Trip North - Myrtle Beach - Atalaya Castle, Huntington Beach State Park

 

 We tried stopping here after Brookgreen Gardens but the Castle had just closed, so we made another trip this way

 

There is a causeway over to the Park

 

 

When it is warmer you will see alligators sunning themselves alongside the road.

There are always birds to see.  

 I stayed here for a night when heading to Jekyll Island back in 2015, thought Gary would enjoy seeing it too.

 

Arthur Huntington a Tycoon and Philanthropist inherited his money from his step-father a railroad industrialist.  In 1930 he purchased 3 Brookgreen and 3 adjacent lots  as a site for a winter home and for his wife, Anne Huntington's sculptures. 

He insisted that local labor be used for construction to provide work for local residents during the Great Depression.

The outer walls form a square with the east side facing the ocean.  There are two grassy, open inner courtyards, one on either side of the center covered walkway

The former garage is the visitors' center

 

 

Across the way are the dog kennels and Bear cages.  Anne used only live animals for her sculptures.

 

 

The covered walkway

 

 

One of the courtyards

 

 

Anne's outdoor Stuio

 

 

Indoor Studio with Skylight

 

 

 Studio storage

 

 

Anne's bathroom

 

 

View from the Sun room

 

 

The hallways can be a bit claustrophobic

 

 

The Foyer

 

 

Food Prep area

Kitchen

Servant's quarters

Other Courtyard

There are 30 rooms on three sides, dominated by a square tower that rises 40' and bisects the inner courtyards

Definitely worth the trip to see if you are in the area

 

 

Huntington Beach Island is just outside Murrell's Inlet so we swing by there to walk the boardwalk with Tucson since he couldn't to the Atalaya Castle

First we walk out on the Pier

 

 

Across the way is Goat Island, they just transported the goats there yesterday. There were originally sent to the island for the summer to help with undergrowth.  They are moved to a warmer location in the winter.

 

 

A few birds about.  An Oyster Catcher

 

 

Doesn't have to look far

 A double crested cormorant

 

 

We head over to the Boardwalk.  Tucson thought the sign said Red Dog.

 

 a walk along the boardwalk

Yet another good day - sorry to have to leave.  Next stop Neuseway Nature Park in Kinston, NC