Clark's Inn and Restaurant

Family Owned and Operated Since 1946

Private William E. (Bubba) Clark returned home from WW 11, picked up his bride Helena and their two-year old baby from grandma’s house and thought, “what now”? Bubba had grown up in a farming family in Cope, South Carolina and had always assumed he would be a “gentleman farmer”. However, during the war years, much had changed. His father, Winfield, had become ill, had sold most of his land and had retired as an invalid.

A natural-born entrepreneur, Bubba knew that he would never be content with a “regular” job. Not having actually “finished” the University of South Carolina (where he played rather than studied) further narrowed his options. Old-timers say that Bubba was able to “see the future around the corner”. He and his father had formed Clark Realty before WW 11, and they bought a commercial property in Santee, South Carolina. At the time, before I-95, Highway 301 as the most traveled route from New York to Miami. Thinking that folks (families in particular) would travel more, they felt highway property located approximately halfway between New York and Miami was a sound investment.

Over many objections from Helena, who was not a country girl, Bubba decided to temporarily seek his fortune in Santee. The town at that time was a crossroads consisting of three stores, a bus station and four cabins, and a post office-- all surrounded by farm land. To Helena, it seemed “impossibly country” and made her small hometown of Barnwell, SC seem “metropolitan” by comparison. “At least”, she use to say, “We have a country club, churches and a downtown!”

But Bubba assured her, “this is just temporary until something better comes along”. As a mess sergeant in the Army, he thought they could make money by opening a restaurant. So in 1946, the old bus station and cabins became Clark’s Inn and Restaurant. In 1959, the old cabins were removed and replaced with what is now referred to as the “Old Santee Building”. Then around 1968, with the opening of Interstate 95, the present two story main building was constructed. Finally, in 1968 Clark’s Restaurant was built in its present location. The original Clark’s Restaurant building was demolished and replaced with what is now a CVS Pharmacy. Over the years, owners Bill Clark, an architect, and his wife Patricia have expanded and renovated the complex into the inviting restaurant, hotel, and gift shop that you see today. Through the years, Bubba became involved in other businesses, but the hospitality business was in his blood. For the rest of his life, you could almost always find him upstairs in his office above the restaurant. Eighty years later, Clark’s is owned by Bubba’s eldest son Bill and his wife Patricia. It is managed by his grandsons, Edward and Winfield, hotel manager Kitty Collier and all overseen by Bill and Patricia. Most importantly, however, is the fact that the spirit of both Bubba and Helena is still alive and well. We continue to strive to meet their high standards for food and Southern hospitality and to provide a unique experience for all of our guests.