Almost Nobody Knows That Parts Of The Iconic Movie, The Patriot, Were Filmed In This Tiny South Carolina Town
By AnneMarie|Updated on April 14, 2024(Originally published March 31, 2023)
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AnneMarie
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South Carolina has been home for AnneMarie since 2001. Her favorite part of the state is Lake Jocassee. An App State alumna, it's always the mountains; the lake bonus makes it heavenly. When not writing about the state, she may be spending time with family, relaxing by the pool, or out somewhere enjoying nature.
The United States is the top place in the world chosen for movie settings, and there have been some great movies filmed in South Carolina. Some featured the Palmetto State only just in a few scenes, but others were filmed completely in South Carolina. If you’ve ever watched the historical drama The Patriot and wondered about The Patriot filming locations, it was actually filmed completely in South Carolina. Where was The Patriot filmed? A variety of spots throughout the state served as The Patriot film locations, and one of the most surprising is the tiny town of Lowrys.
Both the Battle of Camden scene and Benjamin Martin's farm were filmed in Lowrys, a tiny town with a population of less than 200 people.
Benjamin Martin, the main character in The Patriot, was a farmer and veteran of the French and Indian War. Lowrys was an excellent choice for filming scenes showing his farm.
Cotton Hills Farm, 2575 Lowrys Hwy, Chester, SC 29706, USA
Pictured here is Cotton Hills Farm in Lowrys, where you can visit and pick your own strawberries, peaches, collard greens, and flowers! You can also participate in seasonal events hosted here during the fall and at Christmas.
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Another great farm in Lowrys, SC is Watson Farms. The farm consists of 350 acres of rolling pasture in Chester and York Counties.
Watson Farms, 713 State Rd 182, Chester, SC 29706, USA
On the Watson Farms website, you can buy all types of meats. You'll even find recipe ideas if you need some cooking inspiration! This is such a helpful feature, and it makes us love shopping local even more.
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Another interesting spot to check out in Lowrys is The People's Free Library of South Carolina, which operated from a mule-drawn wagon as a traveling library service from 1904 until at least 1909 and is believed to have been the first such service in the state. The building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
People's Free Library of South Carolina, Church St, McConnells, SC 29726, USA
It is now owned by the adjacent Zion Presbyterian Church on The Ave. It was the wishes of one of the donors when the library was first established that if it ever ceased to operate as a library, it would become the property of the church. It now serves as a museum.
Zion Presbyterian Church, 2219 The Ave, Chester, SC 29706, USA
There are many other The Patriot filming locations in South Carolina, including Fort Lawn, Rock Hill, Georgetown, Edisto Island, and, of course, Charleston. The production's headquarters was in York County, and The Patriot was the county's largest employer during the filming process. This scene towards the end of the movie was filmed in Moncks Corner at the beautiful Cypress Gardens.
If you’d like to check out more photos of beautiful Cypress Gardens, visit our friends at AllTrails.
There was plenty of controversy surrounding the historical accuracy of The Patriot, but its story was fictional. And it’s interesting to note that the film’s director, Roland Emmerich, and his team consulted with experts at the Smithsonian Institution on set, props, and costumes, and its screenwriter, Robert Rodat, read through many journals and letters of colonists while preparing to write the screenplay.
Which of the movies filmed in South Carolina is your favorite? Is there a place in the state that’s never been used in a movie that you think should be? Which one? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section!
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