‘Generous spirit’

Six Mile community honors local conservation advocate

• BY SAM WALTERS, THE JOURNAL

Pickens County resident and conservation advocate Dennis Chastain talks into a microphone during a presentation educating a class about the history of Six Mile.

SEAN SMITH | THE JOURNAL

SIX MILE — Residents and friends gathered at the Bryson Children’s Nature Walk in Six Mile on Wednesday for a remembrance of Pickens County resident and conservation advocate Dennis Chastain.

“Today, we gather to recognize a man whose steady work and generous spirit helped shape this beautiful place that families and children will enjoy for years to come,” Pickens County 250 Committee Chair Carolyn Nations said.

The event was chosen to be held at the Bryson Children’s Nature Walk, a 63-acre conservation easement outside of Six Mile. Through partnerships with conservation groups and Upstate residents, the land has undergone significant improvements including a children’s garden area, multiple trails and a large sign at the entrance of the property. More importantly, the conservation saw great personal contribution and growth at the hands of Chastain and his wife, Jane.

“Dennis and his wife spent an entire day identifying native plants on this tract,” Six Mile Mayor James Atkinson said. “Those native plants identified along the trail made the educational signage possible.”

Chastain, who died unexpectedly in his home on Nov. 21, 2025, at age 73, used his love for nature conservation and serving others to help donate towards the nature walk. Along with plant identification, he made many of the signs for the plants along the trails as well as trail instructions along its main path. His dedication for conservation went much further than just his impact at the nature walk.

“It would be impossible to overstate the impact that Dennis Chastain had on South Carolina,” Upstate Forever executive director Aldon Knight said. “A naturalist, historian, author and champion of the state’s mountains and green spaces, Dennis spent his life grateful for the natural world around him while thoughtfully helping others understand its wonder and the vital role it plays in the life of each of us.”

Chastain spent more than 40 years studying, writing about and advocating for the mountains and natural areas of South Carolina. A recognized author, he wrote feature articles for multiple outlets and magazines across the Upstate while giving frequent talks and lectures. Along with his writing, Chastain led frequent tours and field trips to show off his knowledge of the natural scenes and wildlife in the Upstate.

Discoveries on unrecorded wildflowers in Pickens County, as well as Native American rock carvings and historic roads in Pickens County and the surrounding region, came from the hands and feet of Chastain. He also served the community as the Blue Wall Vice President of the Pickens County Historical Society (PCHS), a member of the Pickens County 250 Committee and many other organizations.

“Nobody knows these mountains and this county better than Dennis,” PCHS president Wayne Kelly said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t miss his intelligence and depth of knowledge.”

Through his work, research and influence on Pickens County, Chastain was awarded with the Extraordinary Achievement Award by Upstate Forever at the 2019 ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon as well as the Historic Preservation Recognition Award by the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution (SCDAR) in 2013.

Chastain’s character, pursuit towards conservation and his love for nature are only a few things that were remembered by his wife and the guests at the remembrance ceremony. Mayor Atkinson presented a sign on the property, which acknowledged the work and dedication of Chastain towards the preservation, and members of the Fort Prince George Chapter of SCDAR presented the American History Award to Jane in honor of her late husband.

“Sometimes, when you walk across a muddy area, you tend to leave a footprint. In a short time, rain comes and the footprint is gone,” Atkinson said. “The great thing about Dennis Chastain is that he left a footprint here that is never going to go away.”