Leroy Springs & Company, Inc.

What Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. does

Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit recreation organization founded in 1938 in the Fort Mill, South Carolina region, with origins in Elliott White Springs' Springs Cotton Mills business. The company operates a portfolio of four core recreation brands: Anne Springs Close Greenway, a 2,100-acre nature preserve with 36 miles of trails in Fort Mill, SC; Springs Golf, a portfolio of four 18-hole golf courses (Springfield, Fort Mill, Lancaster, and Chester) designed by architects including Donald Ross and George Cobb; Springmaid Mountain, a 400-acre year-round retreat on the North Toe River in Spruce Pine, NC; and the FLYERS Afterschool program, a partnership with the Fort Mill School District operating at all 11 district elementary schools for children in grades K-5. The organization also runs the Bridge Program, a tiered financial assistance offering that has awarded more than $1.6 million in free or reduced pricing since 2018.

The organization employs more than 460 full-time and part-time staff across four counties in two states. Revenue is generated through five principal streams: membership and daily access fees for the Greenway and golf courses; program fees for structured activities including afterschool care, summer camps, equestrian lessons, and kayaking; returns on an endowment that funds ongoing operations; private contributions from individuals, community partners, and corporate donors; and facility rentals and event hosting. Pricing is largely unlisted, with Greenway Discovery School fees at $120/week as a transparent reference point. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through owned facilities, supplemented by community partnerships (notably the Fort Mill School District since 1989 and conservation easements with Nation Ford Land Trust) and signature events such as Love the Greenway Month and Frontier Days. Leadership includes Tim Patterson as President, John J. Gordon as Chief Operating Officer (also Executive Director of the Greenway), Elliott Close as Chairman, Cal Williams as Director of Golf, and Lindsey Arnautovic as Operations Director for the Greenway. The portfolio was consolidated under a new millstone brand identity in January 2024.

Name

Leroy Springs & Company, Inc.

Legal name

Leroy Springs & Company, Inc.

Website

https://leroysprings.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nonprofit recreation organization founded in 1938 in Fort Mill, SC, operating the 2,100-acre Anne Springs Close Greenway, four 18-hole golf courses, Springmaid Mountain retreat, and the FLYERS afterschool program across 11 elementary schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco/Nature-Based Campgrounds (Sustainable/Off-Grid) (THAMAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campgrounds & RV Parks (Developed Sites) (THAGAOAA)

Keywords

• Nonprofit recreation services
• Nature preserve operations
• Golf course management
• Afterschool childcare programs
• Community conservation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Mill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual and daily memberships providing access to Anne Springs Close Greenway, golf courses, and other facilities
2. Program Fees: Fees for structured programs including FLYERS Afterschool, summer camps, Greenway Discovery School, equestrian lessons, kayaking, and other recreational activities
3. Endowment Revenue: Returns from endowment fund that supports ongoing operations of the 501(c)3 organization
4. Private Contributions: Donations from individuals, community and corporate partners, and other donors; land donations; financial assistance funded through Bridge Program
5. Facility Rentals and Events: Venue sales and rentals for private events, corporate outings, and group activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leroy Springs & Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that owns and operates a portfolio of community recreation facilities including the 2,100-acre Anne Springs Close Greenway nature preserve, four 18-hole Springs Golf courses, the Springmaid Mountain retreat in North Carolina, and the FLYERS Afterschool program. The company sells memberships, daily access, programs, lessons, retreats, and afterschool childcare services to individuals and families in the Charlotte metropolitan area, and provides tiered financial assistance through its Bridge Program to ensure accessibility regardless of income.

Product overview

Leroy Springs & Company, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides affordable, quality recreation and community activities and facilities in the Fort Mill, SC region, home to the historic Springs Cotton Mills. The organization operates a portfolio of distinct recreation brands: Springs Golf (four 18-hole golf courses), Anne Springs Close Greenway (2,100-acre nature preserve with outdoor activities), Springmaid Mountain (400-acre mountain retreat in North Carolina), and the FLYERS Afterschool program (afterschool childcare). The company also provides financial assistance through its Bridge Program to ensure accessibility regardless of financial standing. The organization has over 460 full-time and part-time employees across four counties and two states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Anne Springs Close Greenway℠: 2,100-acre nature preserve in Fort Mill, SC offering outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, and environmental education programs
• FLYERS Afterschool
• Springs Golf
• Springmaid Mountain
• Anne Springs Close Bridge Program

Products and services

• Anne Springs Close Greenway A 2,100-acre nature preserve located in Fort Mill, SC, offering outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, and picnicking across 36 miles of trails, for families, individuals, and community members in the Charlotte metropolitan area.
• Springs Golf A portfolio of four 18-hole golf courses (Springfield, Fort Mill, Lancaster, Chester) in the Charlotte area of South Carolina, offering daily play and memberships along with lessons, clinics, outings, and club tournaments, for recreational and avid golfers and corporate outing organizers.
• Springmaid Mountain A 400-acre secluded retreat on the North Toe River in Spruce Pine, NC, offering cabins, camping, and horseback riding year-round for visitors seeking an outdoor mountain getaway near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
• FLYERS Afterschool Program An afterschool care program in partnership with the Fort Mill School District, operating at all elementary schools for K-5 children from dismissal to 6 p.m., with activities encouraging creativity, problem solving, and positive self-image, plus supplementary programs such as Fit Kids, Two by Two Character Development, and Pathfinders.
• Greenway Discovery School A weekly educational program for Fort Mill School District families priced at $120 per week regardless of A/B attendance days, with a 5% weekly discount for Anne Springs Close Greenway members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.6 million in financial assistance awarded since 2018 through Bridge Program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Nation Ford Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Conservation easement holder for Anne Springs Close Greenway lands. The Whites placed a conservation easement on their 167-acre donation property with Nation Ford Land Trust in 2016. The same organization holds the Greenway's conservation easement.
• Fort Mill School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Longstanding partnership since 1989 for FLYERS Afterschool program, operating at all 11 Fort Mill School District elementary schools. LSC provides afterschool care for children K-5th grade from dismissal to 6 p.m., with diverse activities encouraging creativity, problem solving, and positive self-image.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Golf Corporation: Manages a portfolio of public-access golf courses with daily-fee and membership structures. Directly comparable to Springs Golf's four-course portfolio model; Cal Williams, Leroy Springs' Director of Golf, joined from American Golf Corporation, signaling operating-model similarity.
• Kampgrounds of America (KOA): North America's largest system of franchised campgrounds and RV parks with cabins, tent sites, and recreational amenities. Directly comparable to Springmaid Mountain's cabins/camping/horseback-riding retreat model and to the Greenway's outdoor recreation programming.
• YMCA of Greater Charlotte: Community-based nonprofit operating fitness facilities, youth programs, and afterschool care across the Charlotte metro. Directly comparable to Leroy Springs' combination of recreation facility operations, FLYERS-style afterschool programming, and community-focused mission in the same regional market.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National nonprofit providing afterschool and summer programming for school-age youth. Directly comparable to FLYERS Afterschool's K-5 care, enrichment activities, and school-district partnership model, including operating on-site at public elementary schools.
• U.S. National Whitewater Center: Outdoor recreation center on the Catawba River near Charlotte offering kayaking, hiking, biking, and climbing. Directly comparable as a Charlotte-region outdoor recreation destination, and previously an employer of Leroy Springs COO John Gordon, indicating operating-model alignment.
• YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly: Nonprofit mountain retreat and conference center in the Blue Ridge Mountains offering cabins, group lodging, and outdoor recreation. Directly comparable to Springmaid Mountain's year-round mountain retreat positioning and nonprofit-driven hospitality model.

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for public use. Comparable to Leroy Springs through its partnership with Nation Ford Land Trust to hold conservation easements on Greenway lands, and thematically aligned on the conservation-preserve business model at much larger national scale.

Others

• ForeUP: Technology provider whose golf course management software powers Leroy Springs' Springs Golf booking and tee-time platform. Included as an ecosystem partner relevant to Springs Golf's commercial operations rather than a competitive peer.

Emerging players

• Duke Farms: 2,700-acre private operating foundation in Hillsborough, NJ offering trails, gardens, and environmental education on preserved land. Comparable as a large-scale nonprofit nature preserve with education programming, membership access, and outdoor recreation, though operating in a different region and at slightly smaller scale than the Greenway.

Regional players

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Nonprofit native plant botanic garden and nature preserve in Austin, TX with trails, exhibits, and education programs. Comparable to the Greenway's preserve-and-educational-program model but serves a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/leroyspringsandco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leroy-springs
• Xx.com/leroysprings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leroy Springs & Company, Inc.