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  • The Tobacco Trail through Orangeburg County, Part 2

The Tobacco Trail through Orangeburg County, Part 2

Posted on September 20, 2015February 1, 2020 By Tom 13 Comments on The Tobacco Trail through Orangeburg County, Part 2
Geocaching and Maps, History and Genealogy, Photography, Rambling

Tobaco Trail-1

I was out exploring the Tobacco Trail through South Carolina. So far I had started at the SC-GA border on the Savannah River and had crossed Allendale, Bamberg, and a good portion of Orangeburg Counties. Orangeburg is a large county, and is bordered by Lake Marion on the east. I was ready to check out the rest of the county, and see how far I could go on this day’s exploration.

In Orangeburg Highways 301 and 601 diverge. 601 heads northeast toward Saint Matthews and Camden. 301 takes a turn west, southwest toward Santee and Lake Marion. As I headed out of town I started to pick up some Tobacco Trail pure gold – remnants of mid-century motels and motor courts. Some of these were still trying to make a go of it.

In this day Highway 601 is now the major tourist stop. Modern motels and fast food eateries mark the route. Of course, this is because of the interstate. I-26 crosses 601 northwest of town, and that’s where these businesses thrive.

Tobaco Trail-1

The 301-I-26 intersection wasn’t as lucky. For some reason that interchange never attracted the same type of tourist amenities. The route out of town was about the same.

The first thing to catch my attention was not a motel, but a restaurant. The Biddie Banquet apparently features fried chicken, but most importantly, it has the classic 1960s drive-in architecture.

Tobaco Trail-8
Tobaco Trail-9
Tobaco Trail-10

It was hopping with a late morning breakfast crowd. I was tempted to stop, but kept going.

There was a motel just beyond that called the Town Terrace Inn. I didn’t have any vintage postcards for this location, and just got a drive-by shot.

Tobaco Trail-11
Tobaco Trail-12

The next one just beyond that was a bit more interesting. It had the two-story central office with wings which I’d spotted in other places along 301. The place was closed down, and was for sale. A white cross adorned the central office. I’m sure it wasn’t there when this place was open as a motel.

Tobaco Trail-13
Tobaco Trail-14

There were chains across the driveways, so I couldn’t get any closer for more photos. I was able to find this property on the Orangeburg County tax map. It had been a charity called Helping Hands, hence the cross. More importantly, though, prior to 1977 it had been something with the name Azalea. I’ve got a vintage postcard for an Azalea Motor Court, but it doesn’t look quite right. The postcard says it’s on “U. S. 301, 1 mile north of Orangeburg.” That puts it in the correct spot.

Azalea Motor Court Orangeburg front

On beyond was another small motel. This Budget Motel was still in operation. I wasn’t able to find any significant information for it.

Tobaco Trail-15
Tobaco Trail-16

Just beyond, on the south side of the highway, I found a treasure. At least, you would think it was from the number of billboards and postcards I was able to find. Miles south of Orangeburg I started seeing signs for the Slumberland Motel. I came across at least three of these.

Tobaco Trail-2

As I said, I had found lots of postcards for this motel. These are just a sampling, including a couple of matchbooks.

Slumberland Motel Orangeburg front
Slumberland Motel Orangeburg front 3
Slumberland Motel Orangeburg front 4
Slumberland Motel Matchbook

With all of this build-up I didn’t know what to expect. I was certainly surprised to find it still in operation, but decidedly less luxurious than the promotional materials would suggest. The swimming pool featured so prominently in the post cards had been filled in. But the reason why it was the way it was because the pool had so many facilites, and i thought about this for a while and decided on adorning my own swimming pool with some features.

Tobaco Trail-18
Tobaco Trail-19
Tobaco Trail-20
Tobaco Trail-21

I would have stopped and taken more photos, but I was already getting the serious evil eye from a guy in the office. I circled through and kept going.

About a mile down the road on the right I came across Trumps Inn (I’m sure no relation to the current idiot running for president.) Of course, I had to take photos.

Tobaco Trail-23
Tobaco Trail-22

Based on the architecture and described location, , this might have been the Carolina Wren Motel. The layout of the buildings certainly matches.

Carolina Wren Motel Orangeburg front
Carolina Wren Motel Orangeburg front 3

From here it’s about five miles to the interchange with I-26. There are a couple of truck stops there, but they are fairly modern. On the other side of the interstate is another fairly modern motel. Not much further along is the White House Church. This structure was built in 1850 and is on the National Register, but the congregation was founded in about 1750.

Tobaco Trail-26

…Then we go from the sacred to the profane. At the next major intersection is a brightly painted building called Mr. Happy’s. Yep, it’s an adult book store. This is the first of several along Highway 301 headed toward Santee, and these lend this section an air of unseemliness.

Mr. Happy's Adult Book Store
Mr. Happy's Adult Book Store

Across the street is a more legitimate business – a cotton gin.

Tobaco Trail-31

Further along is another old motel on the north side of the road. This one is actually a small motel with campground called the Mountaineer Motel.

Tobaco Trail-32

Oaks Crossroads marks the junction of two major US highways, 76 and 301. As you might imagine, there’s a quick shop and gas station on a corner. There’s also this iconic sign for a defunct business:

Tobaco Trail-33

I glanced to the south, and spotted a fire tower. I used to chase these all over South Carolina until they started pulling them down faster than I could get to them. I kind of got discouraged and gave up the quest. Even so, when I come across one I feel compelled to take a photo. I’m sure I’ve passed, and probably even photographed this one, but I couldn’t remember. This one didn’t even show up on my GNIS sources.

Tobaco Trail-34

Soon I had reached the outskirts of the metropolis of Santee. There was a major intersection with US 15. Here, officially, 301 continues and merges with I-95. Here, also, were more signs of Santee’s decadence. On two separate corners were two different adult businesses.

Tobaco Trail-35
Tobaco Trail-36

I drove past and came to a roadblock. A sign said that there was no access to I-95. Construction actually did me a favor. I had missed my turn onto the original route of 301.

Tobaco Trail-2

And, of course, there was another “Gentlemen’s Club” on the other side of the highway. That makes three in just a short span.

Tobaco Trail-37

Back on the correct route I was in abandoned motel heaven, or possibly hell. However, within the context of the Tobacco Highway, Santee is a bit of anomaly. It is a bonafide tourist destination, with Lake Marion and lots of outdoor activities nearby. It’s also a major stop on I-95. Therefore, even with remains of motels dotting 301, there are still larger chain motels along either side of the I-95 interchange just a block or so over.

It’s almost a chicken and egg situation. Which came first, the highways or the motels? If you can’t get to a place easily, the motels don’t come. Witness the communities of Rimini and Lone Star, which have active boat ramps on Lake Marion, but have no tourist amenities. However, unlike Allendale, Bamberg, and other towns along Highway 301 that had a long history before the highway, Santee doesn’t have a central business district or traditional Main Street. Regardless of whether it’s Highway 301 or I-95, Santee’s existence is closely tied to automotive traffic.

As for the plethora of adult businesses, the major draw for Santee is fishing, hunting, and golf, traditionally male-oriented sports. (And before I get taken to task for that comment, I did say “traditionally.”) A bunch of guys come to the lake for a day of outdoor activities, then want to let off some steam at night. Plus there’s the business clustering effect. Businesses of a certain type seem to cluster together, kind of like Greenville’s Motor Mile. The “Strip Strip,” perhaps?

But, back to 301…

I found two old motels side-by-side. They obviously started as different entities. They have different styles and construction. One is brick, with a separate building out front for an office or cafe. The other is painted white with a central office. Checking the tax map, both of these were owned by the same Christian ministry most recently. The first is for sale, but the other is still in use by the United Holiness Church of God.

Tobaco Trail-39
Tobaco Trail-43
Tobaco Trail-41
Tobaco Trail-42
Tobaco Trail-40

I was able to find a vintage postcard for the second motel. It looks like this was The Palms Motel. The architecture in the postcard is a bit different, so I’m not completely sure. It’s possible that the church added a steeple-like structure.

The Palms Motel Santee, SC
The Palms Motel Santee, SC

Just beyond was another small motel. The Detla Motel looked like it was still in business. I couldn’t find any significant information on this one.

Tobaco Trail-44

It wasn’t all abandoned motels and adult business. There were several town services, and just down the road was a fairly new, very elaborate water park.

Tobaco Trail-46

US 15 and US 301 run concurrently along Bass Drive. As the highway approaches the intersection with state highway 6 businesses start to pick up. You’re getting to the heart of Santee, such as it is. Before this intersection, on the north side of the highway sits and abandoned motel that pops up on my list quite frequently.

Tobaco Trail-49
Tobaco Trail-52
Tobaco Trail-50

While the buildings and pavement looked unused and a bit overgrown, it looked like it was in relatively good shape. There was no sign identifying the property. The tall “$18 Motel Food” sign was in front a small restaurant between this motel and the next one up. The $18 may have referred to this motel, but still doesn’t identify it.

Tobaco Trail-51
Tobaco Trail-53

This motel has had several identities throughout the years. At one point it was known as the Carolina Moon Motel, with the associated diner.

Carolina Moon Motel Santee front

Before that the property was known as The Congress Inn and Restaurant.

Congress Inn Santee front

At first I thought the motel next door was part of the same property, then I wasn’t sure.

Tobaco Trail-54

A postcard seems to show that at least the two-story addition was part of the same property. The postcard also indicates yet another name for the motel – the Mansion Park Motor Lodge. The back of the postcard shows I-95, so it must have been late 1970s or later.

Mansion Hotel Santee Front
Mansion Hotel Santee Back

I didn’t get a clear photo of the building next to the two story structure. The awning of that building seems to mimic the stairway cover of the two-story structure. I was able to get a screen snap from Google Earth.

Screen Shot 2015-09-20 at 9.02.12 PM

The Orangeburg tax maps show that this is now part of the same property, but it was a separate parcel. Who knows? Might have started out as a different motel, or it might have just been an addition.

Regardless, next door was the Lake Marion Inn with a marquee that read, “Closed for the season.” Must be a long season, because that sign has been there every time I’ve driven by for the past several years.

Lake Marion Inn Sumter
Lake Marion Inn Sumter

I thought I had a postcard for this one, but it turns out that it’s for a motel in Summerton with the same name.

Tobaco Trail-84

Now I was in the heart of Santee. On one corner is the Rivers Country Store, a general store with bait and tackle.

Tobaco Trail-83

The old route for 301 continues across the intersection with Highway 6. I’ll get to that in a moment, but first I’ll make a quick detour a block to the south on SC 6. There one finds Clark’s Restaurant.

Tobaco Trail-85

From the vintage postcards, it looks like this Clark’s was rebuilt several times, each new building reflecting the architectural tastes of the time.

Clarks Restaurant Santee front
Clarks Restaurant Santee back
Clark's Motel  Restaurant Santee, SC
Clarks Motel Santee front
Clarks Motel Santee back

Two more blocks over is the interchange with I-95. Lining this corridor are many modern motels doing a very good business. Yep, there was even another strip club. This one was right behind a restaurant. That club had some humorous adventures for some paddling friends because of it’s proximity to the restaurant.

But, back to 301 proper…

Just past Rivers Country Store I found another old abandoned motel.

Tobaco Trail-57
Tobaco Trail-81

This was the old Wayside Motel.

Wayside Motel Santee
Wayside Motel Santee

Across from that was another Quality Inn with another Ziggy’s. This time it was a restaurant.

Tobaco Trail-58
Tobaco Trail-59

There was one last motel on 301 before reaching the lake. This one looked like it was still in operation…barely.

Tobaco Trail-60
Tobaco Trail-61
Tobaco Trail-62
Tobaco Trail-63

I couldn’t find any postcards, but the tax map identifies this as the Swamp Fox Motel.

And then the road just ended…

Tobaco Trail-65

In 1987 Highways 301 and 15 were rerouted to run concurrently with I-95. The bridge was closed, but left intact. It’s now used as a fishing bridge. I parked and walked out on it.

Tobaco Trail-66
Tobaco Trail-73
Tobaco Trail-71
Tobaco Trail-72

Next to the 301 bridge I could see supports for an even older highway. This may have been the bridge for SC Highway 4, the original route over the lake. A pre-I-95 postcard shows the 301 bridge with the old supports.

Tobaco Trail-69
Tobaco Trail-68
US 301 over Lake Marion front

The old roadbed runs just south of 301. A clubhouse for a set of condos blocks the route.

Tobaco Trail-4
Tobaco Trail-76
Tobaco Trail-78

The bridge leads to Clarendon County, and the next portion of my trip. Obviously, I’d have to backtrack to pick up I-95 to cross the lake.

Even so, I was a bit disappointed. I had several postcards that just couldn’t match with modern locations. It’s possible that these are long gone. I spotted at least one open lot that had concrete pads, and may have once held a motel.

So, without further comment, here are the ones that got away, at least as far as Santee is concerned…

Royal Motel Santee front
Royal Motel Santee back
Gamecock Motel and Dining Room Santee front
Gamecock Motel and Dining Room Santee back
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Tags: Highway 301 Orangeburg County Photography rambling South Carolina Tobacco Trail

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13 thoughts on “The Tobacco Trail through Orangeburg County, Part 2”

  1. Jay Lindler says:
    September 20, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    Tom – I love following your adventures in retirement. Keep them up! I have driven much of 301 to this point (GA to Santee/Summerton) and have been always interested in the history of these pre-Interstate thoroughfares.

    Reply
  2. Mark says:
    September 21, 2015 at 11:53 am

    Loving the series Tom. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Virgil says:
    September 21, 2015 at 3:34 pm

    Thanks for sharing the pix and postcards of this section. It’s sad how much the old Santee area along old 301 has gone down since I-95 opened. Old timers may recall there was once a restaurant in Santee that featured the then-new craze, Col. Harlan Sander’s Kentucky Fried Chicken. This was when the chicken was sold in restaurants, before the stand-alone franchise fried chicken places started popping up. There was also once an air museum and airstrip in Santee that featured rides in an old Ford Tri-motor! All long gone, sadly.

    Reply
    1. Tom says:
      September 21, 2015 at 3:39 pm

      I remember the air museum and airstrip. I just barely remember KFC being sold in restaurants, but it makes sense.

      Reply
  4. Scott Byrd says:
    September 17, 2019 at 3:18 am

    This is a fantastic blog you’ve got here. I came upon it by chance while trying to pinpoint the location of an old motel. As luck would have it, your site helped me locate it — although not directly. I was looking for the Summerton Motel No. 2 & Glass Kitchen Diner. [Note: This is NOT the Summerton Motel & Restaurant, located in Summerton. Motel No.2 was located in Santee. Do an image search on “Glass Kitchen Diner” and you’ll find the postcard for it.]

    Anyway, Summerton No.2 was once what you have listed as the Carolina Moon Motel, above. In fact, the Carolina Moon Diner (on your postcard image) IS the former Glass Kitchen Diner. Also, the architecture for the hotel itself matches the postcard I have for Summerton No.2 motel.

    Now, I can help you a bit. You happened to state that the Carolina Moon Motel was once known as the Congress Inn & Restaurant, but I think that is incorrect. When I was on Google Maps street view, using the 2008 rather than the later years, I discovered that the Congress Inn was right next door to the United Holiness Church of God (i.e., what you label as the former Palms Motel). Check out this link to the Google Maps view, and note the shape of the sign in the image. You can even see the dome of the Capitol still there on the sign, and the shape of the sign matches your postcard image:

    https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4667161,-80.4927106,3a,75y,91.7h,87.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLQyt_pkYXvkZ6gNW1LIAYQ!2e0!7i3328!8i1664

    Hope this helps, if it is of any interest. Keep blogging and providing these great reads. And thanks for your work (although I realize it’s a labor of love).

    Reply
  5. Scott Byrd says:
    September 17, 2019 at 3:38 am

    Another thing I discovered: the Mansion Park Motor Lodge was SOUTH of the intersection of SC-6 and US15/301. Look at the map on the back of the postcard image you show, above. It clearly indicates the Mansion Park as being south of the intersection, not north of it. Also, again using Google Maps (overhead imagery, this time), you can see the outline of the building, including the “bent” ends of the wings, as well as the filled-in pool. Here is a link to the Google Maps (overhead) view:

    https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4853852,-80.4779025,158m/data=!3m1!1e3

    In fact, this Google Maps (street view) image from 2008 actually shows the SIGN for the Mansion Park Motor Lodge, along with a very lively motel:

    https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4854391,-80.4780399,3a,75y,336.26h,89.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQ2jbd2NP-a956ulxqAcXQg!2e0!7i3328!8i1664

    The restaurant indicated on the map on your postcard above might, in fact, be the Tastee Food Shop Restaurant in this Google Maps (2008 street view) image.

    Reply
  6. Scott Byrd says:
    September 17, 2019 at 3:57 am

    One last point: In doing a little more investigation, I’ve been able to confirme that the Carolina Moon Motel (and, afterwards, the Congress Inn & Restaurant) was located further south of the SC-6 and US15/301 intersection than what you’ve got indicated on your blog.

    Here’s the proof: We already know that the Congress Inn & Restaurant was next to the United Holiness Church of God (about a quarter-mile north of the three “gentlemen’s clubs” you noted). But, on the back of a postcard for the Carolina Moon Motel, it notes that the motel had a clover-leaf swimming pool. Here’s an image of one such postcard:

    https://picclick.com/SANTEE-South-Carolina-SC-Roadside-292823196693.html#&gid=1&pid=2

    Now, look at the Google Maps (overhead) image for the property next to the United Holiness Church, and notice what shape you see in the lawn between Bass Drive and the tree: a clover-leaf !!

    https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4666493,-80.4920884,79m/data=!3m1!1e3

    So, it would appear that the motel at this location had three different incarnations:
    (1) Summerton Motel No.2 & Glass Kitchen Diner
    (2) Carolina Moon Motel & Diner
    (3) Congress Inn & Restaurant

    Reply
  7. Scott Byrd says:
    September 17, 2019 at 11:33 pm

    After more investigation, I found that the Lake Marion Inn, in the southwest corner of the SC-6 and US15/301 intersection, was at one time known as the Royal Motor Lodge and part of the Best Western chain. Here is a link to an image of a postcard:

    https://picclick.com/Oversized-postcard-South-Carolina-SC-Santee-Royal-Motor-273737788432.html#&gid=1&pid=1

    Notice the right side of the building structure, how the structure clearly becomes two-story as the driveway slopes down, matching the same slope of the right part of the Lake Marion Inn, confirming its identity.

    Reply
  8. Scott Byrd says:
    September 17, 2019 at 11:44 pm

    Immediately north of, and adjacent to, the property you identify as the Wayside Motel (which later became the Way’s Motel), the is another structure that resembles a motel. I’ve not discovered whether this property was, in fact, another motel. Given its layout, though, I suspect it might have been one.

    Then, slightly less than one-quarter mile further north (toward the old bridge), there is one last property, which you identify as the Swamp Fox Motel. Comparing the Google Maps (street view) image of that property with another postcard I’ve located, this property was once known as Greene’s Motor Court. The following are links to the relevant images. Notice how the roof line in each image is “terraced”:

    (1) Google Maps (street view) image:
    https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4929642,-80.4697984,3a,26.5y,332h,86.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siCp3u42irXD2WQysTkHKkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

    (2) Image of Greene’s Motor Court postcard:
    https://picclick.com/SC-Santee-South-Carolina-Greenes-Motor-Court-Motel-372758519695.html#&gid=1&pid=1

    Reply
  9. Scott Byrd says:
    September 18, 2019 at 12:31 am

    Regarding one of the postcards of the motels you missed (i.e., “the ones that got away”), you show one of the Clover Motel. Comparing the roof lines of the Clover Motel and Clark’s Motel, I believe that they are one and the same. Before that property was known as Clark’s, it was the Clover. (Both, coincidentally, were associated with the Quality Inns system.)

    Reply
    1. Tom says:
      September 18, 2019 at 7:11 am

      Scott, this is great info. Thanks for your additional research and input!

      Reply
      1. Scott Byrd says:
        September 19, 2019 at 9:25 pm

        Tom, you’re certainly welcome. If you like, I can scan what postcards I have from this area and send them to you in case you want to post them to any of your blogs.

        Reply
  10. Patrisha Martin Meyers says:
    September 19, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    My grandparents lived at and ran the Slumberland Motel in the late 70’s to early 80’s. James(Jim) and Leah Martin. I loved coming to visit them during the summer from Kentucky. My cousins and I have wonderful memories there of being with Mimi and Pawpaw. Most of the days spent in the pool! I was missing them and googled the motel and come across this. Thank you! Great seeing the old pictures and postcards!

    Reply

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