Recreation

There are a wide range of recreational activities in Chester County; From neighborhood playgrounds to State Parks and a National Forest, Chester County is known for its natural beauty. Both the City of Chester and the Town of Great Falls operate recreation departments with facilities that include playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, and football, basketball, softball, soccer and baseball facilities. There are also smaller parks in Richburg and Lowrys and in western Chester County. A new YMCA facility opened its doors in 1999.

An 18-hole golf course is just minutes east of Chester just off Highway 9. Operated by the Leroy Springs Company, the course is open to the public. Republic Golf Course, a nine-hole course in Great Falls, is also open to the public.

If you love the water, you'll love Chester County. The beautiful Broad River, named as one of the state's most scenic, flows along the western boundary of the County and is an excellent source for day canoe trips or fishing. The historic Catawba River is located on the eastern boundary of the County and is also an excellent choice for canoeing, camping, or fishing. Water sports such as swimming, boating and skiing are available at Fishing Creek Lake, an imoundment on the Catawba River above Great Falls. The lake has public boat landings as well as a number of private residences and cabins.

Regional Recreational Opportunities

If the excitement of arts, culture and professional sporting events isn’t enough to fulfill your need for entertainment, there is a host of outdoor recreational opportunities in Chester County and the Charlotte MSA. Plus, the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains and the beaches of the Atlantic Coast are less than a 3-hour drive away - perfect for those weekend getaways!

If you enjoy water sports, nearby Lake Wylie, Lake Norman, Lake Wateree and the Catawba and Broad Rivers offer boating, fishing, and swimming. Chester State Park, and Landsford Canal State Park in Chester County; and Andrew Jackson State Park and Lake Wateree State Recreation Area in Lancaster County, offer hikers, bikers and campers opportunities for rest and relaxation. The area is also home to Kings Mountain State Park and the Kings Mountain National Military Park and Cowpens National Battlefield – both sites of important Revolutionary War battles.

If golf is your game, then South Carolina is a dream come true. There are more than 30 golf courses in the area and over 300 within a 3-hour drive including the over 100 courses along the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand.  Locally, the Leroy Springs Company Golf Course is located just outside Chester on South Carolina Highway 9 and the Republic Golf Course in Great Falls are both open to the public.

If you enjoy leisurely walks amidst beautiful gardens, Rock Hill's Glencairn Gardens will make you feel right at home. Statewide, South Carolina offers some of the most beautiful gardens in the world including those at Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation, Cypress Gardens, and Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston; Edisto Memorial Gardens in Orangeburg; Swan Lake Iris Gardens in Sumter; Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet which also includes beautiful statuary, and the South Carolina Botanical Gardens in Clemson.

If the kids want a little more than a leisurely stroll, the Chester County and Charlotte area offers fun and excitement for them too! Paramount Carowinds Theme Park is located on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line - less than 20 minutes from Chester County. The full-featured theme park is open during warm weather months and offers roller coasters and other rides and amusements. Other children’s entertainment venues across the state include the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand area that has become a family vacation mecca and the Charleston area with its attractions, beaches and events. In nearby Columbia (45 minutes South), Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens offer young and old alike an outstanding zoo experience.

Chester: A Growing Part of the Charlotte MSA

An incredible variety of recreational activities abound in Chester  - boating, fishing, golfing, camping and a host of other outdoor activities.  A mild climate with four distinct seasons invites year-round enjoyment of the outdoors. In addition to what Chester County has to offer, the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains are only three hours to the west, and just over three hours to the southeast lay the beaches of North and South Carolina.  The cultural amenities in Charlotte (30 minutes to the north along I-77), the nation's 20th largest city abound, as do cultural activities in Columbia (45 minutes to the South on I-77)

Sporting Events

Chester County and the Charlotte MSA is truly a region on the rise. Its success can be measured not only by its phenomenal business growth, but also by its success in attracting sporting events and teams to the region. Only 30 minutes to the north of Chester County, Charlotte is one of only three Southern cities to have at least two professional sports franchises and is the number one travel destination in the state of North Carolina.

The Charlotte area is home to the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Checkers of the East Coast Hockey League and AAA affiliate Charlotte Knights . In addition, the Lowe’s Motor Speedway offers exciting NASCAR racing.