Falls Park on the Reedy, Greenville, SC, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

Falls Park on the Reedy is a public park in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, built around the Reedy River as it drops over a rocky waterfall. It is the green heart of the city and the place where Greenville began. Today it is best known for the curved Liberty Bridge, which gives a view over the falls.

The story behind it

The Reedy River falls drew people to this spot long before the city grew up around it. The river's power made it a natural site for early settlement and, later, for mills, and the town of Greenville developed along the water.

For much of the twentieth century the falls were hard to see, as a road bridge crossed above them and the riverbank was neglected. The city later reworked the area into a park, the road bridge came out, and the waterfall was opened up to view again. The Liberty Bridge, a pedestrian bridge, opened in the early 2000s and became the park's signature feature.

What to look for

• The Liberty Bridge curves in a graceful arc and hangs from a single suspension cable, an unusual design for a pedestrian bridge.
• From the middle of the bridge, look down at the main waterfall, where the Reedy River tumbles over rock just below the city streets.
• Along the riverbanks, the landscaped gardens and winding paths make a contrast with the rough stone of the falls.
• Look back toward downtown, where the skyline and church spires sit just beyond the trees, a reminder of how close the park is to the center of town.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 30 to 60 minutes to walk the paths, cross the bridge and take photos from several angles.
• Morning and late afternoon are usually the most pleasant times, with softer light on the water and fewer crowds.
• The park is an open public space, so you can wander in without going through a gate. Check current information for any events or closures.
• Main Street and its cafes and restaurants are a short walk away, so it is easy to combine the park with a stroll through downtown Greenville.

See it on a quest

You can reach Falls Park on foot as one stop of Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Greenville, SC, a self-guided walk through the area with a murder mystery theme. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the falls and the streets around them more closely. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.