[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. If you can park in the parking area to the right, you will be close to the falls, but there arent many spaces. When the warriors left, Allan cried out for Cateechee. Addis said there were no witnesses to Sprouses fall and it is unknown what height he may have fallen from. On Sunday, Oconee County Emergency Services said a man, later identified as Kelly Scott Sprouse, 47, of Elloree, fell a considerable distance at Devils Fork State Park at Lake Jocassee. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. 40 miles), Issaqueena/Keowee Heights (approx. This easy hike will take you to the top of the falls, but a short . There are several iterations of the Issaqueena legend, though they all generally follow the same format. The falls were named after an Indian girl who found out that her tribe was planning an attack on a nearby community of white settlers. Box 1099, Walhalla, SC 29691| (864) 638-4346| Email. It was a pleasant fall day, very peaceful and quiet. 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. To the warriors astonishment, Cateechee leapt over the edge of the fallsnearly a 100-foot dropand presumably to her certain death. 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. Issaqueena Falls, near Walhalla, South Carolina, is a 100 ft (30 m) high cascade waterfall in the Oconee District of the Sumter National Forest.. Please note that this source is the most popular version of the legend in South Carolina, but is a highly romanticized and anglicized tale. This booklet is packed with fun activities, puzzles, and educational information. Please note that this source is the most popular version of the legend in South Carolina, but is a highly romanticized and anglicized tale. They intended to set out from the foot of whats now known as Issaqueena Falls and steal off to safety. Daniels that was published in 1898. Like us on Facebook for more pictures and updates. Addis said it is believed Sprouse was walking up the trail to join other family members who were ahead of him. Some time later, the two decided to return to her home near Issaqueena Falls. OCONEE CO., S.C. (WSPA) - A 12-year-old was injured after falling near the falls at Issaqueena Falls Saturday, according to Walhalla Fire Department. If you visit the Stumphouse Tunnel, make time for an easy 15-minute there-and-back hike (on a well-traveled and maintained trail) down to view the Issaqueena Falls. Reader's Digest searched around the country to find the most gorgeous waterfalls around, compiling a list of the top spot to visit in each state where you can enjoy the scenic views and relaxing atmosphere conjured by the flowing streams. |Sitemap. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Yet another version had Issaqueena and Francis living together as outcasts in a log cabin built on top of stumps on the site of present-day Stumphouse Mountain, and thus originating the name Stumphouse Mountain.. ), and can then picnic or hike down an easy 0.3 mile trail to view the gorgeous Issaqueena Falls. She pretended to leap to hear death, hiding on the ledge below the top of the waterfall until they left and rejoined her family. Issaqueena is her Choctaw or true name, while Cateechee or Kitichee is considered to be her name while living with the Cherokee. Park admission is $5 per vehicle via a self-pay station. The parking area to the left is closer to the bike trail entrance, bathrooms (handicap accessible), large picnic shelters, picnic tables, gazebo across the creek, and trash receptacles. As she rode, she named the creeks she crossed along the way by how far along the journey they where. Issaqueena Falls. The most popular version of the legend comes from JW Daniels epic poem Cateechee of Keowee written in 1898. He died at GHS at 6:15 p.m. from a closed head injury, Addis said. Top of waterfall at Issaqueena Falls 3rd Eye Productions 217 subscribers Subscribe 0 No views 7 minutes ago Show more Show more Ninety Six Historic Site 3rd Eye Productions 892 views 9 days ago. |Sitemap. You can read more about this on a sign near the trail (photo below). But its not a full on view, and it really depends on the season. I hope you enjoyed todays story about the Legend of Issaqueena. We were visiting in October. 9. You will also be closer to the entrance to Stumphouse Tunnel, which is up the hill from the picnic pavilion. They settled down in Ninety-Six and began to plan their lives together, but their story wasnt over yet. In order to save him and his settlement from a supposed attack by her people, she warned him before running to the top of the falls and faking her own death to escape the anger of her people. If you live in Oconee County, click here for pick up locations. The tribesmen, believing her to be dead, call off their chase and Issaqueena, who had landed on a ledge, was able to return safely to her family. It is also pet-friendly. From the pay station, youll wind down a hill. After some time, Issaqueenas adopted father, Karuga sent braves south to capture the pair and return them to Keowee. Duke University Libraries. Whenever Ive visited Issaqueena falls, Ive seen one or two poisonous copperheads lurking at the bottom. [6] Most of the estate was sold for house lots, and the mansion was converted into rental apartments. All of the legends differ slightly in their renditions but agree on the detail that although Issaqueena was a Native American, she was not a member of the Cherokee tribe. Sometimes it takes a boat. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. But when the leaves return in spring and summer, you wont be able to see as well. While not many actual Native American legends still exist in the folklore of the upstate due to the forced removal of large numbers of Cherokee, Choctaw, Catawba, and and other peoples, the legend of Issaqueena Falls does show that the presence of Native Americans in the upstate has made an impact on the folklore of the area. We are trying to get the City of Walhalla to go through the process of editing the listing on Apple Maps, but so far it hasnt happened. Stumphouse Mountain is also reported to be a sacred place for the Cherokee tribe and is the resting place of many of its people, who are no longer at rest due to the many attempts to tunnel through the mountain, repeatedly disrupting the countryside and disturbing the rest of any resident spirits. One fateful night they put their escape plan into motion. TripAdvisor/Franklin B From the top of the falls you may feel like a king surveying your kingdom. If this tale is taken as historical fiction, I love the idea of making it a love story built around a very real woman who saved lives. I do not recommend anyone jump off of themthey are nearly 100 feet tall, and people have died by slipping off the edge. Issaqueena, whose name likely comes from the Choctaw word "isi-okhina" which means "deer creek," was a young Native American woman living in what is now Pickens County. Issaqueena Falls Located in Stumphouse Park. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Walter Gassaway died of a heart attack on June 4, 1930. Be warned though, the trail is steep and depending on the weather can be very slippery. Many families, day trippers, and novice hikers make their way to view the Stumphouse Tunnel and beautiful Issaqueena Falls located on Cane Creek near Walhalla, South Carolina, close to where Georgia, North, and South Carolina all meet. Issaqueena Falls in South Carolina. Specializing in Dentistry for infants, children, adolescents and patients with special health care. South Carolina is home to countless hiking trails that lead to some hidden treasures, from cool caves tucked into a mountainside to breathtaking waterfalls begging to be explored. Issaqueena falls, Ive seen one or two poisonous copperheads lurking at the bottom. Fire officials did not have an update on the child's condition Saturday night. Once there his father set up a mercantile and established trade routes with the Cherokee people in the village of Keowee. Assuming she had died, her tribe gave up the hunt and Issaqueena lived out the rest of her days. This legend takes place during the very real Anglo-Cherokee War that occurred in the Carolinas and Tennessee from 1758-1761. by Reverend Daniel, Captain James Francis and his sons, Allan and Henry, created a trading post with the Cherokee in 1750 in the area of todays town of Ninety Six, located in Greenwood County, South Carolina. Stay with WYFF News 4 as we work to learn more information. Now, I hope you enjoy the Legend of Issaqueena. (Oconee County, alone, boasts more than 150 waterfalls.) For the purposes and clarity of this telling, we will use Cateechee primarily as her name, as it is commonly used in the references themselves. View of Issaqueena Falls from the observation deck. Youll have to climb over huge rocks and walk over exposed tree roots. 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. The settlers were able to prepare and ward off the attack due to Cateechees bravery, and she and her lover, Allan Francis, were able to marry. Two legends surround this mysterious falls; both involve a Native American named Issaqueena who was chased to this spot. Two people were injured in falls in Oconee County parks over the weekend, and one later died from his injuries, according to the coroner.On Sunday, Oconee County Emergency Services said a man, later identified as Kelly Scott Sprouse, 47, of Elloree, fell a considerable distance at Devils Fork State Park at Lake Jocassee.Coroner Karl Addis said Sprouse apparently fell along a trail adjacent to the Thompson River near Lake Jocassee while on a family outing. He died at GHS at 6:15 p.m. from a closed head injury, Addis said.On Saturday, a woman was critically injured after slipping at Issaqueena Falls.Oconee County Emergency Services officials said the woman fell about 20 feet at the falls trailhead around 5 p.m.Officials said rescuers were able to airlift the woman to Greenville Memorial Hospital a little more than an hour after she fell.She was in critical but stable condition at the trauma center Sunday night. She may have been Choctaw, because according to linguists, the, name Issaqueena is very close to the Choctaw word isi-okhina that translates to deer creek.. She eludes her pursuers by leaping off a nearby waterfall. Whatever legend is true, if any, Issaqueena Falls remains a stunning site in Oconee County. Issaqueena Falls from base Whether you think so or not, check out this very short walk to Issaqueena Falls, one of South Carolina's best waterfalls. In each case, the falls are named after an Indian maiden who allegedly jumped from the falls. The first 911 call was made at 1:19 pm., Addis said, about 30 to 45 minutes after Sprouse fell. Her escape was possible, according to folklore, because the Cherokee believed waterfalls were home to evil spirits. Other versions of the legend have Issaqueena leaping off the waterfall on her way to warn the settlers in Ninety-Six. The following year his widow abandoned Isaqueena for a smaller home (which she also designed) closer to downtown Greenville. This trail gives a fine view of the falls and its boulder-strewn creek course through the deeply incised valley below. In an attempt to warn the settlers, Issaqueena set out on horseback, naming the landmarks she passed for the distance she had traveled. What about other versions? Knowing that the Cherokee believed evil spirits lived in waterfalls, she pretended to leap to her death. Travel Tips Thank you! 3.) THEY USED A ROPE SYSTEM TO TELL US THE CHILD FELL ABOUT 10 FEET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES ANYONE HIKING OR SPENDING TIME NEAR WATER TO USE CAUTION, ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE INTO. From the parking lot (right side), its an easy 5-minute walk to a viewing platform that looks out over the top of Issaqueena Falls. It is rumored that at least ten workers died during the dynamiting and construction of the Stumphouse Tunnel, and there are unexplained paranormal activities as a result. Knowing that the Cherokee believed evil spirits lived in waterfalls, she pretended to leap to her death. They are named after the Native American woman who jumped off of them. Shortly thereafter, in the 1970s, it was designated a local historic landmark and conservation area, with picnic tables and trails added for the public. This is a developing story. . A primary resource for this episode is a long poem entitled Cateechee of Keowee by Abbeville, South Carolina, minister Dr. James Walter Daniel, published in 1898. It's an easy 5-minute walk to viewing platforms where you can view the beautiful waterfall named for a Creek maiden who hid on one of the falls' ledges to avoid capture during an Indian attack. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. For full functionality please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Yet another version had, on the site of present-day Stumphouse Mountain, and thus originating the name Stumphouse Mountain.. Did you hear of a legend about a woman who rode 96 miles to warn her lover of a surprise attack upon his town? A short easy walking trail leads from Stumphouse Mountain Park to Issaqueena Falls, a beautiful 200-ft. cascade. 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. The Clemson Experimental Forest Trail system is divided into three primary areas: Fant's Grove (approx. There is a rough trail next to the lowest platform, which leads to the base of the falls. We dont always have roads to get there. Copyright 2023 Visit Oconee SC. Also in the park is the Stumphouse Tunnel, which is 25 feet high, 17 feet wide, and although it was not completed, extends 1,617 feet into the mountain. Duke University Libraries. 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. This amazing video is from one of our favorite drone videographers, Casey Shoub, a.k.a. Cateechee learned that Chief Kuruga planned to attack the Ninety Six post and harm all within itincluding her lover and his family. They found a makeshift shelter in a hollow stump near the location of todays Stumphouse Mountain. 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. 25 Feb/23. If you live in Oconee County, click here for pick up locations. Issaqueena Falls is an attraction in the same park as Stumphouse Tunnel. Visitors can park at the Stumphouse Tunnel, walk in and view the uncompleted tunnel (be sure to bring your muck boots and flashlightsits dark and wet! Feature/Archival Maps. Allen enjoyed accompanying his father on expeditions to trade with the Cherokee, and on one of these trips he met and fell in love with an Indian maiden. Issaqueena Falls. Allan, one of the Captains sons, fell in love with a beautiful Choctaw slave named Cateechee. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. The landmarks of Mile Creek, Six Mile town (and mountain), Twelve Mile River, Eighteen Mile Creek, Three and Twenty Creek, Six and Twenty Creek, and Ninety Six were supposedly named for their proximity from the area of a trading post (perhaps the same post as the Cherokee settlement of Keowee that was located near present-day Clemson University) and later location of Fort Prince George. Guided Hike to 3 Amazing Waterfalls - 2.5 Hour Hiking Tour 67 Recommended Adventure Tours from $89.00 per adult Greenville City Segway Tour 145 Recommended Segway Tours from $69.00 per adult Small-Group Walking Tour in Greenville with Breakfast 27 Recommended Walking Tours from $72.00 per adult 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. Does a fifth of a mile count as a hike? She and the baby emerged from a ledge behind the falls and made their getaway with Allan back to the town of Cambridge (now known as Ninety Six). Upstate Outdoor Adventurer. Gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox they are named after an Indian maiden who jumped. Escape was possible, according to folklore, because the Cherokee believed waterfalls home... Course through the deeply incised valley below a mercantile and established trade routes with the Cherokee believed evil.! 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