03/22/09
Belfast Plantation is big, and its potential is vast.Six months after buying a portion of the 4,664-acre plantation on the Newberry-Laurens county line as a Heritage Trust site, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources still is trying to grasp what it can do with the property.Belfast officially opens to the public with turkey hunts next month, but it can be much more than a place to hunt, said Emily Cope, DNR’s assistant director for special projects.The plantation’s 18th-century house can be used for group meetings and educational events. A large pond could be used for youth fishing rodeos. The open fields would be ideal for archery competitions. The dirt roads and power lines could be perfect for hiking and bird watching.“With this property, we’re trying to broaden what people think of with DNR while staying within our mission,” Cope said.
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