As those of you who follow this blog may know, we also went out to the beach at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC one day on our vacation this summer. As you enter the park you will drive over a causeway that divides a salt water march from a fresh water lagoon. Look to your right to see some of the alligators that are present in the fresh water area only. We go to the beach that you will reach if you bare right and park by the campground offices and beach showers. The beach here is great but there are no lifeguards on duty so it is swim at your own risk.
See my blog Was That You? A Vacation Encounter With a Real Estate Twist for one of the experiences of this day. As mentioned in that blog we toured Atalaya, which was built by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington in the 1930s. They bought four former rice plantations and built a winter home and sculpture garden. The sculptures and gardens can be toured at Brookgreen Gardens which is a separate property from the state park. We did not tour Brookgreen yet but it is on our future trip plans.
This is the long roadway that leads from the house to the sculpture garden. The gardens themselves are on the opposite side of Hwy 17 today.
Atalaya means the tower and the house is named for this tower which was the first thing the Huntingtons built. The entire structure is brick and mortar built in the style of a Moorish Castle. The tower actually housed a fresh water system which was very innovative for the time. The bricks were placed in an open pattern to encourage bats to roost there because Huntington had noticed that bats helped to keep mosquitoes away.
This is a view of the left side of the courtyard. The house surrounds the tower in the courtyard.
These steps allowed the Huntingtons to stand on top of the roof and view the ocean from the house.
This is a view of the courtyard from the inside of the living room. The interior of the house is empty today. It faced much abuse over the years before the state leased the property from Brookhaven Gardens. They have cleaned it up and it is truly amazing.
Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley
Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086
Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How
Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed
Paddy - the pictures are beautiful! It looks like you and your family were able to explore quite a bit! I have been to Murrells Inlet a few times and discover something new each visit. Thanks so much for sharing the pics!
Paddy- I am loving this series- Your pictures are great and it trip very alluring- I think we need to go.
BTW- Someone called me Paddy in comments on my blog- I consider this the highest compliment- I just hope one day my blogs can be as well written and interesting as yours.
I haven't been there yet, but this definitely looks like something to add to our next touring trip. Thanks Paddy!
Paddy - thanks for sharing, if I ever get to Myrtle Beach and then if I can ever take time away from golf course then if I can take time away from the pool I will be certain to visit Atalaya. I really do like those kind of places.
Morning Paddy,
New territory for me. Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos. It looks like y'all had a wonderful time.
Leesa you should go here. Your son would love it!
You are too sweet Barbara. I am glad you enjoyed the trip.
Go Penny It was fun
Come on Mike.. It is too hot in the afternoon for golf down there in the summer. Golf in the AM and Beach in the fternoon.
Thanks for stopping by Hal.
Hey, Paddy. We are just down the road an we have never stopped to visit. Thanks for sharing, Jim & Maria
Paddy...
When I first saw the title to this post, my Georgia brain registered "Atlanta!" Thanks for the info and pics of this interesting locale!
Hi Jim and Maria You should definitely go and check this out
Ah yes Richard the old brain is quicker than your eyes problem Richard.
Great pictures, it looks like a fun place to visit.
Take care.
It was a nice break from the beach when we needed it Kevin. Thanks for stopping by.
Paddy- I went to Huntington last year with my wife to celebrate our anniversary... I proposed to her in Brookgreen! I love Brookgreen!
Oh, BTW, that long road is really long! My wife & I rode bikes all the way to the end as we rode all around the park!
Hey Paddy Paddy, what lovely eye candy. This vacation tour of yours is growing into such an awesome series! I am loving every single minute of discovering what you guys have been up to in SC. Can't wait to see the next installment. Love, C.
Carolyn You have to take the boys here. They would love the empty hallways and the echos. Course I don't know how you guys would feel but there is always earplugs.
That is so cool Jeremy. I definitely will add the gardens to the next planned excursion. I will call you soon. Too busy today :-)