♪ [mellow music] ♪ When you look down on the state of South Carolina it's hard not to admire it's grandeur, diverse ecosystems and natural beauty.

♪ [mellow music continues] ♪ There are countless fascinating places across the Palmetto state, each one unique, each one with it's own story to tell.

♪ [mellow music continues] ♪ Now, it's time to see these extraordinary locations in an entirely new way.

This is the story of South Carolina told From The Sky.

♪ [dramatic music] ♪ Hello, I'm Ned Garnier and I'll be your tour guide in seeing this great state of South Carolina from a not often seen perspective.

We'll be pushing the limits and traveling from the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the heart of the Midlands.

And what better way to start this epic journey than from the highest point of South Carolina.

♪ [bold music] ♪ Towering over 3,500 feet, Sassafras Mountain is the highest point in the state of South Carolina.

♪ With spectacular 360-degree views, it also serves as a natural border with North Carolina.

♪ [bold music continues] ♪ Many folks believe that the name Sassafras comes from the abundance of sassafras trees at the mountains' foothills and slopes.

But, if you ask the locals, the name actually goes back to the 1800s.

When the Cherokee created a village at the base of the mountain.

They created fields of sassafras saplings.

The locals started to call it Sassafras Field and over time the name expanded to include the entire mountain.

Sassafras is like no other place in the southeast.

It's what geologists call a tri-point.

Which means the peak of the mountain is the dividing point for three different watersheds.

♪ The continental divide also runs at the peak of Sassafras.

When rain falls on Sassafras, depending on which side of the mountain the rain falls, the water could either end up at Charleston Harbor or New Orleans, Louisiana.

If you want to get to a point to see these outstanding views, get ready for an adventure.

Today, the views of the landscape can best be seen looking from its observation deck at the summit.

Constructed in 2019, the deck provides an impressive 50 mile view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Observers can catch a glimpse of 3 states here: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

♪ [dramatic music] ♪ A compass rose, engraved at the center, displays the state line that runs across the entire deck.

♪ When the days become shorter and the temperature begins to drop, leaves stop photosynthesizing and chlorophyll begins to break down.

During this process, green colors start to disappear and give way to the spectacular yellow, orange, scarlet and purple colors that were present in the leaves, but not visible before.

♪ This creates a dramatic and beautiful landscape across the entire mountain range.

The awe-inspiring natural feature is just one of the many South Carolina wonders you can enjoy close to home.

♪ [dramatic music concludes] ♪ Next, we're moving from the highest part in our state to the deepest lake in South Carolina with depths of over 300 feet, our next stop offers a stark contrast with steep mountain sides and low lying gorges, creating a picturesque landscape.

♪ [calming music] ♪ Towards the northwest edge of South Carolina in the county of Oconee, the Blue Ridge Mountains aren't the only attraction to come across.

Lake Jocassee, a 75 thousand acre reservoir, outside of Salem is the blue jewel of the Appalachian Mountains.

The cold and pristine waters attract visitors from across the country that want to take in the predominately untouched landscape.

♪ [calming music continues] ♪ The enchanting peaks and serene basins are unlike anything else you can see in South Carolina.

♪ [whistling tune] ♪ The name Jocassee comes from an old legend about a beautiful Cherokee maiden.

Jocassee was a part of the Oconee tribe that lived on the Whitewater River.

It's said that Nagoochee, a young warrior from a rival tribe, crossed into the hunting grounds of Jocassee's tribe.

He fell and broke his leg, but Jocassee found him and nursed him back to health.

♪ [soft music] ♪ They would end up falling in love with each other, but like something out of a Shakespearean play, Jocassee's brother would later kill Nagoochee in battle.

♪ Shocked upon discovering the death of her beloved, Jocassee walked into the river, but she did not sink.

Instead, she walked across the top to meet the spirit of Nagoochee who was waiting for her.

"Jocassee" directly translated from Cherokee, means, "Place of the Lost One."

♪ [strident music] ♪ Before there was a lake, the area was called the Jocassee Valley.

The lake was created in 1973 after the construction of the Jocassee Dam.

The resulting flood created 75 miles of immaculate shoreline in the Jocassee Gorges.

One of the best places to experience the beautiful scenery is "Jumping Off Rock".

♪ [strident music continues] ♪ At the precipice, visitors can get a panoramic view of Lake Jocassee and the surrounding mountain range.

♪ The gorges receive an extraordinary amount of precipitation, averaging 100 inches of rain each year.

This is what's known as a temperate rainforest, one of only five rainforests in the entire country.

♪ [strident music continues] ♪ A confluence of four rivers supply Lake Jocassee's water.

The rivers course down the steep escarpment that forms at the base of the mountains, creating an abundance of spectacular waterfalls.

♪ The most impressive of all is Whitewater Falls.

There are actually six different waterfalls in what is known as the "Whitewater Falls Chain".

The chain consists of falls that start in North Carolina and end here at the lower falls in Lake Jocassee.

It's the highest series of falls in eastern North America.

♪ [strident music continues] ♪ The dazzling, 200-foot lower falls can be viewed from an observation deck south, where hikers can take a glimpse of the breathtaking cascade.

♪ [strident music continues] ♪ Like the Cherokee Maiden walking on top of the river, there's something magical about the wild beauty of Lake Jocassee.

It's something wondrous to behold.

♪ [strident music concludes] ♪ Making our way down from the upstate, let's check out one of South Carolina's most interesting and ancient geographic regions.

This diverse habitat provides a distinct niche for some of the state's rarest wildlife.

♪ [gentle music] ♪ Between South Carolina's Piedmont and Coastal plain, there lies a unique and ancient geographic region, The Sandhills!

♪ Formed over 100 million years ago, the Sandhills are the result of prehistoric oceans that receded during the Ice Age.

What was once a shoreline a millennia ago, this area, now has a very unique and flourishing ecosystem that offers a one-of-a-kind experience.

♪ [soft music] ♪ The Sandhills form a narrow band across 12 counties in South Carolina.

Because of the abundance of sand, rainwater drains rapidly through the soil in this region causing a desert-like or "xerophytic" habitat.

In some areas, the sand can reach depths of 200 feet.

Over millions of years, water that moved through the sand deposited minerals that created sandstone.

These giant rocks date back to the late cretaceous period and though rare, can cluster together and form unique hills, like Sugarloaf Mountain.

Towering over 100 feet above the surrounding terrain, Sugarloaf Mountain is the tallest sandstone mountain in South Carolina.

A relatively easy hike, grants climbers a sweeping, 360-degree view of the impressive 45,000 acre forest.

♪ [lively music] ♪ One of the more uncommon features of this ecosystem is that it was once maintained by low-intensity, lightning-induced fires.

Now, prescribed burnings help regulate and promote a healthy ecosystem for the animals and plants native to this region.

After a brush fire, the enriched earth, spawn's new growth and the forest is reborn in a matter of months!

In fact, the forest depends on fires in the Sandhills.

Many plants, like wiregrass, would not germinate if it wasn't for the baptism of fire.

The longleaf pine, also has a thick, fire-resistant bark, making it one of the most prevalent tree species in the Sandhills.

While the pine forest seems endless, it's just a small fraction of what it once was.

Before European settlement, longleaf pines were the predominant species covering 60% of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Because the hardy tree became one of the most sought-after sources of timber, only 1% of the region supports the longleaf pine, today.

Now threatened, many species that depend on this type of environment are at risk.

The most famous of all, is the red-cockaded woodpecker .

Living exclusively in open pine forests, the Red-cockaded woodpecker makes its nests in trees around fresh flowing pine resin.

The sticky sap around the entrance of the nest helps to protect the eggs from predators.

Artificial nests like these were installed to supplement existing cavities and encourage the birds to expand to different areas.

Throughout the forest, white bands around the trees indicate the current and previous nests.

Biologists use them to monitor the species' reproduction, so they can be enjoyed by future generations in the years to come.

The Carolina Sandhills are an extraordinary example of bio-diversity and natural beauty at its finest.

It's important that the ecosystem here remains preserved for the countless species that call it home and so that we can continue to appreciate it's beauty.

Along our travels of South Carolina we were able to explore it's past, and it's remnants have stood the test of time.

Though still standing, history it seems can leave scars with unusual stories.

Some spookier than others.

♪ [eerie music] ♪ The ruins of Sheldon Church in Beaufort County have long been the subject of curiosity and misfortune.

♪ [eerie music continues] ♪ Built in mid-18th century, these hallowed grounds were originally the site of a church called, Prince Williams Parish.

♪ It was funded by William Bull, who is buried here along with some of his relatives.

Though, Bull was considered a loyalist to the crown, that didn't stop the British from burning down the church in 1779 during the Revolutionary War.

♪ Even more ironic, is that after the church was rebuilt in 1826, it was burned down again, this time by the Union Army during the Civil War.

Though there are conflicting reports about the second burning, all that remains today are the church's beautiful Georgian pillars and strong outer walls.

♪ These burnings may have something to do with the series of strange phenomena that have been witnessed here.

♪ There are tales of a woman dressed in a dark-colored bonnet, who watches over the tomb of her child.

♪ [eerie music continues] ♪ It's said that if you pass by the gravestone, you can feel the mother's sorrow.

♪ [eerie music intensifies] ♪ ♪ [foreboding music] ♪ Further inland near the town of Eutawville, there's a ghost town like no other.

Once a prosperous lumber-mill settlement, the town of Ferguson has been literally washed away, over time.

♪ [foreboding music continues] ♪ It started out as a company town owned by two northern lumbermen who founded the Santee River Cypress Lumber Company in 1881.

Nearly 350 people called this area home, and worked the lumber mill day in and day out, being wholly dependent on the mill's success.

♪ [foreboding music continues] ♪ Unfortunately, operations at the mill were shut down in 1915, the workers were laid off, and Ferguson became a ghost town.

In 1939, construction of the Santee Dam commenced.

Now, the town is almost completely submerged by Lake Marion.

Remnants and artifacts can still be found on a tiny island where part of the town remains.

♪ [foreboding music continues] ♪ Locals tell stories of a greedy and blind mill manager that exploited his workers, paying them in nontransferable "company" coins.

♪ It's said these coins can still be found at the bottom of the lake.

♪ [foreboding music continues] ♪ The islands around the underwater ghost town are said to be haunted.

Could it be by the townsfolk who were taken advantage of?

♪ [foreboding music concludes] ♪ ♪ [orchestra music] ♪ At the state capital in Columbia, there's a building that's always been both iconic and mysterious.

♪ Founded in 1821, the State Hospital on Bull Street housed and treated thousands of patients with all types of mental illnesses.

♪ [orchestra music continues] ♪ The first section of the hospital was built by George E. Walker.

He designed the building in a way that maximized light exposure and ensured it received ample fresh air.

It was a common theory that this would help heal the mentally ill. ♪ Being one of the first public hospitals established in the United States, the building has had plenty of spine-tingling stories to come out of it.

♪ There are areas of the hospital that have been said to have unexplained "cold spots" that will chill you to the bone.

Others say disembodied voices echo through the hallways, letting visitors know to beware.

♪ Ongoing issues with staffing, funding, and overcrowding led to the hospital closing in the 1990s.

The site was purchased by a private developer, years later and was starting renovations when a mysterious fire broke out on September 12, 2020, possibly a warning sign from those who still can't move on.

Whether it's the spirits in a historical church, tales from the underwater ghost town, or hauntings of an asylum, South Carolina has its fair share of spooky ruins and are not for the faint of heart.

Picking up from our last adventure let's dive deeper into one of the biggest and busiest cities in the state.

At the Capital, while uncovering incredible stories from the past and see how it's developed over the years.

♪ [pop music] ♪ The city of Columbia is not just at the geographical center of the state, it's also the center of governmental and commercial activity.

Affectionately called Soda City , It's well known for its dedication to the arts, rich history, and southern hospitality.

♪ [dramatic music] ♪ Columbia lies in the confluence of the Saluda and Broad Rivers.

Together, they form the Congaree River, named after a Native American tribe that first inhabited the land.

Columbia also lies on a fall line, an area where two geographical regions meet.

♪ In Columbia, the Piedmont and Sandhills regions collide and the Broad and Saluda Rivers start to recede and form rapids.

♪ [dramatic music continues] ♪ In the past, ships could not navigate any further inland.

However, water coming downstream was strong enough to power mills making it an ideal place for early settlement.

♪ As one of the first planned out cities of the United States, it flourished in the early stages of the new country.

♪ [orchestra music] ♪ During the last months of the American Civil War, much of the city was burned while being occupied by Union troops under the command of William Sherman.

♪ [orchestra music continues] ♪ There's debate on whether the fire was caused by Sherman's troops or retreating Confederate soldiers, but what's certain is that few buildings survived the inferno.

The South Carolina State House was one of the buildings lost, but fortunately, construction of the new State House was already underway.

The interior of the incomplete State House received most of the damage with the exterior obtaining only a few battle scars.

If you look closely today, you can see bronze stars scattered across the State House, marking the areas where Sherman's cannons hit.

Rebuilding after the war was a very slow process, but the State House was finally completed in 1903, nearly 50 years after construction began.

♪ Built in a classical revival style, the State House is 180 feet tall, 300 feet long, and is built with native blue granite.

The dome at the top of the State House was added in 1902 and is covered in 44,000 pounds of copper.

That's equivalent to the copper it would take to make nearly 8 million pennies.

♪ [orchestra music] ♪ ♪ [Strident music] ♪ Located directly across the street, the Capitol Center sticks out in the Columbia skyline.

♪ At its completion in 1987, it became the tallest building in South Carolina.

Topping out at 349 feet.

♪ The 26-story skyscraper contains over 460 thousand square-feet and holds 400 offices.

The modern building exterior is complete with alternating bands of tinted glass and anodized panels attached to the reinforced concrete frame.

The tower was built at the same site as the Wade Hampton Hotel, which was demolished in 1985.

The Capitol Center was a part of Columbia's economic boom in the 1970's and 80's, which saw a rise in skyscrapers across the metropolitan area.

Every day, nearly 1,000 people come to work here for elite economic development groups in both the public and private sectors.

Visible for miles outside of the city, it remains a distinct icon for downtown Columbia.

An old slogan of South Carolina is Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places .

The city of Columbia is a benchmark of that slogan.

The famously hot city, rich with history is only out shined by its charm and radiance.

For more episodes of From the Sky visit SCETV.org.

and tell us what we should visit next.

Also, be sure to visit our Facebook at South Carolina ETV and tell us what you think of the series using #Fromthesky From everyone at South Carolina ETV I'm Ned Garnier and remember, the view is always better From the Sky ♪ [dramatic music] ♪ ♪ [dramatic music continues] ♪ ♪ ♪ [dramatic music] ♪ ♪ [intense music] ♪ >> This is literally, the most outdoorsy I have ever been in my life.

♪ ♪ [shrieks] ♪ ♪ >> Food is southern culture.

♪ >> What I think of southern cuisine, I think it's just filled with flavor, filled with love.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <man> This is our town.

>> This is our town.

♪ ♪ >> Salutations and welcome everyone.

♪ [laughing]