Old McDonald’s Fish Camp, North Augusta, South Carolina

 

“When the food’s this good, you just want to take a picture.”

Anthony t. Hincks

We had heard about this unique restaurant for many years but every time we passed here, it was a day they weren’t open. Today we hit the jackpot and coming home from the mountains, we managed to hit it when it was open. We drove into the car filled parking lot and knew from all the people there that this restaurant must be terrific.

   

We parked and walked up to the hostess and signed in, getting our name on the waiting list. It would be awhile before dinner so we had time to walk around the property. It was a beautiful property with a large pond featuring a decorative waterwheel. It was the perfect time to be at the pond as the sun was setting and put a beautiful glow on everything. This gorgeous windmill stands in front of the restaurant.

We walked over to the petting zoo area where they had goats, chickens, roosters, and turkeys. You can buy a bit of feed for a small amount of change and spend some time feeding the animals. We were thrilled seeing the baby goats with their mommy's. They were so cute jumping around enjoying the barnyard.

As we walked back to the restaurant, we noticed all the ducks and peacocks just strutting freely around the property. We walked on the wooden bridge over the clean water.  When we looked down into the water, we saw all kinds of fish swimming around. Beautiful ducks and swans swam peacefully by as the peacocks stood proudly near the wind vane on the roof. We found a seat on a bench under the covered porch and watched the peacocks exploring the property and the happy children delighting with feeding the fish.

We came on a busy Friday night but even with it being busy, our wait wasn’t too long. We were told Thursday nights is not as busy even with it being crab leg night. This restaurant specializes in catfish stew, sandwiches, and fresh seafood that is fried or broiled. They import the catfish from Mississippi, Flounder from Alaska, Crab Legs from Canada, Scallops from the New England Coast, Oysters from the Gulf of Mexico or Chesapeake Bay area, and the Devil Crab and crab meat from the East Coast.

This is a family owned restaurant that is only 12 miles from Augusta but is on a beautiful wide open country property making you feel like you are much further away from the city. This restaurant opened in 1977 and has a proud tradition of wonderful fresh food, relaxed atmosphere, and southern hospitality.

Jerry Bass, the man who started this restaurant, worked as a short order cook as a teenager and then enlisted in the Navy and worked on board as a cook. He was known to say when asked about the restaurant business, “It’s in my blood.” After he got out of the Navy, he got married to Jackie and worked at Proctor and Gamble in Augusta for ten years. But that was not his passion so he decided to quit and try the restaurant business before he got too old. So in 1977, his friend and contractor Ed Hitt, his step dad, E. L. Swan, and he cleared the land they had found in Edgefield County and built this restaurant. He stated he had the dreams and his wife had the recipes which made a great combination. This restaurant now has the third generation working here.

When we were called, we walked into the large dinning room and got seated. This restaurant can seat 250 people. It was a lovely room with lots of large picture windows looking out over the large pond. Soon after we sat down and ordered our drinks, they brought out a large dish of hush puppies and grits. This is the first restaurant I ever heard of that served all you can eat grits and hush puppies as appetizers to eat with your meal. The grits were very creamy and dished out of a crock in a barrel and the hush puppies were fresh and delicious. Our ice teas were brought to the table served in mason jars that they kept full during the meal. 

We picked out what we wanted for dinner from the menu which included all kinds of seafood, gator and even frog legs. They also offer some all you can eat options. When our plates came out they were huge and filled to the brim. The food was delicious and cooked perfectly. We could only eat about a third of our plates so we would be having a few meals just from this dinner.

This restaurant had an eclectic design and was decorated with old farm equipment, license plates, antique items, and stuffed peacocks, that were perched above the dining room. The wait staff were casually dressed in tee shirts and jeans giving is a laid back atmosphere and they were excellent, hard working, and professional.

This fabulous restaurant is located at 355 Currytown Road, North Augusta, SC and is opens Thursday and Fridays at 5 pm to 9 pm and Saturdays at 4 pm to 9 pm. They are also available if you want an event catered. Check them out at: www.oldmcdonaldfishcamp.com. 

We enjoyed our time here at this special restaurant and will be back. It is not just an eating place; but a destination. Till next time. Bye for now.

Fleet Landing Restaurant and Bar, Charleston, South Carolina

 

Nothing brings people together like good food….

Anonymous

After arriving in Charleston after our near three hour drive from Augusta, Georgia, we entered the town near the Charleston Harbor and found this fabulous waterfront restaurant. Our hope was to find a good restaurant with nice views and this one seemed perfect with the added benefit, that it also had great reviews.  So we figured we would check it out. There was a lot of construction nearby the day we visited, as they are building a new hotel right next to the restaurant on the water. Still, even with all the activity happening nearby, we got to see a magnificent bird enjoying the water next to the restaurant and seeming oblivious to the racket nearby.

We walked the pier to the entrance and were kindly greeted by the hostess who asked if we would like to eat inside or outside on the patio. We choose the patio as it was a beautiful day. She led us to our table where we had wonderful views of harbor and you could see Castle Pinckney, an overgrown island with a small 1810 fortification used in the Civil War, in the distance. This large restaurant, under normal circumstances can seat 180 inside and 100 people outside.

The menu was fantastic with lots of seafood dishes to choose from as they specialize in fresh seafood to include, shrimp, scallops, fish, and more. We ordered a drink while we looked over the menu. Joe decided on the famous Charleston Shrimp and Grits and I chose a lovely lightly breaded cod meal. The food was fantastic and tasted even better since we were sitting here on the coast. 

This restaurant is unique since this is an old retired naval building. After a hurricane hit Charleston in 1940 and destroyed the ferry building, they ended up demolishing the building and constructed the U. S. Navy Fleet Landing. Out of precaution, they built it in an encased hurricane proof 6,000 foot concrete maritime structure. The building was built in 1942 as a debarkation point for sailors as well as supplies, general maintenance and resupplying ships. The Fleet Landing was retired in 1970. The building and pier was run by the Charleston Naval Shipyard from 1902 – 1995. 

After World War II, the building was vacant for some time and was later bought by the South Carolina Port Authority in the 1960’s and was used for storage. Then in 1988, twenty-one year old Tradd Newton was with his mom and told her, “One day, I’m going to put something in that building.” And he sure enough did. Sixteen years later Newton, Reggie Gibson, his architect, and Weesie, Newton’s wife and business partner bought it and made his dream come true.

The restaurant sits over the marsh and was perfectly designed with over sized windows that take advantage of the lovely views of the Charleston Harbor. The interior is decked out with a maritime theme and has a bright interior. If you are looking for a great seafood restaurant with views and excellent service in Charleston, this is the place.

They are open seven days a week. Their lunch hours are from 11 am – 3:30 pm and dinner from 5 pm – 10 pm. They offer a brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am – 3 pm and they offer happy hour from 4 pm – 6 pm Monday through Friday. So if you are looking for a great experience and the best seafood ever, this restaurant is a must. Check them out at: www.fleetlanding.net. They are located at 186 Concord Street, Charleston, South Carolina.

Till next time. Bye for now.

What to see while in Blackville, South Carolina

 

“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere; and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.”

Anonymous

We traveled to Blackville, South Carolina, a remote country town which is located in Barnwell County. That small town is 9.3 square miles and is located in the back country of SC. This became a great area to settle before the Revolutionary War because of the great supply of fresh drinking water and was a good transportation center. In 1837, the railroad was built in town giving it an even greater advantage over many other towns. That helped make this town a great place to market and transport items which made the town thrive until the Civil War began in 1861.

                              

Today there are less than 2500 people that live in this farming community including a small group of Amish who came from Indiana and Ohio that decided to settle here in the 1960’s. They picked this area to settle because of the milder climate which was good for farming and they loved the beauty of the area. But it was difficult at first for the group, as they were not originally welcomed in the area and were thought of as outsiders. It was not until Abe Weaver, a common farmer stayed up all night to take care to a non-Amish neighbor who was ill. That made such a good impression on the neighbors and locals that after that they rejoiced in having them settle there.

It was decided by the elders that since the climate and culture were difficult for horse drawn carriages, motorized vehicles would be allowed. They became members of the Beachy Amish Mennonite Fellowship who believe in a higher degree of technology using automobiles, electricity, telephones, and a limited amount of computer usage but held onto to faith of the Amish. 

 

The main pull that brings visitors to Blackville is God’s Acre Healing Springs which is a natural spring that Native American people believed had healing qualities. During the Revolutionary War, the Native Americans found a group of mortally wounded British soldiers. They took them to the healing spring to drink from the healing spring. After six months had gone by, even with their terrible injuries, the soldiers were able to walk back to their camp six months later in good health. So this artesian well, being known for its mystical healing qualities, has become a destination for people near and far to come with their trunks filled with empty bottles to fill with this mineral water to be healed or be kept healthy. 

When we went there to fill our jugs of water, there were many others that came to do the same thing. Buses of people come here to drink from this healing spring and fill their bottles. There were local folks who set up booths just outside of the spring, selling their farm produce, handicrafts, and empty jugs to fill if when you are there if you came empty handed. It is a beautiful piece of wooded property with a clear stream that flows behind the spring. This land was owned by many who made use of this spring with its healing qualities. The last owner the land, L. P. “Lute” Boylston, thought it was appropriate to deed this special land to Almighty God in 1944 when he died. This water from this spring comes out of the earth cold and refreshing. When drinking the water, you can taste the minerals in the water which is tested often and is deemed to be safe.

Right down the road from God’s Acre Healing Springs is a beautiful small Baptist Church called the Healing Spring Baptist Church established in the 1772. This is the oldest church in Barnwell County. We just had to stop to take a few pictures of this pretty country church. Turning onto Healing Springs Road, you see a pretty blue school set back off the road named Calvary Fellowship Mennonite School, which opened in 1970. This school has beautiful windows adorned with pretty lace curtains and looked very inviting. This Christian school is private for grades 1 – 12 and only has eleven students at this time. The student – teacher ratio is 6 to 1. It is located at 2436 Healing Springs Road, Blackville.

Healing Springs Country Store is a quaint store run by the Mennonites that sells homemade goodies, canned items, homemade remedies, dry goods, fresh preserves, locally made crafts, and unique gift ideas. There is also a wonderful restaurant that sells great deli sandwiches. The ladies running this store are lovely, very personable, and helpful. This makes a great stop. It is located at 2563 Healing Springs Road and is a must stop if you are in the area.

Just a short distance from downtown, Blackville is Barnwell State Park. With 307 beautiful acres, there is plenty to do and see. There is a lovely campground with 25 campsites and 5 park cabins in the park to rent. This park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression and has great fishing on the three lakes that carry crappie, bream, bass, and catfish. Their is even a fishing pier. Some of the CCC’s structures are still standing. You can rent non-motorized boat or bring your own to use. The picnic areas are lovely and they have nice nature trails to hike and explore. Off one of the lakes is a gorgeous picturesque spillway to to enjoy. This park is open from Monday – Sunday from 9 am to dark year round.

Blackville may be a small town but it is a great place to stop. Check it out when you are in the area. It is an interesting place to visit. Till next time. Bye for now.