$60 million luxury hotel plan faces backlash from folks in this SC mountain community. Here’s why

A petition opposing a proposal to build a $60 million hotel on Paris Mountain associated with Marriott Hotels has garnered more than 4,000 signatures in a few days, with many people lamenting the changes it would bring to Travelers Rest and the surrounding mountain area.

The Divine Group of Greenville wants to build a 150-room hotel called the Inn at Altamont. The plans called for a ballroom and event lawn for large events, farm-to-table dining, a resort-style pool and spa, and upscale bars.

Altamont is the name of the road that leads from Greenville to Paris Mountain and beyond, a curvy thoroughfare that many bicyclists use for training.

The company has not yet filed its request to annex and rezone the 40 acre site into the city of Travelers Rest. They expect to in March. A public hearing will be required as well as approval by the city’s Planning Commission before going to Travelers Rest City Council.

The petition on change.org is addressed to the Travelers Rest City Council and the developers.

“The proposed large-scale resort threatens to irreversibly change the very essence of what makes our town special,” the petition states. “Paris Mountain is more than just land — it is a treasured landmark rich in history, a place of peace and serenity, and an escape for residents and visitors alike.”

The petition says the area is a place for families and outdoor enthusiasts who have shaped Travelers Rest’s identity. The petition also cites Eugenia Duke, who sold sandwiches to soldiers on Paris Mountain before starting her iconic company making Duke’s Mayonnaise.

“Bringing a corporate-backed resort to this sacred space will not only disrupt the landscape but will alter the town’s identity and character,” the petition says. “A development of this magnitude will increase traffic, raise property costs, and push out the small, locally owned businesses that make Travelers Rest unique.”

Casey Cooperman, who started the petition, said people are also concerned about drivers leaving wedding receptions and other events after drinking alcohol and driving on the mountain road.

“At night, you can see all the stars. No lights,” she said.

Lights from the hotel would change that.

Paris Mountain is a natural landmark, a beacon., she said.

When she started the petition, she hoped for 200 signatures. To see the response in just a few days has been encouraging.

The development, she said, looks amazing.

“I would love to go there. I just think it doesn’t belong there,” she said.

A woman on the change.org site said, “As someone who has lived in TR for 30 years, I can absolutely appreciate some of the positive changes that come alongside growth. But this is quite frankly despicable.”

Krut Patel, chief executive officer of Divine, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.