Why Walhalla, SC?
A brief history… and then fun things to do:
Walhalla, SC was founded in 1850 by German immigrants and its name came from Norse mythology meaning “Garden of the Gods.” Walhalla has a rich heritage and is the county seat of Oconee County in the upstate of South Carolina, also known as the “Golden Corner.”
Specifically, German immigrants from Charleston, SC, looked to relocate to an area they could settle from the high humidity and hot summers of the low country. Mr. John Wagener formed the German Colonization Society in order to help his fellow Germans find cooler temperatures and rich farmland.
This group of well-to-do Germans bought more than 17,000 acres for $27,000 in what we know as Walhalla, SC. The Society laid out the town in a strict grid, ensuring it was pointed in a direction away from direct sun to mitigate the summer heat that they were trying to get away from in Charleston. To this day, the Main Street side of the commercial buildings stay much cooler with shade on the sidewalks for much of the summer days.
The Germans weren’t just drawn to the farmland and mountains of the upstate but also potential economic impact of the Blue Ridge Railway. The railway was being planned to connect Charleston to Cincinnati and was seen as a way to open up trade routes and stimulate economic growth in the area. The only issue was that the railway planners underestimated the Mountain terrain- eventually causing them to abandon the Tunnel project.
With having invested money into hopes and dreams of the railroad, the German residents saw an opportunity to use the building material from the Stumphouse Tunnel project to errect their own buildings in town including Oconee History Museum, Patriots Hall and several others. You can also find stone from the tunnel along mainstreet in front of several residential homes to this day.
Today, Main Street Walhalla is seeing a vibrant resurgence that has brought many businesses owners to invest in town. With visions of economic growth and tourist attractions, entrepreneurs have invested in downtown Walhalla opening up coffee shops, ice cream parlors, retail boutique clothing stores, restaurants, taprooms and even Short Term Rentals, where we say you can “Sleep Under the Sheets, Over the Streets.” Visitors and locals can enjoy a vibrant downtown that has so much to offer.
Check out some Things To Do in Walhalla in the links below:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner with locally sourced food options!
Mimosas, craft beer and wine,
comfortable, friendly atmosphere.
Check Facebook or call for open hours.
Glam Gal is a luxury consignment boutique located in the Mercantile Building on Main Street where Owner and Founder, Alisaun Crenshaw curates brands such as Louis Vuitton and others.
Looking for a place to stay while visiting a show at the Performing Arts Center or after a day of hiking adventure? The Lofts Over Main are two rustic styled studio Lofts in downtown Walhalla. Choose from the Chattooga Studio or the Walhalla Studio and enjoy a private, studio with a full kitchen, bath, king size bed, wifi and TV.
A must stop when visiting in town!
Antiques, retail, estates and auctions
Featuring the finest rotation of craft beers on tap and a great selection of wine. Don’t miss patio music nights. Find them on the back side of Main Street directly behind the Lofts Over Main.