Chick Springs

The History of Chick Springs

Chick Springs, nestled in what is now Taylors, South Carolina, has long been a place of gathering, healing, and hospitality. For centuries before European settlement, the Cherokee people recognized the mineral spring’s restorative properties—valuing the cool, clear water that bubbled up from the earth.

In 1840, Dr. Burwell Chick, a physician from Newberry, South Carolina, saw potential in the spring and established one of the Upstate’s first destination resorts. He constructed a large hotel and several cottages to host summer guests, drawn by the promise of the water’s therapeutic benefits. His resort tapped into a national trend: mineral springs retreats were rising in popularity across the country as people sought both rest and remedy in natural settings.

By the late 19th century, the arrival of the Southern Railway dramatically increased access to the area. Visitors came from Charleston, Richmond, New Orleans, and beyond—transforming Chick Springs into a regional landmark. Over the next several decades, the site hosted a rotating cast of institutions: a sanitarium, a military academy, and three distinct hotel structures. The last and largest, built in 1916 in a Mediterranean revival style, boasted more than 100 rooms. But its lifespan was short; economic downturns from World War I and the Great Depression led to its closure.

As resort life faded, recreation continued in other forms. A large, creek-fed public swimming pool operated nearby, and the surrounding gardens, footbridges, and gazebos served as a backdrop for picnics and summer outings. Yet throughout the 20th century, the land remained in private hands and became increasingly inaccessible to the public.

That began to change in 2017, when the Niemela family acquired the property with a vision to eventually return it to the community. In May 2024, Taylors TownSquare purchased the core site of the spring, launching a new chapter in its history—one focused on restoration, public access, and honoring the layers of story embedded in the land.

Just months after the acquisition, in September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought down a large oak tree onto the historic springhouse, destroying the last standing structure. Despite the setback, the community responded with resolve. As of early 2025, Taylors TownSquare is working with historic preservation experts to restore the site.

Chick Springs is more than a relic of the past—it is a reminder of Taylors’ long-standing role as a place to gather, to heal, and to belong. Through careful stewardship, we hope to make its story—and its spring—available to the public once again.

Greenville County Council Member Mike Barnes (left), Taylors TownSquare President Alex Reynolds (center), and For 8 Corporation Project Manger Lily Niemela (right) at the Chick Springs site after the title signing on May 29, 2024.