How to Visit Carhartt Mansion Ruins in Rock Hill

Carhartt Mansion Ruins in Rock Hill. Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

If you like your hikes with a side of old ruins, then you’ll want to set out for the Carhartt Mansion Ruins in Rock Hill, South Carolina. With just a very short and easy walk you can get to the site of the mansion of Hamilton Carhartt, founder of the Carhartt clothing line, on a hill above the Catawba River.

This once opulent mansion has been dismantled and reclaimed by nature, but you can still explore the remains, including walls and steps made of brick and stone. You can see the basement, the chimney and ruins of the guest house.

Read on to learn about the history of the Carhartt Mansion, how to get there, when to go, and many photos.

We’ve previously written about several hikes where you can see ruins, including:

Check out this list of 50+ walks and hikes near Charlotte!

What are the Carhartt Mansion Ruins?

Hamilton Carhartt founded Hamilton Carhartt & Company in 1889 in Detroit. In the beginning the company produced overalls for railroad workers, on just two sewing machines. The business grew to include mills in South Carolina and Georgia.

He bought 1,100 acres of land in Rock Hill, and built a mansion on it. He ran a dairy farm and vineyard, and bred Arabian horses on the property.

He sold this property during the recession in the 1920s, and the land changed hands several times and was eventually abandoned. The mansion was dismantled in the 1950s. Thereafter, it further disintegrated, leaving just the ruins. Learn more at Historic Rock Hill’s website.

Meanwhile, Hamilton Carhartt and his wife died in an automobile accident in 1937, but he didn’t own the property at that point. Some accounts imply that his death was a factor in the mansion being abandoned. That doesn’t seem to be the case, although it makes a more dramatic story.

How to get to the Carhartt Mansion Ruins?

The easiest way to get to the ruins is to park at the Rock Hill Criterium Course, 1307 Riverwalk Parkway, Rock Hill, South Carolina. Walk up a little hill. There will be a paved area, which you cross to get to a gravel trail. Take a very sharp left to stay on the trail.

Path to Carhartt Mansion Ruins in Rock Hill. Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

You’ll get to the tree line. Take the path between the trees and walk straight ahead. Now, just be on the lookout for the ruins. If you go this way, it’s about a half mile each way and a very easy walk.

When to go to the Carhartt Mansion Ruins?

Go in the winter, when the ruins aren’t obscured with foliage. Also, if you want to be tromping around the ruins, you don’t want to be surprised by a snake, so go before that becomes a concern.

Also, very important, you don’t want to go when there is an event at the Rock Hill Criterium Course or the Rock Hill BMX Supercross Track. You’ll literally be walking across the Criterium Course to get to the gravel trail, so, obviously, if there’s something going on, you’ll have a little trouble with this. Also, you might not find parking.

These are mountain biking trails, so keep in mind that any time of year you might need to share space with those on two wheels.