In 1927, Charles Baring, a wealthy rice planter from near Charleston, sought a place to escape the heat of South Carolinas summers.   Entering the first mountain he came to he found Flat Rock and was enthralled by it beauty and climate.   He purchased a track of land and erected the first estate...a summer residence called Mountain Lodge.   In 1930 Judge Mitchell King, also from the Charleston area came to Flat Rock and renovated an old trace mill into a residence and he named it Argle.  Both men began purchasing up large tracts of land until they had acquired all of the Flat Rock area.    They later sold tracts to other affluent Charleston families and today it is still an elegant community of estate and luxurious homes.   Flat Rocks nick name is "The Little Charleston of the Mountains" and the popular Rainbow Row in Charleston can be seen in Flat Rock's Little Rainbow Row which includes several brightly printed cottages all with distinct wares. Flat Rock is the home of many upscale communities, the Flat Rock Playhouse and Carl Sandburgs estate. For more information on Flat Rock  and the shops in Flat Rock