Huntington Beach State Park

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An afternoon view across the expansive salt marsh at Huntington Beach State Park in the fall.

A huge Tree Swallow flock preparing for fall migration takes refuge from the rain on a snag in front of Atalaya.

Huntington Beach State Park is a small coastal preserve and state park near Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, with a large sandy beach and few beachgoers. The park, originally property of Archer M. Huntington, was donated after his death and takes its name from him. His winter home, Atalaya Castle, is also located on the park. Built during the Great Depression by only local workers, it was designed to withstand hurricanes. The Friends of Huntington Beach State Park offer scheduled tours of the house and operate the Atalaya Visitor Center with exhibits about the house and the Huntingtons.

The park features several species of birds of the southeast coast of the United Statesfor for bird watching. It hosts many types of ducks and waders like Roseate Spoonbills in winter in both fresh and saltwater marshes. It has a jetty where oceanbirds like gannets, loons, scoters and occasionally alcids like razorbills and murres can be found. Local birders frequently refer to the park as "HBSP" in communications.

[edit] Nature Center

The Education Center features natural history displays and live animals, including a saltwater touch tank and a live baby alligator among its exhibits. Park naturalists offer free programs about the park's wildlife and habitat. The center is open Tuesday through Sunday year-round, and is located at the marsh boardwalk.

Other park features includes the beach, jetty, campground, trails and gift shop.

[edit] See also

Hot and Hot Fish Club

[edit] External links

v d e State Parks of South Carolina

Foothills	Caesars Head · Devils Fork · Jones Gap · Keowee-Toxaway · Lake Hartwell · Oconee · Oconee Station · Paris Mountain · Table Rock

Piedmont	Andrew Jackson · Baker Creek · Calhoun Falls · Chester · Croft · Dreher Island · Hamilton Branch · Hickory Knob · Kings Mountain · Landsford Canal · Lake Greenwood · Musgrove Mill · Rose Hill Plantation · Sadlers Creek

Sandhills	Aiken State · Barnwell · Cheraw · Goodale · H. Cooper Black Jr. · Lake Wateree · Lee · Poinsett · Redcliffe Plantation · Santee · Sesquicentennial

Coastal Plain	Charles Towne Landing · Colleton · Colonial Dorchester · Edisto Beach · Fort Frederick · Givhans Ferry · Hampton Plantation · Huntington Beach · Hunting Island · Lake Warren · Little Pee Dee · Myrtle Beach · Rivers Bridge · Woods Bay

Protected Areas of South Carolina

Federal

National Parks	Congaree National Park

National Historic Parks, Sites & Monuments	Charles Pinckney National Historic Site • Fort Sumter National Monument • Ninety Six National Historic Site

National Military Parks and Battlefields	Cowpens National Battlefield • Kings Mountain National Military Park

National Trails	Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail

National Forests	Francis Marion • Sumter

National Wildlife Refuges	Cape Romain • Carolina Sandhills • Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin • Pinckney Island • Santee • Savannah • Tybee • Waccamaw

National Estuarine Research Reserves	ACE Basin • North Inlet-Winyah Bay

Wilderness Areas	Cape Romain • Congaree • Ellicott Rock • Hell Hole Bay • Little Wambaw Swamp • Wambaw Creek • Wambaw Swamp

Wild and Scenic Rivers	Chattooga River

State

State Parks	Andrew Jackson • Baker Creek • Barnwell • Caesars Head • Cheraw • Chester • Colleton • Devils Fork • Edisto Beach • Givhans Ferry • Goodale • Hickory Knob • Hunting Island • Huntington Beach • Jones Gap • Kings Mountain • Lake Warren • Landsford Canal • Lee • Little Pee Dee • Myrtle Beach • Oconee • Paris Mountain • Poinsett • Santee • Sesquicentennial • Table Rock

State Historic Sites	Charles Towne Landing • Colonial Dorchester • Hampton Plantation • Musgrove Mill • Oconee Station • Redcliffe Plantation • Rivers Bridge • Rose Hill Plantation

State Recreation & Natural Areas	Aiken State Natural Area • Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area • Croft State Natural Area • Dreher Island State Recreation Area • Hamilton Branch State Recreation Area • Keowee-Toxaway State Natural Area • Lake Greenwood State Recreation Area • Lake Hartwell State Recreation Area • Lake Wateree State Recreation Area • Lee State Natural Area • Sadlers Creek State Recreation Area • Woods Bay State Natural Area

State Forests	Harbison • Manchester • Poe Creek • Sand Hills • Wee Tee

Wildlife Management Areas	Bear Island Wildlife Management Area • Belfast Wildlife Management Area • Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area • Campbell's Crossroads Wildlife Management Area • Crackerneck Wildlife Preserve • Donnelley Wildlife Management Area • Draper Wildlife Management Area • Edisto River Wildlife Management Area • Fant's Grove Wildlife Management Area • Gray Court Wildlife Management Area • Hickory Top Wildlife Management Area • James Ross Wildlife Reservation • Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area • Keowee Wildlife Management Area • Mason Wildlife Preserve • McBee Wildlife Management Area • McConnells Tract Wildlife Management • Palachucola Wildlife Management Area • Pee Dee Wildlife Management Area • Samworth Wildlife Management Area • Santee-Delta Wildlife Management Area • Thurmond Wildlife Management Area • Turkey Creek Wildlife Management Area • Turtle Island Wildlife Management Area • Webb Wildlife Center/Preserve • Woodbury Wildlife Management Area • Worth Mountain Wildlife Management Area