Mount Carmel A.M.E. Zion Campground, African Methodist Episcopal Zion campground in Heath Springs, South Carolina.
Mount Carmel A.M.E. Zion Campground is a religious complex in Heath Springs arranged with roughly 55 small cabins and tent structures around a central open-air arbor. A brick church stands on the southern edge, while the buildings range from simple wooden frames to two-story concrete block structures.
The site was founded in 1866 during the post-Civil War period and became one of the first African American religious gathering places in South Carolina. It quickly developed into a center for regional church meetings and camp gatherings.
The annual September gathering brings visitors from across multiple states to worship, sing gospel music, and connect as a community under the central arbor. The event has become an important occasion for religious expression and strengthening family ties among participants.
Visitors should expect basic accommodations since most structures are minimalist and designed for extended stays during the annual gatherings. The site is compact enough to explore on foot, making walking the natural way to navigate the grounds.
The grounds preserve the original rectangular layout from the 1800s, with cabins and tents arranged around a central open space. This traditional arrangement is rarely intact elsewhere, offering a window into how religious camp meetings were once organized.
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