Sitting down with Stephanie Thorn, THAT marketing manager
(800) 717-0023
VisitGreenvilleSC.com
What surprises visitors most about Greenville?
What they see when they arrive downtown. Not only do they see a quaint, tree-lined Main Street that is charming to meander, but they discover that we have a top 10 United States park complete with waterfalls (and a one-of-a-kind suspension bridge) right in the middle of downtown. The only other place I know of with something similar is Sioux Falls, but that’s all the way out in South Dakota — and their falls are a bit north of downtown.
What is some neat history about Greenville?
In the early 1800s, businessman Vardry McBee donated land for the City of Greenville’s first churches. These five churches (Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, Catholic and Presbyterian) were located in the downtown area. Legend has it that they were geographically built in the form of a cross — with one church at each point and one in the center.
What made you want to move to Greenville?
That’s a neat story, actually. Coben, my husband, and I were living in northern Florida, but were looking to move elsewhere. I wanted to stay in the South where it’s warm and sunny, but my West Virginia-raised husband missed the mountains. A friend randomly mentioned that she had heard of “Yeah, that Greenville” in South Carolina and thought it could be a good compromise. We drove north for a visit and never left. The funny thing is, that happens a lot around here!
What is Greenville’s proudest moment to-date in the public eye?
Kicking off 2016 by earning an 11-page feature article in National Geographic Traveler. With a readership of 9 million, we couldn’t be more excited! And, we were just named in Men’s Journal as one of the best places to live in 2016. They even called us “The sophisticated Southern gem everyone is flocking to.” Here’s to hoping Columbians will plan a visit soon, if they haven’t been here already!
