Entry No. 12 — the Charleston file — filed under: blacksmithing
Charleston Adventure Forest — Blacksmith Forge
Tucked inside a zipline/climbing adventure park in the Francis Marion Forest is a real working forge where a smith trained at the American College of the Building Arts teaches you to strike hot steel — the class list runs from oyster shuckers and hair sticks up to a 3-hour tomahawk build, and right now they're running limited-time 'America's 250th' patriotic tomahawk and candlestick classes.
The story
Tucked inside an outdoor adventure park off Guerins Bridge Road in Awendaw, right on the edge of the Francis Marion National Forest, sits an open-air working forge hidden behind zip-line platforms and rock-climbing walls. You wouldn't expect a serious blacksmithing operation buried in a canopy tour center, but step past the pine trees and you'll find a active shop where steel is brought to glowing temperatures over open fire and shaped by hand at the anvil.
The craft taught here isn't a watered-down tourist demonstration. Classes are led by smiths trained at Charleston's American College of the Building Arts—the country's premier institution dedicated to traditional architectural trades and forged ironwork. That background means the instruction focuses on real forge discipline, proper hammer technique, heat management, and drawing out metal rather than taking shortcuts.
The class menu ranges from quick entry-level builds to technical knife making. One-hour sessions let you shape smaller keepsakes like hair sticks, pendants, or leaf keychains, while two- and three-hour classes ramp up to functional tools like oyster shuckers, fire pokers, throwing knives, railroad spike blades, and full blacksmith knives. In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, the forge also runs limited-time Revolutionary-era workshops focused on hand-forging functional tomahawks and custom candlestick holders.
What it's like
You'll pull into a pine-forested lot in Awendaw where zipliners pass overhead, then head over to the open-air anvil stations. Closed-toe shoes are non-negotiable, and you'll want natural fibers like cotton or denim rather than synthetic clothes that can melt around radiant heat. Expect a loud, hot, and intensely physical environment—you'll wear safety glasses, hold red-hot metal in heavy tongs, and swing a hammer side by side with your instructor right at the forge. Because the workshop sits outdoors under canopy shade, Lowcountry heat and humidity are part of the process, so bring plenty of water and make sure to reserve your spot and confirm schedule times in advance.
The move: Book the 2-hour advanced session or the 3-hour tomahawk/knife class as a pair — you're both hammering at anvils side by side over real fire, and you each walk out with the actual weapon or tool you forged.
- 📍 Awendaw
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1152 Guerins Bridge Rd, Awendaw, SC 29429
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- La Petra Studio — Fused Glass Workshops — Trade raw iron and anvil strikes in Awendaw for high-heat glass fusing down in Mount Pleasant.
- H.L. Hunley Submarine (Warren Lasch Conservation Center) — Connect your hands-on time at the forge to historic 19th-century naval ironwork by viewing the preserved iron hull of the Hunley submarine.
- Magnolia Cemetery — Follow up your hammer work by walking through 92 acres of Victorian cemetery grounds filled with historic 19th-century wrought iron monuments.
- Tijon — Create Your Own Perfume — Swap coal smoke, ash, and glowing heat for sub-gram precision scent blending on Market Street.
Good to know
Where is the forge located?
The forge is located inside Charleston Adventure Forest at 1152 Guerins Bridge Rd in Awendaw, South Carolina, about 30 minutes northeast of downtown Charleston.
What kind of blacksmithing classes can I book?
Options range from 1-hour beginner workshops (for hair sticks, keychains, or fish hooks) to 2-hour utility builds (oyster shuckers, spatulas, fire pokers), 2-hour advanced knife sessions (throwing knives or railroad spike blades), 3-hour blacksmith knife builds, and seasonal America's 250th tomahawk and candlestick classes.
Do I need previous blacksmithing experience to take a class?
No experience is required. Every class is beginner-friendly and taught step-by-step by an instructor trained at the American College of the Building Arts.
What should I wear to a forge workshop?
You must wear closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops or sandals) and breathable clothing made of natural fibers like cotton. Avoid synthetic fabrics, which melt easily around stray sparks or glowing steel.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · book.singenuity.com
last checked: 2026-07-20