Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach

Brookgreen Gardens is one of the many beautiful natural attractions in the city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and consists of a garden and nature preserve dotted with artwork. It is a 9,200-acre plot that features the largest collection of sculptures in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world, but the large collection of Brookgreen Gardens statues is just one of the main features of this popular attraction south of Murrells Inlet. It is also a nature and wildlife preserve and features a zoo and an exhibition center. If you are planning a trip to Myrtle Beach and want to see some of the most captivating landscaping in the entire city, be sure to set aside some time to visit the Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina.

Brookgreen Gardens was opened in 1932 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The two individuals who were responsible for developing this former plantation into the gorgeous gardens and parkland that it is today were Anna and Archer Huntington. Anna Hyatt Huntington was a sculptress and her husband was the son of a wealthy businessman and philanthropist. The two made a trip to the land that would become the Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina in order to seek out a plot of land for a home on the Atlantic Ocean. When they witnessed the beauty of the land, Anna Huntington began to see the place as the ideal spot to display her own sculptures and the sculptures of her artistic contemporaries.

In all there are over 1,400 Brookgreen Gardens statues in the gardens, many of which were crafted by Anna Huntington herself, and many others by notable sculptors. There are a number of ways to enjoy the Brookgreen Gardens, from self-guided nature trail tours, to boat rides to Sandy Island, to fully narrated tours that provide insight into the hundreds of species of plant life on the premises. As you tour the grounds, you will be taken through three separate ecosystems, and witness the broad diversity of life from the marshland to the former rice paddies to the drier high grounds.

It costs around twelve dollars for adults to get into the Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. Admission is discounted for kids ages 4 to 12 and seniors. Kids under 4 are admitted for free and there are also discounts for military service people, seniors, and large groups of fifteen people or more. It is an added cost to take one of the available excursions, such as the popular tour of the Lowcountry, but if you have the chance, it is well worth the time and modest fee.

Adults and children alike will be intrigued by the wide variety of animals at the zoo at Brookgreen Gardens. You will witness large alligators, eagles, otters, and many more exciting land and sea creatures. There are also fun shows and interactive exhibits that allow families to get up close and personal with some of the most popular animals.

You can certainly make a full day of it at Brookgreen Gardens. The zoo and nature exhibition center, combined with the guided tours of the trails and the Brookgreen Gardens statues provides enough information and entertainment to the last all day. There are plenty of accommodations and restaurants in the area should you want to stay close or get a bite to eat after your visit.

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