The Fountain Inn Center for Visual and Performing Arts carries new life within its walls – students in an art class learn the intricacies of pottery or watercolor, a rehearsal prepares the cast for an upcoming production, and young dancers take those first hesitant steps toward the stage.

The center’s list of available activities is growing by leaps and bounds, with its arts academy as the newest entry in the Fountain Inn cultural arts scene.

Fountain Inn’s Economic Development and Civic Center Director Van Broad said after offering summer programs, the academy will continue with classes after school.

“There will be a variety of arts classes like dance, music and pottery,” he said. “We are limited, so we aren’t competing with arts studios or day cares. We want to whet the appetite of young people to learn about the arts and be involved.”

Fountain Inn, South Carolina

“The Diamond Tip of the Golden Strip”

       “Front Porch of The Upstate”

 Welcome to Fountain Inn, South Carolina and all the best that we have to offer! This city was nicknamed back in 60’s as The Diamond Tip of The Golden Strip. Although that catchy phrase still holds true today, we can also be referred to as the “Front Porch of The Upstate”. Nestled in the Upstate of South Carolina, a region of all seasons, Fountain Inn is filled with abundant natural beauty and charming history. Our City's hospitality and warm friendly people are second only to the fun, exciting adventures you'll find here! It makes you feel as good as sittin’ in the rocker on the front porch.

 Since its incorporation July 3, 1954, The Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce has served the area as a non-profit professional organization. The Chamber’s mission is “to be an advocate for business, to promote business alliances, to provide valuable benefits and services to our members and to be a partner with economic development efforts in Fountain Inn and surrounding vicinities.”

Two Fountain Inn schools overcrowded by population growth were relieved last year with the opening of Rudolph Gordon Elementary School, but eventually more construction will be necessary to keep pace.

“We have continued growth projected in the southern end of the county,” said Greenville County Schools spokesman Oby Lyles.

Gordon elementary, built at Jones Mill and Scuffletown roads on the north side of town, eased strain at Bryson Elementary and Bell’s Crossing Elementary. It is the fifth public school serving Fountain In residents, joining Fountain Inn Elementary, Bryson Elementary, Bryson Middle and Hillcrest High. Bell’s Crossing serves an area further north, northeast of Simpsonville.

Buoyed by tradition and a burgeoning downtown, Fountain Inn continues to offer a full slate of events for residents and visitors, with new opportunities hitting the calendar each month.

With a historic setting in the growing Golden Strip area, Fountain Inn is quenching the thirst of local residents who want true community experiences.

One of the city’s signature events is Aunt Het Day, held the first Saturday in October. The 2012 festival will mark the 29th anniversary of the event held in honor of Robert Quillen’s homespun cartoon character, AUNT HET.

Fountain Inn, the only town known by that name in the United States, was born in the welcoming shadow of an old stagecoach stop, an inn that welcomed weary travelers to a night's rest. Situated on the old stagecoach route between Greenville and Columbia, the inn was little more than a large house, but, in its day, it had become a welcome and famous stopping point. Its popularity was due largely to the ever-flowing spring that gushed up, they say, in a fountain 2-feet high within a few feet of the inn. Tradition has it that even the horses would prick up their ears and break into a trot as they approached the inn with the fountain and the resting point it promised.

Retirement does not equal life in the slow lane for Fountain Inn residents.

Seniors in Fountain Inn have long found ample opportunities at the Fountain Inn Activities Center, but a new program opens the door to those who have been unable to participate due to a lack of transportation.

Senior Action’s lunch program has long provided a meal for seniors, but Kathy Russ, director of people and programs for Senior Action, said a natural partnership will pool resources to make life even better for those she serves.

With one year on the job and experience in every sport and program offered under his belt, Fountain Inn Recreation Department Director Chris Barrineau feels more prepared than ever to accomplish his professional goal.

“Our mission is to create community through people, parks and programs,” Barrineau said. “We want to bring people together. I think recreation is the No. 1 way to bring a community together, to break down the barriers that are out there – social, economic, racial or anything. Sports always have an ability to break those things down. That’s what we want. We want to create a better community here.”

Cindy Mixon is one of Fountain Inn’s newest residents, but she is busy recruiting others for downtown, small-city life.

Whether their families have called it home for generations or they just moved to a historic house in town, Fountain Inn’s residents and business owners find themselves part of a family that prides itself on both tradition and progress.

Mixon came to Fountain Inn by way of the stage.

“I really came via The Center for Visual and Performing Arts and the theatre company, FIRE,” she said. “A friend of mine, Anita Sleeman, is the artistic director.”

Geography:
Region: Upstate, Piedmont
Counties: Greenville, Laurens
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time

Climate:
Annual average temperature:
60 degrees Fahrenheit
Summer average temperature:
77.4 degrees Fahrenheit
Winter average temperature:
42 degrees Fahrenheit
Annual precipitation: 51.27 inches

Though the past year has seen a world battling economic crisis. Fountain Inn has retained its appeal for new businesses and has bright hopes for the future.

With a growing city identity. Fountain Inn is positioned to recruit new business and industry as the economic tide turns.

“We are getting more people talking to us and looking at us than ever,” Fountain Inn’s Economic Development and Civic Center Director Van Broad said. “We’ve been recruiting businesses and restaurants. Several new restaurants have opened here recently:  Sweet Catherine's, Depot Street Cafe and Desserts, The Railhouse, El Jalisco Mexican restaurant and, coming March '12 will be J Peters Grill & Bar, the 5th J Peters restaurant opened, per owner Jon Angell  .”