Buying a new home is a big deal. For many homeowners, it's one of the most important decisions they ever make. When it comes to such a substantial choice, there are a lot of factors to consider, like:
Getting the answers to those questions can be hard but finding a trustworthy manufactured home company can be even more challenging. Sure, you could settle for a fly-by-night company or a shady mobile home dealer. But if you're like most folks, you want to work with a reliable company that has been in business for years. You need a team of professionals who can answer your questions, address your concerns, and sell you a quality home that will keep your family safe and sound.
Welcome to Ken-Co Homes Inc. - your premier choice for mobile home sales in Dalzell, SC. Ken-Co Homes has been Lake City's go-to manufactured home since 1974. With several locations in South Carolina, we're the first choice for manufactured homes in the state. As longtime locals in the community, we pride ourselves on honesty, hard work, and running a manufactured home business that you can count on.
There's no secret sauce that makes Ken-Co Homes successful. We work hard, sell the finest Clayton, Destiny, Scotbilt, Homes, and treat our customers like we would like to be treated. That's why, when you meet our team for your home tour, you'll be treated with respect and greeted with a warm smile. Whether you have questions regarding financing or the fit and finish of a floorplan, we'll maintain that same level of kindness, courtesy, and honesty. That way, you know for sure that you have invested in a top-notch manufactured home that your family will love.
Unlike other manufactured home dealers, we have a full selection of Clayton Homes for sale with attractive floor plans to fit your unique lifestyle. When you choose Ken-Co Homes, you're also choosing:
We offer our valued customers a $500 guarantee that we will meet or beat ANY competitor who has a lower price on one of our homes with the same options. Don't believe us? Contact our office today!
With decades of combined experience, our team has the tools and know-how to make your buying process smooth and stress-free.
Buying a home can be challenging, especially with travel logistics and other factors at play. Our team can help answer any questions you have about buying a home and transporting it to a park or piece of private land.
When you buy from Ken-Co Homes, you're investing in a high-quality product that your family will love for years to come. With more than a dozen home choices, you're sure to find a new home that matches your lifestyle.
We'll work with you one-on-one to ensure you get the home of your dreams. If you have questions or concerns once you move in, give us a call - we're here to help.
We offer detail-oriented, experienced set-up crews that make living life in your new home easy and efficient.
At Ken-Co Homes, we offer flexible financing options to help make buying your dream home a reality.
Whether you're looking for a smaller two-bedroom manufactured home or a large, luxurious four-bedroom manufactured home, our friendly consultants are ready to help you build the home of your dreams.
"Is there a difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home?" is one of the most common questions we get online and in person. Today, many people use mobile home and manufactured home interchangeably. That's understandable because both types of homes share similar features and benefits for homeowners. However, understanding the minor differences can be valuable when searching for a new place to call home.
Unlike site-built homes, manufactured homes are built in a factory. Once completed, they're shipped to a specific location where the homeowner will live. The term "manufactured home" refers to any factory-built home constructed after June 15, 1976. That date is when the HUD or U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented guidelines centered around manufactured home construction.
HUD code requires manufactured homes to be constructed on a base frame with wheels with a minimum of 320 square feet.
Thanks to fast build times and lower material costs, manufactured homes for sale in Dalzell, SC is often more cost-effective for home buyers. Compared to traditional site-built homes, many manufactured homes can be up to 35% less than more traditional houses.
Any mobile homes built after June 15, 1976, are considered manufactured homes today, though many people use the term mobile home casually. In the past, these homes were used to travel and were more like the expensive RVs that people use today than true manufactured homes. Back then, mobile homes received a bad reputation due to poor build quality, but they've come a long way since that time. Today, mobile homes are safe, comfortable, and structurally sound, with many types of amenities and floor plans.
Manufactured homes are more popular in the U.S. than ever, and for good reason: prospective homeowners are looking for affordable, quality alternatives to traditional homes. That's especially true today, with inflation on the rise, necessitating more budget-friendly options for anyone who wants to put a roof over their heads.
If you're used to living in a traditional, site-built home, you may be wondering what the advantages are of buying a manufactured home. Here are just a few of the most common benefits of buying a manufactured home:
When you boil it down to the basics, buying a new home is all about the money. One of the most attractive reasons for buying a manufactured home is that they are often much less expensive than traditional site-built homes. Today, manufactured housing is considered a crucial part of the housing shortage solution and a viable option with inflation rising. According to statistics, the average square-foot cost of a site-built home is $107, while the average price is only $49 in a manufactured home. Whether you're sticking to a strict budget or your finances have changed due to poor economic conditions, going manufactured might be your best choice.
Owning a manufactured home gives the homeowner long-term living options. Because basic manufactured homes are usually very affordable, families with enough land can start with a small home and add additional units as their needs change. Manufactured homes are also great as starter homes, especially for families that plan on building a permanent structure on their land in the future. Though it could be logistically challenging, manufactured homes can also be moved to a different site if the initial one was on rented property.
Manufactured homes have received a bad rap over the last few decades. In reality, most manufactured homes are purpose-built for longevity with structural integrity. Every manufactured home built today is subject to the HUD code adopted in 1976. This code is the only federally-mandated code in existence. It was designed to ensure that manufactured homes meet strict standards regarding fire safety, structural design, energy efficiency, transportation to home sites, and overall construction. All manufactured homes sold in the U.S. have a permanent red seal to confirm they meet HUD standards.
When you buy a manufactured home, you may be able to move in faster than you would via traditional routes. Some manufactured homes are even move-in ready in less than 45 days. Compared to a traditional home, once a new manufactured home is built in the factory, buyers usually find that installation is a quick process. Once the manufactured home is delivered, utility work usually moves quickly, regardless of whether you're moving to a park or transporting your home to a piece of land. Before you know it, you're eating, sleeping, and enjoying life in your new manufactured home.
When asked about the pros and cons, many buyers cite energy efficiency as one of the most significant benefits of owning a manufactured home. In general, manufactured housing is more energy efficient than traditional because HUD mandates ensure that homes have high energy efficiency ratings.
These ratings are achieved through upgraded insulation installation, on-demand water heaters, and energy-efficient windows. These upgrades often make entire manufactured homes Energy Star certified. It's no surprise that manufactured homes are 27% more efficient than they used to be with other additions like energy-saving appliances in kitchens and bathrooms.
If you've ever lived in an apartment complex before, chances are you heard sounds and noises through your walls that you never wanted to hear. If you hate hearing your neighbors and despise thin walls, looking for mobile home sales in Dalzell, SC is a great idea. Why? Manufactured homes are typically built using separate modules, which reduces sound transference from room to room. When two or more modules are combined and insulated separately, buyers enjoy an even quieter, stronger home with less outside noise.
If there's one disappointing aspect of manufactured homes, the stigma seems to surround them. Yes, mobile homes from 30 or more years ago aren't exactly marvels of construction and deserve to be criticized. However, modern manufactured homes are cut from a different cloth and are often every bit as safe and luxurious as site-built homes.
Here are some of the most common (and annoying) mobile home myths debunked:
Modern manufactured homes are factory-built homes crafted with quality materials that meet comprehensive federal construction and safety standards. These standards, called the "HUD Code," outline how the homes must be built, including safety guidelines. For example, manufactured home builders must take strict measures to ensure their homes are resistant to wind. In terms of hurricanes and tornados, having such measures in place can prevent a tragedy from happening.
The bottom line is that manufactured homes are plenty safe and provide a quality product to people who want a lower-cost option over traditional housing.
One of the most repeated myths surrounding manufactured homes is that they are in poor shape and have an overall poor quality. Today, many manufactured homes are built with quality materials and care. It's not unusual to find a manufactured home with luxurious amenities and features lie state-of-the-art kitchens, high-end appliances, and chic open floor plans. At Ken-Co Homes, we can provide you with a complete list of available upgrades and amenities for you to enjoy in your new home.
Perhaps it's due to their popularity and lower prices, but we often hear that it's hard to find manufactured homes for sale. As seasoned home dealers, we can say this is categorically false. Whether you head over to Google and search for "mobile homes near me in Dalzell, SC," or simply head to Ken-Co Homes' website, you'll see plenty of homes to choose from. Contact our office today for a full list of our homes for sale!
When it comes to home prices in today's day and age, manufactured homes are among the most affordable options available.
That's because manufactured homes cost less to construct than site-built homes, with the average price costing $92K for new construction and $60K for a pre-owned manufactured home, according to recent data. The cost of a traditional home is much higher, with an average of $408K, according to Statista data from 2021. Even though manufactured home living costs change depending on the community, they're often much less expensive than their site-built cousins in the long run.
This myth parallels the stereotype that manufactured homes are cheap and poorly built. Unfortunately, many people still believe that living in a manufactured home community isn't safe. They think that the parks are run down and riddled with reprobates. In reality, many manufactured home parks mimic gated communities with 24-hour security and mandated quiet hours. Some manufactured home neighborhoods even offer community-wide amenities like spas and pools. If you're a fan of the gated community lifestyle but don't want to pay hundreds of thousands for a site-built home, a manufactured home community could be your best bet.
Are you giving serious thought to buying a manufactured home for sale in South Carolina? You're not alone - more than 365K people in the Palmetto State live in manufactured homes. At Ken-Co Homes Inc., we're not your average run-of-the-mill manufactured home dealer. We only do business with manufacturing partners committed to building top-quality products that our customers are proud to own.
If you're looking for modern amenities, energy-efficient appliances, unique floorplans, and homes constructed with quality materials, Ken-Co Homes is the company for you. Contact our office today to learn more about our beautiful Clayton homes for sale in Dalzell, SC.
Editor's note: This article and all of The Sumter Item's hurricane coverage is free as a public service. We believe having access to reliable, accurate and up-to-date local information before, during and after inclement weather is critical to the vitality and safety of the communities we serve and that money should not be a barrier to that access. We do, however, rely on paying subscribers to support our independently, family owned business. If you value the local news you're reading and are not a subscriber, please consider becoming one...
Editor's note: This article and all of The Sumter Item's hurricane coverage is free as a public service. We believe having access to reliable, accurate and up-to-date local information before, during and after inclement weather is critical to the vitality and safety of the communities we serve and that money should not be a barrier to that access. We do, however, rely on paying subscribers to support our independently, family owned business. If you value the local news you're reading and are not a subscriber, please consider becoming one today at http://theitem.com/subscribe. Sumter County power outages continued to fall by 5:40 p.m. Friday. At that time, 1,022 households in Sumter were without electricity. That is down more than 1,000 total since 3:45 p.m., when totals reached 2,072 homes without power. Clarendon County is in the worst scenario in the tri-county region with 1,594 households without electricity as of 5:40 p.m., according to totals from Duke Energy and regional electric cooperatives. 5:40 P.M.
HOUSEHOLD POWER OUTAGES BY COUNTY: Sumter: 1,022 Clarendon: 1,594 Lee: 808TOTAL: 3,424 * Areas served by BREC, Duke Energy and Santee Electric Cooperative. -----
Between 3:45 and 4:30 p.m., Sumter County households without power reduced by almost 500. Totals reported at 4:30 p.m. for Sumter were 1,580 households, down from 2,072 at 3:45 p.m., according to Duke Energy and Black River Electric Cooperative totals. 4:30 P.M. HOUSEHOLD POWER OUTAGES BY COUNTY: Sumter: 1,580 Clarendon: 1,740 Lee: 528TOTAL: 3,848 * Areas served by BREC, Duke Energy and Santee Electric Cooperative. 3:45 P.M. HOUSEHOLD POWER OUTAGES BY COUNTY: Sumter: 2,072 Clarendon: 1,353 Lee: 1,613 TOTAL: 5,038
* Areas served by BREC, Duke Energy and Santee Electric Cooperative. 3:00 P.M. HOUSEHOLD POWER OUTAGES BY COUNTY: Sumter: 1,757 Clarendon: 1,118 Lee: 804 TOTAL: 3,679 * Areas served by BREC, Duke Energy and Santee Electric Cooperative.
11:30 A.M. Black River Electric Cooperative was reporting about 441 households without power in Sumter County. BREC also reported another 27 households without power in Clarendon County. There were no outages reported in Lee County. BREC serves parts of four counties: Sumter, Kershaw, Lee and Clarendon.
BREC spokeswoman Brenda Chase said officials expect the worst effects from the storm to be between 3 and 6 p.m. today.
Duke Energy is reporting about 250 households without power in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties.
10 A.M. Black River Electric Cooperative was reporting about 105 households without power in its Sumter County coverage area, officials said. Outages were not necessarily in a defined area of Sumter, but spread throughout the county. BREC also reported at the time that another 23 households in Kershaw County were without power. BREC serves parts of four counties: Sumter, Kershaw, Lee and Clarendon.
“We are expecting the worst conditions after lunch,” BREC’s Brenda Chase said. “Our crews are ready to roll.”
Bruce Mills contributed to this article.
HOW TO REPORT AN OUTAGE: DUKE ENERGY CUSTOMERS Customers who experience an outage during a storm can report it the following ways: - Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device. - Use the Duke Energy mobile app — Download the Duke Energy App from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play. - Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). - Call the automated outage-reporting system, at: 800.POWERON (800) 769-3766.
Customer service specialists will be available to manage customer calls should the need arise, with additional corporate responders from across all Duke Energy jurisdictions available to assist as needed.
There is also an interactive outage map at https://www.duke-energy.com/outagemap where customers can find up-to-date information on power outages, including the total number of outages systemwide and estimated times of restoration.
Source: Duke Energy
BLACK RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CUSTOMERS In the event of a power outage, call Black River Electric Cooperative at (803) 469-8060 or after 5 p.m. or weekends call 1-844-431-BREC (2732).
When calling, please be prepared to provide us with the exact name as listed on your Black River account, your account number or your actual service location address along with a current working phone number. After power has been restored to your area, Black River employees may contact you to verify that your lights are back on.
Also, leaving your porch light on will help restoration crews verify that your power has been restored.
Source: Black River Electric Cooperative website
Dr. Nikkole StewartDirector of University Academic Advisingnstewart4@twu.edu940-898-4109Hometown: Born in Valdosta, GA at Moody Air Force Base into a military family, however, I consider my home Dalzell, SC where my parents are both retired.Education: B.A., Winthrop University; M.Ed., University of Georgia; Ed.D., Northeastern UniversityAbout Me: I have worked in academic advising more than 15 years. My exp...
Dr. Nikkole StewartDirector of University Academic Advisingnstewart4@twu.edu940-898-4109
Hometown: Born in Valdosta, GA at Moody Air Force Base into a military family, however, I consider my home Dalzell, SC where my parents are both retired.Education: B.A., Winthrop University; M.Ed., University of Georgia; Ed.D., Northeastern UniversityAbout Me: I have worked in academic advising more than 15 years. My experience includes both academic and career advising. I am a 3rd generation college student. My grandmother was a teacher and the first in my family to attend college. Right now I am into thrifting, trying new restaurants, and listening to podcasts. My favorite thing about TWU is that we are an institution whose primary focus is the education of women. Our motto, “Educate a Woman. Empower the world,” is a constant source of inspiration.
Dr. Jessica CampASB 309Associate Director of Academic Advisingjcamp@twu.edu940-898-4116
Hometown: Houston, TXEducation: Bachelor’s from University of Texas at Austin; two Master’s degrees from Texas Woman’s UniversityAbout Me: I have been working with students for over 10 years and enjoy helping them discover new paths. My hobbies include doing volunteer work, gardening, and spending time with my family and friends.
“Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered.” – Michelle Obama
Yesenia Martinez VelaSenior Academic Advisor and Retention Specialistprenursing@twu.edu
Hometown: I was born in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico. However, I was raised in Haltom City, TX for the majority of my childhood.Education: Bachelor’s in Mathematics, Texas Woman’s UniversityAbout Me: After graduation, I was a math and advisory teacher for grades 7-12. In my years as a teacher I found my passion to be an advocate for all first-generation and undocumented students. I love connecting with students and guiding them through milestones in which they are the first in their families to achieve. In my free time I love to create crafts and spend time with my family.
Robin ShawnCoordinator of College Academic AdvisingPre-Nursingrshawn@twu.edu
Hometown: The Colony, TexasEducation: B.B.A. in Computer Information Systems & M.B.A., Tarleton State UniversityAbout Me: I have worked in advising for almost ten years, first as an advisor in the College of Professional Education, then as a Coordinator of College Academic Advising. As a first generation student myself I understand some of the challenges our students can face. I enjoy spending time with my two girls and exploring new places. I believe Albert Einstein said it best when he said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow.”
Trinity DouglasAcademic Advisor I, Pre-Nursingprenursing@twu.edu
Wylijanna ColeCoordinator of Academic TransitionsAcademic Probation, Suspension Recovery, TWU Dual Credit StudentsBHL 228passprogram@twu.edu
Hometown: Dallas, TexasEducation: Bachelor’s in English, Texas Woman’s University; Master’s in Higher Education, Abilene Christian UniversityAbout Me: I work with students who are on academic probation and suspension, as well as high school students who are taking dual credit courses at TWU. In my free time, I enjoy reading, shopping, going to brunch and hanging out with friends.
Kim TaylorAssistant Director of Academic AdvisingUndecided, Exploring Majors, Special PopulationsWH 013Ektaylor15@twu.edu
Hometown: Ponder, TexasEducation: B.B.A. in Human Resource Management, Tarleton State UniversityAbout Me: I have worked in academic advising for over 10 years. Seven years as a first-year advisor in the College of Health Sciences here at TWU and the last six years as a Coordinator of College Academic Advising. I was a transfer student in school, doing my first two years at a community college before finishing up at Tarleton. One of my favorite quotes is, “Always remember that you are absolutely unique; just like everyone else.”– Margaret Mead. I enjoy spending time with family, friends, outdoor activities and traveling.
John ThompsonSenior Academic Advisor and Retention SpecialistUndecided, Exploring Majors, Special PopulationsPCSE 225jthompson34@twu.edu
The holiday season is a time for gathering, celebrating, relaxing and enjoying the company of loved ones. However, we also are in viral respiratory season as both influenza and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) are surging with COVID-19 continuing in the background. It remains important to practice proven safety measures this holiday season to protect the most vulnerable among us: the youngest and the oldest.We are nearly three years into COVID-19 and recognize that masking, washing hands and socially distancing remain effective measu...
The holiday season is a time for gathering, celebrating, relaxing and enjoying the company of loved ones. However, we also are in viral respiratory season as both influenza and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) are surging with COVID-19 continuing in the background. It remains important to practice proven safety measures this holiday season to protect the most vulnerable among us: the youngest and the oldest.
We are nearly three years into COVID-19 and recognize that masking, washing hands and socially distancing remain effective measures against the spread of these and other common respiratory viruses. Once sneezed or coughed out, the virus particles have to settle somewhere. This is why cleaning surfaces, covering coughs and washing hands often are keys to safe gatherings. Masks are not generally recommended at family gatherings but may be considered when around severely immune compromised folks. This helps to protect them from the wearer.
RSV in particular is especially problematic for newborns, young children and the elderly who are most at-risk to catching the virus and developing complications. At ECU Health, we saw our current RSV surge starting in June and it did not take long for children’s hospitals and pediatric clinics across the country to experience consistently high volumes of young patients needing care. Just about everyone at the family gathering loves to hold and play with the newest members of the family, so please take care in touching newborns to help prevent any possible spread of RSV. Rather than kiss them, smile so they can know they are loved.
It is also important to protect yourself as well as remember the importance of protecting elderly or immuno-compromised members of your family. Getting vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 remains the cornerstone for this. These vaccines make it harder for the virus to infect you, and if you get infected, the disease is milder and clears more quickly, which also means less spread in the family. Both vaccines take about 2 weeks to provide effective protection, so the earlier the better.
Having a safe and joyful holiday season means protecting the health and well-being of those we love most, including ourselves. When the Scriptures tell us it is better to give than to receive, this does not apply to viruses. Do your part to ensure respiratory viruses are not an unwelcome guest at your family gatherings.
Dr. William Dalzell is medical director of infection prevention at Maynard Children’s and clinical professor and division chief of pediatric infectious disease at the Brody School of Medicine.
247Sports Embed ResourceDot LoaderJoshua Simon came to camps, went on visits and did the whole recruiting thing at South Carolina while Will Muschamp’s staff was in place.At the time, the Dalzell, S.C. native, was a student at Crestwood High School, where he mostly played wide receiver and defensive back as a junior. During his senior year, he lined up at tight end, quarterback and still played a good bit at defe...
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Joshua Simon came to camps, went on visits and did the whole recruiting thing at South Carolina while Will Muschamp’s staff was in place.
At the time, the Dalzell, S.C. native, was a student at Crestwood High School, where he mostly played wide receiver and defensive back as a junior. During his senior year, he lined up at tight end, quarterback and still played a good bit at defensive back.
Simon enrolled at Western Kentucky in January of 2019, and it didn’t take him long to make an impact. Fast-forward a few years: The 6-foot-4, 236-pound tight end is coming home.
South Carolina hosted him for an official visit before Christmas. He signed with the Gamecocks before suiting up one more time for Western Kentucky in the New Orleans Bowl last Wednesday night.
Simon caught only a couple of passes for 15 yards in the blowout win over South Alabama, but he’s been a productive player, catching 86 passes for 1,146 yards and 16 touchdowns over 40 career games.
TheBigSpur caught up with Simon before he exited campus last weekend, as he was going to meet the Hilltoppers in The Big Easy.
“Very welcoming – southern hospitality – there isn’t anything like it,” Simon said, referring to South Carolina. “Just ready to get to work. Power 5 school, SEC. They’ve got everything you need. All the resources are there. They accepted me into the program with welcoming arms, open, welcome arms.”
A lot stood out to him about the Gamecocks, though it kind of started before his visit actually began.
“The atmosphere, the things they’ve got going on with coach (Shane) Beamer, going with the team right now,” Simon said. “If you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it. They beat Clemson and Tennessee. You can see what’s going on. Just to come down and be a part of that, come back home to play football, it’s something I want to be a part of.”
Simon joins transfer tight ends Trey Knox (Arkansas) and Nick Elksnis (Florida) in South Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class. Connor Cox, Reid Mikeska and Kamron Sandlin also signed on Wednesday.
Tree tops and branches lay strewn across Sumter County in the fall of 1989, littering the landscape like broken matchsticks after one of the most powerful hurricanes in state history swept far inland from the coast.Mooney Player, a legendary ex-high school football coach, remembers it well. Hurricane Hugo leveled much of the forested land his family had owned for six generations, costing him money from lost timber sales and causing him to wonder what he would do with the land in the future.Player eventually settled on an idea t...
Tree tops and branches lay strewn across Sumter County in the fall of 1989, littering the landscape like broken matchsticks after one of the most powerful hurricanes in state history swept far inland from the coast.
Mooney Player, a legendary ex-high school football coach, remembers it well. Hurricane Hugo leveled much of the forested land his family had owned for six generations, costing him money from lost timber sales and causing him to wonder what he would do with the land in the future.
Player eventually settled on an idea that he never regretted. With the help of an agricultural expert, he converted the battered land into a private quail preserve, where he could hunt the coveted game birds with his friends.
Now, more than 30 years later, the 91-year-old Player has sold the 774 acres for the public to hunt on. The $1.5 million sale to Quail Forever has been finalized, and preparations are underway for quail experts to manage the property, as Player has done.
On Wednesday, officials with Quail Forever and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources planned to formally recognize the land transfer, with a dedication event on the property in the Dalzell community near the Sumter-Lee county line east of Columbia.
The property, to be called the Bobwhite Hills Wildlife Area, is the first Quail Forever has acquired in the eastern United States. Public hunting is expected to start in the 2023-24 season. General public access also will be allowed, according to plans. The land is adjacent to a 2,000-acre public wildlife management area
Raleigh West, director of the S.C. Conservation Bank, said the sale by Player to Quail Forever will protect property so that it can continue to be managed for the popular but dwindling game bird. The Conservation Bank, a state agency, provided about $850,000 toward the purchase by Quail Forever.
”The bobwhite quail is an iconic game bird that even as populations declined, continued to bring together generations of sportsmen and women,” West said. “The acquisition of Bobwhite Hills represents not only an opportunity to grow the native quail populations, but also it sets a backdrop for continuing our state’s rich sporting traditions.”
The bobwhite quail, so named for its characteristic “Bob White” call, is found in many places, including the upper Midwest and the Southeast. Noticeable for white and dark stripes on its head, the brownish-gray bird can stand nearly 11 inches tall and weigh 6.3 ounces.
The birds have been hunted for decades. They provide not only a great sporting challenge, but a tasty meal for those who bag them.
Quail thrive in grasslands and fields between cleared farmland and deep woods, but much of their habitat has been lost through the years to suburban sprawl and more intensive farming practices. Predators, such as fire ants and hawks, also threaten quail populations.
In South Carolina, bobwhite quail populations have dropped substantially since 1979, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. The decline may have started sooner than that. Federal statistics show a 60% decline in quail population in the Southeast from the mid 1960s to the mid-1990s. Populations have rebounded slightly in recent years.
According to plans, the DNR will help manage the Player property with Quail Forever. That will involve keeping the proper habitat for quail so that the birds on Player’s former land will continue to sustain themselves. Wildlife managers also will limit the quail harvest to about 15% of the population at Bobwhite Hills, according to the DNR.
The key is preventing forested floors from becoming overgrown, and making sure open fields are maintained — both habitats that quail like. .
Player, one of the winningest coaches in state high school football history, said he sold the land because it was becoming harder to maintain and he had no family members available to take oversight of the property.
“There was not a sixth generation person to take over,’’ Player said. “There was nobody to pass it on to.’’
Player said, however, that West was helpful in putting the deal together, a move that allows for public access. Player said the preserve at one time “probably had the best natural quail’’ around.
State wildlife officials don’t dispute that.
“The beauty of this property is it is not going to require a lot work to get it going,’’ said Michael Hook, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ small game program chief. “This one is already there. You sort of jump in and go.’’
Player’s efforts to maintain a bobwhite quail preserve should come as no surprise to those who know Player as a football coach.
An intense and colorful character who once told a team manager to call the Air Force to complain about jets flying over his team’s practice field, Player won five state championships from 1957-1972. He coached at Newberry, Saluda and Lower Richland high schools. He won more than 150 games . He is a member of the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame.
During his tenure, he was known for innovative offenses, crisp practices, inspirational speeches and the slogan “Can’t Beat the Creek,” a reference to Lower Richland. While at Lower Richland, he lobbied to change the school’s mascot from a hornet to a diamond, thus today’s nickname “Diamond Hornets,’’ according to a 2010 story by The State’s Ron Morris.
Player, who grew up in Barnwell County, left Lower Richland in 1972, eventually seeking the vacant University of South Carolina football coaching job in late 1974. Bumper stickers around town called for USC to hire Player. But the university picked Texas Tech coach Jim Carlen, and Player never coached again.
Player said he began to hunt more often after leaving football — but only then.
““It was always football first, and I hunted a little bit after football season and after school in the afternoons,’’ he said.
Now, the public will benefit from his post-football hunting passion — and having the opportunity to maintain the land for quail will help in the fight to sustain populations of the bird, according to the DNR and Pheasants Forever, the parent organization for Quail Forever.
“For several years, coach Player searched for an entity to maintain and improve upon the conservation work he has completed, while perhaps expanding opportunities for future South Carolinians to experience a wild quail hunt,’’ the DNR and Quail Forever said in a statement, noting that the Quail organization was glad to help.
This story was originally published November 2, 2022, 7:30 AM.