One Tank Trip: See every swan species at this South Carolina park

SUMTER, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - It may not look like it outside, but spring is near.

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy the spring weather, we may have found it for this week’s One Tank Trip.

“If you want to wind down, this is the place to be,” said Nathaniel Spann, park visitor.

People coming to Swan Lake Iris Gardens can see hundreds of different species.

“It’s a great place right in the middle of town. You wouldn’t think there would be so much diversity at a park in the middle of town,” said Brock McDaniel, Horticulturalist, City of Sumter.

Before the city owned this park, it was a private fishing pond and sanctuary.

A businessman tried planting Japanese Iris in his garden, but they didn’t grow, so he tossed them in the lake.

The next spring, iris started growing on the shore. That explains the “Iris Gardens” part of the name. Swan Lake? That’s pretty self-explanatory if you see it.

“It’s the home to all eight species of swan, so it’s one of the only three places in the world where you can see all eight species of swan,” McDaniel said.

“It’s actually pretty amazing, and you get to see them and show the kids and they love just watching them swim and dive for whatever food they see in the water, it’s really awesome,” said Efrain Arce, park visitor.

What once was a private ion project is now a public park filled with life.

When the original owners deeded the land to the city, they made a condition that the park would always be free.

So if you’re interested in going, there is no charge.

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