toward Mountain Rest and NC) for 4.5 miles and then go right into the Stumphouse Tunnel Park on Stumphouse Tunnel Road (paved). The tunnel is 25 feet high, 17 feet wide, and stretches back 1,600 feet. To this day, this is still how the university cures their Clemson Blue Cheese. This left the tunnel abandoned for years, until Clemson University bought the tunnel in 1941 to make their blue cheese. However, due to the financial strain of the project, the state cut the funding and ended construction completely. It was originally created in the 1800s as a railroad tunnel to get around the Blue Ridge Mountains, making a more direct path to the Ohio River Valley. The Stumphouse Tunnel, under Stumphouse Mountain in Walhalla, South Carolina, was planned to be one of the most used tunnels in the state. There's actually one tunnel in South Carolina that currently houses blue cheese and, yes, the cheese is edible. For many, discovering abandoned tunnels excites their inner adventurer.
#Stumphouse tunnel full
The south is full of historic locations that have amazing tales.
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