Discover Hobcaw Barony: A 16,000-Acre Wildlife Refuge and Historic Plantation Near Myrtle Beach
Hobcaw Barony, managed by The Belle W. Baruch Foundation, spans 16,000 acres as a premier wildlife refuge, research reserve, and historic plantation. It's an ideal day trip for relaxation at the southern end of Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand. Explore South Carolina's coastal ecosystems—from beaches and marshes to forests—making it a top site for environmental research. The property features over 70 cultural sites, including cemeteries, slave cabins, and the homes of the Baruch family. Visit Hobcaw House, a historic retreat that hosted Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and other 20th-century leaders. Participate in guided ecology programs with hikes through beaches, marshes, and forests.
Access is exclusively via guided tours or programs. The Discover Hobcaw Tour is a captivating 2-hour journey covering 10 miles, highlighting the estate's history and ecology. It includes stops at Bernard Baruch's 1930s home—a winter retreat for the South Carolina native, Wall Street financier, and his elite guests like Churchill and Roosevelt—plus Friendfield Village, the last 19th-century slave village on Waccamaw Neck. Learn about coastal ecosystems, native wildlife, and endangered species. Limited to 14 seats, suitable for ages 8+, priced at $20 per person with reservations required.
For a deeper experience, join the 3-hour Explore Hobcaw Tour, visiting North Inlet salt marsh, Bellefield Plantation grounds, Friendfield Village, and the main floor of Hobcaw House. Enjoy extended time at each site with some walking and standing. Cost: $30 per person; reservations required.
Ongoing Events and Programs
The calendar features rotating events year-round. Recent highlights include:
- Camellias & Tea at Bellefield
- Trail Ride with Your Horse at Hobcaw Barony
- Plantation Sportsmen Series: Santee Delta Roundhouse Boat Tour
- Bellefield Grounds Tour
- How the Night Sky Works
- Photography Across Hobcaw Barony
- Hike Hobcaw: Clambank
- Learn to Throw a Cast Net
- Family Fun: Scientist for a Day – Salt Marsh Productivity
- Family Fun: Ghosts from the Coast
Check the latest tours and events at: https://hobcawbarony.org/visit/
Location:
The Belle W. Baruch Foundation
Hobcaw Barony
22 Hobcaw Road
Georgetown, SC 29440
(843) 546-4623
