Question: I visited Sassafras last week and they were seeding grass. Any word on opening date?

Answer: This is one of several emails and comments I've seen from readers looking for an update on the long-awaited project atop the Pickens County peak.

My Greenville News colleagues have been covering this project since before I started working here and I've written about it in recent months.

The last we'd heard in September was that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was hopeful the overlook would open around Thanksgiving. At the time, we reported the potential opening was an estimate and it was dependent on weather.

The tower did not open by Thanksgiving, but we now have an official grand opening date.

Tom Swayngham, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wildlife director, said there will be a grand opening event on April 22 and the public will be invited to attend.

Sassafras Mountain is South Carolina's highest point at more than 3,500 feet.

Its summit has long been accessible primarily to foot traffic via the Foothills Trail, but the new 360-degree observation tower, which is vehicle-accessible, will give visitors arriving by car and those with disabilities access to a brand-new view atop the mountain that straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina border.

The project will include a 500-foot access trail from the parking lot. The trail will meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. It will also include a pavilion with restrooms as well as a picnic area and additional trails.

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