Located in Great Falls, SC, the Nitrolee Access area opened in 2023. This park, with restroom facilities and safe parking, was our meeting spot for a battlefield tour, and was a great rendezvous point for the adventures of the day.
Duke Energy planned to build a hydroelectric plant at Great Falls, and use the excess power to operate an electric arc plant to manufacture calcium nitrate fertilizer. The plant was intended to replace imports of sodium nitrate from Chile.
Source: Nitrolee History of failed electro-chemical Plant
The plant was never completed. A new, less expensive, less-volatile, much safer process was developed, and this venture never got off the ground.
New Life
In addition to the historical significance and natural beauty of the site, it has is also been developed for kayaking access. There is even a whitewater channel for experienced kayakers.
The Arc Building
The building is a short walk up from the parking area, and well worth it. There are great storyboards throughout, describing what existed here in the distant past.
The place was so interesting and picturesque, there was even a band doing a photo shoot. Check out Soul Creek Revival, it was nice chatting history and music with these personable and talented young men. Good gig poster!!
Resources
There is a great, in-depth Roots and Recall article on the Nitrolee plant here, with detailed locations and history.
Article on the role of Duke Energy, with whitewater details and future plans, here.
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