Latest

February Travelers Rest City Council report

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. – On Thursday, February 21, Travelers Rest City Council held their monthly meeting. A synopsis of key events are outlined below.

• Dell Baker, a CPA with Bradshaw, Gordon & Clinkscales LLC, discussed the audit report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. In his report, Baker said the city operated at almost exactly a break-even point, with net assets totaling approximately $6.5 million.

• Bess McCall, a Let's Keep T.R. Beautiful board member, announced February's beautification award winners: The Flop Shop and Silver Lilly. (To view a photo of the award presentation to Melissa Bridgeman, owner of The Flop Shop, click here.)

• Dan Powell, executive director of Keep Greenville County Beautiful, announced the city of Travelers Rest, through the collaborative efforts of KGCB and LKTRB, placed second in the “expanding implementation” award category at the recent Keep America Beautiful National Conference for its cigarette litter prevention program. (Read more here.)

• Councilmembers unanimously approved a $500 donation for the annual musical at Travelers Rest High School. The money for the donation comes out of the Hospitality Tax fund. This year's musical is Seussical.

• Councilmembers unanimously approved a performance-based bonus of $2300 and a pay increase of 1.5 percent for City Administrator Dianna Turner.

Travelers Rest finishes 11th in 'Coolest Small Town' contest

Updated (2/20/13, 7:45 a.m.):

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. – Out of 924 cities nominated for Budget Travel magazine's "Coolest Small Town" moniker, Travelers Rest finished in 11th place.

In the end, 2/10 of one percent separated the city from a top 10 finish.

"I'm excited that Travelers Rest did so well," Greater Travelers Chamber of Commerce President Brady Gilbert said. "Thanks to everyone who voted and helped publicize the competition. We'll be back next year!"

The top-place finisher was Lititz, PA.

To see a chart of the top 15 finishers, click here.

Original Story:

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. – The finalists have been announced in Budget Travel magazine's annual Coolest Small Town contest, and Travelers Rest has been named as one of the 15 cities in the running for the prestigious accolade.

Now in the contest's eighth year, the magazine received a total of 924 nominations, 96,605 votes, and 2,415 comments.

Public voting in the preliminary round was one of the components the magazine said was used to help determine the finalists. When voting closed in October of last year, Travelers Rest was in 15th place, receiving a total of 633 votes.

In addition to the votes received, contest organizers said they considered factors such as geography, attractions and architecture when determining the finalists.

The finalists were announced this morning, and a new round of voting is now open. Votes collected in the next 30 days will determine the winner.

In its entry, Budget Travel says the following about Travelers Rest:

“It's ironic: in Travelers Rest—a town whose unusual name came from the inns and taverns that served as stopping points for pioneer-era settlers and cattle drovers trekking through the area—resting is likely to be the last thing on the agenda. At the foot of the Blue Ridge, the town is nestled among state parks, and its popular Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 13.5 mile bike path connecting TR (as it's known locally) with neighboring Greenville, SC. Built on a former railroad track, the flat trail draws avid cyclists as well as families, helping this small town thrive even through the economic downturn. A bustling downtown, the result of a dedicated revitalization effort, boasts antique shops, coffee houses, and excellent BBQ, chicken, and waffle joints.”

Related on the Tribune:

Travelers Rest places 15th in 'Coolest Small Town' preliminary voting