Lee State Park
Midlands
Dan Hancock
Park Manager
I am Dan Hancock, and I am the manager at Lee State Park. I have always enjoyed being in nature and the outdoors,
so being in a park setting has always felt natural to me. My journey started in 1989 when I worked at Lee State
Park as a lifeguard, but I did not return to the park service until I became a park technician at Lake Wateree
State Park in 2015. This is when I discovered I wanted to be a park ranger. I’m fortunate to be “home” here at
Lee State Park. I was born here in Bishopville, SC, and I have lived here most of my life. “Home is where the
heart is,” could not be more perfect for me.
I love my park visitors from equestrian users to campers, hikers and the Ultimate Outsiders that have never been
here before. Being able to communicate my knowledge of the park and the area to make their visit better is
always the best feeling for myself and staff here at Lee. I try to speak with everyone I see on my park.
For first-time visitors, I would recommend visiting the flowing well at the CCC cabin in our primitive, group
camping area. This is actually two features in one. A visitor can access the cool, flowing waters and even stand
in the pool to cool off in the summer, then take a short walk over to the CCC cabin to go inside and inspect
this structure built in the 1930s. We also have over five miles of hiking trails that allow all types of users
access to our park. There is a boardwalk that goes into the wetlands near the Lynches River that gives visitors
an idea of the low-lying areas we have in Lee County.
**Our Ultimate Outsider stamp is located at the orientation kiosk in the day use area. We also have a stamp located in the exhibit room and gift shop.
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!
BY THE NUMBERS
1
of 16 SC State Parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps
2839
acres, made up mostly of bottomland hardwood forest wetlands
4
artesian wells that flow 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
2
picnic shelters available for rent for group gatherings
145
bird species that have been surveyed on the park
1
Education Center that includes and exhibit hall and a wet lab
25
standard campsites
23
campsites for equestrian camping
12
miles of equestrian trails
1
mile of easy hiking trails