Clover and York West of Lake Wylie lies the small, historic town of Clover. Incorporated in 1887, Clover was the site of a 5,000-gallon water tank for steam engines along the railroad that passed through the town. It is believed that water spilled from the tank caused a clover patch to grow, which gave the town the name “Clover Patch.” With just over 4,000 residents, Clover maintains its downtown with quaint shops and restaurants. One of its landmarks is Courtney’s BBQ, which features Lexington-style barbecue and other down-home favorites like cole slaw, hush puppies, fried seafood and delicious desserts. Clover School District, which serves Clover and Lake Wylie, is recognized as one of the best districts in the state. As new families continue to flock to the area, the district is planning for new schools and enhancements to current schools. In June, Clover celebrates its Scotch heritage with the Clover Scottish Games, or Feis Chlobhair, which includes bagpipes, Scottish games and dancing. The rural area between the lake and U.S. 321, which runs through Clover and York, is quickly being swallowed up as development continues to move into the open land west of Lake Wylie. New communities such as Patrick Place off S.C. 557, Derby Downs off S.C. 5 and Hunters Place off S.C. 49 offer spacious new homes on large lots. South of Clover along U.S. 321, the city of York boasts a 264-acre historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places – one of the largest historic districts in South Carolina. Originally called Fergus Crossroads, it was established as the county seat in 1786. As the market center for western York County, it was considered the “Charleston of the Upstate.” In 1841, the city incorporated as “Yorkville.” Its historic district through Liberty, Madison, Kings Mountain, Jefferson and Congress streets is a step into the past with beautiful Victorian homes and tree-lined streets. With just 7,000 residents, York has seen recent change through the downtown revitalization program, which put an emphasis back toward the center of the city with enhancements to downtown, such as lighting and landscaping on Congress Street. One of the major factors sparking revitalization in downtown York is the Sylvia Theater, a century-old building once used as a movie theater that was recently renovated. Sylvia Theater brings bands, singer-songwriters and other musicians to entertain crowds. The theater also offers movies and local artists’ works on display. Part of the Culture & Heritage Museums of York County, the McCelvey Center on Jefferson Street is a 560-seat theater that is home to the Yorkville Players theater group and the Historical Center of York County. It also hosts the Showcase Series, which brings in performing artists from across the country. Featuring neo-Georgian architecture, the McCelvey Center was built in 1922. Another popular stop in York, the Garden Café on West Liberty Street serves up fresh sandwiches, soups and salads in a charming atmosphere. In August, the annual Summerfest brings more than 50,000 into downtown York for arts and craft vendors, car shows, a 5K race and kids’ activities. In the rural areas between Clover and York, you can find some of the finest produce in the Southeast. The Peach Tree in Filbert features 30 varieties of fresh-picked peaches, a wide assortment of local produce, and fresh bread and jellies in a variety of flavors. Especially popular during the summer months are its 32 varieties of ice cream and peach milkshakes. Open from August to December, Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill grows a variety of apples, including specialty and antique apples, and creates a range of apple-related products, from apple cider to apple butter to cider doughnuts. Visitors can tour the orchards through educational hayrides. Windy Hill also hosts an Apple Harvest Festival in October, with live entertainment, hayrides, a petting zoo and displays of how to make apple cider. The largest producer of perennials in the country is Stacy’s Greenhouses, off S.C. 161. In addition to its perennials, Stacy’s offers a huge variety of products, including annuals, pansies, cabbage and kale, and chrysanthemums. With 10 acres of greenhouses and three growing farms of over 300 acres, Stacy’s is a wholesale farm that sells to large chain stores like Home Depot, but it also offers a retail garden center on site. During the winter months, families flock to Penland Christmas Tree Farm on Campbell Road off S.C. 49 to select and cut their own Christmas trees. Penland also offers free hot cocoa and weekend hayrides for its guests.