Hickory Knob State Resort Park
South Carolina’s Only Full-Service State Park Resort
Hickory Knob State Resort Park is unlike any other park in the South Carolina system — it’s a complete resort set on the shores of the 71,000-acre Strom Thurmond Reservoir (also known as Clarks Hill Lake) in McCormick, near the Georgia border. Where most state parks offer campsites and picnic tables, Hickory Knob provides lodge rooms, a championship golf course, a full-service restaurant, and recreational facilities that rival private resorts — all at state park prices.
The park occupies a wooded peninsula jutting into the reservoir, surrounded by water on three sides and forest on the fourth. The combination of lake views, mature hardwood forest, and resort amenities creates a destination that draws visitors from across the Southeast.
Lodging for Every Style
Hickory Knob offers more overnight options than any other South Carolina state park:
- 76 lodge rooms — hotel-style accommodations with lake and forest views, cable TV, mini-fridge, and microwave
- 16 one-bedroom cabins — private retreats scattered through the woods
- Guillebeau House — a restored 18th-century French Huguenot cabin offering a unique historical lodging experience with modern comforts
- Group barrack — sleeps up to 10 for family reunions and retreats
- 44 campsites — for those who prefer the traditional state park experience
The on-site buffet-style restaurant serves Southern cuisine with lake views — one of the few full-service dining options within any state park system in the country.
Championship Golf on the Lake
The park’s 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Tom Jackson, weaves along the shores of Lake Thurmond with water features integrated into many holes. Playing golf with a massive reservoir as your backdrop — and with green fees well below private course rates — is one of the unique experiences Hickory Knob offers.
Lake, Trails, and Active Recreation
Strom Thurmond Reservoir is one of the largest man-made lakes in the Southeast, and Hickory Knob provides full access:
- Boat ramp and dock for motorized watercraft
- Canoe and kayak rentals for exploring the reservoir’s coves
- Fishing for largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, and catfish
- Skeet shooting and archery ranges — unusual offerings for a state park
- Nature, hiking, and mountain biking trails through the surrounding forest
- Seasonal swimming pool for lodge guests
- Tennis and basketball courts
The diversity of activities makes Hickory Knob especially popular for family reunions, corporate retreats, and multi-day getaways where different group members want different experiences.
