Conestee Mill, located at 1 Spanco Drive in Conestee, Greenville County, South Carolina, is a historic textile mill complex with a rich industrial and environmental legacy.​

 Early Beginnings: The site has been industrially active since the 1790s, initially housing grist and sawmills. In the 1830s, Vardry McBee, known as the “Father of Greenville,” acquired the property and developed it into a multifaceted industrial hub, including paper, cotton, and woolen mills. ​

• Expansion and Renaming: By the late 19th century, the mill was known as the Reedy River Factory. Significant expansions occurred in the 1890s, including raising the rock dam around 1892 to create a 130-acre lake. In 1909, it was rechartered as Conestee Mills.
• Environmental Challenges: Throughout the 20th century, upstream industrial and municipal waste severely polluted the Reedy River and Conestee Lake. In 1925, Conestee Mills sued the City of Greenville over pollution damages. Although the mill eventually closed in 1939 due to prolonged litigation and the Great Depression, the 1931 South Carolina Supreme Court decision became a landmark case in environmental law.
• Later Years: The mill briefly reopened in 1946 but ceased operations permanently in 1971. Subsequently, the buildings served various purposes, including storage and as a rug warehouse. ​
•  Superfund Site: Decades of pollution led to Conestee Lake being designated a Superfund site due to toxic sediments containing heavy metals and other hazardous substances. ​

• Conestee Foundation: Established in 2000, this nonprofit organization spearheaded efforts to transform the contaminated site into a nature preserve. Utilizing settlement funds from a 1996 pipeline spill, the foundation purchased the lake and dam, leading to the creation of Lake Conestee Nature Park. ​
•  National Recognition: On March 2, 2014, Conestee Mill, along with its dam and residual lake, was added to the National Register of Historic Places, acknowledging its historical and environmental significance. ​
•  In recent years, initiatives have been underway to repurpose the Conestee Mill complex into a vibrant mixed-use development. Plans include residential units, retail spaces, restaurants, and direct access to the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail and Lake Conestee Nature Park. This transformation aims to honor the site’s historical roots while fostering community engagement and economic growth.