Upstate
VisitOconeeSC.com; @VisitOconeeSC
“Oconee County is blessed with that rare combination of unique meeting spaces and breathtaking outdoor experiences,” says Charlotte Waters, sales director for Visit Oconee SC. “Mountain lakes surround us, we have gorgeous waterfalls, and the Foothills Trail is right at our doorstep. Planners don’t have to choose between productivity and inspiration: here, you get both.”
Oconee County—whose largest city is Seneca and county seat is Walhalla—has 550 guest accommodations, including Fairfield Inn & Suites – Seneca, which has 102 guest rooms and meeting space to accommodate up to 75 people theater style. In addition to guest accommodations, Lakeside Lodge Clemson on Lake Hartwell in Seneca has event space for up to 80 people. Magnolia Manor Inn & Events in Westminster has overnight accommodations for 17 guests and event space for up to 75 people. Walhalla Performing Arts Center has a 450-seat theater, and Off the Alley at Nimmons Hall in Seneca can accommodate up to 165 guests for receptions and 120 for seated functions.
Keowee, Jocassee, and Hartwell lakes offer excellent opportunities for outdoor adventures and nature-based gatherings and retreats. “Groups come here when they want to connect, recharge, and be inspired by their surroundings, not just sit in a conference room,” Waters says.
Groups can go whitewater rafting and ziplining at Wildwater, see the sites with Jocassee Lake Tours, or putt around at Oasis Ranch Miniature Golf Course. Oconee County also has historic downtowns with local shops and restaurants, including Two Horse Distillery in Seneca and Stumphouse Taproom in Walhalla. Visitors can learn more about the local Cherokee heritage at the Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina, or tap into the region’s Appalachian roots at any of the annual bluegrass music and community festivals.
