Property Description

This 446-acre historic site is the centerpiece of the SCDNR Scenic Broad River Plan and forms the foundation of NFLT’s Broad River focus area. The Broad River presents an undeveloped riverfront of Piedmont forests and pasturelands. The riparian forest is home to diverse native plant and animal life. Eagles, ospreys, and other birds frequent the river corridor. The high River bluffs have natural beech trees with a natural understory, supporting plant species not normally found this far north. The creation of the Broad Scenic River Plan with SCDNR focused on Smith Ford Farm as an example of the significance of the 15-mile segment of the Broad River between Cherokee and York counties.
Smith Ford and the area surrounding the river are rich with historical features: from the original Smith's Ford to Native American fishing weir traps in the River. The Farmhouse was constructed in 1790, is included in the YC Survey of Historic Architecture in 1992, and is National Register Eligible. Smith Ford is actually a crossroad of American history as it was used by troops during the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
The site has 1.6 miles of riverfront along the Broad River, particularly the Smith Ford which was used by the Cherokee and Catawba Indians, and by retreating Confederate troopers detailed to Jefferson Davis during his flight after the fall of Richmond. It served as the District Post Office and a ferry operated of the property.

Property Map

A map for Smith Ford Family has been provided in Google Map format.