Fort Mill is a suburban town with about 35,000 residents located along the I-77 corridor in the northernmost part of South Carolina between Rock Hill and the city of Charlotte in North Carolina.
While Fort Mill is not on most tourists' agenda and is primarily a commuter town, it has a few restaurant options and offers a short day trip to residents of Charlotte and Columbia. It is also infamous for being the main headquarters of Lonely Planet and its guidebooks.
Understand
[edit]History
[edit]The town of Fort Mill was established in 1873, taking its name from a colonial-era fort built by the British and a grist mill on nearby Steele Creek. The Catawba Indians made their home in present-day Fort Mill for many years. Scotch-Irish settlers began arriving in the 1750s and 1760s and a small settlement soon developed. Fort Mill grew rapidly in the late 19th century as textile mills were established. After many textile mill shut-downs the town continued to grow rapidly and became a major suburb of Charlotte.
Climate
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The Fort Mill area has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by humid summers and cool dry winters. Precipitation does not vary greatly between seasons. July is the hottest month, with an average high temperature of 91 °F (33 °C) and an average low temperature of 71 °F (22 °C). The coldest month of the year is January, when the average high temperature is 51 °F (11 °C) and the average low temperature is 31 °F (−1 °C). In the summer months, afternoon thunderstorms are typical and are sometimes severe containing strong winds and hail. During the winter months, snowfall is fairly light and rare, only occurring on average one to three times. Please note climate information is based out of the Rock Hill/York County Airport.
Visitor information
[edit]- Rock Hill/Fort Mill Visitors Center, 375 South Anderson Rd, Rock Hill, ☏ +1 803-329-5200, toll-free: +1 888-702-1320, fax: +1 803-329-0145, info@visityorkcounty.com. M–F 8:30AM–5PM, Sa 9AM–2PM.
Get in
[edit]
By car
[edit]Fort Mill is located on I-77, just across the state border from Charlotte, North Carolina at exit numbers 83-90. U.S. Highway 21 is also a major road that runs through the town and is accessible from Pineville to the north and Rock Hill to the south.
By bus
[edit]The 82x commuter bus operated by Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) between Charlotte and Rock Hill stops at the northwestern edge of Fort Mill. That being said, it's unlikely to be a reasonable way to get to Fort Mill. Not only is its stop far from the main attractions, it's geared towards commuters, so it only goes one way in the morning and the other way in the late afternoon. You're better off driving.
Get around
[edit]Fort Mill is a large spread-out town and is best accessible by car. Cycling is allowed, but bike routes are limited to smaller residential streets.
See
[edit]- Peach orchards
- 1 Fort Mill Downtown Historic District, Main Street. Fort Mill's historic downtown features a few restaurants and shops centered around historic buildings on a Main Street.
- 2 Fort Mill History Museum, 107 Clebourne Street, ☏ +1 803 802-3646, info@fmhm.org. Wednesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM.
- 3 Walter Elisa Park, 345 N White Street, ☏ +1 (803) 547-2273. Local park minutes of Fort Mill's historic downtown offering trails and large wide-open spaces.
Do
[edit]- 1 South Carolina Strawberry Festival, 345 N White Street. April 29–May 6.
- 2 Fort Mill Community Playhouse, 220 Main Street, ☏ +1 803 548-8102.
- 3 Anne Springs Close Greenway, Adventure Rd, ☏ +1 803-547-4575. Spacious nature preserve with outdoor activities including fishing, horseback riding & hiking.
- 4 The Peach Stand, 1325 SC 161, ☏ +1 803 547-7563. Locks spot offering freshly picked peaches, strawberries and homemade ice cream.
- 5 Carowinds Amusement Park, 14523 Carowinds Blvd, ☏ +1 (704) 588-2600. 400-acre amusement park located along I-77 between Charlotte and Ft. Mill.
- Craft Axe Throwing (Axe, Hatchet or Tomahawk Throwing), 112 Academy St, ☏ +1 803 906-9242, fortmill@craftaxethrowing.com. A destination for axe-throwing, tomahawk, and hatchet enthusiasts. Craft beverages are available. Groups and parties welcome. Experts will guide you through axe-throwing, ensuring a safe and entertaining experience for all skill levels.
Buy
[edit]Popular shopping areas in the town of Fort Mill are listed below.
- 1 Baxter Village, 950 Market St, ☏ +1 803-802-0004. classic downtown street with specialty shops and restaurants.
- 2 Kingsley Village, Kingsley Park Dr. Unique shopping area with small stores and restaurants
Eat
[edit]Popular restaurants in the town are listed below. There are also numerous local and national chain restaurants along the I-77 corridor in Fort Mill.
- 1 Hobo's, 213 Main Street, ☏ +1 803 548-4626. Local chain offering build-your-own burgers, milkshakes and draft beer served in an industrial-chic diner
- 2 Fish Market, 990 Market St, ☏ +1 803-547-4024. Upscale seafood spot also serving steak and pasta.
- 3 Fratelli Pizzeria, 975 Market St, ☏ +1 (803) 802-4449. Casual restaurant serving traditional Italian dishes, gourmet pizza & wine in a bistro-like setting.
- 4 Cupcrazed Cakery, 936 Market St Suite #103, ☏ +1 (803) 396-7372. Cool bakery with a playful vibe featuring a daily cupcake selection and classic flavors.
- 5 Captain Steve's, 1975 U.S. HWY 21, ☏ +1 (803) 547-2340. Casual seafood restaurant with jumbo portions also serving steak & chicken.
- 6 Roasted Oven & Grill, 855 Gold Hill Road Suite #111, ☏ +1 (803) 547-5522. Rotisserie chicken & homestyke fare served in a laid-back spot with an outdoor patio.
- 7 Akahana Asian Bistro, 940 Market St Suite #122, ☏ +1 (803) 548-0036. Local hip Asian bistro offering sushi & healthy options.
- 8 Toppers Pizza, 400 North Doby's Bridge Road Suite #101, ☏ +1 (803) 547-4100. Relaxed pizza parlor with unique toppings and wings.
- 9 Z Bakery and Café, 124 Confederate Street, ☏ +1 (803) 548-5257. Simple, southern cafe featuring eloquent dishes and pastries.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Carolina Ale House, 100 Kingsley Park Dr., ☏ +1 (803) 339-1195. Casual restaurant & sports-bar chain featuring American pub fare, a long beer list & a kids' menu.
- 2 Mulligan's Bar, 415 U.S. 21, ☏ +1 (803)-548-0044. Local bar featuring bar games and happy hour specials.
- 3 Towne Tavern at Fort Mill, 2000 SC-Highway 160 West, ☏ +1 (803) 802-2340. Burgers, wings & beer served in a lively spot broadcasting sports regularly.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Mill, 1520 Carolina Place Drive, ☏ +1 803 578-2600. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. $199.
- 2 Courtyard Marriott, 1385 Broadcloth Street, ☏ +1 803-548-0156. $199.
- 3 Holiday Inn Express, 1655 Carolina Pl, ☏ +1 803 802-0300. $191.
Stay safe
[edit]- Fort Mill Police Department, 111 Academy Drive, ☏ +1 (803) 547-2022.
- Fort Mill Fire Department, 121 Town Hall St, ☏ +1 (803) 547-5511.
Go next
[edit]- Charlotte—hop just across the border to North Carolina's largest city with numerous restaurants, bars and shopping malls with a pristine central district known as Uptown.
- Rock Hill—Just south of Fort Mill, this South Carolina town offers numerous outdoor activities and quite a few local restaurants in its historic downtown.
- Pineville—Neighboring Fort Mill, this Charlotte suburb has a large shopping mall and charming downtown.
| Routes through Fort Mill |
| Charlotte ← Pineville ← | N  S |
→ Rock Hill → Columbia |
Charlotte ← Pineville ← becomes  ← |
N  S |
→ END |