NORTH AUGUSTA — The largest revenue stream for North Augusta’s Living History Park is flowing again after a nearly two-year dry spell brought on by Hurricane Helene.
The large red barn, nestled in the small dell at the end of the main path, has hosted events for years, whether a private wedding or those ticketed Halloween dinners.
The largest of the three rentable buildings, the income from it helps sustain the park. Which is why the damage caused by Helene dealt a blow more sizeable than the cost of physical repairs alone.
The red barn at North Augusta’s Living History Park is the park’s financial lifeline, but due to damage sustained in Hurricane Helene (pictured here a year after the storm), it couldn’t be rented out for 18 months. Now, it’s back open.
But as of this March, that barn is open once more. And on the morning of July 15, Living History Park hosted the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce for a small networking event inside of it, also signaling an intention that the space be open for informal uses, too; that it be a viable rental beyond the weddings to also host business retreats and corporate meetings.
It’s a different option that businesses now have, removed from the activity of commercial district, Brian Wendzik said. Wendzik is a board member for Olde Towne Preservation Association, the nonprofit that supports Living History Park.
Wendzik said it’s also a way to turn North Augusta’s “hidden gem” into something more front-of-mind for the people who live here.
The park sees thousands of visitors every year, many of whom come from out of state or even out of the country. But locally and regionally, Wendzik said, the park is still tucked away even though its grounds are open every day of the year.
Though large rentals at Living History Park were on hold post-Helene, the park has been able to host its traditional public events, even if the first ones were scaled back a little.
Most of the Helene recovery is now complete at Living History Park, and the public events are back up to full speed, even after the park lost it’s founder, Lynn Thompson, on July 4 last year.
With most recovery from Hurricane Helene now complete at North Augusta’s Living History Park nearly two years after the storm, the water wheel remains to be fixed and is currently in Savannah for repair.
Volunteers helped initially, and nearly $250,000 in insurance money came through end of last year from the city of North Augusta. Though run by Olde Towne Preservation Association, Living History Park is a city-owned park and was eligible for the insurance proceeds associated with Helene.
Jerry Murrell, board president for the Association, said it’s just the park’s landmark water wheel left, recently hauled out by crane and now in Savannah for repair.
North Augusta City Council is scheduled to vote July 20 on a revised request for use of accommodations tax dollars — a state-run program that helps fuel regional tourism — that would help cover the cost of this effort.
Anyone interested in renting one of the buildings at Living History Park can make a request either by phone at 803-510-7885 or via email at reservations@colonialtimes.us.
