Posted in South Carolina Hiking, Nature September 01, 2021 by

A Mysterious Woodland Trail In South Carolina Will Take You To The Original Stoney-Baynard Ruins

Hilton Head Island’s historical Stoney-Baynard ruins are some of the best-preserved tabby ruins dating back to the late 1700s. They’re located in a wooded area between two sleepy roads within the Sea Pines Plantation. Take a short walk along the wooded trail to uncover a fascinating six acres filled with archeological wonder.

You'll find access to the ruins along Plantation Drive on Hilton Head Island. Park and take a very short walk to discover four incredible structures.
TripAdvisor/urbanguy
You don't need to be a history buff to be fascinated by the remnants of the original two-story, 1,885-square-foot home that still stands on the site.
Google/A Bairani
Built in 1793 by Revolutionary War hero, Jack Stoney, the home eventually fell into the hands of the Baynard family. Hence, today's referral to the property as the Stoney-Baynard ruins.
The site consists of three notable ruins including the family home and a chimney that remains from the overseer's house.
Google/Jeremy Passmore
Two interesting theories on how the property changed hands from Stoney to Baynard are worth noting:
Google/Gyorgy Marton
The first and most scandalous theory puts Stoney and Baynard in the same late-night poker game where Stoney got out of hand and bet the house - and lost. The second theory is less interesting and involves Stoney losing the property in bankruptcy and Baynard purchasing it from the bank. We may never know the truth.
Archaeologists who've studied the remains at the Stoney-Baynard site have discovered there are many more remains below the surface here.
TripAdvisor/LarrJann
Among the few above-ground ruins, is one structure that's not related at all to the home on the site. It's a tabby rectangle probably used as a tent footing by Union troops during the Battle of Port Royal during the Civil War.
If you have yet to explore these wooded ruins found on Hilton Head Island, it's so worth the effort.
TripAdvisor/urbanguy

The site is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is absolutely free.

For more reasons to love Hilton Head Island, keep reading to discover why it was recently named the Top Beach Town In The South.

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Address: Stoney Baynard Ruins, Plantation Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, USA