Dreher Island State Recreation Area, State recreation area in Lake Murray, South Carolina.
Dreher Island State Recreation Area occupies all of the largest island in Lake Murray, a 50,000-acre reservoir of the Saluda River in central South Carolina. The island is largely covered in dense woodland, and its only access is a bridge on the northern side. The park holds campsites, villas and cabins, boat launches, picnic areas and space for large group meetings.
Dreher Island State Park was first leased from SCE&G, the utility that built Dreher Shoals Dam and created Lake Murray, in 1970. The park occupies all of the largest island in the 50,000-acre reservoir and is named after Billy Dreher, the island's former owner. Its only access is a bridge on the northern side.
The park draws anglers who fish for striped bass and largemouth bass in Lake Murray, and fishing is very much part of the daily rhythm here. Locals and visitors alike bring their own rods and often spend the whole morning along the shoreline or out on the water.
Getting around between campsites, boat launches, and picnic areas requires driving across the causeways, so a car is useful even once you are inside the park. Plan for at least half a day if you want to explore more than one island.
Dreher Island is the largest island in Lake Murray, a 50,000-acre reservoir on the Saluda River, and the park covers all of it. The only way in is a bridge on the island's northern side, so every visitor crosses the same span. The island is named after Billy Dreher, its former owner.
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