Hunting Island / Edisto Island fate

This is such sad news. We've camped at Hunting Island every summer for six years now, definitely one of our absolute favorites! The waterfront sites have changed quite a bit in just the past six years from normal erosion and I always worried about what damage a major hurricane might inflict. When Matthew first started heading up the east coast, I had a really bad feeling about things and sure enough, Hunting Island got hit hard.

I'm sure they will rebuild, but it'll never be the same. On the other hand, we have spoken to other campers that have been going for 30+ years and they speak of incredible change over the decades - entire loops for example that are now long gone. I guess on a barrier island, the only constant is change.

We got our phone call last week informing us that our summer 2017 reservation has been cancelled. I'm just hopeful that we can return in 2018. For now, at least we have awesome memories.

This was our August 2016 trip:

I wasn't in opposition to you Ron. I believe they should be protected the "right way", as you suggest. An extensive dune restoration effort is needed. I worked as an urban planner in the Destin, Fl area just after hurricane Opal. They had many successful programs, of which the benefits are seen today.

Hunting Island had reasonable dunes on the north end of the island. I wonder how they faired?

tragusa3 wrote:
"Worth it"? Those have got to be some of the best campsites in the entire southeast (if not country). I say they are worth it, and I hope the SP system does too.

I wonder if they've looked at a plan to put a new loop parallel down the beach in either direction? From the tough time we've had getting on the beach loop in the last decade, I bet they could add another 100 sites and still remain booked out a year in advance.

The South Carolina State Park Commission may think it's worth it now but next year or the year after when they have to rebuild it again they may not think so.

Without a dune line to protect those low lying beach sites expect more and more overwash and more closures to rebuild.

Don't get me wrong I agree with you about the beauty of those sites and since I don't live in SC they could rebuild it every year as far as I'm concerned. Not my tax money.

Ron W

tragusa3 wrote:
"Worth it"? Those have got to be some of the best campsites in the entire southeast (if not country). I say they are worth it, and I hope the SP system does too.

I wonder if they've looked at a plan to put a new loop parallel down the beach in either direction? From the tough time we've had getting on the beach loop in the last decade, I bet they could add another 100 sites and still remain booked out a year in advance.

I totally agree!

"Worth it"? Those have got to be some of the best campsites in the entire southeast (if not country). I say they are worth it, and I hope the SP system does too.

I wonder if they've looked at a plan to put a new loop parallel down the beach in either direction? From the tough time we've had getting on the beach loop in the last decade, I bet they could add another 100 sites and still remain booked out a year in advance.

Without a beach renourishment project I cant see Hunting Island's rebuild lasting very long and wonder if it's worth it.

All those sites in the beach section can't be more than 5' above sea level, if that.

We have been going there for over ten years and each year there are less and less beach sites. When looking at the map of the park there are plenty of gaps in the site numbers, each missing site number used to be a campsite at one time.

Ron W

Without a beach renourishment project I cant see Hunting Island's rebuild lasting very long and wonder if it's worth it.

All those sites in the beach section can't be more than 5' above sea level, if that.

We have been going there for over ten years and each year there are less and less beach sites. When looking at the map of the park there are plenty of gaps in the site numbers, each missing site number used to be a campsite at one time.

Ron W

My reservation was cancelled and refunded for 4/24/17 for 14 days. I sure hope they get things back with new improvements.

Here's info I just received in an email.

At Hunting Island State Park:
All campsite reservations will be cancelled and refunded through Sunday, May 21, 2017. Oceanside campsite reservations will be cancelled and refunded through Sunday, December 31, 2017.

At Edisto Beach State Park:
All campsite reservations in the oceanfront campground will be cancelled and refunded through Thursday, August 31, 2017.

OMG !!!!! Our favorite sites are now beach front......that is unreal....!! Thanks for the photos..!