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York, South Carolina, is a sleepy little city that deserves to be sleepy. It’s over 250 years old, after all. Settled in the 1760s by Scotch-Irish Pennsylvanians, the town was originally called Fergus Crossroads. When it was chosen as the county seat in 1785, its name was changed to Yorkville in reference to the York family from Britain’s famous Wars of the Roses.
The community had shown its fighting spirit just a few years before — during the Revolutionary War. The town is between two battlefields: King’s Mountain and Williamson’s Plantation. The Battle of King’s Mountain in 1780 turned the tide of the war to the patriots’ favor, and the county of York is the only South Carolina county not to have fallen to the British.
York (the “-ville” was dropped in 1915) shows traces of its heritage. Buildings from the settlement still stand, and the retail section of the historic district dates from the early 1900s. Residents are neighborly and welcoming yet as independent as their ancestors.
The McCelvey Center
Website: chmuseums.org/mccelvey
Originally, the McCelvey Center was the Yorkville Female Academy established in 1852. Now it is a history and cultural center. It is the home of the Historical Center of York County, which preserves the history of the surrounding area and the Southern Revolutionary War Institute that documents the South’s involvement in that war.
The center also includes the Lowry Family Theatre, a 500-seat auditorium with a 1920s vibe and known for its acoustics. The theatre hosts the Southern Sound Series every summer, which features bluegrass music groups from across the South.
Tatanka Bison Ranch
Website: tatankabison.com
In 2015, Fred Ilse founded Tatanka Bison Ranch. Originally from South Africa, Ilse had a dream to work the land. He also had a love for African elephants. Interestingly, he was able to combine the two in his ranch. “(Bison) are a matriarchal society run by the females (cows), just like elephant herds,” he says on his website.
The ranch offers a variety of tours. The private safari is the most expensive at $125 for the tour, but since the UTV seats four, the cost can be split to a little over $30 per person. The group covered wagon rides are $15 per adult and $7 per child ages 5–15 (kids under 5 are free).
The working ranch sells bison meat. Grass-fed bison meat is much leaner than beef if you are on a low-fat diet. Cuts for sale include sausage links, steaks, roasts and ground meat.
Hoof & Barrel
Website: hoofandbarrel.com
Some of the crispiest fries you will ever eat are made at Hoof & Barrel. Self-proclaimed as “a casual dining restaurant with ‘foodie’ flavored American cuisine,” the menu includes appetizers such as bacon-wrapped shrimp, “cowboy chips” (aka fried pickles or jalapenos), burgers, hot dogs, salads and a la mode desserts.
Personally, I can attest the Screaming Goat burger (topped with goat cheese, caramelized onion, greens and french onion-cranberry aioli) and sweet fries are delicious. Also pictured is the Makin’ Bacon, which comes with pimento cheese, bacon jam and a house sauce.
Why Knot Shop and Design
Jessica Hines, owner of Why Knot Shop and Design (and wife of the owner of Hoof & Barrel), sells design solutions. If you’re looking for something to tie you and your roommate’s styles together — how about a pillowcase that says “If you love me, let me sleep”? — Hines will be able to help. She has over 15 years of interior design experience in addition to selling home decor.
Hines rents from shelves up to booths to local vendors, and she sells some of her own products, too. The variety available showcases local color, ranging from witty graphic tees to beautiful paintings and photography.
Dogma and Fetch
Website: dogmaandfetch.com
An award-winning two-story pet store is almost hidden in downtown York. In addition to the staples found at run-of-the-mill pet stores, Dogma and Fetch sells gourmet and locally made treats in its Dog Bakery. In addition, you will find toys and gear for your furry pals in many themes, including Carolina sports teams, Christmas and birthday. The store also carries gift items for pet owners. In short, it’s a puppy owner’s paradise.
The Divine Horse
Website: divinehorsetack.com
Photo by Bradley Allweil
Do you love horses or know someone who does? Then you might enjoy The Divine Horse. Everything you need to ride is available here, from saddles to apparel. But if you need a gift for someone who’s a horse lover, you can find it here, too. Books, jewelry, home decor, Breyer horses — if it’s horse-related, they most likely have it.
Catch up on our Around Greenville series to see more of what our city and the area around it has to offer.
