News & Events
Harris Springs Preserve Receives National Spotlight
The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce was excited to learn this week that one of its members has been recognized for a prestigious national honor.
Orvis, a pioneer in the mail order business in the United States, has named Harris Springs Sportsman’s Preserve in Waterloo as its Wingshooting Lodge of the Year.
According to their press release, Orvis annually grants the lodge of the year award "to the wingshooting facility that offers not just the best bird hunting in North America, but also offers outstanding attention to guests’ needs."
Orvis describes Harris Springs as "tucked away in the gently rolling Piedmont hills of South Carolina" and goes on to say that it "captures the very spirit of the southern hunting tradition. The lodge is replete with groves of natural hardwoods, red oaks and southern pine, which embrace acres of fields gone fallow or ripe with crops."
"We are pleased that Orvis has recognized the quality outdoor experiences we have available here in Laurens County," said Rob Clapper, president and CEO of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. "The award brings national attention to our community’s unparalleled amenities, as well as, showcasing the hard work of the entire staff at Harris Springs."
The Orvis honor keeps Laurens County in the spotlight following two recent articles in national publications. The City of Laurens was featured in late March in Where To Retire magazine. That attention was quickly followed by Laurens being named to the Top 10 Small Towns in the South that Deserve a Second Look by Southern Business and Development magazine.
The recent popularity is a boost to the chamber’s tourism promotion campaign that continues to take shape since the inception of the chamber’s tourism committee in early 2007. "There’s nothing better than to have one of your biggest tourism destinations named one of the best in the nation," said Jonathan Irick, director of Main Street Laurens and co-chairman of the chamber’s tourism committee. "This gives us a great opportunity to sell the county to new and repeat visitors."
The Orvis Company has been recognizing excellence in sporting experiences through its Endorsed Lodges Outfitters and Guides program for more than twenty years. Each endorsed operation has its own character, but all share the same high standards: great service, great hunting, and an experienced, professional staff. These standards of excellence are continually reviewed by the Orvis staff and evaluated by visiting guests in post-visit critiques sent directly to The Orvis Company according to their press release.
