Preserve TR's smalltown charm, save Paris Mountain.

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đź’š Standing Together:
Groups Fighting for Paris Mountain

Tell City of Travelers Rest: No to annexation; no to the hotel

 

Want to get involved? Email us at: saveparismountain@gmail.com.

 

Your Voice Matters—Take Action Now.

 

Stop the MASSIVE Marriott Hotel coming to Paris Mountain, which is proposed at 150,000 sq. feet, with 150 rooms and event space for up to 2000 persons.

We need your help to protect Travelers Rest and Paris Mountain from this destructive Marriott development by the Divine Group. Say NO to the Inn at Altamont.

 

The Divine Group developers may paint a rosy picture of “growth” and “economic benefits,” but we see the truth—this project threatens Travelers Rest small-town charm, the environment, road safety, our tax dollars.

 

Paris Mountain, once Cherokee land, holds significant historical and archaeological value. The Cherokee were tasked with protecting the mountain, and much of their heritage remains hidden beneath the land within this environmental area.

 

Together, we can stop this!

Power in Numbers – Attend the Meetings!

Attend meetings in person to demonstrate a strong, visible presence of opposition and ensure your voice is heard:
We need to show up. Power is in numbers, and we need to pack the room at every meeting wearing red & our Save Paris Mountain swag. These decision-makers need to see that our community is united and serious about stopping this development.

Key “Red Shirt” Meetings to Attend are below.

Regular TR City Council Meetings
The Travelers Rest City Council meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 125 Trailblazer Drive, Travelers Rest, SC.  City Council meetings are open to the public and streamed live on the City’s YouTube Channel.

2025 TR City Council Meetings Schedule
Apr 17, May 15, June 18, Jul 17, Aug 21, Sept 18, Oct 16, Nov 20, Dec 18

TR Planning Commission Meeting

April 24 @ 6 pm

TR Planning & Development Committee Meetings
Council Committee meetings are held on the Monday of the week preceding the City Council meeting, beginning at 5:00 pm.  The Council Committee meetings are open to the public and can be viewed live on the City’s YouTube Channel.

2025 Planning & Development Committee Meeting Schedule:
May 5, Jun 9, Jul 7, Aug 11, Sept 8, Oct 6, Nov 10, Dec 8

To speak with the Council during the Public Comment portion of each City Council meeting, please complete the Citizen Participation form and return it to the Travelers Rest City Clerk at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.  Completed forms can be emailed to Carson Ruffrage, carson@travelersrestsc.com or mailed to Travelers Rest City Hall, 125 Trailblazer Drive, Travelers Rest, SC 29690.

 

Other Ways to Take Action:

  • Call & Email City Officials – Demand answers on who benefits from this project and who will pay for infrastructure upgrades. Scroll down to find all of their contact info below.
  • Sign the petition – https://chng.it/NhLJTbYytG – join over 9,000 neighbors who have already signed.
  • Donate to our Gofundme – https://gofund.me/7bb6f86b – It will take considerable dollars to fight this. We have already raised some money locally, but will need more help. If there are any remaining funds by the end of this fight, they will be put toward zoning reforms that will permanently protect Paris Mountain from development and preserve the small town spirit of Travelers Rest.
  • Spread the Word – Talk to your neighbors, share on social media, and encourage others to get involved. We specifically need local TR Residents to get involved and tell their elected officials NO to Annexing Paris Mountain and NO to the hotel. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more updates.
  • Wear Red at Public Meetings – Let’s be a unified front! Attend TR city council meetings and community gatherings wearing red & feel free to make signs! If you’d like to speak at meetings you must fill out this form on the city’s website and email to Carson Ruffrage (carson@travelersrestsc.com) at least 24 hours in advance.
  • Speak Up at Public Meetings – Tell city officials why this development is bad for TR, from your standpoint as a citizen. Stay polite but firm and use these key points:
    • Defend our forests, wildlife, and environment from destruction.
    • Preserve TR’s small-town charm and family-friendly atmosphere.
    • Stop adding more traffic to our already jam packed local roads.
    • Conserve tax dollars for community needs, not corporate profits.
    • Protect road safety and emergency response times.
    • Save our quality of life by stopping overdevelopment.

Don’t be fooled—this hotel isn’t for us, it’s for corporate profits. Let’s stand up for our town, our families, and our future! Together, we can protect Travelers Rest from this harmful development. Let’s stand up for our town, our families, and our future!

We need your help! Make your voice heard.

Email your TR representatives

Email the local TR representatives and let them know that you want them to oppose the annexation of Paris Mountain.

This is especially important for TR residents as their voices will carry more weight. If you are a TR resident, please make note of that in your email.

Click here to obtain emails for all TR council members

Here’s a sample email message for inspiration:

 

Subject: Protect Travelers Rest from Unnecessary Hotel Development

Dear TR City Council,

I’m writing to express my deep concerns regarding the proposed Marriott hotel development and annexation of Paris Mountain. As a member of this community, I feel it is critical that we protect what makes our town so special—our environment, our small-town charm, and the quality of life for our families and future generations that will inherit our decisions for our historic green spaces.

I believe this development will have far-reaching negative consequences. Specifically, I am concerned about:

  • Environmental Impact: The development threatens our local forests, wildlife, and green spaces on Paris Mountain, which are integral to our community’s character and way of life. We need to prioritize conservation efforts over corporate profits.
  • Preservation of our Small-Town Atmosphere: Travelers Rest is known for its family-friendly, small-town charm. This hotel development would undermine that by introducing overdevelopment that does not align with our values.
  • Infrastructure Strain: Our roads, emergency response times, and public services are already stretched thin. Adding more traffic and demand on our infrastructure would compromise the safety and quality of life for all residents.
  • Use of Tax Dollars: I’m also concerned about the financial burden this project places on our community. We should focus on developments that directly benefit TR residents, rather than projects that cater to external interests.

In light of these issues, I’d appreciate it if you could address the following questions:

  1. How will this project affect emergency response times and overall public safety?
  2. Who will bear the financial responsibility for infrastructure improvements such as road expansions, sewer upgrades, and traffic management?
  3. What protections will be put in place to safeguard our trees, wildlife, and natural spaces from the effects of this development and annexing MORE of Paris Mountain’s protected green spaces for development?
  4. Why are we prioritizing this project over others that might better serve the needs of our residents?

I urge you to consider these concerns and work to protect the values that make Travelers Rest a unique and vibrant place to live! I hope you will stand with residents to oppose this hotel development.

Thank you for your time and service to our community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Click here to obtain emails for all TR council members

Sign the Petition

Sign the petition and share it on social media after signing. Signing the petition amplifies your voice, demonstrates public support, and pressures decision-makers to take action. It’s a tangible step toward change, showing that the issue matters to the community.

Donate

Donate to the GoFundMe. It will take considerable dollars to fight this legally. We have already raised some money locally, but we need more help. If there are any remaining funds at the end of this fight, they will be put toward zoning reforms that will permanently protect Paris Mountain from development and preserve the small town spirit of Travelers Rest.

How to Use These Talking Points to Preserve Our Small Town and Save Paris Mountain 

As Travelers Rest and Greenville County neighbors, we need a strong, unified voice to protect our community from this unnecessary hotel development. If you agree and are eager to speak with developers, city officials, or at public meetings, use these key points to make our stance clear. Stay polite but firm, and emphasize how this project will negatively impact our town, our families, and our future.

Here’s How You Can Speak Up Effectively:

Stick to the Core Message – Developers may try to distract with promises of “growth” or “jobs,” but we must focus on what really matters:

  • Defend our forests, wildlife, and environment from irreversible damage.
  • Preserve TR’s small-town charm and family-friendly atmosphere.
  • Conserve tax dollars for community needs—not corporate profits.
  • Protect road safety and emergency response times from overburdened infrastructure.
  • Save our quality of life by stopping overdevelopment before it’s too late.

Ask Direct Questions – Hold officials accountable:

  • How will this affect emergency response times? 
  • Who pays for road expansions, sewer upgrades, and traffic control? (Hint: We do!)
  • What protections are in place for our trees, wildlife, and green spaces?
  • Why aren’t we prioritizing developments that truly benefit TR residents?

Show Up & Speak Up – Attend city meetings, email officials, and talk to neighbors. The more voices they hear, the stronger our impact.

Stay Unified & Consistent – If we all use these points, we send a clear message: This hotel is not welcome in TR.

Let’s protect what makes Travelers Rest special—our nature, our families, and our future. Say NO to a Marriott hotel development.

Together, we can help ensure Travelers Rest will remain SC’s coolest small town, by saving Paris Mountain!

News Coverage

You have questions We have answers

  • What is being proposed on Paris Mountain?

    A large-scale Marriott hotel development is being considered, which would include a 150-room hotel, a conference center & events space with parking for 2,000+ people, a rooftop bar, and other commercial facilities. This development would require rezoning Paris Mountain’s protected environmentally sensitive land and annexing it into the City of Travelers Rest for the purpose of removing the existing environmental protections.

  • Why is this development controversial?

    Paris Mountain is a protected natural landmark, zoned as an Environmentally Sensitive District (ESD). The project threatens local wildlife, historic preservation, water and power infrastructure, emergency services and public safety due to the mountain’s limited road access and fire risk.

  • Can the land be legally rezoned for commercial use?

    The current zoning prohibits such large-scale commercial development. However, developers are reportedly seeking annexation into Travelers Rest to bypass Greenville County’s zoning protections on the land.

  • What environmental concerns does this project raise?

    The proposed development would lead to the destruction of native plants and wildlife habitats, exponentially increase light and noise pollution, and significantly strain local water, sewer, and power infrastructure, along with already strained emergency services and fire districts.

  • How will this impact traffic and public safety?

    Paris Mountain has very limited road access, with a single steep, winding road that is not designed for heavy commercial traffic. Increased traffic from hotel guests, employees, and deliveries would make conditions more dangerous for residents, cyclists, and emergency responders.

  • What about waste management and utilities?

    Paris Mountain lacks sewer services, meaning waste management would require extensive infrastructure changes. Power and water resources are already limited, raising concerns about the project’s feasibility and its impact on existing residents.

  • Why not build the hotel elsewhere?

    Travelers Rest has ample undeveloped commercial land within its existing city limits, making it unnecessary to annex and rezone protected land on Paris Mountain.

  • How will this affect property values?

    The development could negatively impact property values for nearby homeowners, who moved to the area because of the preserved, low-density environment. It also threatens the natural beauty that makes the area attractive to residents and visitors alike.

  • What are the historical and cultural concerns?

    Paris Mountain, once Cherokee land, holds significant historical and archaeological value. The Cherokee were tasked with protecting the mountain, and much of their heritage remains hidden beneath the land within this environmentally protected area.

  • Who benefits from this project?

    The primary beneficiaries would be the hotel developers, select investors, and the City of Travelers Rest’s tax base. Meanwhile, local residents, taxpayers, environmental advocates, visitors to Paris Mountain, and future generations would bear the long-term costs of the slippery slope of annexing Mountain land and removing the environmental protections to clear the trees and develop commercial properties.

  • What happens if this development is approved?

    If allowed, the zoning change would set a precedent for further commercial development on Paris Mountain and other protected areas, leading to more large-scale projects that would permanently alter our cherished landscape and vanishing ecosystem.

  • How is Paris Mountain State Park zoned differently?

    Paris Mountain State Park is governed by state-level regulations focused on conservation and public recreation. In contrast, the areas of Paris Mountain outside the state park, particularly those off Altamont Road, fall under Greenville County’s zoning ordinances. A significant portion of this region is designated as the Environmentally Sensitive District – Paris Mountain (ESD-PM). These areas are subject to county zoning laws like the ESD-PM, which impose stricter controls on development to protect the mountain’s sensitive environment.

  • How can I stay informed?

    Follow updates from the Save Paris Mountain Facebook group and Instagram, attend city and county meetings, and stay engaged in community discussions to ensure your voice is heard.