Located in the heart of South Carolina, River Bottom Farms offers a total of 70 units, which include three cabins and sixty-seven tent/RV sites. Dana Gabriel and Susan Davis, the camp hosts, have been operating the business since they purchased the campground in 2006. The two owners make an effort to provide guests with a memorable experience. One specific way that they try to achieve this goal is by hosting events every weekend, many of which are themed depending on the holidays and seasons. The most notable among these festivities is the six-week-long Halloween event. Beyond the on-site activities that are available to visitors throughout the duration of their stay, the establishment is also centrally located among several prominent cities in South Carolina. Such cities include Columbia, Augusta, Orangeburg, and Charleston, which contain numerous restaurants and attractions.
River Bottom Farms offers three cabins and sixty-seven tent/RV sites for visitors to reserve. It should be noted, however, that one of the three cabins is currently under renovation and is unavailable to accommodate guests. Full hookups are provided at 57 of the tent/RV sites, while the other 10 offer water and electrical hookups. Every site, including the cabin rentals, supplies a picnic table and fire pit. With regard to the cabins, each unit contains one bedroom and can sleep up to six occupants. Two of the cabins have a relatively small loft area where guests can lounge as well. Other provided amenities, such as a full kitchen, bathroom, air conditioning, and DirecTV, are available to those who stay in the cabins. These accommodations are also characterized by a porch or deck area. Dana Gabriel, one of the owners of the establishment, observes that the most popular unit of the three cabins seems to be The Retreat. As for the tent/RV sites, the most frequently reserved spots are the ones that are closest to the campground's water features, as the grounds comprise four ponds, a creek, and a river, which are inhabited by bass, bream, and redear sunfish (shellcrackers).
Several facilities are found on the 45-acre property, namely an ADA-accessible bathhouse, an arcade, a store, a recreation center, and a laundry facility with coin-operated machines. The store primarily sells camping supplies, such as ice and firewood, though visitors can also purchase ice cream, snacks, souvenirs, mustard, ketchup, marshmallows, and gram crackers, among other items. Dana Gabriel and her mother, Susan Davis—who also owns River Bottom Farms—often host events, crafts, bingo, and other similar activities in the multi-purpose recreational center. Other activities at the park are the pool, gaga ball, a playground, jumping pillow, laser tag, a concession stand, and a dog park that features an agility course. A considerable number of patrons also fish in the ponds, the creek, and the river that are all found on the acreage. "Many kids have caught their first fish here," Dana remarks.
Despite the fairly rural location of River Bottom Farms, the establishment is centrally located among several prominent cities in South Carolina. Dana notes that the city of Columbia and Lake Murray are found nearly 24 miles from River Bottom Farms, while Orangeburg is situated about 25 miles away. Numerous attractions are found within these cities, and Dana recommends the following: Riverbank Zoo, which is an approximate 30-minute drive from the property; Eudora Farms, described as "a safari park"; and Congaree National Forest, a wooded environment that typically draws those who take interest in outdoor recreation. A few museums and restaurants are found in Columbia as well. Some of the restaurants that Dana and Susan tend to direct their guests to are Magnolia's Deli and Paparoni's Pizza.
One of the most notable aspects of River Bottom Farms is the six-week-long Halloween event that takes place starting in the last two weeks of September and lasting through the end of October. The first three weekends are what Dana, one of the owners, calls "no-scare weekends," which are geared more toward a younger demographic. These no-scare weekends entail a number of activities for children, namely a Glow Hayride and a Flashlight Lollipop Hunt. As for the last three weekends of the Halloween festivities, the owners hire about 25 actors to scare visitors in the property's 25-room haunted house. Dana remarks that this six-week-long Halloween event "was ranked the fourth scariest haunt in South Carolina." She jokes, "We're merciless in that haunted house." The event is exclusively for those who stay at River Bottom Farms. Dana and Susan, the two owners of the park, consider this Halloween event to be the busiest time of year for their business.
Due to River Bottom Farms being a family-oriented establishment, the campground has a few guidelines that intend to keep younger visitors safe during their stay. The most important of these policies, according to Dana and Susan, is that patrons must abide by the five-mile-per-hour speed limit over the course of their stay. Moreover, the consumption of alcohol is permitted on-site, however, guests must "keep alcohol on [their] site and in a cup," as requested by the owners. Similarly, guests can smoke in the designated areas on the premises but must refrain from doing so inside any of the buildings. Campsite occupants are also expected to keep noise to a minimum from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. every night. Those who are hoping to bring their pet to River Bottom Farms are welcome to unless they have reserved a cabin; in the words of Dana, the cabins are "smoke-free and pet-free." With the exception of the dog park, pets must be leashed at all times. Dana adds that potentially aggressive breeds, such as rottweilers, pit bulls, and bulldogs, are restricted from accompanying visitors for the safety of others.
River Bottom Farms is open year-round for visitors to reserve any of the cabins or tent/RV sites. Families account for the typical demographic of those who stay at the campground due to its child-friendly nature. During the wintertime, Dana says that they receive a few "camp clubs" as well. Considering that the property is located in fairly close proximity to the University of South Carolina, River Bottom Farms additionally accommodates people who visit the area to attend the university's football games. Dana also remarks that nearly 70% of their campers are repeat guests.
Dana and Susan have noticed that many of the reviews that previous visitors wrote about the campground comment on the "openness of the park," "its cleanliness," and the wide range of on-site activities that can "keep the kids entertained." One former patron commented on some of these aspects in a review, saying, "I enjoyed the openness in the middle [of the property] with the playground and other activities. I felt very comfortable letting my kids go play at the playground while I stayed at the camper with a full view of them."
"We want our guests to feel like family," Dana expresses. She and her mother, Susan, frequently engage with their patrons, making an effort to help people "feel like they're getting a new experience with their kids that they will want to repeat." As a reflection of this goal, the property promotes the following slogan: "We grow memories here." Most of the interaction that Dana and Susan have with their guests takes place during activities and events. Dana explains that she enjoys interacting with the children, as she recalls a specific moment from the past, "Some of the kids would call my mom 'bubba,' and they would call me 'aunt Dana.'"
What is now presently known as River Bottom Farms formerly served as farmland. The original owner and constructor of the property, Bill Kate, was a developer from Columbia who started the business in 2001. After Bill sold the acreage to an individual by the name of Jim Showalter, Jim built the bathhouse and pool that still remain on the premises today. It wasn't until 2006 that the current owners, Dana Gabriel and Susan Davis, purchased the establishment and began operating the campground together. Susan and her daughter, Dana, both had experience as interior designers prior to taking ownership of River Bottom Farms. The two were led into the lodging industry when they started looking into becoming campground hosts. After researching about 31 RV parks, Dana and Susan discovered River Bottom Farms and "fell in love with the park itself." Since purchasing the property in 2006, Dana and Susan have found that their favorite part about their jobs as camp hosts is meeting and interacting with the people who visit the campground. "We have kids that learned to ride their bikes here and now they're working for us, so it's that kind of relationship that we enjoy the most about [our job]," Dana remarks.
The property has undergone multiple renovations over the course of Dana and Susan's ownership. The owners added the sites, the activity center, and the laser tag area. With the intent to enhance guests' stays, Dana and Susan also added the on-site activities, such as the arcade, jumping pillow, and dog park. With regard to future plans, the owners are hoping to complete the renovations that are currently taking place on one of the cabins. Furthermore, they hope to start an educational field trip program for schools within the next year or so, as well as a party program for those who want to host their birthday parties at the property.
357 Cedar Creek Road S-32-45
Swansea, South Carolina 29160
United States
Campground
Dana Gabriel and Susan Davis
Jim Showalter
