"S" is for State Parks

“S” is for State Parks. The genesis of South Carolina’s system of state parks came in the 1930s with the development of sixteen parks under the auspices of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). These early parks, which included recreation facilities such as swimming lakes, trails, and campgrounds, also provided access to some of the state’s most scenic natural areas. With the dissolution of the CCC in 1942, state parks came under the management of the State Commission of Forestry. In 1967 management of the state park system moved to the newly created Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (PRT). At the start of the twenty-first century, PRT managed the state parks in accordance with two guiding principles: stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of the state; and service to the citizens and visitors to South Carolina.