Home South Carolina Capital City/Lake Murray Country, South Carolina

Capital City/Lake Murray Country, South Carolina

by ShanaCorbin

Welcome to the Capital City/Lake Murray Country region! This beautiful region, located off I-77, I-26, and I-20 is in the center of the Palmetto State. From boat rentals to paddleboard excursions, to big-city entertainment and one-of-a-kind bites and sights, Lake Murray Country has it all! Embark on a memory-making voyage that children and grown-ups alike will want to revisit again and again!

Lake Murray, often referred to as the Jewel of South Carolina, has breathtaking sunset views, pristine waters, and over 650 miles of shoreline offering a wide array of outdoor fun and is one of the world’s top fishing destinations! Lake Murray is home to some of the best freshwater fish, making it the perfect “fishing hole.” With over 12 species of fish including largemouth bass and striper luring local and national fishing tournaments each year – anglers love Lake Murray as they can easily spot their lures in the clear water while reeling in a big one! The old adage “teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime” remains true as knowledgeable and talented fishing guides are available to take you out on the water. Experience the camaraderie, thrill, and excitement of fishing on the waters of “the best bass fishing lake in the world.”

Tee off at one of the 20 challenging golf courses in Capital City/Lake Murray Country. Play Cobblestone Park Golf Club, named one of the best courses in South Carolina and the home course of the USC Gamecock’s golf team. Enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Murray while on the greens at Timberlake Country Club. Other favorites include Lexington’s Golden Hills Golf & Country Club and Oak Hills Golf Club, a Steve Melnyk design named one of Golf Digest’s “Place to Play.”

Who doesn’t love good food and something to do? Lake Murray Country really has it all! The food scene in this region is sizzling hot! You can have an exquisite four-course meal, a family-friendly Southern meal, a down-home Southern Barbecue feast, or an authentic farm-to-table experience. While you’re planning your evening or stay, scroll through the events calendar, and you’re sure to find the perfect event during your stay. With substantial diversity and community pride, there’s an event every weekend and festivals every month! There’s something for everyone in the family…food, arts, and entertainment.

From the heart of downtown Columbia to the banks of the Broad, Saluda, and Congaree Rivers, to the outmost ends of the region, you can enjoy the beauty and serenity of wonderful regional parks. The pristine open space and playgrounds are great for children, families can enjoy walking, jogging, or biking the trails or just relaxing on a blanket while taking in an outdoor concert. The region is home to Congaree National Park, a 27,000-acre national park that is a rare old-growth floodplain forest just outside of the City of Columbia. The park is a land of towering trees, woodland paths, and water trails used for over 10,000 years. Visitors can enjoy wilderness exploration, rejuvenation, kayaking, and canoeing.

Make your visit feel like home! With so many attractive accommodations – including name-brand hotels, popular boutique hotels, charming bed and breakfasts, and Lake Murray rental homes for all sizes, you’ll find a property to suit your needs. Looking to stay in the great outdoors? We’ve got you covered! There are several campsites along with two State Parks in the region setting the scene for the perfect camping or RV’ing adventure.

A region full of world-class fishing, boating, golf, dining, breweries, and more awaits you in Capital City/Lake Murray Country. There’s lots of fun for the entire family. Stop by the Lake Murray Country Visitors Center in the historic Lorick Plantation House to discover hidden gems and more trip ideas or, contact the Lake Murray Country staff at concierge@lakemurraycountry.com for personalized service.

Fast Facts and Trivia

  • Capital City/Lake Murray Country consists of four counties: Richland, Lexington, Newberry, and Saluda. Columbia, South Carolina, the state capital is located in Richland County.
  • “Boating Magazine” named Lake Murray as a top 10 place to live and boat (2020 & 2021).
  • “Food and Travel Magazine” named Lake Murray Country ”Top Southern Summer Destination of 2021”
  • “Forbes Magazine” named Lake Murray Country “Top Southern Destination” (2021)
  • “U.S. News and World Report” named Columbia as a “Top 50 Place to Live,” describing the city as, “a traditionally Southern city with a modern twist.”
  • A home to the arts, visitors can catch a Broadway performance at the Koger Center, take a tour of the South’s premier international art museum—The Columbia Museum of Art—or catch a show at the historic Newberry Opera House (1881).
  • “Livability” named Newberry one of the “top 100 best small towns” and the “Travel Channel” named Newberry one of the 50 most “charming small towns.”
  • Capital City/Lake Murray Country is also known for its food. Take taste buds for a spin at the more than 60 restaurants in Columbia’s Vista alone. Or travel along South Carolina’s Famous BBQ trail with a stop at Batesburg Leesville’s Shealy’s BBQ.
  • The area is rich in Civil War history. Union Major General William Sherman had his sights set on Columbia where the secession began. On January 30, 1865, Sherman’s 65,000-man army launched the invasion burning 10 to 12 miles a day. Visitors can take a self-guided walking tour of Sherman’s march.
  • The southern campaign of the Revolutionary War was won in SC, helping to turn the tide of the war. The 250th anniversary begins in 2026 and SC is hard at work preserving sites and telling the story. Get immersed in history at local museums: SC State Museum, Lexington County Museum, and the Cayce Historical Museum for more Revolutionary War history. 
  • Saluda County is known as the “birthplace of the Alamo Heroes.”  The Saluda County Museum tells the stories of William B. Travis and James Butler Bonham. The museum gives directions to the historic Bonham House (c.1780), the only existing birthplace of an Alamo hero, and to the monument marking Travis’ birthplace.
  • Lexington is one of the fastest-growing areas in South Carolina. Take a cell phone walking tour in Historic Downtown, shop in Main St. boutiques, or peruse the state’s finest homegrown offerings at the weekly Farmer’s Market. Don’t miss the international culinary offerings on Main St. from Irish to Thai.
  • Capital City/Lake Murray Country is a dream escape for golfers. Choose from 20 Champion Golf Courses where you can tee off. If golfers happen to be coveted badge holders to the Masters Tournament, Capital City/Lake Murray Country is only 70 miles from The Augusta National. SC Golf ranked #1 in the Country and took home the designation of “Golf Destination of the Year for 2023” at the Global Golf Tourism Organization Awards (IGATO).
  • Visitors can take a scenic stroll on the Lake Murray Dam walkway and the best nature trails to hike and bike are at Saluda Shoals Park or Harbison State Forest. Or, nature lovers can take a serene riverfront stroll along the Cayce/West Columbia Riverwalk.
  • Congaree National Park is the only national park in the state of South Carolina. The park preserves the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. With features like a visitor center with 3,000 square feet of exhibit space and canoe trails, a 21-mile wheelchair-accessible boardwalk loop trail, and 18 miles of hiking trails lend access to this forested wilderness wonderland. 
  • Dreher Island State Park spans three islands, 348 acres, and provides access to 12 miles of Lake Murray shoreline. Visitors will find recreational water activities, nature trails, and some of the best striped and large-mouth bass fishing spots only 30 miles from Columbia. The State Park has long been a popular location and launching spot for major, national fishing tournaments. In 2022, it became the 1st location on U.S. soil to host the XVI Black Bass World Championship (an event designed to be a precursor to the Olympics). 
  • Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 2,000 magnificent and fascinating animals and one of the nation’s most beautiful and inspiring botanical gardens. The Zoo first opened its gates to the local community on April 25, 1974, and has continued for more than four decades to provide individuals, families, and groups with a common place to connect with and learn about the world’s wildlife and wild places. Today Riverbanks is one of the largest mid-sized zoos in the United States and South Carolina’s leading destination attraction, boasting a national reputation as one of America’s best zoos and drawing one million visitors annually. Each area of the Zoo offers a combination of animal exhibits, graphics, enrichment programs and special feedings.
  • There is something for every shopper in Lake Murray Country. Shop funky and fabulous stores in Columbia’s Five Points, (the hip district) located near the University of South Carolina. A shopper can get everything they need at Columbiana Mall or the Village at Sandhill, where major retailers and specialty shops collide. Or, shop upscale boutiques on Devine Street where more than 95% of stores are locally owned and operated.
  • Three rivers converge in this region: The Broad, The Saluda, and The Congaree. The Capital City is one of the only metropolitan areas to have three rivers flowing right through the city. Fishermen can find their favorite rock and fish all day, and runners and walkers enjoy the Riverwalk Park and Three Rivers Greenway walkways. Palmetto Outdoors, offers tubing and kayaking white water adventures down this area’s prized rivers.
  • Lake Murray is known as the “Jewel of South Carolina.” The lake was named after William S. Murray, who was an engineer involved in the design and creation of the dam. Six schools, three churches, and about 193 graveyards containing 2,323 graves had to be moved. The lake and dam were under construction from 1927 through 1930 and when it was finished it was the largest earthen dam in the world. In the early 1940s, the U.S. military used the lake to train bomber pilots on B-25 bomber airplanes. Seven of the lake’s islands, Bomb, Shull, Wessinger, Dreher, Spence, Mistey and Holley Key were used for practice.
  • Many people are fascinated by what is under Lake Murray. There are nearly a dozen communities, thousands of graves, the Wyse Ferry Bridge, bomber airplanes, a pipeline, several railroad tank cars, an old rock house, as well as homes, boats, and bomb fragments deep beneath the waters of Lake Murray.
  • The Lake Murray Fireworks Celebration earned a spot as a Top 20 Event by the Southeastern Tourism Society. Save the date, the celebration is held on the first Saturday in July every year.
  • Lake Murray is a boating paradise for all types of boaters. Whether it’s canoeing, kayaking, or stand up paddle boarding in its calm waters, navigating sails through cutting winds or leisurely cruising in a power or fishing boat, rental shops can accommodate everyone’s needs.
  • “BASSMASTER” Named Lake Murray #1 “Best Southern Bass Lake” & #4/100 “Best Bass Lakes 2023”
  • At night, the Purple Martins take flight! Each summer the skies over Lunch Island on Lake Murray come to life as the Purple Martins arrive for their summer vacation. It is estimated that more than one million birds venture north for the summer and roost on the island. Purple Martins take over the sunset-filled skies each year from the end of June to the beginning of August.

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