The Clemson Experimental Forest is used for research, education, and recreation. It is 17,500 acres strong and covers a large area surrounding Clemson University. Among the many ways to explore this huge resource is by way of a hike. And on the many trails in the forest, explorers can encounter any number of unexpected remnants and historic places in South Carolina. Now, let’s take a closer look at one of the creepiest abandoned cemeteries in South Carolina.

It's here, along the Lawrence Cemetery and Lake Issaqueena Trail that hikers happen upon the old Lawrence Family Cemetery, where the eldest member of the family, Benjamin Lawrence, was interred in 1826.
FindAGrave/Melissa
Lawrence fought in the Revolutionary War, as a grave marker indicates.
Hikers will find the cemetery at approximately one-quarter of the way around the loop trail, provided the hiking direction is counterclockwise. (See map below for cemetery location.)
AllTrails
But don't turn around and go back once you find the cemetery. Continue on this short 2.4-mile loop because there's much more to see in this part of the Clemson Experimental Forest, including the beautiful Lake Issaqueena!
AllTrails/Joshua Gosnell
The old cemetery is fascinating to explore.
AllTrails/Joshua Gosnell

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It's clearly labeled with an old sign and can't be missed.
AllTrails/Karen S
And once you've paid respects to the individuals buried here, keep moving. The trail shouldn't take more than 90 minutes but there is plenty to discover just ahead.
AllTrails/Joshua Goshnell
An old dam and its spillway will fascinate anyone who admires water and waterfalls. From the trail you can get fairly close to the dam and further along the trail you'll have great views of the water spilling over the top for a very cool man-made waterfall.
AllTrails/Bill Kemp
Further along your hike, you'll encounter the old Council Ring at Lake Issaqueena. Found along the shore of the lake, this old meeting spot has its own tale to tell, and you'll find all of the details of how it came to be and what it was used for on a kiosk next to the site.
Jefferson Giles/AllTrails

You have to love stumbling upon remnants from the past when you’re exploring the wilds of the Palmetto State. And this is only one of the abandoned cemeteries in South Carolina. Check out another one of these amazing South Carolina cemeteries.

For more on the unique and astounding history of this state, check out one of the most historic places in South Carolina.

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More to Explore

The Creepiest Places in South Carolina

William Suphan | January 28, 2023

What are the most terrifying ghost stories in South Carolina?

The most terrifying ghost stories in South Carolina include:

  • The Ghosts of Battery Carriage House. This is a bed & breakfast that has been going since 1843 said to be haunted by a headless Civil War soldier.
  • The Charleston Orphan House. This was an orphan house until 1918 when a fire consumed the building and the children inside, who reportedly haunt the place.
  • The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon. This held pirates who were denied food and water and their moans are reportedly still heard here.
  • Poogan’s Porch Restaurant. This was a Victorian home built in 1888 lived in by schoolteacher Zoe Amand who is said to be seen staring out the window.

Learn more about the most terrifying ghost stories in South Carolina. 

What are the most haunted places in South Carolina?

The most haunted places in South Carolina include:

  • Admiral’s House. Located at Charleston Naval Base, there is reportedly a ghost of a little slave girl hiding in a copse of trees.
  • Baynard Plantation. Locals report seeing and hearing the funeral procession of William Baynard passing by.
  • Cypress Garden Tuins. This was a set built for the movie The Patriot where locals claim to hear and feel strange sensations.
  • Hell’s Gate/Oakwood Cemetery. This is said to be the most haunted place in South Carolina with all kinds of apparitions and phenomena reported here.

Find out more about the most haunted places in South Carolina. 

What are the most captivating abandoned places in South Carolina?

The most captivating abandoned places in South Carolina include:

  • Castle Pinckney. This was once a defense fortress and a prison during the Civil War and the structure is still largely intact.
  • South Carolina State Mental Asylum. Built in the 1800s, this was an asylum until 1989 that is now in disrepair, but is said to soon be turned into a mixed-use building.
  • St. Simons Episcopal Church. This old church is being reclaimed by nature and photographers flock here to take pictures.
  • Glendale Mill. This will was devastated by fire in 2004 and the husk of it still stands as a captivating ruin.

Discover more about the most captivating abandoned places in South Carolina. 

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