The Old 96 District, made up of five counties in the western part of South Carolina, is home to rural beauty and some of the most colorful stories of the state's past. Here on South Carolina's Freshwater Coast you can stay in historic inns, working farms and bed and breakfasts on the town square. Here are a few to check out.
Veranda on Main, 802 N. Main St., Abbeville
Just a short stroll from The Square in downtown Abbeville, the Veranda on Main features four bedrooms with private baths. Each room has custom bedding, linens and drapes, while the house has 10-foot ceilings, hardwood plank floors cut from the Tennessee mountains and a Swarovski crystal chandelier in the foyer. One of the bathrooms has specially designed red vessel sinks, while another has a Jacuzzi tub. There is a common kitchen for guests. Rates are $159 for a room with a gourmet breakfast, $129 with a continental breakfast and $119 for a room without breakfast.
Belmont Inn, 104 East Pickens St., Abbeville
The Belmont Inn sits on The Square in downtown Abbeville, where it opened in 1903 as the Eureka-a spot for railroad visitors and artists who played the Abbeville Opera House. It fell into decline in the 1950s and closed in 1972, before it was purchased, renovated and opened as the Belmont Inn in 1984. It was renovated again and re-opened in 2015. The inn, on the National Register of Historic Places, has 25 guest rooms, starting at $80 a night. The inn's veranda overlooks the square and a restaurant serves lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday, along with Sunday brunch.
Isabella's Bed and Breakfast, 601 Mims Ave., Johnston
Isabella's is a 135-year-old Victorian home-the third-oldest in this small railroad town that is know for its peach orchards. It features three rooms, each with an antique queen bed and a private bath. A second-floor suite has a separate sitting area and private balcony. The building has been a private home, boarding house, antique shop and restaurant over the years. It was restored in 2000, and again after a pipe broke in 2009, when it reopened as Isabella's Bed and Breakfast. Rates are $95 to $145 a night and include breakfast.
Chateau Amelia, 258 N. Main St., Cross Hill
Located in the Laurens County town of Cross Hill, the home was built in 1894 and features four guest rooms on the second floor, each with queen beds and private baths. One room also has a separate double bed, while another has an added daybed. Rates at the Chateau Amelia are $115 to $150 a night and include breakfast and a late afternoon snack. The property also has a gift shop and a restaurant in the back of the house, which is open to the public for lunch and dinner. No pets.
