Have 45 Sec? Have you heard this legendary tale of Issaqueena Falls? The following year his widow abandoned Isaqueena for a smaller home (which she also designed) closer to downtown Greenville. Archives & Manuscripts Collection Guides Search within Scott Krein, with Oconee County Emergency Services, said, Sometimes it takes us hours to get to people that have been in our back country. Issaqueena Falls, South Carolina. They all lived happily ever after. At some point, Issaqueena learned of a plan by her adopted father to attack the settlers at Cambridge. This is a developing story. Did you hear of a legend about a woman who rode 96 miles to warn her lover of a surprise attack upon his town? Click Here to Take the Quiz Now! 1.) Also in the park is the Stumphouse Tunnel, which is 25 feet high, 17 feet wide, and although it was not completed, extends 1,617 feet into the mountain. The park can be confusing to new visitors, so we hope these insider tips help you navigate the area upon arrival. Six Mile Creek, Twelve Mile Creek and others are still known by these names today as well as the town of Ninety-Six. of the Stumphouse Tunnel, and there are unexplained paranormal activities as a result. Another resource is a book entitled Forgotten Tales of South Carolina by Sherman Carmichael. The falls are named after the legend of Issaqueena, a Native American woman who pretended to go over the falls to escape persecution after she warned a nearby fort of an impending attack from her tribe. The falls were a short walk to a viewing platform. Walter Gassaway died of a heart attack on June 4, 1930. that she lived with the Cherokees but may have been a slave or an adopted daughter. As always, refer to the episode show notes at. GPS coordinates to the parking area: N 34.80740 W 083.12158. Clemson University no longer cures cheese in the tunnel, but you can view some brown bats andaccording to someghosts. In order to stay safe, officials say you should remember three things: hike in pairs, know the area and tell someone when you'll be in the woods and when they can expect you back out again. The One Takeaway I hope you get from this story is: Dont believe everything you hear. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Would love your thoughts, please comment. He kidnapped the two lovers and kept them as slaves for two long years, but saw to it that Allan Francis learned the ways of the Cherokee warriors. LENGTH 0.2 MILES. The town and area was then known as Cambridge. [8], "Walter Gassaway Victim of Short Illness at Home,", Sharon Todd, "Gassaway Mansion Still Empty,", Alyce Atkinson, "Gassaway Mansion: 'Something Magnificent,'", U.S. National Register of Historic Places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Isaqueena&oldid=1119548002, This page was last edited on 2 November 2022, at 04:17. Park admission is $5 per vehicle via a self-pay station. While not many actual Native American legends still exist in the folklore of the upstate due to the forced removal of large numbers of Cherokee, Choctaw, Catawba, and and other peoples, the legend of Issaqueena Falls does show that the presence of Native Americans in the upstate has made an impact on the folklore of the area. There is a rough trail next to the lowest platform, which leads to the base of the falls. The settlers were able to prepare and ward off the attack due to Cateechees bravery, and she and her lover, Allan Francis, were able to marry. He kidnapped the two lovers and kept them as slaves for two long years, but saw to it that Allan Francis learned the ways of the Cherokee warriors. It wasnt until 1951 that Clemson purchased the tunnel and used it to develop. Assuming she had died, her tribe gave up the hunt and Issaqueena lived out the rest of her days. How about the legend of a woman who leapt nearly 100 feet from a waterfalland lived? Issaqueena Falls This incredible 200-foot cascade is steeped in legends and surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Whenever Ive visited Issaqueena falls, Ive seen one or two poisonous copperheads lurking at the bottom. A 12-year-old child was rescued after falling near Issaqueena Falls in Oconee County on Saturday, according to the Walhalla Fire Department. In Cateechee of Keowee by Reverend Daniel, Captain James Francis and his sons, Allan and Henry, created a trading post with the Cherokee in 1750 in the area of todays town of Ninety Six, located in Greenwood County, South Carolina. In Reverend Daniels popular story, the real Captain James Francis is incorporated into the story by having his son, Allan, fall in love with the woman who saved the fort. It wasnt until 1951 that Clemson purchased the tunnel and used it to develop the Souths very first blue cheese. While there were various efforts by the Blue . Finally, Cateechee and Allan (with their new baby) made their escape and attempted to head west towards the mountains. Issaqueena Falls Issaqueena Falls has a similar story as Connestee Falls south of Brevard, NC. The 200-foot waterfall is tied to legend. She hid on the ledge below the top of the waterfall where she remained until it was safe to rejoin her family. Addis said the terrain where Sprouse fell is very rocky.Addis said Sprouse was found unresponsive by another family member with an apparent head injury. 97.5 WCOS - is #1 for Country and known as South Carolina's Country Station and home to Jonathon Rush in the Morning. THEY USED A ROPE SYSTEM TO TELL US THE CHILD FELL ABOUT 10 FEET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES ANYONE HIKING OR SPENDING TIME NEAR WATER TO USE CAUTION, ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE INTO. towards Ninety Six. Issaqueena Falls. Reverend Daniels popular legend of Cateechee/Issaqueena is considered to be just thata work of fiction. Issaqueena Falls. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. on any website, from any browser, There and Back Again: The No-Nag Guide to Getting Household Chores Done, Even Frodo Had a Fellowship: A Hobbits Guide to Getting More Help Around the House, Change Careers in 30 Days and 3 Easy Steps, Your Performance Review Is Rigged, and This Is How. Stumphouse Tunnel, located near the Oconee County community of Walhalla, was designed in the early 1830s with the goal of connecting rail lines in Charleston to Knoxville, Tennessee, and eventually Cincinnati, Ohio. 40 miles), Issaqueena/Keowee Heights (approx. According to the list, the most stunning waterfall in South Carolina is Issaqueena Falls, a lovely spot near Oconee State Park outside of Walhalla for outdoorsy folks to enjoy some time in the sun at the cascade leading into a must-visit swimming hole. Unless otherwise noted all photos are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Copyright 2023 Visit Oconee SC. chloe johnson peter buck wedding; le mal en elle fin du film Does a fifth of a mile count as a hike? 721 Smith Rd. It is rumored that at least ten workers died during the dynamiting and construction of the Stumphouse Tunnel, and there are unexplained paranormal activities as a result. The story goes that Issaqueena, described on the South Carolina tourism website as an "Indian maiden," rode to a fort close by to "warn of a pending. For those who spend the majority of their time in the midland or coastal regions of South Carolina, it may come as a surprise to learn that the Palmetto State is home to hundreds of waterfalls. On Saturday, a woman was critically injured after slipping at Issaqueena Falls. This version of the tale is considered to be a combination of previously published stories and legends combining Issaqueena and Cateechee. Duke University Libraries. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. So it appears that the legend may have just been a great story based upon the fact that a Cherokee woman had warned the residents of the Ninety Six fort of an impending attack. Fleeing Cherokee warriors, they chose to leap from the falls to their deaths instead of dying at the hands of theyre pursuers. According to substantiated facts, the trading post at Ninety Six, guarded by Captain James Francis, warded off two attacks by Native Americans in February and March of 1760. Your email address will not be published. After the art museum moved to a purpose-built gallery on Greenville's Heritage Green in 1974, the mansion sat vacant until purchased in 1977 for use as a church and school. Daniels that was published in 1898. View of Issaqueena Falls from the observation deck. She was a young Choctaw woman captured in war and adopted my the Cherokee Chief Karuga. Issaqueena Falls Located in Stumphouse Park. For full functionality please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Captain Francis sent a message to local leaders that a Cherokee woman had warned them in advance of the attack. We were visiting in October. Some areas can only be accessed by boat, making rescues even more arduous.Scott Krein, with Oconee County Emergency Services, said, Sometimes it takes us hours to get to people that have been in our back country. Knowing that the Cherokee believed evil spirits lived in waterfalls, she pretended to leap to her death. The hike departs southbound from the parking area and quickly crosses a small wooden covered bridge over Cane Creek. Issaqueena saw them coming and ran toward this waterfall to escape capture. Turn right for Issaqueena Falls, picnic tables, bike trails, and the Blue Ridge Railroad Trail; continue straight to park closer to the entrance for Stumphouse Tunnel. She may have been Choctaw, because according to linguists, the name Issaqueena is very close to the Choctaw word isi-okhina that translates to deer creek. Issaqueena is her Choctaw or true name, while Cateechee or Kitichee is considered to be her name while living with the Cherokee. Their happiness would not last long, however, as Chief Kurugas memory was long. Issaqueena Falls is named for a local legend about a young Native American woman who fell head over heels for a white settler. Instead, she landed on a ledge and hid behind the curtain of water until her pursuers left believing she had died. Open full screen to view more. (Oconee County, alone, boasts more than 150 waterfalls.) Oconee County Emergency Services officials said the woman fell about 20 feet at the falls trailhead around 5 p.m. Officials said rescuers were able to airlift the woman to Greenville Memorial Hospital a little more than an hour after she fell. Issaqueena falls, Ive seen one or two poisonous copperheads lurking at the bottom. We don't always have trails. If this tale is taken as historical fiction, I love the idea of making it a love story built around a very real woman who saved lives. Captain Francis sent a message to local leaders that a Cherokee woman had warned them in advance of the attack. Yet another version had Issaqueena and Francis living together as outcasts in a log cabin built on top of stumps on the site of present-day Stumphouse Mountain, and thus originating the name Stumphouse Mountain.. Sarena Romriell, The Legend of Issaqueena Falls,, This work is licensed by Upcountry Historical under a. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Join us for todays episode on the legend of Issaqueena. The best and most agreed-upon version of the tale has her leading them to Issaqueena Falls, where she cleverly made them believe she jumped to her death. This booklet is packed with fun activities, puzzles, and educational information. If you can park in the parking area to the right, you will be close to the falls, but there arent many spaces. So with so many waterfalls in South Carolina to choose from, which one was named the most beautiful? A short 0.3 mile hike from Walhalla's famous Tunnel Park leads to a 100-foot-tall cascading waterfall that has a secret cave ledge under the water veil. ), and can then picnic or hike down an easy 0.3 mile trail to view the gorgeous Issaqueena Falls. Two of the most interesting stops in the South Carolina Upstate are just a few feet apart. A 12-year-old child was rescued after falling near Issaqueena Falls in Oconee County on Saturday, according to the Walhalla Fire Department.Fire officials said that the child has a possible leg fracture and that it took 15 rescuers from 6 agencies about an hour to bring the child up by the waterfall using a rope system.Fire officials did not have an update on the child's condition Saturday night.They urged anyone enjoying trails or spending time near water to use caution, especially as the Fourth of July holiday approaches.This is a developing story. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Stumphouse Mountain is also reported to be a sacred place for the Cherokee tribe and is the resting place of many of its people, who are no longer at rest due to the many attempts to tunnel through the mountain, repeatedly disrupting the countryside and disturbing the rest of any resident spirits. You can see the falls from the viewing platform. The tribesmen, believing her to be dead, call off their chase and Issaqueena, who had landed on a ledge, was able to return safely to her family. Sources for todays story are: Many! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. The falls are named for a legendary Cherokee girl who is said to have leaped from the top of the falls with her lover, either an Oconee brave, a white trader named Allan Francis, or a white silversmith named David Francis. A short easy walking trail leads from Stumphouse Mountain Park to Issaqueena Falls, a beautiful 200-ft. cascade. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! They found a makeshift shelter in a hollow stump near the location of todays Stumphouse Mountain. You may want to drop off anyone in your group with limited mobility, then park in the lot on the left side (this wont set you back much as it is a short walk between parking areas). When you turn left at the signs for Picnic Shelter and Issaqueena Falls, youll find these amenities. Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Whatever legend is true, if any, Issaqueena Falls remains a stunning site in Oconee County. Legend states that Stumphouse Mountain received its name from moonshiners who hid and dropped off their illegal wares inside tree stumps, or was named after stories from the Cherokee Native Americans, namely a story involving a Native American maiden, Issaqueena or Cateechee, and her lover, whom well talk about today. Issaqueena Falls. It's an easy 5-minute walk to viewing platforms where you can view the beautiful waterfall named for a Creek maiden who hid on one of the falls' ledges to avoid capture during an Indian attack. She was in critical but stable condition at the trauma center Sunday night. In Reverend Daniels popular story, the real Captain James Francis. They urged anyone enjoying trails or spending time near water to use caution, especially as the Fourth of July holiday approaches. Fort Prince George wasnt built until 1753, however, was abandoned by 1768, and was lost for good when the entire area was flooded to build Duke Energys Oconee Nuclear Station in 1968. The three "hotspots" as county officials called them where the most calls originate from in Oconee County are Issaqueena Falls, Jocassee waterfalls and Whitewater Falls. There is, however, no record that Allan Francis, Cateechee/Issaqueena or Chief Kuruga existed. [3], As the National Register nomination notes, the three-story house is "an unusual example of eclecticism", blending neo-Gothic and neoclassical elements that include six Doric columns, a Palladian window, a castellated tower, two rooftop patios, and a massive porte-cochre. It is tempting to want to get a better view, and there is a well-traveled dirt path, but it is quite steep, difficult, and dangerous! However, the PATH IS QUITE DANGEROUS and visitors are not encouraged to try it. by Abbeville, South Carolina, minister Dr. James Walter Daniel, published in 1898. They are always facing the falls and swimming against the flow of the creek, so Id like to think that they embody the spirits of the Cherokee who pursued Issaqueena and Francis, still waiting in vain to claim her body from the falls. The 40-room house was built between 1919 and 1924 by Walter L. Gassaway, a banker and textile mill owner; his wife, Minnie Quinn Gassaway, designed the structure after taking a correspondence course in architecture. They intended to set out from the foot of whats now known as Issaqueena Falls and steal off to safety. It is 25 feet high, 17 feet wide, and stretches 1,617 feet long into the face of Stumphouse Mountain, and is the result of many failed attempts to make a railway tunnel through the mountain. Issaqueena Falls: the hike The adventure begins at a trailhead at Stumphouse Mountain Park just northwest of Walhalla, SC ( view maps and driving directions ). However, also according to history, Cateechee could not have named these places in 1760 because they were already documented on maps by George Hunter as early as 1730. Issaqueena Falls. South Carolina governor Robert Hayne wanted an alternate route for the Blue Ridge Railroad because, at that time, the route bypassed the mountains of South Carolina, extending . Stay with WYFF News 4 as we work to learn more information. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. She and the baby emerged from a ledge behind the falls and made their getaway with Allan back to the town of Cambridge (now known as Ninety Six). Issaqueena successfully warned the settlers, but when her tribe learned of her betrayal they swore to hunt her down. 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