Huntington Beach State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Huntington Beach State Park |
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Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) at Huntington Beach Park
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| Nearest city | Murrells Inlet, Georgetown County, South Carolina |
| Area | 2,500 acres (10.1 km2) |
| Camp sites | 107 30 Amp standard campsites 21 30 Amp full service campsites 42 50 Amp full service campsites 6 walk-in tent sites |
| Hiking trails | 2 |
Huntington Beach State Park is a beautiful coastal park located near Murrells Inlet in Georgetown County, South Carolina. It's a special place with a wide, sandy beach, perfect for relaxing and watching nature. The park is famous for its many wild birds, which you can spot throughout the year. It's a great spot for anyone who loves the outdoors and wildlife!
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Park History
This park was once part of a large property owned by Anna Hyatt Huntington and Archer M. Huntington. After Archer's death, the land was leased to the state in 1960. This allowed it to become a state park, named in his honor. The park covers about 2,500 acres (10 square kilometers) of land.
Atalaya Castle and Brookgreen Gardens
Inside the park, you can find Atalaya Castle. This was the winter home of Archer and Anna Huntington. It was built during the Great Depression by local workers. The castle was specially designed to be strong enough to withstand hurricanes.
Anna Hyatt Huntington was a famous American sculptor. Her art studio was part of the castle property. Many of her amazing sculptures are now displayed at Brookgreen Gardens. This is a public sculpture garden located nearby. It was once part of the Huntington's large estate.
Park Features
The "Friends of Huntington Beach State Park" is a group that helps the park. They offer guided tours of Atalaya Castle. They also run the Atalaya Visitor Center. Here, you can see exhibits about the castle and the Huntington family.
Bird Watching at HBSP
Many local bird watchers call the park "HBSP" for short. This park is a fantastic place for bird watching. You can see many different kinds of birds that live along the Southeast coast of the United States.
In winter, you might spot many types of ducks and waders. These include beautiful roseate spoonbills. They can be found in both fresh and saltwater marshes. The park also has a jetty that stretches into the ocean. Here, you might see ocean birds like gannets, loons, and scoters. Sometimes, even rarer birds like razorbills and murres visit. Large flocks of tree swallows also gather here.
Nature Center
The park used to have an Education Center. It had displays about nature and live animals. Visitors could touch saltwater creatures in a special tank. There was even a live baby alligator! Park naturalists would offer free programs. These programs taught visitors about the park's wildlife and natural areas.
Sadly, the center, which was located near the marsh boardwalk, was destroyed. A fire broke out in the early morning of July 20, 2016. It was likely caused by a lightning strike. All the animals that were on display inside the Education Center were lost in the fire.
Other Park Activities
Besides bird watching and the castle, the park offers other fun things to do:
- Enjoy the wide sandy beach and the jetty.
- Explore the park on hiking and nature trails.
- Walk along the boardwalks to see different habitats.
- Visit the gift shop for souvenirs.
- Stay overnight at the public campground.
