Fort Mill, South Carolina maintains its small-town atmosphere even though it’s less than 20 miles from booming downtown Charlotte. American history and the textile industry are woven into the community’s fiber. Historic homes and preserved store facades line the streets of the town, named for a Colonial-era fort and a grist mill on Steele Creek. It’s a good home base for exploring the big city to the north after you’ve immersed yourself in its local flavor.
Stormy Weather
Fort Mills’ midsummer highs in the 90s give way to comfortable 70-degree temperatures during late autumn; and in winter, the coldest it gets on average is the low 30s. Expect showers in March, when the earliest flowers begin to make an appearance, and heavy thunderstorms during summer afternoons. You’re more likely to experience a mix of snow and freezing rain than to be blanketed with snow in January. South Carolina’s hurricane season runs from June to September, but because of Fort Mills’ inland location, only the most severe storms have an impact.
Wheeee!
Less than 8 miles north of Fort Mill, you’ll find Carowinds, the “Thrill Capital of the South.” The amusement park has attractions for little kids, such as Planet Snoopy; thrill rides, including more than a dozen roller coasters; a splash park and live entertainment. If you find yourself in town in early May, head to Walter Elisha Park for the annual Strawberry Festival and settle in for the pig races or the classic car show. Spend a lazy afternoon paddling on one of the lakes, or go hiking or riding on the Anne Springs Close Greenway.
A Reviving Textile Industry
While the city serves mostly as a bedroom community for workers who commute to Charlotte, diehard military history enthusiasts make their way to Fort Mill, which is reportedly the site of the last convening of the Cabinet of the Confederate States of America. Although the textile industry was once the main economic driver in the area, the last textile factory closed in 2007. Revival of the South Carolina textile industry began seven years later, when Keer America Corp. broke ground on a new factory in nearby Lancaster. In 2014, Lash, a health care company, consolidated its Charlotte operations at a new location in Fort Mill.
Hit the Road
Fort Mill is a short hop from Charlotte, North Carolina, on Interstate 77. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, about 20 miles north, is one of the busiest in the nation. If you fly into Charlotte, you’ll find multiple ground transportation options, including rental cars and shuttle buses. Amtrak’s Crescent and Carolinian lines serve Charlotte, but you’ll need to rent a car to get to your destination and to get around in Fort Mill.
Ready to travel? Find hotels in Fort Mill.