News Summary
Local resident Doug Gaines has designed a new flag for Lake Murray to foster unity among surrounding communities. The flag features elements representing South Carolina, the Saluda River, and navigation indicators. Gaines, a retired law enforcement officer, aims to promote local pride as he sells flags and decals through local businesses. The design has gained traction, with plans for a dedicated website and hopes to showcase the flag during Lake Murray’s centennial celebrations in 2027.
Lake Murray Residents Unite with New Flag Design
Chapin, SC – A newly designed flag for Lake Murray aims to bring together the various communities surrounding the reservoir, thanks to local resident Doug Gaines. A retired law enforcement officer, Gaines has lived in the area for over 15 years and was inspired to create the flag after seeing a similar design for another lake.
The flag features a blue field adorned with the emblem of South Carolina, signifying both the state and Lake Murray itself. A white band on the flag represents the dam side of the lake, while two swallowtail shapes symbolize the Saluda River that feeds into the reservoir. Additionally, the colors red and green on the flag correspond to navigation indicators for port and starboard, aligning with the lights found on the lake’s shore—red in Chapin and green in Lexington.
In the process of designing the flag, Gaines consulted the Capital City/Lake Murray Country regional tourism board to determine the official birth year of Lake Murray. After consideration, he chose 1927 as the year when construction began, as opposed to 1930, when the dam was completed.
A Hobby Turned Business
Gaines first conceptualized the flag about three years ago but was motivated to bring it to life after receiving encouragement from his family. In 2023, he trademarked the flag design, expanding into production by offering various sizes of flags and decals, the latter being his initial product. These items are available for purchase at 3 Birds Boutique in Chapin, Putnam’s Harbor store, and the Lake Murray Country gift shop.
To streamline sales, Gaines developed an online order form with support from his children. He plans to create a dedicated website for the flag in the near future. The flags and decals are manufactured in the United States and are shipped to Gaines’ home for packaging and distribution.
Looking Ahead
Gaines is enthusiastic about Lake Murray’s upcoming centennial celebration in 2027, expressing his hope that his flag will be showcased at the Statehouse during the festivities. While creating the flag remains a hobby for Gaines, he takes pride in its growing recognition and enjoys seeing the flag displayed within the community.
This initiative by Gaines not only serves as a source of local pride but also fosters a sense of unity among the diverse communities that share the beauty of Lake Murray.
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Additional Resources
- The State
- Wikipedia: Lake Murray
- Hindustan Times
- Google Search: South Carolina lightning strike
- Cola Today
- Google Scholar: Lake Murray
- Fox59
- Encyclopedia Britannica: flag design
- Storm Lake Radio
- Google News: Lake Murray flag design
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
