Lowcountry Regional Revolutionary War Trail

 

The Planning Department of the Lowcountry Council of Governments has recently completed preliminary historic research and preliminary planning and design of the first phase of a very special trail.

The historic significance of the project is that the Lowcountry and its citizens played an important role, until now largely unrecognized by all except some local citizens, in the struggle for American independence.

 

The Concept         

The proposed Phase One of the Revolutionary War Trail System will be part of a larger system that will run from the Edisto River on the north to the Savannah River on the south.  It will also be a component of two larger systems in which Lowcountry Council of Governments (LCOG) is involved: the Highway 17 Corridor development and the East Coast Greenway.  In terms of tourism development in the Region, the Revolutionary War Trail will serve as an attraction in itself while reinforcing the other two systems.

The objectives for Phase One are:

  • To begin the project from a centralized location in the Region,
  • To include Revolutionary War sites in all four counties
  • To utilize existing roads to keep the cost down
  • To utilize roadways that existed during the Revolutionary era
  • To accommodate motorized vehicles, pedestrians/hikers and bicyclists.

The results are shown on the “Proposed Revolutionary War Trail, Phase One” map.

The overall concept is the connecting of the sites of four Revolutionary battles or skirmishes (and other related Revolution-era sites) sites via existing highways (US 17 and 17A) and local roads (McPhersonville Road, Pocotaligo Road, I95 frontage road, Point South Campground Road).  Most of these thoroughfares existed during the Revolutionary War, as historic maps of the area demonstrate.

The sites will be linked together into a trail by means of signs and narrative markers with a uniform logo (being developed by the National Parks Service with LCOG planning staff) and uniform site amenities (benches, trash barrels, minor landscaping, etc.).  The “trailhead” will be a gazebo-type structure in the rear yard of the Lowcountry Tourism Commission.  This decision was made in order to take advantage of existing tourism facilities (such as washrooms, parking, information center and picnic grounds) and to be mutually supportive as a joint attraction.

Marketing

The first steps toward marketing the Regional Revolutionary War Trail have already been taken.  LCOG planning staff members are working with the National Parks Service (the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program of the organization will provide up to $8500 worth of technical assistance) on the design of a professional brochure. It will be distributed through South Carolina Welcome Centers, the Lowcountry Tourism Commission’s Visitor Center, local Chambers of Commerce, motels and campgrounds in the Region and in boxes along the trails.

There are also plans to develop a web site about the trail.  It will be linked to other state and local tourism sites for maximum exposure to potential visitors.

Support for the Trail

At its meeting on February 28, 2002, the Board of Directors of the Lowcountry Council of Governments officially designated the Lowcountry Regional Revolutionary Trail as a “Regional Historical Highway.”  The motion was passed unanimously, with very supportive statements made by a number of members, including SC Representative (District 123) JoAnne Gilham. 

The Revolutionary Trail project has been very much a cooperative effort since its inception.  Because both Phase 1 and the complete trail system involve all four counties (Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper) of the Lowcountry Region, the parks and recreation directors of all of the jurisdictions are involved in a planning and advisory capacity.

In addition to the above relationships, the historic organizations of all four counties are supporting this project (letters from two of them are attached). Local bicyclist groups, including a large club at Sun City Hilton Head, have also expressed their support.  As well, “Friends of the Lowcountry Regional Revolutionary Trail” is in the developmental phase; a number of area residents have already signed up as volunteers and a recruiting effort is planned for later this year. This organization will work on the development, funding, promotion and maintenance of the trail over the long-term. At the same time, other volunteer assistance by area residents will be welcomed.

On a national level, the Regional Revolutionary War Trail was commended by the East Coast Greenways Alliance at its southeast regional meeting in August, 2001; this was reported by the Beaufort, Hilton Head and Savannah daily papers.

Now the immediate priority is to obtain funding for at least Phase One.  LCOG’s Planning Department has recently applied for grants through the state’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism trails and the Department of Transportation’s Transportation Enhancement programs.