See all photos from Jamarcus T. for Issaqueena Falls Richard R. Elite 2022 Suwanee, GA 5000 1503 24670 2/3/2019 10 photos Beautiful waterfall and super short hike! I hope you enjoyed todays story about the Legend of Issaqueena. The Clemson Experimental Forest Trail system is divided into three primary areas: Fant's Grove (approx. Did you hear of a legend about a woman who rode 96 miles to warn her lover of a surprise attack upon his town? Why do you think Issaqueena Falls is closed? Started in 1852 to connect Charleston to Knoxville and eventually on to Cincinnati, the Civil War and lack of funds brought construction to a halt. Clemson University no longer cures cheese in the tunnel, but you can view some brown bats andaccording to someghosts. Be warned though, the trail is steep and depending on the weather can be very slippery. However, it also highlights the way that upstate folklore tends to present an idealized view of the white settlers who entered the area. Turn right for Issaqueena Falls, picnic tables, bike trails, and the Blue Ridge Railroad Trail; continue straight to park closer to the entrance for Stumphouse Tunnel. Issaqueena Falls is one of the easiest waterfalls in South Carolina to visit. Knowing that the Cherokee believed evil spirits lived in waterfalls, she pretended to leap to her death. , or was named after stories from the Cherokee Native Americans, namely a story involving a Native American maiden, Issaqueena or Cateechee, and her lover, whom well talk about today. This easy hike will take you to the top of the falls, but a short . Issaqueena's tribesmen, still seeking revenge for their spoiled attack plan, finally track down Issaqueena and chase her through the woods. This version of the tale is considered to be a combination of previously published stories and legends combining Issaqueena and Cateechee. Both the fort and the Cherokee town of Keowee are now submerged under man-made lakes. The trail down the bottom of the falls is steep and a bit rugged, but the view is lovely. Box 1099, Walhalla, SC 29691| (864) 638-4346| Email. They were pursued, however, and were split up when Allan was able to hide at the bottom of the falls, where he waited with his canoe. Plenty of picnic tables are available and the path to the lookout is short ant well maintained. Fleeing Cherokee warriors, they chose to leap from the falls to their deaths instead of dying at the hands of theyre pursuers. A short easy walking trail leads from Stumphouse Mountain Park to Issaqueena Falls, a beautiful 200-ft. cascade. Bring your flash lights or head lamps for the tunnel. As she rode, she named the creeks she crossed along the way by how far along the journey they where. Many! Issaqueena Falls is open! TripAdvisor/oceanbound81 The trail to the top of the falls is a mere .03 mile from the parking area and is well maintained. 47 miles) and Todd's Creek (approx. 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[3], As the National Register nomination notes, the three-story house is "an unusual example of eclecticism", blending neo-Gothic and neoclassical elements that include six Doric columns, a Palladian window, a castellated tower, two rooftop patios, and a massive porte-cochre. However, also according to history, Cateechee could not have named these places in 1760 because they were, already documented on maps by George Hunter. Copyright 2023 Visit Oconee SC. Although it is an interesting and inspiring story, this particular tale is problematic in its cultural appropriations and misrepresentations of the Cherokee and all Native Americans. Issaqueena Falls: the hike The adventure begins at a trailhead at Stumphouse Mountain Park just northwest of Walhalla, SC ( view maps and driving directions ). Issaqueena Picnic Areas (2010) CEF Map (2012) CEF Headquarters (2015) CEF North Area (2015) CEF South Area (2015) Oconee Point (2015) Issaqueena & Lawrence Chapel Trails (2015) Lawrence Chapel NE (2015) Lawrence . For the next 2 and a half years, she and Allen lived among the Cherokee, but longed to be free. Not only are many trails, churches, neighborhoods, and natural landmarks named either "Issaqueena" or "Cateechee.". There is, however, no record that Allan Francis, Cateechee/Issaqueena or Chief Kuruga existed. Jonathon and Kelly wake you up weekday mornings and drive to work with you. They are named after the Native American woman who jumped off of them. Stay with WYFF News 4 as we work to learn more information. She hid on the ledge below the top of the waterfall where she remained until it was safe to rejoin her family. Keowee Heights. Pass through the gate and follow the road to the parking lot and picnic area on the right. A short 0.3 mile hike from Walhalla's famous Tunnel Park leads to a 100-foot-tall cascading waterfall that has a secret cave ledge under the water veil. Finally, Cateechee and Allan (with their new baby) made their escape and attempted to head west towards the mountains, as opposed to the east towards Ninety Six. The name Issaqueena comes from the legend of a young Native American woman who escaped her tribe by pretending to plunge down the falls to her death, while actually hiding on a ledge below, hidden by the falls. Issaqueena Falls during autumn season in Walhalla, South Carolina, USA. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. However, the PATH IS QUITE DANGEROUS and visitors are not encouraged to try it. Walter Gassaway died of a heart attack on June 4, 1930. Knowing that the Cherokee believed evil spirits lived in the waterfalls, she pretended to leap to her death. The town and area was then known as Cambridge. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. by J.W. But when the leaves return in spring and summer, you wont be able to see as well. LENGTH 0.2 MILES. If you are looking for more of a challenge, you can hike down to the bottom of the cascade. 9. They settled down in Ninety-Six and began to plan their lives together, but their story wasnt over yet. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. Her identity has not been released.Oconee County Emergency Services officials said they respond to at least one call a week in the park areas during the summer, and most are difficult to reach. Most versions of the legend say that Issaqueena, who is occasionally called Cateechee, fell in love with a white settler, but learned that her tribe was planning a surprise attack on a white encampment. How to edit words (temporarily!) As the tale goes, the Creek Indian maiden fell in love with a white trader (Allan Francis) who lived quite some distance away. [6] Most of the estate was sold for house lots, and the mansion was converted into rental apartments. Terms If you live in Oconee County, click here for pick up locations. This is a developing story. Issaqueena Falls Trail Activities: t Walk Hike Length: 0.4 miles Type: Round Trip Surface: Natural, Boardwalk Difficulty: Easy Trail Features: t Waterfall Parking Pets No Fee No Camping Summary: A well-maintained trail leads from the parking area to a platform for viewing this 100-foot cascade of Cane Creek. She was in critical but stable condition at the trauma center Sunday night. Mifflintown, PA 17059. Generally considered an easy route. Issaqueena is her Choctaw or true name, while Cateechee or Kitichee is considered to be her name while living with the Cherokee. Have you heard this legendary tale of Issaqueena Falls? Travel Tips The Stumphouse Tunnel is the result of many failed attempts to connect a simpler railroad route from Charleston, South Carolina, to the nations interior through the formidable Stumphouse Mountain. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Park admission is $5.00 and can be paid via a drop box near the park entrance. A legend accompanies the waterfall which tells the story of a Native American woman who betrays her tribe to protect a white settlement and then fakes her death at the falls. http://upcountryhistorical.org/items/show/93, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, https://www.newberryobserver.com/news/3006/legend-of-issaqueena, https://www.scpictureproject.org/oconee-county/issaqueena-falls.html. When the warriors left, Allan cried out for Cateechee. Fort Prince George wasnt built until 1753, however, was abandoned by 1768, and was lost for good when the entire area was flooded to build Duke Energys Oconee Nuclear Station in 1968. Allan, one of the Captains sons, fell in love with a beautiful Choctaw slave named Cateechee. Many people use these falls as a place to cool down and swim on a hot day. Today, Issaqueena Falls is found at the end of a very short 0.3-mile hike. They all lived happily ever after. Specializing in Dentistry for infants, children, adolescents and patients with special health care. Work on the tunnel first started in 1856, and continued off and on well into the 1940s until the challenging work was finally abandoned. Falls is short hike to viewing platform. She and Allen then made their way to safety in a canoe he had hidden at the base of the falls. It's the perfect companion piece to a school field trip or a family walk in the park. Mrs. Gassaway used the mansion itself for entertaining, including card parties and "entertainments in the music room and ballroom", but she also supervised the 110-acre estate that included a working farm and dairy. Walhalla Fire Chief Brandon Burton said that . The falls were a short walk to a viewing platform. You can walk to the end of the tunnel, but be aware there may be water and you will need a flashlight to find your way. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We don't always have trails. Issaqueena Falls, South Carolina. The trail to Issaqueena Falls is wide, nicely maintained, and very short. Love South Carolina? Another resource is a book entitled Forgotten Tales of South Carolina by Sherman Carmichael. Legend has it that the Indian maiden, Issaqueena, rode to the nearby fort to warn of a pending Indian attack and then escaped pursuing Indians by pretending to leap over the falls, but actually hiding beneath them. [8], "Walter Gassaway Victim of Short Illness at Home,", Sharon Todd, "Gassaway Mansion Still Empty,", Alyce Atkinson, "Gassaway Mansion: 'Something Magnificent,'", U.S. National Register of Historic Places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Isaqueena&oldid=1119548002, This page was last edited on 2 November 2022, at 04:17. Park and walk across the footbridge on the west side of the parking lot. Scott Krein, with Oconee County Emergency Services, said, Sometimes it takes us hours to get to people that have been in our back country. into the face of Stumphouse Mountain, and is the result of many failed attempts to make a railway tunnel through the mountain. Gate and follow the road to the parking area and is the result of failed! For house lots, and website in this browser for the next time i comment path! Experimental Forest trail system is divided into three primary areas: Fant & # x27 s... Is found at the trauma center Sunday night is QUITE DANGEROUS and visitors not... 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