Fountain Inn Real Estate
Welcome to the City of Fountain Inn!
Nestled in the foothills of Upstate South Carolina, Fountain Inn is a charming city in the heart of an incredibly scenic state. Only minutes from the mountains and a couple of hours from the coast, Fountain Inn is the ideal location for relocating families, friends and business. We invite you to use this website as your resource to everything Fountain Inn.
Welcome to the “Front Porch of The Upstate”
The phrase “Front Porch of The Upstate” brings back memories for me and so many others from decades gone
by. Those times when life moved a little bit slower, and families would gather on their porches just to relax
and enjoy each other’s company. This is the feeling I trust you will encounter here in this beautiful southern
city known as Fountain Inn, South Carolina.
Several years ago, Fountain Inn had a choice to make: remain the same with closed storefronts,
losing businesses, tourists, and even families to the larger cities. Or, make some important changes
to make life better for all. We chose the latter, making many positive changes to our downtown
business district, yet maintaining that important “feel” of a small southern town.
The City of Fountain Inn, Economic Development, the Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce, the
wonderful citizens and businesses of Fountain Inn, along with many others, have done an outstanding
job of transforming the downtown area and beyond. Everyone worked hard, and everyone worked together.
The Fountain Inn Chamber was officially incorporated July 3, 1954. Our Founding Fathers, Max Karelitz,
James A. Cannon, Blake P. Garrett, and Andy McGeachie, who have now all passed away, live on through
their spirit and convictions for this Chamber. Many of these gentlemen’s decendents still live in and around Fountain Inn.
Today, our Chamber has the largest membership ever in its 61 – 62 year history. Our Chamber is a “Family”, and our Family is growing! Throughout the year, we enjoy many events – large and small – that provide meaningful networking opportunities for our “Family” members. Some of the Chamber offerings are Business After Hours, Lunch & Learn sessions, and ribbon cuttings and grand openings for new businesses.
Our signature events give many additional opportunities for networking and sponsorships to all of our members. The Chamber’s Annual Golf Tournament in August is always an exciting and fun time for all our local golfers and sponsors. The Annual Aunt Het Fall Festival, on the first Saturday of October, is a favorite with everyone. It brings thousands of visitors to our wonderful downtown area with crafters, food vendors, music, a classic car show and much more. Children of all ages line the streets every December to view the Spirit of Christmas Past Christmas Parade. The parade kicks off Fountain Inn’s two week Christmas Festival with carriage rides, food, carolers, and shopping in unique downtown stores. Our Annual Horse Show, sanctioned by CHSA, is a favorite May event with all our equestrian lovers.
Not everyone has the good fortune of being employed or having food on their tables and warm clothing. Our Chamber recognizes this and tries to help “Give Back” throughout the year in various ways. Our Classic Car show at the Aunt Het Festival collects non-perishable food for God’s Pantry. From late October until Christmas, the Chamber is an official drop-off point for One Warm Coat®, a national organization which collects new and ‘slightly’ worn clothing for men, women and children. All the clothing remains in our community, going to our local James Monroe Mission House. Volunteers at the James Monroe Mission House serve and distribute food and clothing weekly at no cost to over 350 families in the Upstate’s Golden Strip area.
In July our Chamber hosts its annual Cruise-In for School Supplies, sponsored in part by O’Reillys, Bojangles, Unique Car Club of Greenville and others. The school supplies are given to Generations Group Home for Boys.
In May 2015, our Chamber presented its inaugural “Palmetto State” Chili Cook-Off. It was decided that hosting a chili cook-off would be another vehicle by which this Chamber could give back to the community. Our chili cook-off is sanctioned through ICS (International Chili Society) which requires its sanctioned cook-offs to give back to charity 90% of the net proceeds. Our first cook-off brought in ICS chili cookers from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. Our official ICS Judge came from New Jersey, and the official Scorekeepr from Pennsylvania. Our inaugural cook-off allowed us to donate over $1200 to charity. Our hopes, dreams and hard work will make the Palmetto State Chili Cook-Off even bigger and better in the years ahead.
I invite all to come visit, enjoy and perhaps make your new home here. A place where life is enjoyed, friendships are created and memories are made here on the “Front Porch of The Upstate” – Fountain Inn, South Carolina.