BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) — After five years of shuttered doors, modular offices and court held in a former armory, Bamberg County kicked off a major renovation of its historic courthouse.

County leaders, judges and community members gathered Friday for a groundbreaking ceremony.

The project will restore the 1897 Romanesque-style building, which closed after it was deemed structurally unsafe.

Since then, court has been held in the former National Guard Armory — building without central heating and air and with limited space for staff and proceedings.

The renovation will be funded by Bamberg County and the South Carolina Rural County Courthouse Stabilization Fund. Bamberg County is the first applicant and recipient of money from that statewide fund.

Architect John Hansen of Craig Gaulden Davis, PBK, said the design will bring back the building’s original character.

He described the Romanesque style as mirroring “characteristics of Bamberg County and its citizens, such as resilience, strong economic and educational values, and perseverance.”

Mashburn Construction Executive Vice President Richard Kinard said his firm, which has restored the Laurens and Clarendon County courthouses and the Newberry Opera House, is “committed to being good stewards of the dollars spent on this project.”

Originally located in the center of Bamberg, the courthouse was moved in 1950 to its current site on Main Highway. The building was expanded at that time, but has seen no significant restoration in the 76 years since.

Those decades of deferred maintenance led to hazardous structural problems, forcing county leaders to close the building and relocate court operations. Staff have worked out of modular units, and proceedings have taken place in a makeshift community center and warehouse.

County Administrator Joey Preston called the groundbreaking “a long time coming” after years of literal and figurative storms.

Plus, he said: “As lovely as they are, pigeons will no longer be allowed to wreak havoc in the Bamberg County Historic Courthouse’s attic.”

BAMBERG, S.C. (WJBF) – On this episode of Your Hometown Roadtrip, the team visited Bamberg for the first time. We headed to Monarch Ranch Butterfly Conservatory to find out what people can expect when they visit.

What is this place all about?

“We are in Bamberg, S.C. at Monarch Ranch Butterfly Conservatory, we are sitting in front of the gardens right now and hoping to take a good look at some butterflies, and tell you about what we do,” said Owner, Katey Reid.

What to people do when they come out here?

“We offer field trips, educational tours, self guided garden visits, we do landscape design and installations, we offer photography sessions, we also have Santa coming this Winter, so that’s really exciting, and we also do private garden tea parties.”

How long have you been here?

“We have been here since October of 2021, but we didn’t start doing the field trips and everything unit about 2023, so we were still in a building process, getting the gardens established, doing little things to kind of build our name, so we’ve been out here a couple of years now,” said Lead Landscape Designer, Sean Reid.

What lead you to doing this kind of thing?

“I’m a landscape designer, I have a huge background in gardening, and in landscape, and there’s no rhyme or rhythm that brought us out here. We were in the market to look for a home, before we even found the home, we took one of those big cardboard pieces that you make your science projects on and we made this theme park called Monarch Ranch, and we found the place after that, bought it, and started cultivating it, and as times gone on things have evolved, things have changed, we’re making things better, we’re learning new things on how to make it better, so that’s just kind of how it started.”

So how does all of this work?

“Everything that you see is 100 percent natural, so we did not bring any of the butterflies here at all, we did not purchase them, bring them in from another place, what we did is we started to plant host plants. Host plants are plants that are necessary for a specific species. So, a Monarch needs milkweed right? Black Swallow Tail is going to need hemlock or golden alexander or parsley. So, we started planting those things and within the next three to five years, what’s going to happen is you’re going to start seeing these species arrive, and butterflies have this thing where they pass down ancestral knowledge and its almost like the eggs are already programed. So, as they go through their life they hatch, they eat, they go in to the chrysalis, then they close, and they turn in to a butterfly. They know where they are going. So, Monarch Ranch for example is on the radar, it’s programmed within certain bloodlines, and so every single year during migration in the spring and in the fall time, we get these huge flutters, or kaleidoscopes of butterflies that just make their way in, and we get to enjoy them for months, and that’s what we were trying to do, just increase the pollinators, and through caring for butterflies we’ve began caring for bees, and dragonflies, and different beetle species, you name it. When you start looking at everything, and as time goes on you get all these different bugs and creatures that come in different colors and different sizes, and some of them look just like another species. You got flies that mimic bees, you name it the kingdom is absolutely amazing, and just watching how these things unfold, and learning how this ecosystem works over time. You have a general idea but when you start studying the non phenomenon, and you start paying attention to nature and how it does things it just completely blows your mind.”

You guys both seem very passionate about this, where does that come from?

“I would say for him, it’s a lot of his personality is passion, passion, passion. He genuinely loves this, I love doing my role, he loves his role in it. Ever since I have known him, he loves plants, he’s loved the environment, and insects, no matter how small and insignificant they seem to others they are very important to him,” said Katey.

What is it about butterflies that make them stand out?

“For me, butterflies represent freedom and transformation, growth right? Life is all about going through hurdles obstacles and success and being able to continue to grow as a person. Butterflies to me they tell that story. You got to think about how difficult it is for a butterfly to make it to a butterfly. They’re so heavily hunted by birds, and wasps, and spiders that the amount that you see those are a miracle in and of themselves. So, they’re just a constant reminder of freedom, and the ability to transform and to be better,” said Sean.

How do people come out here? Do they have to set up tours?

“We schedule everything, everything is scheduled as a private reservation, whether you’re coming by yourself, with your family or with a homeschool group or even if you’re joining people that are going to be here on the same day. You can call to book, you can email, you can go on to the website, we have lots of different forms to fill out so you can pick what’s best for you,” said Katey.

What do you want people saying about this place once they leave?

“I want them to feel inspired, I want them to feel joy, I want them to feel peace, I want them to feel empowered, I want them to have knowledge that they wouldn’t know that they would acquire, and now they can take it out in to the world and maybe teach a neighbor who’s putting chemicals on their lawn. Say ‘hey man, we can work together on this, this is why this is important.’ So little things like that,” said Sean.

The Your Hometown Roadtrip team wants to thank the folks at Monarch Ranch Butterfly Conservatory for the amazing conversation.

The stretch of U.S. Highway 78 between Augusta and Charleston offers a scenic drive through rural South Carolina's Thoroughbred Country. While most travelers drive past the small towns that dot the highway on their way to either the coastal Lowcountry or Georgia, these outposts are worth visiting for the culinary culture of this often-overlooked region of the state. Bamberg, which sits right in the heart of this well-traveled corridor, is one such example. The town of nearly 3,000 residents, per World Population Review, may not look like much on the outside, but beneath the surface of the sun-drenched town is a place that's home to cozy diners reflecting its southern roots.

Before there was a town, Bamberg was a cypress swamp; but when the Charleston-Hamburg railroad arrived in 1832, the swamp began to be developed (via City of Bamberg). By 1860, the town of Bamberg had a population of 250 residents, and after the Civil War and subsequent reconstruction, the town began to grow into an important hub between Augusta (over 60 miles away) and Charleston (around 80 miles away). While Bamberg's growth has since slowed, the town still holds onto its southern charm through its friendly people, and especially through its restaurants.

The country buffet and slaw dogs of Bamberg

Being situated on one of the major routes between two culturally important cities, Bamberg has become a place where travelers can stop for a comforting meal. Southern cuisine is well represented here, and most of the town's restaurants are located along U.S. 78, or U.S. Highway 301, known locally as Main Highway. One of the town's most highly rated restaurants is Rusty-N-Paula's, a family restaurant that features a country buffet with dishes like golden fried chicken, seasoned cabbage, and macaroni and cheese. "Totally worth driving 2 hours for," one reviewer wrote on Google, praising the "tenderness of the meat" and calling out their fried chicken.

Just north of Rusty-N-Paula's on Main Highway is an outpost of a local chain, Little Howie's. Originally opened in Georgia before coming to Barnwell, South Carolina, in 2009, Little Howie's expanded into Bamberg soon after. The restaurant, housed in a small wooden building and affectionately known as the "Big Chick", per another Google review, has something for everyone, from burgers and sandwiches to hamburger steak topped with onions and gravy, and slaw dogs, which are hot dogs topped with coleslaw. The prices are affordable, and the reviews are positive. "You get a lot for the price," a reviewer noted on Google, adding that they particularly enjoyed the grilled chicken tenders. Other well-known restaurants within the town include Dukes, which serves up mustard-based South Carolina-style barbecue, and Cliff's, a seafood restaurant that's famous for its secret sauce.

Bamberg's southern nature and charm

Bamberg's southern charm is evident in its downtown area. Downtown Bamberg is like any other you would expect to see in a South Carolina small town, with the quiet roads lined by historic buildings that have existed for decades. At the heart of the downtown area is Bamberg Veterans Park, framed by palm trees and a small amphitheater that serves as a gathering space for the community. While most of the historic buildings along Main Street are boarded up, the area is far from abandoned. There are still local shops and businesses that continue to bring life to these old structures, reflecting the town's resilience and its sense of history.

Outside of town, residents enjoy the peaceful nature of South Carolina's rural Thoroughbred Country, a region that contains eccentric and creative destinations such as Aiken, near Augusta. Just north of town is the South Fork Edisto River, with a boat ramp located just off of Main Highway that provides access for boating or kayaking. 17 miles to the west lies Barnwell State Park, a 307-acre park that is one of only 16 Great Depression-era parks within the state that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The park has trails, freshwater fishing, and a swimming area that's open during the summer months.

After trying the restaurants and exploring the small-town vibe of Bamberg, you can travel to the coast and experience the restaurants of Bluffton, which sits west of Hilton Head Island and is one of the state's underrated foodie towns. Alternatively, if you want to visit one of South Carolina's "crown jewels," take a trip to Lake Murray, a 50,000 acre lake with fishing and lake view eateries.