2625 Park Rd, Blacksburg, SC 29702
Phone: 864-936-7921
Fax: 864-936-9897
Open All Year
Overview. By the summer of 1780, the Revolutionary War had ground to a standoff in the northern colonies, so the British shifted their focus southward. After sweeping across South Carolina so swiftly that numbers of erstwhile patriots were defecting to the Tory side, Cornwallis and his men, mostly colonists sympathetic to Britain, turned their gaze northward toward Virginia and what they assumed was certain victory. They didn't plan on having to face the wrath of the "over-mountain men," rugged pioneers who settled in the mountains and valleys west of the Alleghenies. Once they were threatened, they took up arms, joined forces, and ultimately routed colonialists under the command of Major Patrick Ferguson. Ferguson, the only British soldier present, and over two hundred Tories lost their lives on October 7, 1780, at the summit of King's Mountain. He is buried mere yards from where he fell. This bloody patriot victory was a turning point in the war. Patriot ranks swelled as those who had given up the cause for lost once more joined the fight for freedom. Cornwallis eventually made his way to Virginia, and, a little over a year after Kings Mountain, he surrendered to Washington at Yorktown and a nation was born. What to see and do. Start your tour at the visitor center where you can view Kings Mountain: Turning Point in the South, an 18-minute film. Museum exhibits and a bookstore will increase your understanding of the battle and its importance. A 1.5-mile, self-guided trail loops around the battlefield. Markers and monuments provide commentary on the action. In cooperation with adjacent Kings Mountain State Park, the military park maintains over 16 miles of hiking trails and more than ten miles of equestrian trails. The military park has one primitive, backcountry campsite available, while there are 119 modern sites available on a first-come, first-served basis at the state park. In addition, the state park offers lake fishing, swimming, and boating, and a "Living History Farm." Call 803-222-3209 for more information on Kings Mountain State Park. Kings Mountain National Military Park is open from 9 AM to 6 PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and to 5 PM the rest of the year. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Handicapped access is available. Revolutionary War encampments take place in May, August, and October, when the battle is also commemorated. Call the park for further details. The mailing address for the park is PO Box 40, Kings Mountain, NC 28086. Pets: Leashed pets are permitted.
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