Exploring Brookgreen

When half the country is dealing with the remains of winter, there is a beautiful oasis waiting for you to explore near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. With more than,100 acres of botanical gardens filled with massive art sculptures, animals to view in the zoo, and plenty of Lowcountry history, Brookgreen Gardens has activities for the entire family to enjoy. Only 16 miles from Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen Gardens allows visitors to experience something different than the usual beach vacation. Come and check out what Springtime looks like in the magnificent Brookgreen Gardens.

Brookgreen Gardens is more than a botanical garden. It is an art gallery on a massive scale, with over 2,000 pieces of artwork showcasing its giant American sculptures integrated with nature. And it is a walk through an important slice of history which is part of why it is a National Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

Opened in 1932, Brookgreen Gardens was built on four rice plantations, one of which was called Brookgreen Plantation. Since 1711, rice has been the major crop grown in this area. At one time, the owner Joshua John Ward was one of the wealthiest planters in the nation due to the development of longgrain rice, with the plantation yielding 3,900,000 pounds of rice from the land cultivated by over 1,000 enslaved laborers.

The entrance has two larger-than-life horse statues, a prelude to what awaits you as you explore the theme gardens. Make sure to pick up a map of the gardens; you will need it as the hedges are taller than most people, making it feel like you are the only person there. The tall hedges give you a constant surprise as you turn any corner.