Hunting Island State Park Might Just Be The Most Haunted Park In South Carolina
For those who thrive on chasing all things paranormal, there’s a park in South Carolina that just may be the most haunted park in the entire state. It’s found just outside of Beaufort and is right on the coast, making it also one of the prettiest parks in the Palmetto State. If you’ve never ventured out to Hunting Island State Park and felt the odd vibes many do here, then plan on a trip sometime this year.
Hunting Island is, in fact, the most visited state park in South Carolina.
Situated right on the ocean, the park's allure is easy to understand. The park features five miles of gorgeous beaches, making a visit here especially nice.
It was decommissioned in 1933, but not before the light keeper's daughter reportedly fell (or more likely, jumped) from the observation deck. There's an overwhelming sense that she remains on the property.
By all accounts, she landed on the second stair that still leads into the lighthouse.
Other accounts involving the lighthouse talk about a young boy who drowned near the light and the lightkeeper was too late to save him. Some people report seeing the lightkeeper's moving light out by the ocean, as he still looks on hoping to spot the boy in the water.
Yet, more accounts of visitors to the light claim to hear knocking on the door. It's said the knocking is the light keeper himself, locked out and trying desperately to get back in.
Reports of haunts stretch all the way over to the park's campground, too. It's here that a woman reported a desperate knock on her camper door one night — only to find that no one was there when she opened the door.
Have you ever felt a paranormal twinge when visiting this state park in South Carolina? If so, what (or whom) do you think it was?
Hunting Island State Park is open year-round. Winter hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Summer hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults; $5 for South Carolina seniors; $4 for children age 6-15; and it’s free for children 5 and younger. Lighthouse admission is $2 per person. Learn more from the official website for Hunting Island State Park.
Address: Hunting Island State Park, 2555 Sea Island Pkwy, St Helena Island, SC 29920, USA
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Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
