Huntington Beach State Park- Murrells Inlet, SC

We’ve been here 15 days.  When we left Carolina Beach, we drove straight to Huntington, got our rig setup and then immediately began training, such as it was.  We met with the gal who was hosting at Atalaya (pronounced At a lie ya) and she reviewed how we were to close the  “Welcome Wagon” at the end of the day.  On Sunday, we met with her both in the morning and in the evening to go over the process.  On Monday we were the new hosts at Atalaya.  What a great gig this is!  We work 3 days on and 3 days off.  T and I are responsible for covering the welcome wagon, but we don’t both need to be there at the same time.  So T opens in the morning at 9:00 a.m.  and I come on at 1:00 p.m. to relieve him and close at 5:00 p.m.  We welcome people to Atalaya, sell tickets and tell people about Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington as well as a little history about the house.  We both LOVE what we are doing and this is the easiest job we’ve had so far.

Just to give you a little history of Atalaya.  The home was built in the early thirties by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington.  The architecture is unique as it was built in the Spanish Moorish style and completely out of bricks.  Archer was the son of Collis Huntington, one of the big four who built the Trans Continental Railroad.  Anna was a world famous sculptor.  They purchased 4 plantations in the area.  Anna was diagnosed with TB in 1927 and they needed a place with a warmer climate to winter in. They used Atalaya as a winter home off and on until 1947.  I could go on and on about these two magnificent people!  Though wealthy they lived a relatively simple life.  Amazingly Anna lived to be 97.

They donated land and helped to create Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, a public sculpture garden in which to display the figurative sculpture works of American sculptors, including many pieces by Anna Hyatt Huntington. A portion of Brookgreen Gardens are a nature reserve, and another section is leased to the state for Huntington Beach State Park. The gardens, historic plantation sites, and their adjacent residence 'Atalaya Castle' are a National Historic Landmark, and on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[2]

While here I’ve tried my hand at surf fishing.  Actually all I did was cast a lot.  The ocean is within walking distance and at night when we are sitting outside we can hear the surf.  The park is beautiful, there is wildlife abundant. The sun shines and there is almost always a breeze from the ocean.  The people here are great to work with.  What’s not to like about Huntington Beach State Park!

I will be adding pictures of Atalaya and I hope to get a picture of the sun rising over the ocean, but alas I have to get up early and remember to take a tripod along with my camera.  Keep your fingers crossed.  I may just get a good shot.  In the meantime here are a few shots of things here at Huntington.

Alligators basking in the sun

Marsh @ Huntington Beach State Park

Egret enjoying the water.

I met my friend Cindy, who has been fishing all her life, at Holden Beach, NC for a day of fishing this past Thursday.  She taught me how to throw a net and catch bait fish as well as a few things about surf fishing.  We fished all  morning and into the afternoon. Caught a good batch of Blue fish and one Mackerel.  I brought the blue home and had a fish fry.  What a thrill for me to have caught enough fish for dinner and to be able to have friends over to share.  I know you'll think I'm making it up when you see the picture below which shows only one fish, but believe me I really did catch dinner.