Located in Little River, SC, and only minutes away from Calabash, NC!
One of the best kept secrets in the area, this park features pathways and wooden boardwalks that extend across several beautiful salt marshes and small islands, with a nice gazebo that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and the distant waterfront of Little River.
With convenient access directly off Rt. 17 and Rt. 179, you can park and take a 5 minute stroll out across some incredibly scenic pathways to find yourself at a wide observation deck extending into the waterway.
The view is excellent, the cost is free, and the experience is unique!
A 114 acre tract of woodlands and salt marsh one mile south of the South Carolina State line from Calabash, North Carolina, the beautiful Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens extends more than 1,000 feet in width, from U.S. 17 to the Little River and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
The Vereen Gardens is a small portion of a 400 acre plantation that has been in the Vereen family since colonial days. The land donor was Jackson Hiram “Jack” Vereen of Madarin, Florida, who was born in Little River in 1882, the son of Hartford Jennings Vereen and the former Florence C. Frink of Brunswick County, N.C.
In 1972, Jack Vereen deeded the property to the Horry County Historical Commission. The Gardens include the historic Vereen Family Cemetery, which features Revolutionary war graves. The Vereens were instrumental in having the old family cemetery restored in the late 1950’s.
The Vereen Gardens also includes the Kings Highway which was a part of the Atlantic Coastal Transportation system, in place, at least from the time of the earliest white settlement in the American colonies. It is said to have been traveled by Lafayette in 1777 and Washing in 1791. It is one of the few stretches of the Kings Highway to retain its unpaved original appearance.
Vereen Memorial Gardens – On Jan. 1, 1797, this land was a portion of 400 acres that was conveyed to Jeremiah Vereen, Jr. Vereen was of French Huguenot descent. The French spelling of the family name was “Varin”. The Vereens came to this continent in 1680 and were in the Winyah area by 1736. This land was part of Big Landing Plantation. In April, 1972 115 acres was deeded to the Horry County Historical Commission by Jackson Hiram Vereen to be used as a botanical garden and nature trail.
The Tract contains the Vereen Family Cemetery
Distance: 3.00 mi
Type: Road/Trail, Loop
Difficulty: 2 / 10
Altitude: 25 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 20 ft / 20 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Yes
Filed Under: Hiking, Running
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