Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens (8/29/25)

As we are at the start of the very busy Labor Day Weekend, Bob and I chose a local park to explore today that we didn’t think would be a hotspot for weekend tourists. We drove about 39 miles northeast of Murrells Inlet to the community of Little River, South Carolina, to explore the Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens.

They did not disappoint, although they are not a flower-based garden. Instead, this pretty 115 acre park has trails through forests and over salt marshes and also overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway. It is free to the public and close to neighborhoods. We saw a number of other walkers while we were there.

We started our walk on a boardwalk near a picnic pavilion.

The boardwalks go over salt marshes, and an information sign noted that salt marshes are the most productive natural habitats on earth. They provide areas for animals and other organisms to feed and breed and also offer protection against predators. This one is also quite visually attractive.

Looking out on the Intracoastal Waterway

Another view of the small beach and Intracoastal Waterway

One of the wishing trees along the shore,
where people hang oyster shells and make a wish

Always on the lookout for gators in the marsh

The trail markings for the first trail that we hiked

The park is located on land that was once part of Big Landing Plantation, which was acquired by Jeremiah Vereen, Jr. in 1797. The Vereen family played a significant role in the area’s history, and a descendant of the Vereen family donated this land to the county Historical Preservation Commission in 1971 to create the park.