Pickens, SC real estate offers an array of spacious properties amidst gorgeous scenery. This guide will help you navigate the luxury market in this scenic corner of South Carolina.
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Pickens, SC at a glance
Enjoy refined rural living in a small town setting. The City of Pickens has a homespun charm that even the most seasoned buyers can’t resist. It offers respite from the demands of modern living and invites you to rediscover life’s small pleasures – with lush parks, shortleaf pine woodlands, exquisite red brick buildings, and a historic downtown, Pickens calls to mind simpler and better times.
Founded in 1868, Pickens is home to a small but thriving population of 3,371 as of the 2021 census. It is the seat of Pickens County and serves as a small agricultural and industrial center. But the city’s true bounty lies in its scenic beauty – nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it offers spectacular views and an array of fun and exciting outdoor activities. It also has a vibrant arts and live music scene for those who enjoy exhibitions, classes, and live performances.
Pickens’ identity is shaped by its rich history and Appalachian heritage. It offers a relaxed and leisurely lifestyle away from the frenetic energy of major urban areas. Whether you’re looking for a permanent residence or a vacation home in the Upstate region of South Carolina, Pickens, SC real estate is certainly worth considering.
Location
Pickens encompasses about three square miles in the northwest corner of South Carolina.
It lies roughly 20 miles west of Greenville and 70 miles south of Asheville inNorth Carolina.
Its location provides convenient access to the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway (Hwy 11). Also known as Keowee or Cherokee Path, Hwy 11 is a historic 130-mile road used by English and French fur traders meanders along cascading falls and natural sites with stops at Keowee-Toxaway and Table Rock state parks.
The city also provides access to Interstate 85 (I-85), which stretches 106 miles northeast–southwest through the Upstate region. Part of a larger route that extends from Montgomery in Alabama all the way to Petersburg in Virginia, I-85 runs along important landmarks such as Peachoid Water Tower of Gaffney and the Kings Mountain National Battlefield, as well as the picturesque towns of Greer and Spartanburg.
Pickens County Airport (LKQ) is located just four to six miles south of the city and features a 5002-foot runway, rental cars, and overnight and long-term aircraft tie-downs. It also has a flight planning room, snack bar, outdoor picnic area, and facilities for small conferences. The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP / KGSP) is located about 36 miles from Pickens and features a conference center, private and shared workspaces, and on-site dining and shopping options.
History
Formerly known as Pickens Courthouse, Pickens was home to the Cherokee before the arrival of English traders and Scottish-Irish settlers in the 1720s. It gets its name from American Revolutionary War Brigadier General Andrew Pickens, who lived in Clemens and established the Hopewell Plantation in the 1780s.
The 1868 Constitutional Convention divided Pickens District into Pickens and Oconee counties and the Pickens Courthouse settlement was moved a few miles east from its original site along the Keowee River. Several prominent residents donated 151 acres to help establish the new town. In 1998, Pickens changed its classification from town to city though the change was not recorded in the Census Bureau until 2001.
Pickens, SC Real Estate
Pickens, SC real estate offers a fine selection of luxury apartments, mansions, equestrian estates, waterfront properties, and farmland. The most desirable properties are situated on massive acre lots with mature hardwoods and fruit trees, open pastures, and creeks and spring-fed ponds. Spacious homes with water access and water and mountain views are also highly sought among top-tier buyers.
Many homes feature vaulted ceilings, French doors, stone fireplaces, quartzite counters, custom cabinetry, and hardwood and stone floors. The largest properties often come with modern and extravagant amenities such as above ground pools, wet bars, and expansive viewing decks that are perfect for entertaining and al fresco dining. Prevalent architectural styles include Ranch, Contemporary, Cabin, and Craftsman.
Pickens, SC neighborhoods
- Eastatoe & Nimmons
- Hendricks
- Lake Keowee
- Pickens North
- Pickens Northeast
- Pickens South
- Pickens West
- The Cliffs
Living in Pickens, SC
Weather
South Carolina has a diverse climate – most areas have a humid subtropical climate with warm, humid summers and mild winters. July is usually the warmest month in Pickens with average highs of 89°F and lows of 68°F. The best time for warm-weather outdoor activities ranges from early May to mid-June and mid-August to early October.
The cold season typically lasts for about three months from late November to late February with average daily high temperatures below 59°F and the coldest month being January. The city gets seasonal variations in snowfall. January often gets the most snow with an average 3.4 inches.
Schools
Pickens is served by the School District of Pickens County (SDPC), which provides quality education and other related services to an estimated 16,300 students. It is the 15th largest school district in South Carolina. Click here for a list of schools in and around Pickens.
Businesses and Employment
The economy is buoyed by retail, governmental services, and various service industries. Pickens is also investing in specialty retail, recreational tourism, entrepreneurship, and light manufacturing and assembly. Top employers include AT&T, Autozone, Carrols Restaurant Group, and Quest Diagnostics.
Attractions
Pickens provides access to a number of parks, trails, cultural venues, and historic sites.
Outdoor Attractions and Community Centers
- Jocassee Gorges Wilderness Area is home to the only temperate rainforest outside of the State of Washington in the United States. Its unique and diverse ecosystem includes a lake, mountain forests, glistening streams, cascading falls, scenic overlooks, native wildlife, and more than 60 species of rare and endangered native plants.
- Lake Jocassee is a deep reservoir encompassing 7,500 acres in northwest South Carolina. Located within the Jocassee Gorges Wilderness Area, the lake offers swimming, scuba diving, boating, and arguably the best brown and rainbow trout fishing in South Carolina. The surrounding area includes Devils Fork State Park, which is home to nature trails, hardwood forests, and the rare Oconee Bell flower.
- Pickens Doodle Park is located on the former site of the Pickens Railroad Company and features a train-themed playground, railroad depot museum, the AnMed Health Cannon Marketplace Pavilion, and several benches and bike racks. The park is located at the trailhead of the Doodle Trail, an 8.5-mile, multi-use paved trail that connects downtown Pickens to downtown Easley.
- Jaycee Park adjoins Town Creek Trail and features a playground, picnic pavilion, picnic shelters, concessions, lighted tennis courts, baseball fields, and a lighted football field with a press box and grandstands.
- Mile Creek Park provides access to Lake Keowee, which features a sandy beach and seven miles of pristine shoreline for swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, water skiing, boating, and fishing. The park features a 50-foot dock with five slips, two 108-foot-long courtesy docks, three paved boat ramps, and car and boat parking. It also has two playgrounds and beach volleyball and basketball courts.The lake is abundant in trout, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and squirrels can be spotted in the surrounding woods and fields, which are perfect for wildlife and bird watching.
Mile Creek Park has several picnic sites and shelters each with tables and BBQ grills along with 10 lakefront rental cabins and 69 shaded campsites with a fire ring, lantern posts, and water and electric hookups. There are also three comfort stations with heating, sinks, restrooms, and hot-water showers in the camping area. Kayak rentals with paddles and floatation devices are available to campers.
- Town Creek Bike Park is a 100-acre, off-road BMX-style bike park located a mile from downtown. It features a paved trail, single track, FlowCoaster, raised half-log trails, dirt jumps, earthen and wooden rollers, and more. Cyclists must sign a waiver and wear a helmet and other protective gear.
- Hagood Community Center is home to the Pickens Senior Center, Young Appalachian Musicians (YAMS), and Granger Fiber Arts.
Museums
- The Pickens County Museum of Art & History has a permanent history and art exhibit with local artifacts along with three separate galleries for rotating exhibits. There’s also a native plant garden that serves as an outdoor natural history presentation on the grounds. The museum hosts two annual art shows – Youth Arts Month takes place in April while the South Carolina Juried Arts Competition is held from October to December each year.The Pickens County Museum is housed in the historic Pickens County Jail, a two-story building with a red brick exterior. Built in 1902, it features a hip roof with two chimneys, a crenelated tower with a conical roof, and arched windows with granite sills.
- Irma Morris Museum Of Fine Art features an impressive collection of antique furniture and paintings.
Historic Landmarks and Districts
- Hagood Mill Historic Site features a historic gristmill, blacksmith shop, courtyard stage, log cabins, nature trails, and a gift shop selling locally crafted goods. The Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site of South Carolina is also located on the grounds. The historic mill was built by James Hagood in 1845 and continued to operate under the Hagood family’s ownership until 1966. The property was donated to the Pickens County Museum of Art & History in 1973 and parts of the mill were restored by local volunteers in the mid-1970s.The mill still produces stone-ground grits, corn meal, and flour, which are available for sale at the gift shop along with specialty items like barley, rye, smoked grits, and popping corn grits. There’s also live entertainment throughout the year at the courtyard stage area with vendors selling drinks and snacks at each event.
- The Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site offers a rare glimpse into prehistoric times at the Hagood Mill Historic Site. The museum is housed in a ADA-accessible, climate-controlled building with native artifacts, interpretive media, and a massive boulder with 32 distinct petroglyphs. It also hosts a light show that narrates the story of the petroglyphs and a video on the archeological dig.
- The Hagood-Mauldin House is a historic one-story frame house that was built in 1856 at the former site of Old Pickens Courthouse and moved to its present location in 1868. It served as the residence of James Earle Hagood, a public official and lawyer of Pickens District, before the transfer of ownership to Judge Thomas J. Mauldin, who renovated the front porch and added a small Classical Revival-style building in 1904.The property was listed in the National Register October 9, 1997. It is the current site of the Irma Morris Museum of Fine Arts and is open to the public for special events such as Founders Day and the Azalea Festival.
- Table Rock State Park Historic District encompasses 3,083 acres of hardwood forests and glistening streams and lakes in northern Pickens County. Highlights include Pinnacle Lake and Table Rock State Park Dam. Many of the park’s historic structures and interconnecting trails and roads were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935. These include the lodge, bathhouse, concession building, and several trails, cabins, picnic shelters, and fish rearing pools. Table Rock State Park was included in the National Register on June 15, 1989.
- Fort Prince George was built in 1753 for King George III. Located along the Keowee River, the fort was made of wood and clay with high walls and a deep trench. It featured a storehouse, kitchen, magazine, guardhouse, and barracks. It was abandoned around 1768 and submerged under Lake Keowee in 1971 following the completion of the Keowee Dam. Excavations have uncovered several artifacts and human skeletal remains.
Recreation
Events
- Pickens Azalea Festival is a two-day event that takes place over the last weekend of April each year. The festivities begin with the annual cruise-in featuring classic cars and jeeps on Friday evening. Highlights include the 5k Race, Miss Azalea Pageant, and Pet Pageant. Attendees can also look forward to amusement rides, live music, and hundreds of vendors and artisans selling food, drinks, artworks, and handmade goods.
- Pickens Doodle Market hosts markets in the spring and fall with vendors and food trucks from all over Upstate South Carolina selling a wide variety of fresh produce, handmade crafts, baked goods, and ready-made meals.
- Deep Winter Blues celebrates the Upstate region’s blues heritage with talented musicians like Freddie Vanderford and David Donar. The event traditionally takes place at the Hagood Historic Mill Site every February. Aside from live music attendees will also get the chance to watch folklife, traditional arts, and living history demonstrations.
- The Pickens Concert Series takes place at the Pickens Amphitheater every June.
Shopping
- The Market at the Mill Shops features an array of vendors and businesses selling toys, scented candles, clothes, homewares, and accessories.
- Pickens County Flea Market has been running for over 43 years and features vendors selling fresh produce, clothing, housewares, and collectibles.
- Pickens Bargain Exchange Flea Market claims to be the largest yard sale in the area with over 100 tables.
- Bee Well Honey Natural Market is a family-owned company specializing in honey, coffee, natural foods, soaps, skincare, and supplements.
- Full Circle Vintage Modern Market carries a wide range of antique furniture, vintage jewelry, and handmade pottery, greeting cards, and throw pillows.
- Tiger Valley Farm & Market offers an assortment of locally sourced produce, meat, eggs, and dairy products.
Dining
Downtown Pickens is lined with restaurants and eateries serving Chineses, Japanese, Peruvian, Mexican, Italian, and New American cuisine. There are also several bars, taverns, and cafes offering craft beer, specialty coffee, pizza, and classic pub fare.
Working with Ink Properties
Quality, presentation, and relationships matter when it comes to buying and selling Pickens, SC real estate. Contact Ink Properties, LLC at 864.777.9533, send them an email, or fill out this contact form to get started. With over 10 years of experience in real estate brokerage and development, the company helps high-net-worth individuals relocate to South Carolina from other states, including New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California.
Founder, Broker-in-Charge, and Attorney Brandon C. Hall is a Greenville native. He works with his wife, Co-Founder and Realtor Lindsay Hall, and Realtor Juan Marin, at Ink Properties, LLC. Their certifications include:
- Certified Relocation Professional (CRP®)
- Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS)
- Smart Home Certification
Specializing in luxury real estate, vacation homes, and lakefront properties, the professionals at Ink Properties, LLC provides clients with a 5-star package in their search for the finest homes in Greenville, Greer, Lake Keowee, Travelers Rest, and Simpsonville.