Visit Lake Murray Podcast

Lake Murray Country is home to a wide variety of arts, from colorful murals and arts districts to national touring musicians and unique festivals – there is something for everyone. Newberry, South Carolina has redefined itself as an arts town. Home to the South Carolina Clay Conference, the Newberry Arts Center hosts prestigious potters from all over the world each fall. Explore the Cayce River Arts District with its colorful murals and sculptures crafted by talented local artists. Located near the Cayce Riverwalk Park the arts district is a must-see during your visit! From national touring Broadway musicals at the Koger Center for the Arts to the Village Square Theatre where young thespians are learning valuable life skills, theatrical arts abound in Lake Murray Country. In this episode we talk with: Marguerite Palmer, Arts Program Coordinator City of Newberry and Director of the Newberry Arts Center (NAC) The Newberry Arts Center offers programs for all ages, including classes and workshops led by professional artists. NAC is a fun and safe place to learn, gather and explore art with friends, old and new. NAC offers various events open to the public throughout the year. These include the SC ClayCon Pottery Sale, Plein Air events and exhibitions, Newberry Photography Group meetups and shows, K-12 Newberry County School District Art Show, the City of Newberry Gingerbread competition and more! In 2015 NAC created the South Carolina Clay Conference (SC ClayCon) and took up the mantle of “Moving Clay Forward.” The conference brings together potters and clay artists in SC and the surrounding region for education, evaluation, and celebration of the many techniques to which clay lends itself. The three-day conference aims by design to recognize and reveal to its attendees the influences and heritage of clay in South Carolina, as well as to encourage ongoing conversations about the future of clay in the region in which we live. Look for the fall 2023 date coming soon! Learn more about the Newberry Arts Center’s classes and workshops and stop by to purchase artwork made by a local artist or one of NAC’s students or teachers! Contact the Newberry Arts Center for more information about the South Carolina Clay Conference. Address: 1200 Main Street, Newberry, SC 29108 Phone: 803-321-1022 Storefront Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10 – 5 PM Mayor Elise Partin, City of Cayce “No matter what time of the year it is, there are a number of great things to do in and around the Cayce area.” The City of Cayce River Arts District, in the heart of historic Cayce, is a perfect hub and doorway to all things creative in the city! Located where State Street and Frink Street meet, the city has been actively engaged in revitalizing this area, specifically through “previtalization” efforts. This process, appropriately described as “the art of what’s possible,” has already led to the redevelopment of several derelict and underutilized properties into new and thriving businesses and has led to the development of an active artist group. The City partnered with local artists to create compelling and beautiful artistic installments that capture the imagination and inspire creativity. Paid for, in large part, from community and national arts grants this project, now attraction connects people and places through the arts. The area has seen an increase in property values, public safety, and overall quality of life. Take a walk and explore the Cayce River Arts District – a must-see during your visit! Enjoy art studios, the Riverwalk, craft beer, pottery classes, brunch + coffee, and live music, all on State Street. Learn more about the City of Cayce’s River Arts District. Maddie and Hudson Freeman, Junior Company Actors at Village Square Theatre The dynamic sibling duo, Maddie and Hudson Freeman bring their passion for the stage to their local community theater. Both avid actors, they relish the thrill of performing in front of a live audience and have a...

Visit Lake Murray Country Podcast: Explore Lake Murray Country’s Rich History South Carolina has played a pivotal role in our nation’s history for centuries. With many monumental events happening right here in Lake Murray Country, there is so much history to discover! Many locations offer FREE admission like the South Carolina Confederate Museum and Relic Room. Stop by and explore their new exhibit this Veteran’s Day honoring those who fought in the Vietnam War. Explore the town of Blythewood’s rich history with a visit to the Blythewood Historical Society and Museum and take a peek back in time. Did you know that America is turning 250 years old? The South Carolina Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) is preparing for a celebration unlike any other by honoring South Carolina’s vital role in the American Revolution. From museums to historic sites and more, we’ll help plan your next visit to the region and make it a historic one. In this episode we talk with: Joe Long, Education Curator for the South Carolina Confederate Museum and Relic Room. The museum is the oldest with “the longest name in town,” says Long and dates back to 1896. It was started by wives and widows of confederate soldiers and quickly amassed more war relics through the years. Visitors can see items dating as far back as the Revolutionary war through the 21st century and view the best selection of South Carolina historic flags around. Including South Carolina’s only surviving Union flag from the Civil War. A regimental flag flown by South Carolina freed slaves who fought for the North and worked alongside Harriet Tubman. On Veteran’s Day, the secondary gallery will reopen [post covid] with an exhibit dedicated to the Vietnam war. This display harkens back to the origins of the museum where stories were collected along with items. “The roots of our museum began with going out to veterans of the Confederate army at the time - who were still alive, and they had things and they had stories. And the stories came along with the items” said Long. “And now it is our Vietnam veterans that our staff have been working with to get both the items and the stories - that give meaning to these things because history is really about people when it comes down to it.” The exhibit honors the soldiers who fought and died, many of whom did not receive proper recognition and credit said Long, he hopes the exhibit helps to address this. “See a lot of history in one day,” by visiting the South Carolina State Museum, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room, and EdVenture Children’s Museum. Visit the FREE, SC in Vietnam exhibit at the South Carolina Confederate Museum and Relic Room beginning Friday, November 11, 2022. Address: 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: 803-737-8095 Museum Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 – 5:00 PM | Open 1st Sunday of the month Wade Dorsey, Reference Supervisor at the SC Department of Archives and History & Board member of the Blythewood Historical Society. From its humble beginnings in a resident’s living room, The Blythewood Historical Society was created to “preserve the history of our little community,” says Dorsey. With commercial development of Blythewood on the rise, community members set their sights on preservation and with the gift of a historic house dating back to 1904, a museum was born. Blythewood traces its origins back to an 1840s water and fueling village named “Doko”. During that time much of the rural countryside was developing along the railroad line that connected Charlotte and Columbia. In 1879 the town was incorporated and renamed Blythewood; a name adopted from the nearby girl’s school. Dorsey remarks that “Girls from all over the south came to the area to attend the Blythewood Female Academy during the 1860s.” A largely agrarian and timber community, Blythewood has seen substantial growth in the last 20 years as a burgeoning suburb of Columbia. While the iron horses of yesteryear helped to...

Come alive while fishing on Lake Murray! Capital City/Lake Murray Country is one of the world’s top fishing destinations! With over 650 miles of shoreline, Lake Murray is home to some of the best freshwater fish, making it the perfect "fishing hole." With over 12 species of fish including largemouth bass and striper luring local and national fishing tournaments each year - anglers love Lake Murray as they can easily spot their lures in the clear water while reeling in a big one! The old adage “teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime” remains true as knowledgeable and talented fishing guides are available to take you out on the water. Experience the comradery, thrill, and excitement of fishing on the waters of “the best bass fishing lake in the world.” In this episode we talk to: Scott Gordon, Tournament Director of The Big Bass Tour. Scott doesn’t shy away from his love of Lake Murray saying, “it’s an exciting lake!” Scott remarks that “Murray is off the chain!” Tournaments on Lake Murray often see 9-10 to 15 changes on the leaderboard during the competition - that's unheard of in other regions. From the amenities to the southern hospitality at the visitor’s center, Lake Murray has it all! “It’s a great destination to bring the family to because there is so much to do,” remarks Scott. Event details: Big Bass Tours, April 28-30, 2023 For more information about The Big Bass Tour visit: BigBassTour.com or find them on social media at Big Bass Tour. Tony Forte, President of USAngling describes Lake Murray as “the best bass fishing lake in the world.” Next month Lake Murray will host “the Olympics of bass fishing” the XVI Black Bass World Championship. (Their words, not ours!) Tony says “the goal of the organization is to get fishing into the Olympics” - and it’s a lot closer than you might think. “This tournament is going to be a huge stepping stone,” says Tony. The largest grouping of countries to ever fish in a bass tournament on record is 15 nations. This October, 25 nations will compete on the waters of Lake Murray, with teams representing countries from all over the world including Australia, South Africa, Laos, the Philippines, and more. Every continent (except Antarctica) will be represented at the championship. Look for the international flags coming soon to the front lawn of the visitors center and see if you can identify them all! Want to get in on the international bass action? Bring your family out for the kick-off event - Youth Angling Day at the Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park: Sunday, October 16, 2022, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Children can learn to fish (from the best in the world), meet the teams - including the #1 angler in the world Jacob Wheeler, be sure to visit stations by SCDNR, Scouts of America, and US Angling that include skills in knot tying, casting, fish identification, and much more. Then grab lunch at the food trucks and snap a photo with Paw Patrol’s Skye and Marshall. Youth Angling Day is free and open to the public; an adult must accompany children. The momentous week continues right in the heart of the action with a public Country music concert featuring Cody Webb & weigh-in Friday, October 21 at Dreher Island State Park! Cheer on the anglers as they go for gold and grab dinner from one of the food trucks - make sure you stop by and visit the vendors. Event details: Bass World Championship October 16-22, 2022 Cheer on these anglers as they chase gold during the XVI Black Bass World Championship. Like Tony says this tournament “is all about the Olympic spirit”. Dave Washburn, VP of Operations at Major League Fishing (MLF) says Lake Murray “is a tremendous fishery” and “beyond that the hospitality in Columbia is unmatched, it’s just a great destination.” Lake Murray is one of those lakes in the world that anglers vie to fish at. Dave adds “if it’s not on your list, it should be.” Dave goes on to say that Lake Murray Country is one of the top two locations for...