Friends of Ridge Spring

The Friends of Ridge Spring also known as FORS began as the last grocery store in Ridge Spring closed nine years ago.  Danny and Trish Strickland, Broadus and Lona Johnson, and Joe Cal and Betty Watson were merchants and saw a need to try to pull together the remaining merchants to begin advertising the town.  They formed a Merchants Association of Ridge Spring.  There were others interested in Ridge Spring but were not merchants thus the change in the 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 its eighth year and continues to grow.
  •  FORS helps give out the Fresh Produce vouchers for the people over 60 in Saluda County. 
  •  Began the Ridge Spring News eight years ago in three local weekly papers.
  •  FORS launched and continues to support tourism marketing materials such as the Ridge Spring Rack Card, the Ridge Spring Town Flyer, the town web site.
  •  FORS has hosted tours of Ridge Spring.
  •  FORS has become an integral part of helping the town apply for and receive vital grant money to keep these 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, upcoming events, promotion strategies, and fundraising. We welcome you to join us.