This Southern State Actually Grows More Peaches Than Georgia-and This Is Its 'Peach Capital'

"One of the town's most memorable icons is the 135-foot-tall Peachoid Water Tower, located off Highway 85. It's stood outside of Gaffney since 1981. "Anytime you go somewhere, and you mention Gaffney, if they're hesitant, all you have to say is, 'We're the big Peachoid,'" says Lacey Lemmons, manager of Gaffney's Visitors Center & Art Gallery. "That landmark is very well known.""

"Gaffney also hosts the annual South Carolina Peach Festival, a week-plus-long celebration of summertime that takes place every July. Needless to say, Gaffney's pride in its fruit is more than well earned. "In the older days, Cherokee County, which includes Gaffney, produced more peaches than the entire state of Georgia," says Lemmons. "Now, we stake claim to having the sweetest and juiciest peaches during peak season.""

"While roadside stands selling peaches crop up throughout Gaffney during the summer months, the local institution Abbott Farms has developed quite a reputation for its farm-fresh peaches, preserves, peach bread, and peach cider. Alternatively, you can take a day trip from Gaffney to western South Carolina to pick your own peaches at Fishers Orchard. Beyond its peaches, Gaffney has plenty of other entertainment options, too."

Gaffney produces large quantities of peaches and is known as the Peach Capital of South Carolina; South Carolina produces three times as many peaches annually as Georgia. A 135-foot Peachoid water tower stands off Highway 85 since 1981 and serves as a notable landmark. The city hosts the annual South Carolina Peach Festival each July celebrating summertime. Local growers and vendors like Abbott Farms offer farm-fresh peaches, preserves, bread, and cider; Fishers Orchard offers u-pick opportunities. The Cherokee County Museum presents regional culture and interactive science exhibits. Replicas from the series House of Cards attract visitors interested in filming locations.

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