Downtown Elloree

The town of Elloree, SC, is in the middle of a quiet revival. This small, some would say idyllic, town in Orangeburg County is home to only 740 people, and, recently, nine new businesses.

The first stage of the town’s revitalization started in 1998 with the opening of the Elloree Heritage Museum, John Singh, Elloree Town Administrator said. The second phase is well under way with the other new businesses which include several antique stores, two restaurants, a car service center, and a women’s clothing store.

Visitors and residents browse through Elloree’s annual Arts and Antiques Festival held the second weekend in May Elloree was already home to the Elloree Trials horse races, which bring in about 6,000 people annually.

Elloree is also home to two Antiques and Arts Festivals, one held the second weekend in May, the other the second weekend in October.

Singh, who moved to Elloree with his wife four years ago, said “Elloree’s got a small town atmosphere, but serves the needs people have.” Singh added that the town is full of “friendly people” and has an “excellent Thai restaurant that alone is worth the stop.”

Elloree is about six miles from the town of Santee, and can be reached from Columbia by car in about 55 minutes.