Fort Mill's Finest: Top 8 Eateries and Must-Do Attractions!

The Charlotte metro region is still expanding. More population, larger roadways, and shopping malls. But Fort Mill, which is located 25 minutes south of the Queen City, is still a tranquil haven with nearby eateries, retail stores, and entertainment venues. It’s the ideal location to spend an evening or a whole weekend getting away from the city and experiencing small town charm.

The town, which was established in 1873, has the name of a British border fort that guarded the Catawba Indians who lived there and was named after Webb’s Mill, one of the region’s first grist mills. When Samuel Elliot White established Spring Industries, one of the earliest textile businesses in the area that still operates today, Fort Mill found its destiny barely ten years later.

Find out what to do in Fort Mill, including outdoor activities, dining, and shopping.

Visit the Fort Mill History Museum

Visit the Fort Mill History Museum first before exploring the rest of the community. A charming two-story house with a covered front porch houses the small museum. Inside, historical artifacts, sepia photographs, and informational panels depict Fort Mill’s past.

Get Samples at the PuckerButt Pepper Company

Ed Currie received the Guinness World Records distinction for having the hottest chili in 2013. He gave it the name “Carolina Reaper,” which is the ideal moniker for a pepper with 1.64 million Scoville Heat Units.

The PuckerButt Pepper Company, a tiny store that Currie built in downtown Fort Mill, sells a variety of peppers, including the notorious Carolina Reaper. From floor to ceiling, wire metal shelves are loaded with jars of spicy sauces, marinades, and salsas. Visitors may try some of the goods—including Currie’s pepper—in a small sampling room before deciding to buy.

Grab Coffee at Olive’s Mud Puddle

For a long time, Debbie Whitsett searched Fort Mill for the ideal location to launch her clay pottery business. Olive’s Mud Puddle, which bears the name of the owner’s beloved pet duck, is the only location in town where people can take pottery courses, look at local artwork, and have a hot cup of coffee.

In addition to Whitsett’s own ceramics, the gallery showcases locally produced juried art. Periodic exhibit changes give visitors a cause to return time and time again. Of course, another reason to stop by the modest store on Main Street is the vibrant entertainment provided by neighborhood musicians and the cozy tables and chairs.

Catch a Show at the Fort Mill Community Playhouse

Spring for Sure was the first play performed in public in Fort Mill, and it was created in 1980 by Robert Reid, Steve McCrae, and several other locals. The enthusiastic response inspired the group to establish the Fort Mill Community Playhouse as a non-profit organization to stage shows all year round.

The local high school, a temporary circus tent in a park, and a modest downtown structure all hosted plays during the ensuing thirty years. The Honky Tonk Angels was a production that the non-profit brought to their present site in 2016.

The little theater, which is close to Main Street’s local shops and restaurants, hosts a number of plays, concerts, and shows every year.

Enjoy Downtown Dining

The hardest evenings of the week to get parking in downtown Fort Mill are Friday and Saturday. Not because of performances in the Community Playhouse’s theater or concerts. Rather, the food is to blame. Compared to neighbouring Rock Hill, Fort Mill is only a few streets long, but it houses four excellent eateries.

One of the earliest eateries to open in the city center was Local Dish. Most of the meals at the family-run restaurant, which serves “elevated southern cuisine,” are made using local products.

Due to its famous outside patio on the outskirts of downtown, Hobo’s is the restaurant that Fort Mill residents are most familiar with. The eatery, which has the greatest view of the railroad tracks in town, is named after individuals who board moving trains for free trips throughout the country. Tacos, hamburgers, and mixed beverages are all on their delicious and full menu.

The Improper Pig is the greatest barbecue joint in the area, or the place to start if you’ve never eaten real North Carolina BBQ. All the meats are smoked in-house, sauces are created from scratch, and only the best ingredients are presented with each meal at this Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives location, which was featured on an episode of the Food Network show.

Get a Drink at Amor Artis Brewing

Brothers Travis and Steve Tolson, who were both born in Fort Mill, South Carolina, initially led completely different lives. Before relocating to Alaska and then Asheville to work as a brewer and manager, Travis acquired a passion for brewing beer in his garage in Upstate New York. Steve, on the other hand, holds a master’s degree in biology from the Citadel and a degree in chemistry from Davidson College.

The brothers made the decision to establish their own company, Amor Artis Brewing, and go back to their birthplace in 2018. When visiting Fort Mill, you should stop by the lovely brewery with its exposed brick walls and dark wood tables to sip some regional craft beer.

Visit Kingsley Town Center

Kingsley Town Center debuted in 2018, according to a national trend of new commercial malls constructed to resemble bygone villages. The 626-acre residential and commercial hub was constructed on the site of a former textile company, and the enormous chimney there honors the past.

Although a few upscale stores have appeared in the retail locations, eating your heart out is the finest thing to do at Kingsley. Chain eateries include Brixx Wood Fired Pizza and Carolina Ale House. Owner and chief chef Scott Wallen employs the finest ingredients to provide delectable dishes for each visitor at Taco Molino.

Conclusion

The Comfort Inn® Fort Mill hotel is the most popular hotel in Fort Mill. Our hotel is within walking distance of the most popular attraction in the Carolinas, Carowinds Amusement Park. It is also near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which is only 14 miles away from our hotel. A few miles away from our hotel are Lake Wylie, Bank of America Stadium, and the Novant Health BMX Supercross Track.

So enjoy your best sleeping experience and feel at home with thoughtful amenities like a free hot breakfast, premium free Wi-Fi, a smoke-free environment, late check-out, and many more. We also welcome family dogs, but with an additional fee.