Jessica Nielsen

Park Manager

Welcome! My name is Jessica Nielsen and I am the park manager of Lee State Park!

While I grew up camping in South Carolina state parks, it wasn’t until I was older that I realized I wanted to be a park ranger. I started walking and hiking in a park near me to get healthy, and after talking to a park ranger, I knew I wanted to help others experience the benefits of being outside. I returned to the University of South Carolina to complete a degree in Environmental Studies, focusing on environmental justice. I began my career by working as a volunteer after I graduated, and love to help people connect to our wonderful cultural and natural resources.

Here at Lee, the most surprising thing for me is the abundance of wildlife! The Floodplain Trail takes you along some of the best spots for bird watching, or you might even spot fox squirrels or river otters! During migration season, our wetlands serve as a stopover point for birds you might not expect, like ibises or spoonbills. Turtles can be seen nesting in the spring in our sandy spaces, and snakes sun on the stream banks.

If you’ve never visited before, I like to encourage folks to ground themselves in the rich history. Lee is one of the 16 SC State Parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and we still have some of the best-preserved structures built by them. The artisanal wells dug by the corps still run, and you can still cast a line down at the fishing cabin. Preserving this history lets us honor the work done by the CCC, while appreciating the spectacular nature that has been drawing people to this place for ages.

One of several CCC parks in the state, Lee State Park was built in 1935 by the CCC in order to provide riverside recreational opportunities for the residents of Lee County, South Carolina.

Along the Lynches River, which runs through Lee County, South Carolina and is partially protected from development by the state of South Carolina, kayaking and canoeing trips can be taken through the park’s hardwood forest floodplain. Fishing may also be enjoyed from along the banks of the river and children can fish for catfish in the park’s artesian pond.

The park’s rich diversity of natural habitats and wildlife make it an ideal setting for nature walks and the interpretive, educational programs hosted on site. Equestrian facilities are also available. Lee State Park is one of the shrinking number of CCC parks with surviving structures that display the classic Conservation Corps architecture.

Find more South Carolina freshwater fishing at Lake Warren State Park or take a kayak adventure down the Edisto River canoe and kayak trail at Colleton State Park!