Brookgreen Gardens

The Largest Sculpture Garden in America

I have had this blog domain for more than a year and had not yet posted anything. I am going to stop letting the perfect be the enemy of the good (or the “done”) and so this will be my first entry in a series spotlighting experiences that feed the soul in my beloved state of South Carolina.

I remember Brookgreen Gardens from my childhood as a hot and miserable place with a lot of walking and not much I wanted to do. I grew up in the 1970s and 80s and my mom loved flowers and trees and art and all things beautiful. My dad did whatever she wanted to do, so we would sometimes head to Brookgreen Gardens on our annual week-long vacation to Myrtle Beach in the summer. Ironic that I later found a picture of her in her 20s, shortly after she married my dad; she was at Brookgreen in front of the Pegasus statue, and on the back she had written “ugh…miserably hot.”

I know how lucky I am to live in circumstances such that mid-July is not my only option for travel as it was for my parents, who worked for the local cotton mill and had a very limited number of vacation days. Mitch and I have our own firm and much of our work can be done from anywhere we choose. And that means – among other things- that we can enjoy Brookgreen during the more temperate Spring and Fall months. We brought the kids when they were little and they loved the zoo! The park focuses on plants and animals that are indigenous to South Carolina and celebrates the unparalleled beauty of our state. Although many of the sculptures are created by artists from all over the world, the natural elements are strictly local – and they remind me (as I often become a bit cynical) that South Carolina is one of the most graceful and majestic places in the world.

Last night, Mitch and I had tickets to Brookgreen’s annual Night of a Thousand Candles for the first time. I have tried for years to get tickets, but am always too late. This year, I put an alarm on my phone for August 1st (and every day thereafter) and was able to buy two tickets for each of two nights – hedging my bets in case of rain or schedule conflicts. Last night was our first – and it was indescribable. There were maybe a couple thousand people there, but the atmosphere was not the hectic carnival feel that you get when a theme park lights up for the holidays. It was a combination of reverence and giddy joy . . . and I could feel the oxytocin pumping into my bloodstream as soon as we entered that peaceful realm.

So today, I told Mitch that I wanted us to become members of the Brookgreen President’s Council. With that, our family will get unlimited admission during regular hours year round, eight guest passes, and – my favorite part – eight complimentary tickets to Night of a Thousand Candles! We’re coming back once more this season with friends and then we’ll start planning for next year! Even the kids are getting excited about returning to the park with our new membership – and that makes me even happier! If you’re interested in Brookgreen Gardens and all it has to offer, click here to explore their site.

The history of Brookgreen Gardens is – as most historic things involving massive amounts of manicured land and daily maintenance – rooted in industrialism, with predictable remnants of colonialism and significant wealth gaps. Problematic truths aside, though, it is undeniable that Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington used their unfathomable wealth to create something sublime to share with the world. If you’re interested in this history of the Gardens, click here for a video or here to read about the Huntingtons. Anna Hyatt Huntington was an amazing artist and inspirational woman. I learned about her when I was a child in school and she sculpted the massive statue of Andrew Jackson on a horse for Andrew Jackson State Park. I had never known of a woman doing something on such a massive scale as that huge sculpture and I remember being inspired by her. She was also in her 90s when she did it. Several of the sculptures in the park were created by her.

Brookgreen Gardens is located off Highway 17 Bypass between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island in the area known as South Carolina’s Hammock Coast. The park’s hours are generally 9:30am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Pets are not allowed. I think you can bring outside food in but I know you can’t bring pets. Adult admission is $22, Seniors $20, and kids (12 and under) $12. Of course that’s as of November 2023 and could change. More good news: when you buy a ticket, it’s good for seven consecutive days.

Hope you enjoy Brookgreen Gardens like we did!