Lexington County Council approved a zoning change for newly acquired land in the Gardendale community during its last meeting on Tuesday, March 24. The land, purchased by the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission in 2025, includes about 60 acres near the Seven Oaks area and has been approved for a future campground.

The campground is part of the commission’s “3 Rivers” campaign, which connects the Lower Saluda, Broad and Congaree rivers. While the campaign has gained traction over the past decade, Mark Smyers, executive director of the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission, said the project has been in the works for nearly 40 years.

“It’s been several years of us working in this direction,” Smyers said. “We didn’t own the property until last year, but we have been working to expand services that would support a full-time presence in the area. The campground is the result of that vision.”

The commission’s plan includes a riverfront trail and a campground that will accommodate tents, campers and RVs for short-term rentals. Officials said all campsites will be located together, rather than separated by type.

“We won’t have a separate area for ground tent campers,” Smyers said, adding that they visited Charleston County Parks and Recreation facilities, and now aim to take after their model. “Tent campers will have camping spots just like RVs and pop-up campers. In our research, we found separate tent areas might encourage long-term stays and go against what we are trying to accomplish as a family-friendly space.”

Smyers said the goal is to create a campground that is self-sustaining and supervised around the clock. Based on their research, the commission plans to model the site after a state park, in that staff would be on-site at all times.

He added that the campground will offer another way for residents to enjoy the outdoors, similar to Saluda Shoals Park, but with overnight accommodations.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Smyers said. “Now that we have the land and proper zoning, we will begin securing funding for construction. That could take a few months or a few years. We just don’t know yet.”

The property falls within the district represented by Councilwoman Beth Carrigg.

“When we were first presented with the zoning request, council wanted to hear more details before making a decision,” Carrigg told the Chronicle, adding that public input was also needed in the process. “We told the commission that it wasn’t an immediate ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but that we needed more information about the plans.”

A timeline for construction and opening has not been determined yet.

“The campground will serve a unique role among the area’s river resources, and that’s where we see a tremendous opportunity,” Smyers said. “Anytime someone can stay in nature, it’s a different experience than a day trip or a walk on a trail. We’re excited to offer this to the community and highlight the beauty of the Midlands.”