The Bitter End

A Hidden Gem

By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill

Good day, one and all! This month I’m going to take you up the coast a bit further than our magazine reaches. As you drive up Coastal 17 there are a multitude of spots just off the highway. Many of you have likely driven past them, perhaps on trips to Myrtle Beach or Charleston. As the summer grind was coming to an end, I decided to take a few days off for a road trip back to a couple of my favorites along that route.

My first task was a quick internet search to determine what would be open and the hours and such. With COVID-19 still an issue, one never knows. My destination: Pawleys Island, South Carolina, the home of Brookgreen Gardens. I know you are thinking, “Why is a Gator heading for a garden?” Though this place does contain a few gardens, its main crop is not artichokes, but rather art itself. Brookgreen is home to the largest outdoor sculpture garden in America and quite likely the world.

Comprised of four old rice plantations and taking its name from one of those, the property is over 9000 acres total with the sculpture garden covering up to 80 acres. This vast treasure trove has been the epicenter of many adventures for me over the last twenty years.

Brookgreen Gardens was a gift from Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, and founded in 1931. To give you a brief history of this generous and affluent couple, Anna was mostly a selftaught sculptor, though she did some formal studies. Her father was a professor of paleontology and was the source for her keen understanding and observation of animals and their forms. Miss Hyatt made a move from Massachusetts to New York, and in 1915 became the first woman to create a public monument of a woman, featuring none other than the historical figure Joan of Arc.

It was around this time she caught the eye of Archer Huntington. Archer’s family was part of the early development of the Transcontinental Railroad, which, of course, meant that he was quite wealthy. His inheritance amounted to about one billion dollars at todays rate. However, it wasn’t money that brought them together, rather a love for art and nature. Love blossomed and the two were wed, Anna in her 40s and Archer in his early 50s. Sadly not long afterward, in 1927, Anna contracted tuberculous, though she did finally recover from it by 1937.

It was during her illness that they moved from New York to Pawleys Island, finding the southern winters and climate to be much better for Anna and allowing her to continue her work. With their intense love of the arts as motivation, Archer and Anna set about creating Brookgreen gardens, initially intended as a site for Anna to display her own sculptures. Laid out in the form of a giant butterfly, the walkways and sculpture gardens are simply astounding, and frankly, can be a bit overwhelming in the depth and variety of pieces found there. As I mentioned early on, I have been visiting this art oasis for over 20 years now.

Above: Don Quixote, by Anna Hyatt Huntington, 1947 Below: Alligator Bender, by Nathan Choate, 1937 Photos by J. Gary Hill

Ever changing, yet still the same, some pieces are static due to their size, some have moved about, and of course new pieces have been added through the years.

If you’re in the holiday spirit come December and you want a quick getaway, consider a short drive up the coast for The Night of A Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens. For info check out Brookegreen.Org, then calendar of events.

There is so much more to this place than I have space for here today, plus I don’t want to spoil it for you, merely wet your curiosity. Go see for yourself and enjoy!

In the meantime, peace and love, shrimp and grits … I'll see you on the water!

Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com

435 Hunt Road

Burnside Island

Seller motivated! Seller motivated! Total renovation, 3BR, 2BA! New electrical, plumbing, foam insulation in exterior walls and attic. Interior walls has additional insulation. Open with a fantastic new gourmet kitchen. Huge GR, Sun Room, Covered Patio, Butler’s Pantry and separate laundry room. Wait til you see the master bedroom and bath. Luxurious shower and sitting area in master. Fenced backyard and two driveways with access to backyard for the larger “toys”. Great storage over the carport with a pull down access. Golf cart approved!! $335,000

UNDER CONTRACT

WILMINGTON ISLAND

This spacious condo gives you an incredible view of the Wilmington River with breathtaking sunsets. The property has beautiful live oaks throughout The views will make you fee like you are always on vacation. The condo has a split floor plan that leads to a balcony where you can enjoy the breeze coming off of the river. Enjoy these nice warm days by the Olympic size pool or enjoy some golf at the Savannah Country Club. $335,000

700 Wilmington Island Road, #204

1217 Bay Street, Unit A 232

REDUCED

Recently updated and interior painted

1 Emmet Court

UNDER CONTRACT

TYBEE ISLAND

Relax and enjoy in this recently converted 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom vacation condo. All new updates including a brand new King-Sized Bed, and a new in-unit Washer and Dryer. The living area features updated furnishings and a well-equipped kitchen with breakfast bar seating for 2, additional table seating for 4, stovetop and oven and full sized fridge/freezer. The living room is furnished with a sleeper sofa and a 32in flat-screen TV, with DVD player. Furnished private balcony with a glimpse of the ocean.

$239,900 GEORGETOWN

Spacious 3BR and 2BA home on corner lot. This neighborhood is located close to all roadways. Shopping and amenites close by. Georgetown amentites very close. Elementary school even closer. This home has a very open floorplan with a separate master on one side and the other three bedrooms on the other. Easy access to the hall bath from all three secondary bedrooms. One has a double entry door which would be a great office if needed but has a closet. The neighbors are looking for some amazing new next door buyers. Great community. $239,000

SPRINGFIELD

WILL NOT LAST LONG. Completely renovated home on 2.11 acres. Can you say wow. New floors ,new kitchen and appliances, New Bathrooms- everything is new.

The master bath even has a towel warmer.

WOW. The kitchen offers a breakfast bar and plenty of storage. The outdoor space is amazing. You can rest easy knowing no one will build behind you. Come see for yourself!!! $165,000

6349 Abercorn St.

Savannah, GA 912.352.1222 Find me on:

GORDONSTON

Located on a huge corner lot with welcoming open arms. The main home has four bedrooms and two baths. Large open floor plan. Living Room with FP opens to the DR and then Kitchen with breakfast room. A full wrap around screened porch. Beautiful staircase to upstairs with two large bedrooms and a full bath. There is a carriage house that is ready for your guests. Studio apartment on second floor of garage. Washer/dryer hookups for main house on one side and for apartment on the other. Great area for walking and biking. Very close to downtown and the beach. $409,000

SOUTHSIDE

What a special property. Tucked away but still very convenient to everything. Wonderful open floorplan from GR to Kitchen. Beautiful Savannah grey FP in the GR. Two bedrooms, two baths and a sunroom are also on the first floor. Upstairs is a huge master bedroom with a large bath and two closets. Also an office or additional bedroom. Outside is a great private deck, detached 2 car carport and a large workshop. Inground sprinkler for the great garden area. Whole house deep well shared with adjacent property. New pump. Really special and unique. $330,000

WHITEMARSH ISLAND

This incredible Low Country home sits on a secluded 3+ acre lot on the edge of Tom Thumb Creek in the Savannah Yacht Club area. Chef kitchen has a Wolf gas cooktop, Viking ovens, porcelain farm sink and new counter tops. The sunroom was recently updated with tile floors and new windows. New carpet in the 4 bedrooms on the top floor. The multi-level deck has a private gazebo to enjoy the views of creek. Heart pine floors through out this open floor plan. Added bonus is the Briggs and Stratton Generator. $775,000

WILMINGTON ISLAND

Here is the one that you have been waiting on. Sweet brick bungalow with open great room. A kitchen that is big enough for all the cooks. Eat in area and bar in the kitchen. Large master bedroom with ensuite bath. Two more good sized bedrooms and a hall bath. No carpet in the entire house. Single car garage with laundry on an elevated area at the rear. Lots of storage. The lush backyard with extended patio is ready for your outdoor cooking and oyster roasts. Totally fenced in so you can bring your family pets. Very easy to show. $242,000

Lyn McCuen 912.224.0927

lyn@coldwellbanker.com www.lynmccuen.com @lynmccuen

!! NEW !!

101 Edgewood Road

9369 Whitefield Avenue

105 Bradley Point Road

We Prepare and Install Living Shorelines

Living shorelines provide a natural and stable alternative to sea walls. Zulu is pleased to offer installation where stabilization and shoreline restoration is needed. • Assembled with bags of recycled oyster shells • Stabilizes eroding shorelines or failing bulkheads • Plantings of native grasses enhance stabilization • Encourages growth of oysters, which provides water filtration • Provides habitat for multiple fish and crustacean species • Increases resistance to flooding

For more information or to discuss your shoreline stabilization project, email us: rusty.batey@zuludiscovery.com.