Paris Mountain State Park began with an innovative plan by the City of Greenville to protect a fragile mountain watershed while supplying the city with water, leading to the construction of four lakes between 1890 and 1905. In 1935, the watershed was turned over to the State of South Carolina, and men of the Civilian Conservation Corps soon built more than 50 structures there, many of which remain in use, including the park center and Camp Buckhorn. Officially opened on June 1, 1937, the 1,540-acre park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a valued retreat for surrounding suburban communities, offering biking and hiking trails, boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, educational opportunities, and camping.