Friends of Ridge Spring

The Friends of Ridge Spring "F.O.R.S."  began as the last grocery store in Ridge Spring closed in 2002.  Danny and Trish Strickland, Broadus and Lona Johnson, and Joe Cal and Betty Watson were merchants and saw the need to try to pull together the remaining merchants to begin advertising the town.  They formed the Merchants Association of Ridge Spring.  There were others interested in Ridge Spring but were not merchants thus the change in name.  Jimmy Gillian as mayor and Teresa Horne were on the ground floor. 

Here are some of the many ways that FORS works in direct support of the community:

  • FORS manages the Ridge Spring Harvest Festival Bingo night;
  • FORS was instrumental in getting the Ridge Spring Library off the ground;
  • Supports the Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale, a 44 mile long yard sale; 
  • Saluda County Farmers' Market in Ridge Spring on Town square now in it's eighth year and continues to grow;
  • FORS helps give out Fresh Produce Vouchers for people over 60 in Saluda County;
  • Began the Ridge Spring News eight years ago in three local weekly newspapers;
  • FORS launched and continues to support tourism marketing materials such as the Ridge Spring Rack Card, the Ridge Spring Town Flyer and the town Web Site;
  • FORS has hosted tours of Ridge Spring;
  • FORS has become the operative part of helping the town apply and receive vital grant money to keep these town projects running.  This year FORS has successfully received grant money from the Saluda County Council ATAX.

We continue to look for ways to promote our town and support business growth.  We meet once a month at the Ridge Spring Library to discuss ideas and upcoming events, promotion strategies, and fundraising strategies.  We welcome you to join us!