SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT: LANDRUM, SC
Between its quaint, walkable downtown, its myriad antique shops, and its lovely setting tucked up against the Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s no wonder that Landrum, South Carolina, has been named one of the “South’s Best Small Towns” by Southern Living magazine. The charming little city (population 2,500), is just 10 miles from The Cliffs at Glassy and within an hour of the other communities at The Cliffs. Besides being a destination in itself, Landrum is a great jumping-off point from which to explore some of the area’s historic and recreational sites.
VINTAGE TREASURES
History and recreational pursuits aside, you could easily while away a day in Landrum by browsing the antique shops and boutiques hidden inside 19th- and early 20th-century brick buildings along Rutherford Street, the main artery. Start your hunt at The Shops at Landrum Antique Mall and wind through the warren of booths displaying a vast trove of treasures. Then head to Expressions Unlimited and Thrill of the Hunt for more vintage finds. If it’s hand-crafted furnishings you seek, pop into Foothills Amish Furniture to peruse the hardwood furniture, upholstered pieces, and Adirondack chairs in a rainbow of colors. Landrum is horse country, home to steeplechase races and fox hunts, and Horse and Home accordingly stocks a wide range of horse- and hunt-themed home accessories. Just outside downtown, on Asheville Highway, Stitching Fox is the place to go for all things needlepoint, from hand-painted canvases to every color of thread.
TIME TO EAT
Landrum obliges with good places to dine. Housed in a former mercantile on the corner of East Rutherford Street near the railroad tracks, The Hare and Hound Pub has been a local favorite for 20 years. The pub serves lunch and dinner seven days a week and features an extensive menu of classic pub and traditional American fare from Guinness beef pie to pecan-crusted North Carolina mountain trout. A mile or so down Rutherford, Stone Soup is a market and cafe where stone-fired pizzas and calzones take center stage. Sara McClure, a 2018 South Carolina Chef Ambassador, serves up smoked meats, Lexington, South Carolina, pulled pork, and Cajun-inspired dishes at Southside Smokehouse, nearby on Asheville Highway. Locals know to go for the chef’s weekly specials.
HIKING AND HISTORY
All around Landrum, the great outdoors beckons. Five-and-a-half miles of hiking and riding trails weave through the 384 acres of Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) in nearby Tryon. At FENCE, you’ll also find the eastern trailhead of the Blue Wall Passage, part of the Palmetto Trail. The 14-mile passage runs through the easternmost section of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, climbing steeply in the last two miles up to Vaughns Gap.
The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (Highway 11) traces an old Cherokee footpath for 130 miles from Fair Play to Gaffney. Along the way, there are countless opportunities for hiking at several state parks, including Table Rock, Jones Gap, and Caesars Head.
For history lovers, Campbell’s Covered Bridge lies off Highway 414, a short drive from the center of Landrum. South Carolina’s only remaining covered bridge was constructed between 1909 and 1911. The 38-foot-long bridge spans Beaverdam Creek and is surrounded by a park that’s perfect for picnicking.
RED HORSE INN
45 WINSTONS CHASE COURT, LANDRUM (864) 909-1575 | THEREDHORSEINN.COM
Embraced by rolling hills and horse pastures hemmed in by white fences, the Red Horse Inn is an ideal roost for a weekend of exploring Landrum and the surrounding area. Located in the quiet countryside, just a few miles away from Landrum off Highway 14, the inn offers six rooms and six cottages — all with fireplaces — spread around the tranquil grounds. Breakfasts are provided in your in-room refrigerator, to be enjoyed when and where you please, while on weekend evenings (April–November), you can sip a selection from the wine bar and join the folks on the patio for live music. The rest of the year, the inn hosts monthly indoor events.
This story was featured in Cliffs Living Magazine. To read more stories like this one and learn more about The Cliffs, subscribe here.
