Well, we may just have found South Carolina's perfect vacation spot! Caesar's Head State Park, located in Greenville County, provides gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. It features campgrounds and hiking trails, and it's also just a hop, skip, and jump away from both Jones Gap Falls and Symmes Chapel (Pretty Place). All in all, this corner of the state offers plenty to do, and the cool of the mountains makes for a welcome summer respite.


Caesar's Head was established as a state park in 1979 and became part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area in 1996. Its most famous spot can be found at its southern edge, where a large, isolated granite rock protrudes over an expansive valley. The giant rock formed approximately 409 million years ago and stands 3,266 feet above sea level.


The land originally belonged to the Cherokee Indians, but it was relinquished to the state in 1816. In the mid-1800s, Colonel Benjamin Hagood purchased 500 acres and built a hotel here. A highway was constructed out to Caesar's Head, and a small summertime community sprang up around the hotel. Though it burned down during the Civil War, the community and history continue to live on. Read more about the history of the Caesar's Head Hotel.


There are many legends as to how Caesar's Head got its name, but these three are the most popular. One highlights a hunter and his dog, Caesar, the latter of whom fell from the cliff in pursuit of their prey. The distraught owner then named the cliff after his faithful dog. Another says Caesar is a crude adaptation of sachem, the Cherokee word for Indian chief. The final and perhaps simplest theory is that the rock resembles Julius Caesar's profile.


Want to see more shots of South Carolina? Remember to explore the South Carolina Picture Project, our growing online repository of over 1,500 SC photos and paintings. The purpose of the SC Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landmarks and landscapes.

The SC Picture Project is viewed by 3,000 people each day – that's over 1,000,000 a year! Contributing photos and/or information (history, anecdotes, reviews, tips, and more) is a great way to honor your favorite town or scenic spot. It's also a great way to get a link to your website! Click these links to find out how to add content or add photos.