HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
A Greek Revival plantation house built c.1832 near Camden, where the ghost of Dixie Boykin — a former owner who died under disputed circumstances — is said to appear in period clothing at gatherings held on the property.
726 Kershaw Hwy, Camden, SC 29020
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Private residence; no public admission. Drive-by exterior viewing only from Kershaw Hwy.
Access
Limited Access
Private property; exterior-only roadside view
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1832 · National Register of Historic Places (1989) · Notable Greek Revival architecture in Kershaw County · Boykin family plantation heritage
Cool Springs Plantation was established by John Boykin in 1832 on land in Kershaw County, outside Camden. The main house is a two-story Greek Revival structure on a raised brick basement, distinguished by a tiered portico and verandahs supported by 64 Doric columns — an unusually ambitious design for an inland Carolina plantation of the period. The house was remodeled in the 1850s, and the grounds include a separate kitchen addition from around 1935 as well as historic stables.
The property has been known by alternate names including Cedar Grove and Witherspoon at various points in its history. Ownership passed through numerous family lines — among them Blalock, Bonner, Chesnut, Cureton, Kirkland, and Miller — before entering its modern period. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Dixie Boykin, a later owner, became the source of the most persistent local story attached to the house. According to a blogger who wrote about Kershaw County ghost lore in 2012, Boykin died of a heart attack and was remembered as an enthusiastic entertainer and party host. One commenter with first-hand knowledge described him as someone who 'wore a tweed jacket, had long hair,' and was 'the ultimate party planner.' The official cause of death is not disputed in the documented record — the suspicious stepmother account in the scout spine appears to be a variant of oral tradition rather than a confirmed historical claim.
Sources
The ghost story at Cool Springs centers on Dixie Boykin, a 20th-century owner whose personality seems to have outlasted his death. By the account of people who knew him personally and left records in the 2012 blog thread, Boykin was a devoted entertainer — someone who organized parties, wore a tweed jacket and long hair, and was well-regarded in the local community. He died of a heart attack and slept in a room on the main floor toward the back of the house.
After his death, guests at events held on the property began reporting a man in early 1900s attire moving through the gathering before disappearing. Period music — compatible with Boykin's era — has also been reported. The tradition developed of leaving a glass of wine at parties as an offering to Dixie, reflecting both his fondness for it and the sense among visitors that he never entirely left.
The ghost here is not a figure of violence or grief but of hospitality, which makes it somewhat unusual in the South Carolina dark-tourism catalog. The story rests on a single regional blog and family oral tradition; no corroborating newspaper account or paranormal investigation report was located during research.
Notable Entities
Cool Springs Plantation sits along Kershaw Highway outside Camden and is visible from the road. The two-story Greek Revival house dates to c.1832 and is notable for its tiered portico supported by Doric columns. The property remains private; no interior access or formal tours are offered.
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