Festivals and Main Street preserve Westminster’s heritage
Westminster was first established in the late 1800s as a stop along a passenger railroad. Over the following century, it became Oconee County’s center of commerce, with mills, factories and general stores. Today, some of this history is preserved on Westminster’s quaint Main Street, which comes alive during events like the South Carolina Apple Festival and the South Carolina Bigfoot Festival. “It has a great small-town, Americana feel,” says Jessica Clardy, the owner-broker of Clardy Real Estate, who has sold several homes in the area. “Most people know their neighbors because only like 2,500 people live in town.” Located within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and less than 15 miles from several lakes, Westminster is also known for its natural setting. “There’s a lot to do within Westminster, and outside of it,” Clardy says.
Trees shade Westminster’s wide variety of houses
Westminster’s oldest homes include Colonials Revivals and Queen Annes from the late 1800s. Ranch styles, cottages and New Traditionals are also common. Oak, pine and maple trees often densely shade lawns, with the median lot size at nearly half an acre. Renovation projects and smaller houses can cost between $60,000 and $ 270,000, while larger homes typically range from $300,000 to $525,000.
A museum and repurposed train depot sit on Main Street
A coffee shop, drug store and cultural centers fill brick buildings along Main Street. The General Store Museum, which was an operating retailer for nearly 100 years, displays 20th-century clothing, beauty products and home goods. Across the street sits Westminster’s original train depot, now repurposed as the town’s visitor center and chamber of commerce. Westminster offers a handful of casual dining spots, including Lucky Strike, known for its burgers. Checkered floors and leather booths decorate the 1960s-themed Park Place Drive-In, which serves sundaes, hot dogs and sandwiches. There’s an Ingles grocery in town, and more big-box stores are in Seneca, about 9 miles east.
Quirky festivals celebrate apples and Bigfoot
From concerts on Main Street to the Christmas parade, Westminster hosts several lively events throughout the year. At the beginning of September, the South Carolina Apple Festival honors Oconee County’s title as the state’s largest apple-producing region with a pie-baking contest, a pageant and a rodeo. In October, the South Carolina Bigfoot Festival celebrates Appalachian culture and its legendary connection to the elusive creature. “A lot of people in Westminster swear they’ve seen him,” Clardy says. Visitors can enter the Bigfoot look-alike contest and the “biggest foot” measuring competition. Cryptozoologists and sasquatch enthusiasts give lectures at the train depot, and musicians perform on Main Street during this weekend-long event. “They only started doing the festival in 2019, but it’s been well-attended every year because it’s so quirky,” Clardy says.
Public schools earn B grades
The School District of Oconee County serves the community. Kids can attend Westminster Elementary, West-Oak Middle and West-Oak High, all of which earn Bs from Niche. The high school offers Advanced Placement classes like statistics, music theory and human geography. Clemson University, South Carolina’s second-largest college, is 18 miles east.
Lakes are nearby, and a new park is coming to town
Westminster's nearby lakes offer plenty of places to fish, swim and boat. “Some people here try to get out on the water every weekend if they can,” Clardy says. South Cove County Park has a beach, a fishing pier and campgrounds on Lake Keowee, north of the community. Lake Hartwell State Park, to the south, offers similar amenities, along with waterfront hiking trails stretching across pine forests.
Several recreation spaces are in Westminster, including Anderson Park, which has playground equipment and picnic pavilions. Next door, Westminster Library regularly puts on story times and craft workshops. Horton Recreation Area, set to be completed by November 2025, will add a recreation center, nature trails and sports facilities to the baseball diamonds, soccer fields and civic center already found in Westminster.
Route 123 reaches Seneca and Greenville
Westminster is a car-dependent community centered around U.S. Route 123. The highway reaches Seneca, home to the Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital. It also takes drivers to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, roughly 60 miles east. A freight railroad still operates in town, and locals may hear whistles as trains pass by. “It’s especially loud for people who live near Main Street because the tracks are right next to it,” Clardy says.
