After storm damage, flooding due to torrential rain, a hurricane or two, a few park and lighthouse closures and more have all affected our time spent at Hunting Island State Park over the past few years, Hunting Island State Park Manger Brandon Goff provided a full update to the Community Services Committee of the Beaufort County Council on May 2nd about the slew of projects at the campground and lighthouse, with the beach renourishment, and about parking and restroom needs, as well as the emergency action plan for hurricanes.
“This update to council and our citizens watching showed the great things happening out at Hunting Island State Park,” said Phil Foot, Assistant County Administrator – Public Safety. “I am sure you will be pleased to hear about all the work that has taken place over the winter.”
Hunting Island sees an estimated 1 million visitors a year. It is a 5,000-acre secluded semitropical barrier island located 15 miles east of Beaufort, between Harbor Island and Fripp Island. In addition to the Lighthouse, Hunting Island’s 4 miles of beachfront has several trails for hiking and biking.
“I started with the Park Service 17 years ago, and I’ve had an opportunity to live in some fantastic places from the mountains to the coast,” said Goff. “I spent a large portion of my career on Edisto Beach and was born and raised in South Carolina just outside Myrtle Beach and Conway. I have a vested interest in South Carolina and the coast.”
Goff’s complete update to Beaufort County Council can also be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Hunting Island Campground
The Campground has 125 camping spots and averages about 89% capacity and brings in 40% of the Park’s revenue. Hurricane Mathew destroyed many campsites that the park service cannot replace due to erosion, marsh, and other factors.
The Campground roads have all been repaved, and the shoulders are currently being improved. An additional lane has been created to mitigate some traffic backup on heavy check-in days.
The Campground has instituted dynamic pricing. Pricing changes based on season, availability, and demand. The Park is enforcing check-out and check-in times to allow park employees to do a better job cleaning campsites, making repairs, and maintaining a higher standard for the Park.
Hunting Island Lighthouse
The Lighthouse will be closed for the foreseeable future. We knew this was coming since the facility was old and made of cast iron while being located on the ocean. The engineers deemed it unsafe not only for visitors but also for all staff.
The state Legislature recently approved the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism’s 2021-22 budget request for the lighthouse project. $3 million will go toward structural repairs for the only publicly accessible lighthouse of its kind in South Carolina. Currently, the project is in the design phase.
Beach Renourishment
Beach renourishment is complete, and visitors are enjoying the benefits. The Park Service continues to meet the obligations associated with the project, like compact monitor and the monitoring of piping plovers and red knots bird populations.
Parking
Hurricane Mathew and the Beach renourishment project have severely limited the parking available at the Park. For example, we are hitting maximum capacity at the recently opened pier on a Wednesday in the off-season.
The Park Service will work with Beaufort County to identify possible mitigation plans. Ideas on the table are establishing a shuttle service from a location that can support parking and signs that notify visitors early in the drive that there is no parking.
Unfortunately, the repaving on Highway 21 and king tide mitigation efforts have reduced the number of places you can park along the side of the road.
Restrooms
The biggest project that still needs to be addressed is the availability of restrooms. Hurricane Mathew wiped out several restrooms on the southern part of the beach. The Park has been using portable bathrooms since. The Park will be requesting funding for permanent restrooms as the next major infrastructure project.
Emergency Action Plan
Hunting State Park has Standard Operating Procedures and Emergency Operations Plans in a hurricane or other disaster. The Park is nested with the county and has a good working relationship with points of contact exchanged.
For more information about these projects, contact Brie Logue, SCPRT Tourism Public Relations Manager at BLogue@scprt.com
We’re very grateful for all of the projects at Hunting Island, and for the commitment shown to Hunting Island by the Park Rangers that take care of it every day, and by the State of South Carolina and by Beaufort County. That’s a lot of support.
We need to be thankful for the time spent at Hunting Island and pray that our children and grand children get to grow up enjoying it, as well. Like the little-barrier-island-that-could….Hunting Island will stay around for us as long as she can, with lots of help from others. We just need to be sure to make every year spent there count.
READ: Hunting Island lighthouse closed indefinitely
READ: Hunting Island: The little barrier island that could
READ: 9 must see spots inside Hunting Island
