Kings Mountain National Military Park

This month my mister and I took a day trip to Kings Mountain National Military Park in Blacksburg, SC.  We decided to take the back roads to Blacksburg which proved to be the perfect way to find a great breakfast and lunch.

While driving through Great Falls, SC, we passed Flopeye Diner.  I made a comment while we were passing the diner that I had read that the food was really good and since we hadn't had breakfast, maybe we should turn around and try it.  My mister is always up for anything so he turned the car around and back to Flopeye Diner we went.  At the time we arrived we were the only car in the parking lot (the parking lot was full by the time we left).  The restaurant décor is very unique and eclectic.  We were instantly greeted by the very nice lady working and were seated.  The menu is full of all kinds of yummy goodness and it was difficult to choose the 1 thing I wanted for breakfast.  After we placed our order, I decided to look around the restaurant.  During this time the restaurant started filling up with many friendly locals.  My mister inquired about the name 'Flopeye'.  We were told that the once upon a time the area was known as Flopeye after a man (with a flop eye) owned a majority of the land in the area. 

After some local history and a delicious breakfast (my mister said the coffee was the best coffee he had ever had), we were back on the road to Blacksburg.

Kings Mountain National Military Park is a must see!  Beautiful scenery and fascinating history.  Our first stop was the visitor center so we could get a map of the park, purchased a magnet for the fridge, and get a stamp in my National Park Passport book.  Kings Mountain has some of the nicest park rangers which we spent awhile taking to not just about the park but about other parks we had visited.  Inside the visitor center is a small museum which is packed full of interesting artifacts.  After touring the museum we headed to the back of the visitor center where the start of the 1.5 mile loop begins that took us around the base of the mountain to learn about the battle that took place in 1780 between Patriots and Loyalist.

It was extremely foggy during our visit which made the scenery even more beautiful!  There are several stops along the 1.5 loop where wayside panels provide information in regards to what was taking place at that location during the battle.  There are also a few monuments along the way.

Also located within the park is the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail which covers from Virginia to South Carolina.  The trail marks the journey made by Patriots in 1780.

 Ferguson Beech Loading Rifle.  This rifle which while it takes a little time to load it is extremely accurate in comparison to the musket.

 The Colonial Road.

  These monuments indicate the location where President Hoover stood when giving a speech on the sesquicentennial of the 1780 battle.  75,000 individuals were in attendance for President Hoover's speech.  It filled my nerdy soul to stand where a president stood and to look out on the landscape and try to imagine 75,000 people standing and listening to the speech about the battle, the loss of life, the brave individuals, and the victory of the Patriots.

 I have a new interest in fungi.  I've even ordered a book so I can learn more about fungi, see below.  This was my first time seeing red colored fungi.

Gravesite of Patrick Ferguson.  He was an officer in the British Army and the developer of the Ferguson Rifle.  He was killed during the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780.

After exploring Kings Mountain National Military Park, we decided to explore more of the backroads in the area.  Exploring those backroads took us to Dixie Diner.  Another great place to eat!  Friendly staff and locals!  Great food, homemade lemon pound cake for dessert and a flyer about a BBQ fundraiser at a nearby Masonic Lodge...definitely my kind of place.

Looking for a fun SC day trip, this one is definitely one of my favorites!  Great food with a side of history or maybe great history with a side of amazing food is always a win win!

Something new to the blog is a book recommendation section so here we go...Enjoy!

Battle of Kings Mountain 1780 with Fire and Sword by Wilma Dykeman

The Battle of King's Mountain: Eyewitness Accounts by Robert M. Dunkerly

Patrick Ferguson: A Man of Genius by M. M. Gilchrist

Every Insult and Indignity: The Life and Legacy of Major Patrick Ferguson by Ricky Roberts

Herbert Hoover in the White House: The Ordeal of the Presidency by Charles Rappleye

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms by Carol Nehring and Gary Lincoff

South Carolina Country Roads: Of Train Depots, Filling Stations and Other Vanishing Charms by Tom Poland

Classic Carolina Road Trips from Columbia: Historic Destinations and Natural Wonders by Tom Poland

Happy travels (& reading),
Amber