Atalaya Castle Reviews

This is not a castle but the winter home of the Huntington's. Anna was a world renown sculptor, who did over 500 pieces in her lifetime. Her husband Archer was the foremost Hispanic scholar of his time, one of the wealthiest men in America, he did many other things in his life to help his fellow man. Together Anna and Archer created BrookGreen Gardens back in 1933

I have been to Atalaya three times and still enjoy it. It is such a hidden gem and I am sorry that more people don't discover it. The Huntingtons were obviously very interesting people. How incredible it would have been to have been invited to visit them there!

A great historic site located in Huntington Beach State Park. We've been there several times over many years. A definite stop!

this place sucks. I wish there was a zero staroption for this place it's sucked more than any vacuum ever has. The story-teller trash. The quality of the people there was more trash than the dumpster near my house. it was hotter than the literal pits of hell. We literally had to leave early because of the terrible service that we received at this trashy horrible disgusting place. I didn't expect much and it still let me down they say the people in the south are wonderful I disagree because of this. they should limit the amount of people allowed to go on this if there was over 50 human beings standing in tight enclosed rooms the tour guide did not care about any of the people or where they were going or what they were doing. I hated this experience it made me want to die everything about this sucked it was the worst.

This is not based on an English castle but a Spanish one. It is also not furnished and is in pretty bad condition. But if you visited Brookgreen Gardens, have a special interest in sculpture artist Anna Hyatt Huntington, or just like love stories, this is the "rest of the story". It was built for Anna by her husband as a place to live and work in a warm climate due to her TB. Once you park admission fee is paid, you can tour the castle for $2. It is money well spent just to be transported back into another era. Doesn't look like much, but.....

Not really a castle, but more of a huge castle style house. The layout, history, and location on the beach is the draw. We have been there several times, taken two granddaughters, and still looking forward to our next visit.

We live in Germany where castles abound. The Atalaya property reminded me more of a Mediterranean single story extended brick ranch house. When we walked through the house I felt a sterile emptiness. It felt as if no humans had ever lived there. I can only imagine what it was like to live at Atalaya during its heyday. That said, we both found the Castle fascinating and well worth the visit. There is a collection of Anna and Archer Huntington memorabilia, including letters and photographs, that trace their history together. I'm a history buff and loved the ability to look back into Archer and Anna's lives and times.

We enjoyed the castle, but really not worth the $2 admission fee. Half of that would have been sufficient. It is not furnished and you can tell nothing has been done to try to keep the building up.
The grounds, however, are beautiful and are well kept.
Hard to imagine this place was really lived in, but I imagine it was quite the place in its day.

Used to have condos in the area so have been to the park and Atalaya quite often. It is the home of Anna Hyatt Huntington, for which the park is named and there are a lot of her sculptures across the street in Brookgreen Gardens, which is another wonderful place to visit for a good walk.

Great to go through when you are at Huntington Beach. There was a group of us that went through and we enjoyed all the rooms and reading the plaques. The kids thought it was awesome.

We walked around and it is all boarded up and gates locked. We looked and could not see any open hours so assumed all you can do is see outside. The plaque had some really great information. However really wished we could go inside. Very disappointed.

Atalaya Castle was beautiful! It was great to walk through the castle and to learn about the history of it.

took a tour at night with a guide telling so-called ghost stories. Poor story telling skills, mostly standing about in the dark as the guide drones on telling local ghost stories without dramatic flair or anything new to add to hackneyed gray man tales. The "castle" is not furnished, and added little to the stories. Pass.

Very interesting place to visit. Be sure and take the guided tour. Tour guide is excellent. The beach is so clean at this park. Clean restrooms and a nice beach

incredible! Lovely self-guided walking tour. Bring your camera! This place is chockful of interesting architectural and natural photo opportunities.

A very interesting walk thru the structure that was built for the wife's health but served as a isolated area where both could do their work. He as an architect & she as a sculptor. He designed Brookgreen Gardens, which sits just across Hwy-17 & where many of her sculptures are displayed along with those of other artists.

I'm happy they only charge $2 to get in. Nothing special.... just something a rich person built and then let go a long time ago.

Such a beautiful place! We have visited several times throughout the years. It’s educational and filled with history. Definitely worth a visit!

Hidden gem….however in total disrepair.
We loved seeing this building. It’s beautiful but a shell of what it once was. Why it hasn’t been better kept over the years is a mystery to us. It’s definitely worth seeing…see my review under Huntington Beach State park. I go into more detail.
Atalaya Castle is inside of Huntington State park.

I love seeing how people used to live. This home is very unique and worth seeing. You'll definitely want your camera! Its fun for the home family. I went on a self guided tour off peak season so it wasn't crowded. Its only $2 to get in and well worth that price. Its located in Huntington Beach State park which offers the beach, nature, camping, beautiful scenery and is worth visiting too! The castle is near (walking distance) the beach and park ranger office/store where you can purchase food, snacks, gifts, etc. I can't remember if there was any food or bathrooms at the castle.

this place is so fun! it is like an adult size sandcastle! we go here at least once/year for the Atalaya Arts and Crafts Show in September..

My family vacationed in Cherry Grove this year. Three adults and three teenagers. Each person got to pick one activity in which ALL of us had to participate. My mom's choice was Atalaya Castle as she loves touring old historic sites. It was a HOT day (not unexpected in summer in South Carolina) but not altogether unpleasant with the ocean breeze.

You do pay an admission fee to get in the park as well as a small admission fee to get into the castle.

There are docents that lead tours but they were later in the day and it gets VERY hot then so we opted to go earlier. We used the self guided tour in the little brochures they hand out. The rooms are numbered and correspond to a description in the brochure. The castle is laid out around a large courtyard so you basically circle around that.

The information was really interesting and my mom loved it. The kids weren't nearly as interested I'm afraid. But they loved taking photos in the gorgeous courtyard. My one complaint is the lack of photos in the rooms. We really couldn't picture a lot of it as it was just descriptions. The castle was built in the 1930s and the Huntingtons entertained many of their socialite friends there so there must be photos in existence and it could really make the place come alive.

I'd like to go back in the fall when it's not so hot and really spend some time there again.

Also, a plus for the teens was that we hit the absolutely amazing Huntington Beach State Park beach for a few hours before we went home. The water was crystal clear and the waves were amazing. Plus not so crowded. We'd definitely go back to that beach and may make a camping plan sometime in the future.

If you use your imagination, you can picture the home the way it might have looked in its heyday, but now it's pretty much just a brick shell. It seems as if nature is slowly being allowed to reclaim it, but it would be an interesting segue into Brookgreen gardens.

Great day trip. Nice family fun. Tons of history and learning. Went to the beach afterwords. Made for a great experience.

We loved it here. It has a lot of history and a beautiful view. It’s a tour you may want to spend a few hours doing. You can pack a lunch and eat it on sight .

Very interesting history you can tour on your own, with audio or they have guided tours. We really enjoyed the history and learning about the owners. Great visit

My family really enjoyed touring this property and learning of the history. The courtyard is beautiful. It is a very unique home that at one time would have had a wonderful beach view. I hope the group preserving the home and property are able to continue to do so. It is a wonderful snip it of history.

We enjoyed this very much. It was fun to go through each room and figure out what they all were and how they were functional. It isn't a castle in the European sense, but I can see why they called it a castle. It now costs $5, but is certainly well worth it.

Read reviews here on TripAdvisor and we decided to check out the castle. It doesn’t look like much from a distance and “castle” seems like a misnomer but it is moorish-style. Luckily we got there just in time - the guided tour only ran at 2pm when we were in the area so glad it worked out. Check times online ahead of time to be sure. You can do a self guided tour which is an option, especially with kids you may opt for that route. I do feel like if you like history you get more from the guided version. We spent about 90 mins. Amazing some of the features of the place, way ahead of its time, lot of thought put into things. Admission: you pay $8 pp to get into the state park (there is a beach, nature trails, restrooms and snack bar nearby) and then $2 for the castle.

Who knew there was an actual castle in the eastern US. The cost is minimal to tour and the fees go toward preservation. It is a good representation of Spanish architecture in the south. It contains many rooms and studios and offices for the Huntington’s. It also contained many rooms for the staff along Witt other amenities to help the staff. It is about 45 minutes for the recorded tour or it can be toured on your own. A nice thing to do.

Before we visited Atalaya Castle we did not know very much about Mr. Huntington and his wife. This place gave us an opportunity to learn about life of these incredible people.
Woderful part of American history.
The tower is another gem - built in Spanish style for bats, so they can catch mocquitoes.

Very nice piece of history. Picturesque and you are able to self tour and take your time. Also inside the Huntington Beach park with plenty of walking and bike trails.

This was very interesting. It did not look like much but it was interesting reading all about it. Seei g all the rooms and learning all about it. For 2.00 it was worth it. You learn how Anna Huntington sculptured with animals . Also seeing all the rooms and learning about them.

Atalaya is called a castle - perhaps better described as a compound of sorts. Incredibly unique architecture designed by Archer Huntington himself. $2 for admission, you will be given the option of a self guided tour or can purchase an audio tour for an additional fee. The self guided tour came with a laminated map, each room labelled with a number. Our children had an awesome time working their way through the "maze" of rooms and trying to guess what each one was. One side of the compound held rooms primarily for storage and servants, and the other side more living quarters and studios.
An interesting glimpse into the lives of the Huntingtons. Beautiful spot for pictures as well - amazing light in the afternoon!

Interesting architecture but relatively unstimulating except to those with imagination. "Castle" is somewhat description, mainly an open-air skeletal structure. Gift shop nearby. State park beyond.

Checked out the Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park.
Very interesting piece of history from the area.
Recommend you give them a try when in the area.

This was a surprise gem. Well worth the park and castle entry fees. The castle is well preserved but be aware that it is no longer furnished. Let your imagination run! The day we were here it was a beautiful, warm December day with only a few other visitors. It was wonderful to take our time and explore. This is a must do when visiting Pawley's Island.

The entry fee comes with the park, but it was very weird. Tiny rooms, badly designed, and really not at all evocative o f a Moroccan Palace. It was their dream in a nice location.

It is a typical American castle in that it borrows from one of the European versions a bit but on a smaller scale. The grounds are beautiful and the location near the beach is wonderful. We enjoyed walking the halls and rooms with little bits of history to read along the route. You can even have a guided tour with Jane, who is pretty awesome to talk to.

We loved it. Attendant very knowledgeable .Former owners were very good employers.Housekeepers quarters were almost as big as owners. Owners used local labor to continually build to keep locals employed.

Strolling through room after room in a dream castle that was once the home of a wealthy, artistic couple. Imagining what their lives must have been like, surrounded by beauty and their menagerie of animals, including monkeys and parrots

Remains of an historic home located in Huntington Beach State Park. Site of local events including an artisan show each Fall.

The history of the Castle, the beach area and the Gardens is fascinating. Nice family places to visit.

Very interesting place to visit. Didn't realize SC was a popular place with people from the North. Would have stayed longer, but it was getting cold as storms came in.

Atalaya was the home to Archer and Anna Huntington. It is located in Hunting Beach State Park across Highway 17 from Brookgreen Gardens. It is truly unique home with features that were well beyond their time when it was constructed. In addition to a studio space, there is a area that was used to keep animals that were subjects of Anna's sculptures. It's a great complement to a visit to Brookgreen Gardens - the home of several Huntington sculptures.

We attended the Christmas Open House at Atalaya (I had been there previously also). I think the Open House, when some of the rooms are decorated give you a better idea of what the house was in its day. The people that decorated the rooms were able to tell the story and give you a sense of how the Huntington's used the space. Well worth the few dollars!

Our family loves visiting Antalya. It is fun for our teens and our little one. Great history lessons for our kids. We love Huntington Beach State Park.

Beautiful ruins of a castle and an interesting history of the family who built it. Worth the $2 tour admission. I did feel our guide needed more practice and her retelling of Don Quixote wasn't exactly correct. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this very much.

Fascinating thanks to our guide, Mike! I had walked through this interesting "castle" several times over the years, but had never done a tour. On the 2pm Friday tour, Mike was kind, knowledgable, and a wonderful storyteller. Learning as we walked through the slightly spooky buildings, we really got a sense of the family who built Adelaya and helped support the region over the years. I could have listened to Mike's tales all day! Thank you!

Last few years they've done a great job improving the self guided tour and the information room. Love the whole park as well.

I was married here, so it certainly holds special place for me. It is a must see for someone visiting!

I have visited Atalaya Castle many times. I highly recommend a visit when in the area. They now have a room dedicated to the history of the home and the Huntington family which makes the trip even more interesting.

Atalaya is the name of the large, all brick home built by artist Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband and architect, Archer Milton Huntington. It is right up against the ocean and boasts beautiful Atlantic sunrises and views. The rooms are many as well as the staff they employed. They loved to entertain and show off two heir beautiful gardens. Anna's love for animals is seen in the corrals she keeps on the property near the entrance which included bear, horses and coyotes. The tour can be taken by yourself listening to pre-recorded takings as you go along or with a pre-arranged guide. We chose to walk by ourselves through each room following a map given to us as we entered. We paid a small fee as we entered the very, large property that included the home tour. A must see in Murrells Inlet or the Myrtle Beach area.

I wish it could of stayed as it was less commercialized. It is still a place to see. You have to pay to get into Huntington Beach State Park EACH PERSON. there are alligators and a small museum for the kids. A wonderful beach. There is a camp ground. Just a fun place to go for the day. Would recommend it highly

We went on a very cold day, and wish we could have stayed longer. There is a lot to see, be sure to stop in the gift shop to see much more history displays. The stables were closed when we were there, but everything else was available. This is a self-guided tour with a good map. Don't be discouraged by the exterior, it does not give any hints of what is inside the walls!

Can do a self-guided tour. Very well marked rooms. Beautiful grounds. Ice little room with historic photographs. American castles are rare.

While at Huntington Beach State Park, my wife and I went to Atalaya Castle, the winter home of Archer and Anna Huntington. Archer, the wealthy son of a railroad magnate and industrialist, was a scholar and philanthropist known primarily for his scholarly works in the field of Hispanic studies. Anna Hyatt Huntington was a famous figurative sculptor. Their South Carolina estate stretched over 9,000 acres and included forest, swamp, rice fields and beachfront including all of the current Huntington State Park. They also donated part of their land and helped create Brookgreen Gardens, a public sculpture garden which feature works of American sculptors, including many pieces by Anna.

Atalaya, a Spanish name which means watchtower, and grounds include more than 30 rooms. The structure of the house is built around a perimeter that is 200 yards on a side and creates a large enclosed courtyard in the center of the grounds. The back of Atalaya opened towards the beach dunes. While it is only a one story house, the centerpiece of Atalaya is its one feature that rises above the modest height of the living areas. This is a forty foot square sided water tower. The 3,000 gallon tank in the tower provided water, at a decent pressure, throughout the home.

The south side of the home was a large studio for Anna's sculpting work. Anna's love of creating animal statues and using them as elements with people also led to this home having a small stable and pens for animals.

We knew nothing about the Huntingtons and the castle look more like a fortress than a home. There is a separate admission charge to tour the building which was very inexpensive. Being the off-season, the tour was self-guided, which we appreciated. The building is not fully maintained and many rooms had no window glass and, therefore, were open to the elements. There were no furnishings, only vacant rooms with brick walls and floors. There was decorative ironwork over the pane-less windows that, along with the peeling paint on the walls, created a “prison-like” environment. Except for touring the rooms and grounds, and reading short explanatory signs on the walls, there was nothing to explain or show how the Huntington’s lived. The feeling we had after completing the tour was reminiscent of how we felt follow the tour we took of Alcatraz years ago – interesting but it left an uncomfortable and cold feeling.

South Carolina could really do a lot to turn this into a better park. There are a lot of attractions, but are somewhat run down.

We were staying in the state park so decided to visit this home. Hearing that it was built by a wealthy family in the 1930's, I was expecting a grand vacation home built along the coastal beach. Approaching the house, it looks more like a fortress or prison. It was worthwhile to take the tour with the electronic narration since it gave much more information about the couple who built it and why it was designed this way. When you understand the history, it makes more sense. It is mostly empty, cold, and stark inside. I don't know what their eventual plans are for restoration. It is worth the visit...just don't think you are going to see a traditional southern mansion.

What a find, didn't know about this castle until we went to Huntington Park. Cool place with so much information on the lives of the namesake's of the park. Absolutely need to visit Brookgreen Gardens as well, which is located down the road.

The story behind this complex is quite interesting. The architecture itself is fascinating as well. This is something more than a typical state park attraction. It is worth seeing if you are visiting the park and it does not take too long to check out. Unless you are an architecture buff I do not think it is a must do for visitors trying to cram as much into limited vacation time.

Not a castle but a really neat place in Huntington Beach State Park, across from Brookgreen Gardens. We have been there several times and the grounds are well maintained. TIckets are only a few dollars and helps the staff maintain the place. Its very interesting and worth the tour if you are in Brookgreen or Huntington Beach SP. Huntington Beach SP is one of the nicest beaches around with nice facilities and camping. We go several times during the summer.

We saw birds and alligators! Was a good walk to take thru Atalaya! Got great pictures! I will come back with !u G's!ily and take a guided tour! This time we went on our own! Beautiful Structure!

Worth the visit. Different place to visit that isnt the run of the mill tourist trap. Very interesting piece of history. It would be more interesting if the rooms weren't almost all empty. The rest of the park and the beach is a very beautiful spot.

We've visited Huntington Beach State Park many times and saw the castle on the grounds, but had no idea what it was all about until we decided to check it out on a recent trip. What an interesting place! The Huntington family built the castle during the depression era, providing jobs to local residents who desperately needed work during that time. The Huntington's allowed the castle to be used by the military as a look-out during WWII. The rooms where Anna created her beautiful sculptures were neat to see. I could picture her working on her sculptures in the inside and outdoor studios, using the live animals kept on the grounds as her subjects. If you take the self-guided tour like we did be sure to read the brief info on the plaques in each room. The attendant was very knowledgeable and answered many questions we had after the self-guided tour. His passion for telling the story of the Huntingtons and the castle was apparent and added to the experience! At the end of the tour we walked around the castle through a path that led directly to the ocean - so beautiful! If you have any interest in history at all, you need to visit. It was well worth the $2 per person!

Atalaya is full of interesting history and sits right by the beach at Huntington State park. It is a very unique place to tour and spend an hour or so exploring.

Nice place to visit. I would suggest getting the audio, it's well worth the $3. It was an hours drive from NMB but I enjoyed the area. Nice day out. We could have beached there also if we wanted. I could see how a day on the beach, a picnic lunch and a walk around Atalaya would make for a nice day! Bring the bug spray and sun screen!

Beautiful place. Go during the local arts festival if you can. Also check out brookgreen gardens. Breathtaking scenery throughout all of Huntington but Atalaya is really unique and all of the guides and park staff are very informative.

Huntington Beach State Park is gorgeous and I'd highly recommend taking the time & spending the $2.00 admission to see Atalaya Castle which is on the Park property. It's an easy self-guided tour and is worth the 30-45 minutes it takes to go through. (The castle interior is not handicapper accessible).

Imagine living in this awesome castle by the sea. Trees and flowers surround the preserved estate, where love once lived. One of my all time favorite places to sit and reflect on the beauty and peace of this special place. Walking inside will stir your soul and cause you to imagine what it must have been like to live there. Blessed to have such a preserved treasure for all to enjoy.

It was a very nice place to stop. The setting is beautiful on the beach. The design was really nice too.

We spent the day scoping out the park so we thought it was fitting to see this place also , well worth the $2.

What a beautiful surprise this was for us. We had no idea that this even was in the park.
The construction and layout of this old home is amazing. 24 fireplaces alone.
Center courtyard was beautiful.
Must check this place out then hit the gorgeous beach!

This tour of Ayatala Castle and grounds was quite interesting and informative.
As others have noted, Ayatala is not an true castle..Actually it was a winter home built and used by a wealthy man for his ill wife so that she could escape to the SC coast from the harsh NY winters.
It is all brick, and mortar...walls, floors, walkways, and water tower...The grounds are lovely, and even though the home itself is now unfurnished and spare, you can imagine how the couple might have enjoyed the life they had there..
The audio tour was very helpful in explaining the different areas of the home, studio and grounds.There is much we would have missed had we not added the audio portion to the walking tour.The only confusing part of it was that the numbered "stops" along the way did not correspond to the room numbers in the house.Otherwise it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours, and we enjoyed the time we spent there..

Atalaya castle is an interesting stop. Without the guided tour, it is a very boring, very basic concrete building. With the tour, it is more interesting, and a fair use of an hour.

The overall place was great. However, the Castle was very disappointing. We were hoping that there was something to see other than cold brick walls and barron floors. It was very difficult for many of the visitors.

If you're in SC this place is worth the trip. If you go, get the guided tour. A fun half day with the family.

The shell of this building is inside Huntington State Park. An interesting walk around. Plus you can walk around the park and beach after. We saw some alligators and birds. Small fees for both.

Really enjoyed the visit. Great thing to do at Huntington Beach state park learn the history of Huntington Beach and brookgreen gardens

Atalanta is a fun visit while at Huntington State Park. The home dates back to early 20th century. At that time it must have been a great home, residence and party place. Now it is more stay stone and cut grass. It is fun to go through narrow passageways into the Maze of Rooms. I have been to Atalaya a number of times through the years. Being there visit it. However it is not a must see tourist attraction. Brook green Gardens has more to offer.

We didn’t actually go because it is $8 a person to get in the state park that gives access. It would be helpful if the entry fee was listed somewhere

If in Pawleys after seeing Brookgreen Gardens this is a must! Anna Hyatt was very talented and to see her residence at times where she worked us just so special. Right next to the ocean with so much natural light to do her sculptures! She even housed her animal models at this castle.

This is especially interesting if you are interested in history. You are given a map and the rooms are clearly marked so you know what each room was. There are also some placards that elaborate about the Huntingtons. We enjoyed imagining how they lived and entertained.

the area was very nice, kept up well, clean so many nice things to see and do there. a must if in the area.

Atalaya Castle is a National Historic Landmark and remnant of the winter home of renowned sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband Archer who built this home and the Brookgreen Gardens located across Ocean Highway (US 17).
Archer was a Spanish historian and he patterned the Atalaya Castle after the Moorish architecture found in the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It is a large rectangular stone structure with several open courtyards lined with palm trees. Each room has a sign telling you what it was used for and a number to help lead you from one room to the next in an orderly fashion – starting with Room #1. There are over 40 rooms in all.
Room #1 is not obvious to find since is it is not directly accessible from the entrance of the Atalaya Castle. You must first enter a paved court yard (Room #42 on the map) and you will find the person you pay for access to the Castle in a room to your left (The Garage, Room #37), which also houses a small museum and memorial to Anna and Archer Hyatt Huntington and pictures of sculptures done by Anna. After you pay, the entrance to the Castle is a stone arched doorway to your left that leads you into a narrow corridor consisting of an endless array of arched doors – like what you see when you look into a mirror that is facing another mirror. If you make an immediate right turn and walk to the extreme right side of the building you will find Room #1 to start your tour. (Make sure you get a map when you pay your fee or down load the map off the WEB in advance.)
The castle itself has seen better days and the inner furnishings of the home are no longer there – just the fireplaces, metal barred windows and the exterior walls remain. But it is still a very impressive and unique structure; and offers many photo opportunities.
Atalaya Castle is found within the Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet. Visitors must pay an entrance fee to the Huntington Beach State park ($5 per adult -not per car but per adult person, $3 for children 6 to 12 and under 5 is free.) as well as the fee to Atalaya Castle. A visit to Atalaya Castle cost just $2 per person and children under 5 are free. (At my timeshare we were fortunate enough to be given free access to the park though a Park Pass that hangs from the visor of our car. But we still had to pay the fee for Atalaya Castle).

This "castle" looks more like a prison than a castle as you approach it. It is quite apparent that, while wealthy, the Huntingtons were intensely private people. The high walls notwithstanding, this winter home is quite impressive. While it is not furnished, it is easy to imagine the furnishings that may have decorated the many rooms in this large Moorish-style home including bedrooms, a dining room, a sculpture studio, a sunroom, and library to name a few! It is a one-story brick structure with open courtyards and lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Very interesting and worthwhile self-guided tour for a nominal entry fee.

Very interesting to tour and learn about the castle. Enjoyed the photographs and history of the castle. Liked that each room was numbered and the number corresponded with brochure telling you what the room was used for.

I have visited several time over the years, fascinated by the history. Only sculptors studio I have ever been in, fascinating to see how the huge pieces were taken out of the building. Brookgreen Gardens across the street also a must see when in the area.

It's worth walking around it, but it is definitely not a castle. It's a nice diversion for oh - 5 minutes, but it's hot and not terribly interesting. Lots of folks getting engagement photos though.

the winter home of a wealthy NY couple. he was a wealthy patron of the arts and his wife was an accomplished sculptor that developed Brookgreen Gardens across the street. they arrived for the winters in October, hired local staff, were great employers,
kept the local economy going during the depression by hiring local craftsmen. the castle includes the staff wing-bedrooms with fireplaces, living area, bathrooms, and kitchen. his study, her studios. if you are interested in history definitely worth the visit.

The castle itself is immaculate. The history and beauty in one is just phenomenal. I was actually there to visit the trail on the left part of the island along with the pier and landscaping but then stumbled upon the castle. It was such an amazing bonus to the area! It's very affordable with kind and knowledgeable staff. Absolutely stunning at sunset! I always look forward to visiting when passing through the area. So clean and beautiful!

This was the workshop for Elizebeth Hunnington. I can't imagine what it must have been like when she was creating here. Great location.

This is essentially a bunch of empty rooms.... Disappointing! Save your money for Brookgreen gardens or the aquarium in myrtle beach

We used to visit the Huntington Garden and house in California so it was nice to see more of the family history. We did the self guided tour and thought it was fine. The map and signs in the rooms gave you the layout of the castle. Sadly it is very lacking in more photos and interpretations of what it would have been like when the Huntingtons summered here. There is a nominal ($2 each I think) fee to enter and you do have to pay the state park entry fee as well, so that made it pricey. The beach there is very nice and we saw a few alligators in one of the ponds so if you made a day of visiting the park it would be a good way to spend a day.

This building is definitely worth a look. Especially with the very reasonable prices. We paid $2 per adult for the self-guided tour. (Bear in mind that this is inside the state park, so you will need to pay to enter that as well, if f not already visiting or staying there) Very interesting to find out about a rather eccentric couple, and their lifestyle. Also interesting to see the way it fits into the brookgreen gardens story. Definitely worth a look!

Located a Huntington State Park but take the time to see this place. Not a fancy place, just as they left it to the State. History of the location and Brookgreen Gardens (part of the rice plantations) are both a go see attraction.

I have been here many times over the years. It is different at different times of the year, but it always gives you a tremendous feel for the era and the Huntingtons. One thing that is a must is renting the audio tour. It is inexpensive, but it is one of the absolute best recordings about a museum that I have ever heard. Not only does it give you much detail about the property and the lifestyle, there are actual period recordings of Anna Huntington herself talking about her work and sculpting. Do not go through the property without the audio tour!

A lot of history here, if you're not a history type you probably won't appreciate it (see below). After touring the grounds, we spent some time on the beach collecting sharks teeth and finding youngsters to give them to.

The castle itself is bare (no furniture, just the semi-ruins), but there are informative signs and a map to help you tour and understand the layout. We went solo, but there are guided tours once or twice a day. We spent some time speaking with the nice woman at the entrance and I'm sure the guided tour would be very informative.

We enjoyed our visit, but most children would be bored to death (good thing the beach and alligator pond are close by - if they don't like the beach, feed 'em to the gators LOL)

Know very little/nothing about the couple who built this place and lived here. From the outside, it kind of looks like a prison (all concrete). The inside is in poor condition and is like a maze. I am sure at one time it was an absolutely amazing place. It was somewhat interesting and unique. Can't say I would recommend it to anyone unless you are looking to kill time while at the beach.

This is the shell of the beach front house of the Huntington's. I would suggest you go early because the temperatures can get jot inside the walls. The end of Sept. there is a nice art show. You can e joy the castle and Huntington State Park. We go to the park at least a week. The castle is very interesting!!!

Huntington Beach State Park is pretty. You can always spot alligators in the water by the causeway. Lots of birds too. But Atalaya is really really interesting! The history behind and the layout are just amazing. Worth the trip!

It's a nice place to stop and take a look. It's not very big, but it's nice to see and learn something of the history of this "small" castle.

Stopped here many years ago and decided for a return tip. We purchased a South Carolina park pass for $99. Admission to the park and castle were free with the pass. There were four of us so the pass was a great deal. The pass will encourage us to visit many more state parks in South Carolina.Love that the rooms were marked and could be followed on the map. Information in most rooms as what they were. Loved that some of the bathroom fixtures and cabinets were still intact. Brickwork and iron work were amazing. They also had an enclosed area to hang the laundry. The history lessons were plentiful in this castle.

Great place to go. Each year they have an Juried Artist show that is fabulous. Would be a great place to get married or have photos taken. So much History in this castle by the sea. Absolutely lovely in every way. The tours are very informative.

I went here a few years back for an art/craft event. The Castle is breathtaking. The grounds are beautiful. Great memory!

The castle is beautiful. The staff was very informative and friendly. Gave great details on the hour tour that is provided with your ticket price of only $2.00 per person. It was definitely worth it. Smaller children will get bored with the guided tour but adults will enjoy it. Great pictures.

A wonderful, and very affordable, addition to my trip to the state park. Was amazed at all the information throughout the home. Did the tour on my own and learned much this way. May be difficult during 'peak season', but I was alone in my journey in late August.

Located inside Huntington Beach State Park, access to which it costs $8.00 for non-South Carolina residents, there is an additional charge of $2.00 for the Castle itself. Patterned after the Moorish castles of old, millionaire Archer Huntington had this castle designed and built for him and his wife so they could escape the bad weather of the north in winter. There are no furnishing inside the castle, most of the rooms of which were for staff, as the Huntingtons did very little entertaining.

The interior and exterior of the castle, made mostly of bricks, is beginning to deteriorate. Some areas are not suitable for strollers and wheel chairs with no ramps to some rooms. The gardens, however, are quite nice, giving the impression of the Spanish/Moorish era of old.

Totally worth the $2 admission fee, if you're in the state park it is absolutely worth stopping by. We didn't do a full tour but I didn't think it was necessary--there are plenty of signs and information on the map they give you. There's also an audio tour available. If you're sweating and want a break for the sun, it's very breezy inside and the perfect activity to cool off. We weren't sure if we were going to go inside, but we were very glad we did.

We had little knowledge of who the Huntingtons were but are always looking for historic places to visit on vacation. While there are no furnishings in this castle, the story and architectural design based upon Spanish homes is more than enough reason to visit. She was an artist, he was a self-educated man who designed the home and they both supported the community and gave of their wealth. We were only disappointed that we went on our last day so did not realize how wonderful the beach at the state park was!!

Stopped for a tour and we were too late. Looked around on our own following the map. What a property! Much thought went into designing it. Would love to see it furnished.

Viewing the remains of the "castle" you really have to use your imagination because all that is remaining is the structure without any furnishings. Having spent 2 days touring the Huntingtons' Brookgreen Garden, we had to see their home that sits on Huntington Beach, SC. There is a hefty admission price to the beach itself and then a separate fee to tour the home which is adjacent to the beach. The castle is all brick and concrete. There are the slave quarters, cook's quarters, the Huntingtons' quarters, a kitchen, prep area. There is also a lovely courtyard accessible from nearly everywhere in the castle. The highlight is the studio of Anne Huntington where she did her sculpting: one outdoor and one indoor, depending on what she was working on and the weather. Don't miss this.

Decided to make a trip here to visit the castle and what a disappointment. The grounds are very pretty but the house itself was closed to set up for some sort of fall festival. This was a terrible disappointment as we had planned our visit around touring the castle. Hopefully we will get the opportunity to visit again.

If you enjoy history, this is one place you will love! The guided tour is inexpensive and well worth the time!

This historical residence was a pleasure to visit. Although it is just a shell of its former self it is still delightful to see and explore. One can easily imagine the grace and elegance this old building once possessed. Great visit when combined with Brookgreen Gardens across the street.

Very interesting building with lots of history. The grounds were well maintained and the architecture was fascinating.

So much to do here and just a 5.00 admission.
The beach is bigger and wider than most, the walking and bike trails are well labeled. Atalaya Castle is very interesting to tour for only 2.00 pp. Would recommend seeing it

Atalaya is a great place to get in some interesting photography. Bring your ultra wide lens! Some of my best shots were taken super wide.

Depending on who gives the tours this can be an excellent or just very good and informative tourist destination. You can go through Atalaya on your own but will miss some history of the area. Atalaya Castle is also located in Hunting Beach State Park that has some excellent wildlife and birding opportunities. I would say this is more for adults though it is family friendly.

Brookgreen Gardens is across the street from Atalaya. Admission to Atalaya is $5 per person versus $18 for Brookgreen. We took teenager to Atalaya first. When he expressed appreciation for Atalaya we took him to Brookgreen. We liked the ruins of "castle". Atalaya translates to Tower. Tower is not accessible. If we did tour over we'd have attended "crabbing" at 1pm and tour of Atalaya at 2pm. Instead we were selfguided.

Great place to spend some time. Yes you have to pay $2 to tour Atalaya And $8 adult to get into the state park but the park fee actually gets you into 2 state parks. Myrtle beach & Huntington. Very much worth it if you like the beach, shelling (excellent at Myrtle beach SP) wild life (we saw gators!) piers, fishing, & historic site seeing. The restrooms are very nice & clean at both parks.

We took the recorded guided tour walking through at our leisure. The gorgeous day added to a truly excellent experience. The Huntingtons were incredible in so many ways! Their legacy is amazing and to be respected. Well worth the time and money. So much history, philanthropy, architectural design to learn about and a love story to boot!

If time permits, a visit to the Atalaya Castle, which are basically the remaining brick bones of this historic home is well worth your time. There is a small charge to visit and you will enjoy the experience more if you take the guided tour which is excellence. We we impressed with the tremendous interest this wealthy east coast family had for the welfare and support of their South Carolina neighbors. Wear comfortable shoes, sun screen and bring a cold bottle of water especially in the summer. A quick trip trough the exhibit prior to entering the former house area is advised

We met our beach photographer, the amazing Jarrett Hucks here for our family photos last year and it is a beautiful place with a rich history. An excellent place to have photographs made. Tucked in off the beach but close enough to see. Truly a hidden gem in the great Grand Strand of South Carolina.

The history told was intriguing and brought to life the things you read about in school. The tour guide was informative and the castle and grounds were beautiful.

Interesting part of history, it's interesting to look back to see how people lived so primitive to what we have today. The youth of today would never survive if they had To live back then.

This is history well preserved. The admission is very inexpensive and the lady at reception is a world of knowledge.

The castle was interesting, but taking the 2 pm guided tour was outstanding! Hearing the stories about Anna and Archer Huntington made the castle come to life. The Huntington's were interesting, generous, inventive and artistic. Can't wait to read more about them.

This "castle" (more of a compound rather than a castle) was built by Archer Huntington and his wife Anna After she contracted tuberculous, they moved to have sea air in the winter months. Although they were quite wealthy, this place was built as a home and not a palatial estate for entertaining that other millionaires at the time built (such as the Newport mansions). There is no grand ballroom or furnishings for that matter. The walls and floors are all brick and the place is very sparse. There is a large outdoor courtyard with rooms along the outside perimeter. Servant quarters are as large as the main living areas of the house. It's slightly eerie and dark. Not what you would expect from a high society couple.
Is located inside of Huntington National Park, so you have to pay park admission on top of admission the castle. The park is 5.00 each person and castle tour is 2.00 to walk around and 6.00 for the headphones. I suggest the headphones so that you can really hear some valuable history on the place.
I'm glad I went, but it isn't what you expect if you have been to Biltmore or other summer homes of the wealthy.

It doesn't look like much at first. In fact it looks like a prison from the outside but the bars were installed by the current caretakers to keep vandals out, not visitors in! This is an estate, now in sorry disrepair, built in 1931 by Archer Huntington so his wife would have a place to work on her sculptures that eventually ended up in the adjacent Brookgreen Gardens. It's a fascinating piece of Pawley's Island history that shouldn't be missed. The structure is made up of a gazillion bricks and must have taken years to construct. In fact, one of the objectives of Mr Huntington was to build it during the Great Depression as a way to give locals a steady job in bad economic times. Nice guy.

While it is not a “castle” as one may envision it offers history nonetheless. We walked through a self guided tour with our teenagers.
We didn’t get over to Brookgreen Gardens where Some of Anna’s work is displayed.
Definitely a must if you go to Atalaya.

I love for the kids to see (even ourselves) how people lived back then.
It was super hot and sauna like the day we went so we got to get a glimpse of what life was like without air conditioning 🥵
Besides that the insight given on their life was great learning.
It cost 2.00 per person to get in the castle but you pay per person to enter Huntington State Park.

Once in the Park you have access to campgrounds, causeways (wildlife viewing), the beach and the castle. There are bathrooms available and a playground for children also rinsing stations and picnic areas.

The winter residence of the Huntington ' s in the 1930-1950 is an attraction at Huntington Beach HuntingtonState Park, SC. The building is one level and expansive to accommodate the needs of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Archer was a businessman and Spanish scholar and Anna was a renowned sculptor. Many animals were housed here including bears which Anna modeled in her work. She had an indoor and outdoor studio and there were several accommodations for their servants who traveled with them. There is a display of information and photos which should be reviewed prior to entering the residence. A self guided audio tour is also available. Unfortunately there are no furnishings in the rooms so you have to use your imagination. The courtyards are beautiful. There is a small entrance fee.

The castle and grounds are very beautiful. The gardens are well kept and blooming during our visit. Many photo opportunities.

Beautiful site, an absolute must see if you like historical buildings or just want to see a beautiful home. I'm actually getting married there next year!

If you want to take a break from the beach or other beach related activities stop at this castle with an interesting history. You can read up on the castles history in the small museum and then stroll through the many rooms of the buildings. There even is an oyster shucker room!

So what did the children of the railroad, shipping, etc. do? Came to South Carolina for hunting or health. The Huntingtons were interesting and generous. They bought 4 plantations and donated the, for an amazing representation sculpture garden.
Please visit both their home Atalaya and Brookgreen Gardens

Docents are knowledgeable and enthusiastic..

History perspective: The area represents the pre civil war era and culture of 18 and 19th century rice plantations. Four of them when purchased by the Huntingtons in the 1930's, bounded E/W by the Waccamaw River and the Atlantic Ocean,became Brookgreen Garden and Huntington Beach State Park.

We just went to see Huntington Beach. The weather was rather nasty so we walked over to see what the building was. We ended up touring it but didn’t realize our annual pass would’ve covered our admission but had already paid the $4. We didn’t mind the donation though.

The Holiday Christmas Spirit was not in the air today at the Castle. Bev and I paid to get into the park as expected but after we parked our car and walked all the way around to the front gate we were denied entrance. We did not have three dollars in cash. We had a check. We had a credit card but no cash.... I asked, “Could Bev and I owe them the three dollars to get in. Answer: “No.”. We were instructed ,”To go back out and get cash from a store.” That did not happen.
I was in total disbelief. Was there no Christians there? No one with a heart? No one with the Christmas Spirit? They could get the Square for ten dollars at Walmart which allows using the credit cards at 1.75%. But that did not happen.
As we were heading back to the car one lady offered me her last two dollars. It was not enough but it was very kind of her.
Always a stranger. Right?
I did not see why they could not take a check for six dollars to pay for Beverly and I to enter. I guesss they do not want the thousand dollar check I had to donate for the Atalaya Castle either.
Merry Christmas.
There are other places to celebrate the holidays.

I love exploring old architecture but this was in shambles. To be in the 1930's it was not taken care of. I wouldn't pay the extra money to tour it. Looks more like a prison, don't let the term Castle fool you.

Enjoyed touring this home built by Archer Huntington in 1931.
Even though the home is well worn, it still is opulent. The courts inside are beautiful.
Archer thought out the design of this home very well keeping in mind all who worked for him and his wife, Anna.
Well worth visiting.

Take the $5 audio tour and you will know a lot of details about this unique place. Each stop on the audio tour is only about 30-45 seconds so you aren't overwhelmed with information but you still learn a lot about the history of the place. Go to the Atalaya Castle, do the audio tour, then go to the beach and camp out if you can, and enjoy the surrounding communities!

Absolutely stunning! Your very minimal entrance fee helps to maintain this spectacular property. Full of history and architecture, you won't want to miss it. It only takes about an hour guided or walk through on your own with an audio device. I would highly suggest the guided tour though, my kiddos (5 and 9) enjoyed it but it was very hot the day we went so that made it a little more difficult for them. Would definitely do again!

Cool looking Mansion built during the depression by the huntington's who also started Brookfield gardens . Interesting layout with the rooms surrounding an inner courtyard . Admission is only $2 !

Last minute unplanned stop into Huntington State Park to check out the Castle. We arrived just in time for the Aligator Walk/Program. The volunteer was quite sweet and very knowledgeable. She took us for a 25 walk out the front door of Atalaya Castle. We saw some Aligators crossing the walkway and even saw a nest.

We then walked back and toured the Castle. It was $2 well spent. They give you a little map with corresponding numbers/rooms so you can guide yourself around.

This stop was probably my favourite thing that we did on our trip.

Atalaya is one of the most interesting homes we've ever visited. And the audio tour (extra $4) is very well done and informative. The home looks like a fort and the history of the home and the Huntingtons is captivating. Everyone who considers visiting Brookgreen Gardens should visit Atalaya first to learn the history of the sculptures at the Gardens and the woman who created them.

My husband prompted this visit and I'm so glad he did! He directed a movie, Unmasking the Idol, here many years ago and had not been back in this area since then. The "Castle" per se is a fascinating piece of history. Built in the early 30's, it's located in the Huntington State Park ( which has a nominal fee to enter) and was the home of the railroad magnate Archer Huntington and his wife, Anna, who was a sculptor, many of whose pieces are in the nearby Brookgreen Gardens. There is a small fee for admission and there is a guided tour or you can walk the area on your own. It's really something unique and I definitely recommend it if you're looking for something thought provoking and memorable.

We love coming to the park and experiencing the castle and getting to enjoy the entire atmosphere there.

Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet is a cool castle and home on the beach that is fun to explore, climb on, and imagine what everything was like when it was operational. I really like the design and location of everything. I did not know this existed the many times I passed by and it was fun to check out.

Very stark building...made of cement, no furnishings...unusual. The beach is great and the adjacent Brookgreen Gardens a former part of the estate is unbelievable.

We visited Atalaya once again while in the area. The residence is still interesting & unique. Imagine what it would have been like to spend Winters there, having the beach virtually to yourself & relaxing on these grounds. I hope it weathers well for years to come. It's unfurnished, but still gives an idea of how time was spent there, away from harsh Winter weather up North. A small entry fee is charged - tours are available, but you're also free to explore on your own.

Atalya is available for self touring inside Huntington Beach State Park for an additional fee. If you go there or Myrtle Beach State Park, you can visit both on the same day for one price.

This is worth the stop if you are in the Mrtyle Beach area. We were camping at the park. I would recommend that you pay the extra $3 for the audio tour. It makes the history of it come to life and make sense. The walking was easy and the tour didn't take too long which is important for my husband since he walks with a cane. The attendant at the front was informative and helpful.
We went in the off season of January and it was windy on the beach but nice at the castle.
It is a simple place so if you are looking something exciting you will be bored. However, if you are a curious history buff and interested in art you should enjoy it.

This is a great place to cook out and it has great place the walk the beach.You can even camp out here.Also has plenty of things to see birds,and lots of animals,and a great place to hike or ride your bikes.

I think this event occurs last weekend in September every year. You get free admission to the park and the castle with admission to the festival. Very nice artwork and crafts. I go every year.

My husband and I decided to go here while on our vacation 2 weeks ago. It was more me that wanted to go than him but away we went. This place doesn't look too beautiful from the outside but the gardens are outstanding. Once inside, you def. get captured and go on a trip back in time. Its beautiful and tells a story of their lives and their servants lives. I believe it was only $2 per person to tour it without the audio. If you want the full experience, get the audio and listen as you walk through. We were here about an hr and really did enjoy it. The beach right beside this property is also pretty nice so take your beach stuff!!

This was a great historical little place. We enjoyed it so much. Someone on these reviews stated it was depressing but that is not the case. Simply because it isn't in its grand heyday doesn't make it depressing. It is extremely interesting. Be sure and read all the tidbits on each room on the wall plaque's as well as at the end of the self-guided tour in the room to the right. It gives more specific information on the family and how Atalaya was built. And you can walk the paved trail that leads to the main road and back "through the swamp". We saw an alligator in the water. Yikes!! If you love history, it's a must do.

Who doesn't like going thru a castle? We did the self guided tour with the head sets. The tour is just $2.00, and only an additional $3.00 for the head sets. Well worth the cost. You go at your own pace and stop anytime you want to take in the sights or take a picture or two. Very informative and interesting.

The grounds of the castle are well kept and it is like stepping back to a simpler time when touring the castle. Parents learn about the castle and the local area while helping the kids with a scavenger hunt throughout the castle and grounds. Fun stuff for this history buff!

We have been staying in North Litchfield for years and this was the first time we'd been. It was well worth admission, to hear the history and see the interesting architecture. Would like to have seen more info about what it used to look like. But we will be back!

This was interesting to see but it is kind of depressing as it is a masonry building that is not restored or even furnished. There are no pics of the interior to show what it had been like. It's one story so there isn't a beach view. It is large and worth visiting but it's hard to see it as providing a castle-like living experience.
Have never seen anything else like it, though.

Excellent campground! Extremely quiet, clean, and very dog friendly! Love, love, love this campground! And was just a short walk to see Atalaya Castle and the beach! We camped there from April 28 - May 2, 2019.

For the $3 admission price, you can either go through the castle on your own or go with a guide. We are so glad we chose to tour with the guide. She added a lot of historical information that was very interesting. We have been to Brookgreen Gardens many times, and the land was all donated by the Huntingtons who built and wintered at Atalaya Castle. it was nice to get some background on the unique couple who gave so much to the public.

Atalaya is worth the trip. Admission is cheap and the Oceanside setting is intriguing. The structure is more like a prison that a multimillionaires home, but the uniqueness of it construction and location lends to many questions about Archer and Anna. To be even more baffled visit Brookgreen Gardens a unique outdoor art exhibit and if you're up in Connecticut visit their farm on the Redding Bethel town line a more conventional country retreat.

Interesting to walk through but would be better if there were other things to look at besides empty stone walls

Our purpose of going to Huntington Park was to visit this special place. Take your time and learn about the history and art throughout the castle. There are many rooms and passages in the site. I learned that the state park is named for these benefactors. Afternoon well spent.

an interesting journey into the local history of Pawleys Island, located near the beach, it is a beautiful setting for a wedding or a visit

Very cool place to visit, rich history and beautiful grounds. Spend the day there and hang out on the beautiful beach too!

The Huntington family built this home along the beachfront to be their summer home. The Huntington family donated this property to the state of South Carolina and you can tour this property and the former winter Home, Brookgreen Gardens, which is privately owned sculptor gardens.

If you like history this house will have your interest. A great story about the Huntingtons. Atalaya meaning watch tower in Spanish. It is Moorish architecture, very different from normal house.

We visited Atalaya Castle while on a camping trip to Huntington Beach State park in November of 2018. We had been to Brookgreen Gardens about 10 years ago and enjoyed that immensely. It was very interesting to find out more about the Huntington's home and studio. The information provided at the site was well done and the audio tour was excellent, especially in providing perspectives from the Huntington's themselves. The price of admission and the audio tour was resonable at $5.00.

Atalaya's Castle has a special place in my heart because my husband and I took engagement pictures there (which turned out gorgeous, I might add). Recently we've been staying in the Murrells Inlet area with family and going to Huntington Beach during the day. Tours are offered to give historical background to the castle and it's original owners. I would recommend going during a cooler day because there is no AC. Gorgeous location near public restrooms, beach access, & charcoal grills with picnic tables available.

We read about this in our AAA guidebook and thought it would be an interesting place to visit in Huntington Beach State Park. The total price is $7 each -- $5 to enter the park and $2 to visit the castle. It was interesting to learn about life almost 90 years ago in SC. The only drawback was that there were no furnishings in the castle.

A multitude of activities in one location - hiking, birdwatching, nature museum, quiet beach, and, of course, Atalaya Castle. Truly a hidden gem tucked away inside Huntington Beach State Park, this Moorish Castle holds a history of love and art deep within the weeping mortar. We have visited several times, the most recent being Jan 1, 2016 - which was perfect for our elopement ceremony. One could not have asked for a more captivating backdrop to capture our special day. A must see when you are in the area. Call first for coordinated activities by the park. Something for everyone. You won't be disappointed.

This is a place I could live. So much space, so well laid out, beautiful landscaping. Tried to imagine it when it was actually in use as a residence.

Beautiful place for pictures! Great place to explore and add some interesting history into your visit for the kids. Changes up the routine from shopping, eating and the beach. However the castle sits right on the beach and does make for perfect pictures both inside and on the grounds. Highly recommend as a place to see.

The $3 or $4entry was good value - a lovely sandy beach (although edged with buildings) trails for hiking, and the sadly deserted Atalaya house. Worth a half day visit to explore the area.

After parking in the nearby lot, we looked around for "the castle," but could not find it. What we saw was a structure that looked like a prison from the civil war--WRONG! It was the castle. This was a bizarre living quarters for such a wealthy couple, and for such a talented artist as Anna Hyatt Huntington. We went on a hot summer's day with a tour guide that was very long winded. He dragged us thru one bricked walled room after another. Though my words may sound negative, it is due to expectations and not the adventure. This is definitely worth seeing. After all the Huntingtons gave us the incredibly beautiful Brookgreen Sculpture Garders.

Unexpected beauty right there on the beach! Whoever expected to see a castle in South Carolina?! Much less on the beach!?! To be fair, it's not the sort of castle you're probably imagining. It's more of a large brick fortress with beautiful landscaping in the center courtyard. It's an interesting place to check out and the cost is only $2 per person. It's worth it just to see the palm trees in the courtyard.

I did not expect for something this amazing to be hidden back there. It is a Spanish moorish styled mansion tucked back into the woods of the low country of South Carolina. The volunteers were very helpful and kind. The only thing is it is a little over priced, but I don't ming since it all goes to the State Parks department.

Atalaya Castle now is an empty shell. This was a private home in the 1930's for Mr & Mrs Huntington, wealthy people from New England who built it. (She was a world-renowned sculptress and he translated a famous Spanish book El Cid into English.) Now, there are just empty rooms to see with stone walls and no furnishings at all. However, since this is at Huntington Beach State Park, it is a diversion to kill an hour if the weather is not good for the beach.

If you want to learn about the lives of the Huntington's and the years the spent here establishing Brookgreen Gardens, a $2 tour of this relic is a great way to spend an hour or two. The Morrocan influenced design and Southern fauna together make for a particularly pleasant home. It's fun to wonder what it looked like 80 years ago when it was occupied and thriving.

If history isn't your thing, wait for October when it's turned into a haunted mansion with scares for kiddies and adults.

Or late autumn when the annual artist guild comes to town to set up hundreds of booths to sell their wares.

Both are great fun!

We visited Atalya Castle because it was close to our hotel. We learned about the Huntington's and had a great time.

Interesting history, beautifully maintained. A tour can be quick and educational. I always recommend this to visits.
Best viewed if you enter the park on bikes ($8) and enjoy the short and beautiful ride over to Atalaya. The tour is $2. Water bottles are available for a small fee if you need refreshments. Be sure to get pictures.
Afterward I recommend riding the bikes north through the park to the North Beach entrance.

Atalaya Castle was the Winter home of Mr and Mrs Archer Huntington. Archer designed the home after the Moorish architecture of the Spanish Mediterranean Coast. There was an unobstructed view of the ocean while they lived here. Trees and shrubs have now overgrown the area, but, there is a nice short path to the shore directly behind the rear lawn.
Mrs Huntingon was an accomplished artist/sculptor and utilized a large room as a studio. The wild animals and birds who inhabited the area was used as her subjects. Ornate iron grillwork designed by Mrs Huntington decorate the windows and provided protection from flying debris due to hurricane winds.
Touring the entire, unfurnished home and grounds is easily accomplished on a self directed tour in an hour. Admission cost is separate from the state park entrance fee. It is well worth it.
Brookgreen Gardens is nearby and Mr Huntington designed and built this lovely place. Plan for a day to visit here.

Entree fee is $8 a person into the park and $2 per person ro walk around the “castle”. The place is ok its a quick 15 min walk around and not really all much to see. Definitely shouldnt be top of your to do list

it is a step back in time to see how see how people vacationed in the past. the cost of admission is $5:00 to huntington state park. the beach access is great

Online pictures do not do this old estate proper justice. This fortress of a Spanish-styled home will bring joy to any art, history, or architecture enthusiast. To some, it may not look as appealing as some early 20th century homes but it was built specifically to the Huntington’s vision. I recommend taking the audio or group tour as it gives you in-depth information about the grounds that help you appreciate the Castle even more.

Visitors should see Atalaya Castle before visiting Brookgreen Gardens so you can appreciate Anna’s artwork even further and learn how she got so much detail in her sculptures that are on display.

Truly there is no other place like it on the coast of South Carolina.

a castle for you and your family to wonder about. romantic, built by a man for a woman he loved to enjoy her art. rustic and wonderful. many rooms to enjoy. at one point in history housed many animals she liked to sculpt even bears!

If your into architecture or construction this is the place to visit. A custom built summer home for the rich and famous. By today's standards it's pretty basic, but for the period it must have seemed wonderful.

This place looks more like a prison than a castle. Tour was really boring. I'm just going to quote my kid, "This is lame." I wanted to like it but it's basically a sprawling "house" that's a bunch of brick walls and rooms with no glass in the windows. Not sure what all the fuss is about. Sorry!

We read about this and decided to take a look. Although spartan without carpets, tapestries, and artwork that undoubtedly adorned this mansion when it was lived in, the courtyard is still beautiful and well worth the visit. There is a guided tour as well as an audio tour, but given about an hour you can just walk the building and enjoy the courtyard. We really enjoyed the visit and hope that restoration may continue.

Atalya Castle is an excellent addition to Huntington Beach State Park. The volunteer at the entrance was very nice and helpful. A map is provided with small notes and a brief history of the castle and Huntington family. The castle is rich in history with placards in nearly every room explaining what it was. The scenery around the castle is relaxing and makes you feel as if you were there with the Huntington family. There is a small fee of $1.00 for adults and children over six, but definitely worth it.

The was a very interesting place to tour. The signs in each room gave nice info about the Huntingtons and how the house was used. It is very unique architecture.

We visited Atalaya this past August and really enjoyed the history of the owners and walking around the ruins. It was fun imagining their life at the castle on the beach back in the day. Worth a visit if you are a history buff.

Really a neat place to visit, lots of rooms and they previously had bears! Go visit, and find out all about it!

The Huntingtons designed this place with some very clever features. We had a great tour and learned a lot of the history from Bom. Interesting and worth a look.

Was a little hesitant when I viewed the villa from the outside, but was glad we decided to take the time to see it. Loved the stone and brick with plaster/white paint. The
greenish wrought iron work in front of the windows is mesmerizing. Wooden plaques label every room well. Wish I could have seen back then! The park entrance fee is $5/person and Castle $2/per.

It was not really what I expected. More like ruins but interesting just the same. I still don't understand why it is in such bad shape for the age and as far as being a castle, after living in Europe for three years and seeing castle ruins I would say it is more like a replica of a castle in ruins :) Next time I am in the area, I plan to get to the gardens across the way. Loved the state park and the $2 admission for the self guided tour was surely a reasonable deal for visiting Atalaya.

Cost is $2 per person to walk through--doesn't look like a house or a mansion--has almost a prison feel to it. Interesting to view/read history behind it, though going through there.

This is in Huntington park. There is a 5 dollar per person fee to get in the park. If you are paying with a card you need to buy your ticket at the entrance as well because tickets at the house are $2 cash only. There is no furniture and the building is in disrepair. It takes about 45 minutes to go through the whole building. The main draw is probably its architecture.

Very interesting piece of history that helps you understand Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens. It doesn't take long for the self-guided tour. Use your imagination to fell what it would be like to live there amidst all the animals the family brought along with the sound of the ocean coming in the windows!

Admission to the park is $5 per person. Admission to Atalaya is an additional $2 but well worth it. After Hurricane Joaquin, we had to wade through water to get to the house. At first I was a bit surprised because there is not much left except the brick frame of the building. It tells a remarkable story of an exceptionally wealthy family who shared their fortune by developing the area to include Brookgreen Garden. If you can take yourself back to the time, you will be enthralled with the history and the family. Highly recommend.

Great place to visit.
We have been going to Pawleys Island Community for 24 years and always visit Huntington Beach State Park and the "Castle".
Well worth a couple of hours of diversion from the beach.

We attended the 42nd Annual Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival. Great crowd of displayers and sellers and fine attendance to the event.
Saw most of the historical displays for the building. Without studying about the purpose of this or the builders, the Huntington family you won't understand the purpose for this remarkable place.

I thoroughly enjoyed this awesome place. I love historical places and this was such an interesting historical site to me. We took the audio tour which I highly recommend, otherwise you won't get the full historical, intriguing experience.

While it is a very basic self guided tour it is truly fascinating. The entry fee was only $2 per person and well worth it. Hopefully as more funds become available they can open the roof top area to take in the view. Great way to spend an hour.

Distressed walls, natural light, very cool architectural details... Atalaya is a photographers dream. There is a great story behind it and it is so interesting to visit. We visit it every year when we come.

Atalaya Castle was somewhat interesting. However it did not live up to the hype for me. It is a big brick home but not a castle. It reminds me more of a fort. With that being said, it is only $2 to go in and walk around.

Great little side visit while visiting the beach and walking the nature trails. Huntington Beach State Park is a real value, as there is so much to do. Hiking, Nature Watching (Birds, Alligators, Rabbits, etc) Atalaya has lots of history and puts Brookgreen Gardens across the street into more context. Be sure to visit in the fall for the Craft Festival!

The castle doesn’t look like a castle.
But has a lot of history. We had a 2 hr tour $2.00. There is no furniture or paintings. It’s a solid structure with a tower in the center. The building has 4 sides with all of the living space within.

Atalaya is interesting. Is worth the $2 but they also charge state park admission. Was a good intro to our next stop which was Brook Green Gardens and Sculpture park.

This castle is steeped in local history from the scholarly owners to the sculptures created here. Definitely a must see when you are near Huntington Beach State Park.

Had a wonderful time walking through Atalaya Castle with my daughters. The design and architecture of the building was stunning. We purchased the audio tour which really helped explain many details in the castle. Fantastic photo opportunities.

Beautiful serene place to visit in the Huntington Beach State Park. Interesting history attached to the owners who were both accomplished people in their own right. The house (castle) was built to reflect spanish moor architecture which is quite evident. I have visited the Alambra in Spain and there are similar features. The story behind the building of the property is also interesting and provided many local people with work through the great depression. The state park is also a great visit and you can see lots of birds and sea creatures along the causeway. We also saw a couple of alligators swimming around which was a bonus. Worth a visit - $5.00 entry into the park and $2.00 to Atalaya.

My sister and I played in this wonderful edifice as children for years. It was always a place of wonder and excitement, letting you imagination go wild as to what life was like back when this place was built.
It is very historic and amazing. At Huntington Beach State Park you just head to the right once you were in over the causeway.
It's a lot of fun, and we were there during an art festival which was amazing. Lots of local artisans where they're displaying their wares. What a fun day!

The Atalaya castle is an interesting historical estate built by the Huntington's back in the early 30's. The castle itself is located inside of the Huntington State Park which cost 5$/person to enter.
The self guided tour took us about 30 minutes and cost 2$/person. They also offer an audio tour for 6$/person. The hours are 9-5 daily. The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly.

If you are visiting Huntington State Park, you should check it out.

This is a beautiful old castle on the beach. That's all I need to say, nothing can be more fantastic than that. I recommend the audio tour. It was fascinating to learn about the history of the castle and Huntington Beach State Park. It's only $2 for entry and I think $5 for the audio tour and we loved it, even on a scorching hot day. It gets plenty of breeze from the ocean. The only drawback is the bathrooms have zero air conditioning or air movement of any kind, so go before you go.

A nice place to visit before hitting the beach. Our tour guide seemed a little distracted. But you should definitely check the castle out and learn a little about the couple who lived there.

The wife and I visited while the teenagers went uptown. We enjoyed at our pace, very much a good trip.

Interesting home and grounds. Great idea families families to get some history, see the beach, and learn about the family and how the castle was built.

At the recent festival with all of the vendors we had a great time, not to mention the great experience along the beach in Huntington State Park. If in the area a must to see

During the Great Depressing, Archer and Anna Huntington insisted on the use of local labor in the construction of –- and staffing of--- their winter home, built along the lines of the Moorish castles on the Spanish Mediterranean Coast. We spent about an hour and a half happily wandering the halls and cover walkways, imagining the people and furnishings of the sunroom, library, studios and so on. Very different from most houses/properties you can visit around the South. Fascinating--- the people, the time, the history. Would love to return.

Moorish house with inner courtyard. We did not have a tour which would have made it more interesting. Was disappointed in the poor condition of the house.

Wouldn’t have called this a castle until I learned the history. First impression of Atalaya Castle - thought it was an old prison. It is actually much more interesting than it appears. Very important to either get a self guided tour tape or to take a guided tour. There is history here. It’s actually a direct tie to Brookgreen Gardens. I personally feel that it would hold much more significance if it had been included as part of Brookgreen itself.

During various times of the year there are events held in the castle. They range fr/art fairs to educational & fun family programs. Important to note there can be additional fees to attend castle events. Not sure why they separate this out when there is an admission fee to get into Huntington and Brookgreen Gardens is yet again another fee.
It is a valued part of Huntington State Park
as well as Brookgreen Gardens.

This is a very interesting place to explore. Originally it was the winter home of industrialist and philanthropist Archer M. Huntington and his wife, the sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, It was built built from 1931 to 1933 as a winter residence. Atalaya has open areas and pens allowing Anna to have live animals as inspiration for her sculptures. We appreciate the dynamic energy in her work. Self guided tours and docent tours are available. The $2 admission (plus $5 to enter the State Park) is well worth it.

Atalaya is a hidden gem on Huntington Beach. The castle has a very interesting lay out on an incredibly beautiful site. Unforfunately the state has done very little with this, it is almost an after thought. The grounds are well kept and there is some signage within . The volunteers were enthusiastic and informative . You are left to roam freely but there is much to tell about this place that is not being told.
The Huntingtons were amazing people who gave so much. They were heros in their lifetime and their story should be front and center in the history of the area,these are the types of stories that our children should be told as examples of what it means to give back to society.

We had toured the Brookgreen Gardens, but did not know the relationship it shared with the Huntington State Park. We saw a brochure for Atalaya and decided to check it out. Glad we did. Very unusual design - after Spanish influence. Two very wealthy people who met and married. Anna Hyatt, a well known sculptress and Archer Milton Huntington, Patron of the Arts, founded several well known museums, Hispanic Society museum for one. He translated El Cid from old Castilian Spanish to English and was awarded honorary degrees from this achievement from Yale, Harvard and Columbia colleges. It took him 10 years to do this. Most of the sculptures at Brookgreen Gardens are done by Anna. She was late to marry, in her 40's, and Archer had been married before. There histories apart and together are really interesting. I'm reading a Chronicle of their marriage and it's good. Atalaya was a winter retreat for them and where they both worked on their arts in peace and quiet. Our tour guide was very good, a lot of the castle is falling down since Hugo hurricane, but the U shaped house is very efficient and right on the ocean. They bought up four old run down rice plantations to build this home. It was a great way to spend a reainy afternoon in Murrells Inlet!

This place is amazing! There is something special about this castle that I am drawn to. Love learning about the family and their life there.

Atalaya has a reputation of being haunted but I did not experience any encounters. :) We took the self guided tour. It is $2 per person to tour the castle. Audio tours can be purchased for $5. We did not do that. It was very interesting to walk through the various rooms and learn about the home and it's previous history, as a rice plantation. Definitely worth the $2 entrance fee. Very lovely and informative.

My friend & I toured this castle by the sea & we loved it! We highly recommend seeing this amazing structure, & if you do, you must get the audio tour. It is $5 & includes the entrance fee, so it is a bargain! The audiotape has Anna Hyatt Huntington’s voice on it, too, so it is really neat. This tour was fascinating, & I will never forget it. Do it! You won’t regret it!

neat, affordable castle to tour. we were wary that this was not worth the time and money, but were pleasantly surprised. The admission is very reasonable and the sights and history neat to experience. I would love to go back and do the ghost tour!

Visited Atalaya during the annual arts and crafts festival. The festival has been around for over 40 years. Atalaya is located in Huntington Beach State Park and was the home/studio for the Huntingtons years ago. The castle resembles some of the castles of Europe somewhat, but is interesting to visit especially during the annual Arts and Crafts festival. Recommend a visit during the festival because it is a perfect backdrop for the event and there are numerous exhibitors.

Seriously the ugliest and most depressing "mansion" I'll ever see. If you are into the particular architecture or perhaps the Huntington family, then I guess you should consider going. The park across the street is much less distressing.

First time we've ventured off the main drag or the beach while in Litchfield. Who knew that in the beginning days, it was RICE and not Cotton that was king! Interesting journey back into history by taking this tour

This was a very interesting place to visit. We tagged along with a tour that was already in progress and really appreciated the knowledge and demeanor of the tour guide. This was a lot of fun to explore. We plan to return when the weather is a little warmer.

The Atalaya Castle is located within the Huntington Beach State Park. You have to pay for the State Park entry and there is a $2.00 per person fee for the self-guided tour of Atalaya Castle. They also offer audio tours for $6.00. Atalaya, was the winter home of industrialist and philanthropist Archer Huntington and his wife, the sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington. The home is well preserved and the self-guided tour has information posted in each room. There are no furnishings our artwork in Atalaya. However, it is worth a visit for a step back in time. At the entrance to Atalaya is a small visitors center with a lot of information as well as photographs. The volunteer staff were very friendly and helpful.

Interesting architecture and historical stories surrounding the building. There is a lot of walking though, so not recommended for someone without a walker who gets tired quickly. I found it worth the effort to use my walker because I could sit when I needed.

Atalaya Castle was built as a winter home in the early 1930s by Archer & Anna Huntington. The “Moorish-style” architecture, though subtle, is eye-catching, especially in the courtyard. Being near the coast, there are maintenance issue in this open-air structure, but it’s easy to see what could have been almost 100 years ago. The area that kept drawing me back was the gorgeous, center courtyard. Its open, off-set brick walkway is lined with palm trees and topped with a 40-ft water tower. This stunning setting was a great find for a Myrtle Beach family activity.

Had no idea Huntington Beach and Atalaya Castle was such a great destination. The history of the place is overwhelming. So glad we finally made time to visit this place. Can't wait to share it with vistors -

Very much worth a visit. Modest price into Huntington Beach State Park where the house is located. $2.00 to enter the house and an addition $3.00 for the audio tour. One of the best audios I've ever experienced. Very easy to understand with clear directions as to where to go next. Just an unusual house built by an unusual but talented and generous couple, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington.

Atalaya is located in Huntington Beach State Park. To visit, you'll need to pay the park entrance fee, which is a modest $5.00 for adults, and an additional $2.00 to tour the home. The Atalaya was the winter home for the Huntingtons, a prominent 20th Century family. It has some very interesting architecture with Spanish influence, which you can learn more about if you happen to arrive in time for a tour with the park staff. (Even if you don't tour with the staff, you can pick up a map and walk through the home at your own pace and read the posted placards to learn about each room.) I should note that while the grounds are well-kept, this home isn't like many historic homes in that they've been furnished in a style true to the period; as you might learn from the park staff, much of the home's furnishings were packed up and moved to one of the Huntingtons' other homes, and whatever was left has been put into storage. There are restrooms on site, and everywhere we went as part of the tour appeared to be handicapped accessible, though I didn't notice any signs designating the home as such. At any rate, if you're interested in 20th Century artists or you're a person who's very interested in architecture, I recommend paying a visit to Atalaya if you find yourself in the area with a little time to spare. You might even visit the beach, just a 2-minute walk from the home, after you've finished your tour. :)

Kids and I stopped here. Interesting architecture and fun to see where lots of the sculptures in Brookhaven were created. But there was not a lot to see.

Was the home of the donors of Huntington Beach State Park & Brookgreen Gardens across Hwy 17. Archer & Anna were a talented, gifted, unique, down to earth Christian couple. AND very wealthy. You will love meeting them through 2pm docent tour.

Nice property but nothing really to do except walk around weather permitting. More of an area for beach goers or campers. History if the castle is interesting but there's nothing there but a shell of a building .

Visited the castle while at Huntington Beach State Park. Interesting but a little disappointed that there was nothing in the rooms to depict life while owners were there. Still fascinating.

They should rename this 'castle' "ruins of the Huntington's summer home ". You can see the site in its entirety in less than 20 minutes. The most intriguing part of this was the information (which is readily available online) posted in the tiny information center before you enter.

This is a great historic home inside Huntington Beach State Park. Admission is $2 per person for the day, so you can head to the Beach Station to get a snack and come back with no problem (as long as you keep your ticket). There is a guided tour, and audio tour, but we liked going about it ourselves. My youngest son (6) and I pretended we were in a haunted castle, while the rest of the family read about and walked through the castle (39 points of interest in their guide book) at a more educational pace (as they were not fleeing from ghosts or The Creeper). Very amazing place and great history about the Huntington's. Well worth an afternoon visit.

My hubby and I got here a half hour before the place closed. We paid our $2 per person admission and scurried through the castle. The courtyard is beyond beautiful. I could've just stood there all day, enjoying it. The building itself is quite unique! I would have loved to see it in its heyday. I imagine it was stunning. The employees working there were very knowledgeable. My husband was full of all sorts of questions, and they spouted off the answers quickly and intelligently. Very nice spot to check out. Not something you see every day.

This is what remains of the home of Archer Huntington and his wife, sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington. There is an $8 fee to enter the state park as well as a modest $2 fee to tour the castle. There are no furnishings remaining in the house, but I found poking around the many rooms fascinating. I’m tired of visiting homes that have been renovated so they are “aesthetically pleasing” to tourists. The history and imagining the couple living here was interesting. We spent about 45 minutes. I think kids would enjoy exploring the many rooms. Well worth the entry fees.

We have been to Huntington Beach State Park several times, but never took the time to take the tour of Atalaya. yesterday we actually planned our entire trip to include the 45 minute tour, at 2pm, and learned more about the Huntington's than we would've had we just walked around without our excellent guide. Take the tour!

The castle is beautiful. Captured amazing pictures. Walking around the castle was peaceful. Enjoyed the audio tour. Will definitely go back when I'm in town again.

The castle is located inside Huntington Beach State park. There is a separate admission to tour the castle. It was the winter home of one of America's eminent artist Anna Huntington.
It also has several public events throughout the year. It's definitely worth to walk inside and around the castle.

Located on the grounds of Huntington Beach State Park -- not on Pawley's Island -- is a Moorish-style “castle,” Atalaya, the former winter home of the Huntingtons and site for the largest juried arts and crafts festival in the U.S. held annually since 1975 on the last full weekend in September. Don't expect to see restored rooms filled with the Huntingtons' furniture and furnishings -- all that was given away! What remains is a blank slate which makes a palette for your imagination. The Huntingtons led incredibly productive lives: Archer wrote the definitive translation of El Cid; Brookgreen Gardens, the first public sculpture garden in the U.S., is the showcase for more than 1,400 of Anna’s pieces cast in aluminum and bronze and, for just a few days each December, one of the most beloved holiday events in the Southeast – “Nights of a Thousand Candles.”

It's an unexpected large brick complex right in the middle of the park on the water. Has some cool history, but doesn't take too long to explore or tour it.

We went Nov 1 and it was 82 and humid but there was a good breeze throughout. The price was $2.00 or $6.00 with a self-guided earphone tour. You need to either get the ranger guided tour or get the self-guided tour earphones or you will miss 80% of the history. The house is empty but was constructed by the owner. I thought it was worth while to explain the Huntington park and Brookgreen Gardens history. There was access to the beach and public restrooms in the parking lot area. You do have to pay for access to Huntington Park.

I'm glad we weren't put off by a December, 2018 review that didn't have much to say of positives. We had a great time. In January they do not do guided tours, but you can do an audio tour. A docent also told us we could see a you tube video of a guided tour. We did self-guided and between the signage,our Google searches about Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington and their wiki biographies,(and then other famous Huntingtons,their homes,etc.), AND our imaginations, we had a great time. Our grandsons were convinced there were dungeons somewhere and we're disappointed they couldn't climb up to "parapets." It was like a 30 room (or was it 50) rustic Beach house for one of the wealthiest American couples during the Great Depression.
And BTW, I grew up calling the style bleeding brick when the mortar was not smoothed on a brick wall. Archer Huntington asked the builders not to smoothe it as he liked the look which became known as Huntington Squeeze. You learn something new every day.
Price was $2 each for over age 6.

We have been going to Myrtle Beach for over 30 years and just recently discovered Atalaya Castle. What a gem! It is located in Huntington Beach State Park south of Myrtle Beach and the park & castle admission is nominal making it affordable for the whole family. The castle is in the moorish-style, very symplistic with no furnishings that can be disturbed so it really is nice if you have young children, yet the bare rooms inspire creativity and imagination. We took a guided tour and our guide was terrific, he obviously loves what he does and it showed in how thoroughly and passionately he spoke about the structure. As a bonus there are modern, clean bathrooms on site. Adjacent to the castle is a pure, undisturbed stretch of beach...beautiful. Don't miss it!!

We visited the gift/camp store to get a feel for what to see. We then walked the short trail behind the store around to the Atalaya driveway/causeway. As we walked along the concrete path, I noticed an alligator waiting at the edge of the marsh! Five feet away! That was all my companion needed to see. The walk was over. We then toured Atalaya, the home of one of Collis P. Huntington's spoiled children. Collis P. Huntington made a fortune in the railroad, shipping, and shipbuilding businesses. They try to present the grounds as a historic site but you can hardly miss the bizarre pieces of their life style. The caged bears, the wrought iron guards on the windows, the odd quotations…. A fun destination but no kidding, the alligators are easily accessible.

We arrived in time for a 2 pm tour of the house given by a retired school teacher and minister. He gave a very informative tour of the ruins, covering the architecture and the lives of the owners. Visitors can also rent audio tours and/or wander freely around the site. The beach is also handy.

We knew virtually nothing about he Huntington family (after whom Huntington Island is named) who built Atalaya Castle but the audio guide was very helpful and informative. Designed in an eclectic Moorish style, Atalaya was built as a retreat and sculpture studio with views of the Atlantic Ocean (though that view is obscured by vegetation now); it’s easy to imagine how happy the Huntingtons were there. Definitely a nice bit of local history!

The remains of this castle is interesting and fascinating to walk through. The garden is beautiful. And the beach located right next tonight ain't to shabby either.. Highly reccomend this place

A must-see place if you are passing through. Before we took a trip to Huntington Beach, I was unaware that this even existed. Take a nice stroll along the private beach and there's also a gift shop just outside the parking lot area.

At first glance a person would think this was a jail but is not. It is a different design of a home but when you hear the history, you will understand the type of construction. It can be self guided or a tour. The map information they give you is very informative and each room explains what it was. This is an interesting part of South Carolina history. It is wheelchair friendly thru out the building. If in the area this is a good stop. It cost $5.00 per person to get into Huntington State park and $2.00 to tour Atalaya Castle.

Four adults visited on June 6 in the morning. We enjoyed the self guided tour, took a couple hours. Was enjoyed by everyone. However,if you are not interested in reading the descriptions in each room, it is just empty brick room after empty brick room. Do not recommend it for any children under 12, and teenagers only if they are interested in history or architecture.

This is unique walk thru trip. It is interesting about the original owners and their life styles. Very interesting and oddly designed.

We visited 6/14/19 with extended family ages 10-70 and we all LOVED it! The ranger telling the stories was fantastic!! He has such a great voice! We were all captivated by his tales. The stories were just scary enough for the adults but not to much for the younger ones. Great fun!

The History of the Huntington’s in this part of South Carolina needs to be told. Low Rider 60 was very disappointed with the condition of Atalaya Castle considering this place and it’s connection to Brookgreen Gardens. Though not a “Biltmore” Atalaya Castle could become such a site with more funding and some serious research. Now, on the positive. Great place for some Moorish/Spanish architecture. Interesting place to see what the inherited super rich mixed with Progressive 1930’s views do with assets. Totally enjoyed this place. Wish the castle was better kept and there was more money allocated for this site. This is truly a South Carolina gem.

Well organized for a nominal fee. Has restroom facilities. Right on the beach. There is a walking stretch which starts right in front of the castle and goes till the highway 17 which has brackish water on one side and salt and fresh water on the other with alligators and birds. We even saw a alligator nest.

Be sure to do the audio tour, $2.00. The rooms come to life and you understand the unusual floor plan.

Absolutely loved discovering Atalaya Castle while visiting Pawleys Island. Loved the history and the beautiful grounds. Spent several hours exploring and snapping pictures. Architecture was so interesting. Have plans to visit again Spring of 2018.

This a fascinating building designed in a Moorish style ( Mr Huntington was considered the top expert on El cid.) Mrs Huntington was a reknown sculpturor
and her sculpture facilities are a major portion of the house including pens where shekept live bears, horses etc as models.

Our family really enjoyed touring the castle and learning about the history. My kids thought it was like a maze and enjoyed exploring all if the rooms and passages. It is within the State Park, so you do pay a fee to get in the park and then an additional small fee to tour the castle, so it might be worth spending the day there and utilizing the beach area. A must-see if you enjoy local history!

Great visit and an amazing story of the people who created it! Learn about the Huntington family and their home.

We love Atalaya so much we keep returning! It is amazing to see a piece of history tucked away. Beautiful grounds and informative signs in each room.

It's verypretty here. You can walk around the castle have lunch outside and go to the beach. When you visit you do have to pay to get in but believe me you can spend the whole day there.

Interesting and unique structure, nice to know the history now, especially the connection to Brookgreen Gardens

When you visit Huntington Beach State Park , you must visit Atalaya, the home of the Huntingtons that created Brookgreen Gardens. This home is very rustic and its amazing that it has survived the weather and ocean her at the beach. If you are not a Park Pass Holder, they will ask for a $2 donation

If you like history, you would enjoy visiting Atalaya Castle. The architecture is fascinating and it is a beautiful beach castle. An inexpensive activity to do at Huntington Beach State Park.

While visiting Huntington Beach State Park we checked out Atayla Castle, the winter home of Archie and Anna Huntington. Archie was an Industrialist and his wife, a famous Sculptress. The castle has been turned into an art gallery and is used for weddings and other special functions.

It doesn't look like much from the entrance side but this is an amazing historic site to see. There is great signage explaining the rooms, along with a map that you get when you pay your entrance fee of $2 (after you pay to enter Huntington Beach State Park (only $8). The grounds are well maintained and it's fun to imagine how it was furnished and used.

Absolutely Stunning. Would love to have gotten to live here back in the day. Parts are beginning to really fall apart but since it's an old brick building it's expected (probably cost millions to fix up). $2 to get in is worth it but leave the children at home because they probably wouldn't understand the beauty.

The Atalanta Castle was the beach home/Winter home of the Huntington's who did so much for helping the area as well as nature, art and horticultural.
Across route 17 is the main ground at the botanical gardens. That is also a must see. There is so much history here and so many people pass it up.
Please go to both, you will not regret it.

The castle is located on the Huntington Beach State Park. For only $2 per person, this is place you must visit if you're a history buff. Just very interesting to know the history of the Huntington family. Although the castle had no furniture, it's just the thought that this place hosted many events & had actual occupants live in it. The view from the castle to the view was awesome.

My husband and I toured this castle last week while staying at Pawley's Island. The castle only costs $2 to get into after you have paid your admission to the state park. When we were there they were offering one guided tour a day - at 2:00 pm. You can rent headphones for an audio tour. I was thinking it may be $6 to do the audio tour. We were the only two people on the guided tour and it lasted a little over an hour. We learned the background on the Huntington family and lots more interesting information about the castle. The place is huge. I asked the size and the guide said the exterior walls are 200 feet x 200 feet. Most of the rooms are around the exterior with a huge courtyard in the center. Most of the rooms are unfurnished with an exception of a few cabinets used by the hired help to store their personal belongings. I would definitely try to do the tour with the guide. You could tell he definitely loved his job.

We found the Atalaya Castle on a breezy February day. I believe it was worth the stop, the few things I want to say: 1. its not heated/cooled so dress for the weather outside 2. I wish there had been more picture of what it looked like when the owners lived there, everything is stripped to the bones which shows part of the story but I would have liked to see what the rooms looked like in the day 3. bring some money for entrance fee and the cute gift shop!

Atalaya Castle was built by the Huntingtons during the Depression era. It always amazes me how anyone could live in that much auterity. It's built of concrete and Archer Huntington had no plans that he shared - apparantly the design ws only in his head. Each day he gave the workers what he wanted them to do. I would love to see pictures of Atalaya in it's hayday. It must have been magnificent.

Interesting history and summer homes of the Huntington's from New York. Storm damage and time have left little of interest on the beach. Hunting State Park does offer tours through it and during the evening hours for the telling of ghost stories.

I wouldn't pay to see this...park in the nearby neighborhood and walk about a half mile to the beach by state park. It is up the boardwalk path near the campground

After our visit to Brookgreen Gardens, founded by the Huntingtons, we were inspired to visit Atalaya, their winter retreat. The amazing sculpture, Fighting Stallions at the Brookgreen Gardens’ entrance was sculptured by Anna Huntington. I very much admired her stunning sculpture, The Visionaries, which depicts Archer & Anna studying the plans of Brookgreen Gardens. The fact that Atalaya is located inside Huntington State Park with its 3 miles of beachfront, made it even more attractive. We could combine two attractions in one visit. We decided to visit the home first. There is ample complimentary parking on the side of Atalaya. We were surprised to find that there was no escorted tour offered the day of our June visit; we did a self-tour.

At the entrance, we paid the small $2 admission fee – well worth it. We each received a map of the house showing the over thirty rooms. The woman at the entrance stand told us many interesting facts about Atalaya and the philanthropists, the Huntingtons. She had time to spend with us since we were the first visitors that day. Although the home is vacant and completely unfurnished, the rooms are labeled. It was fun walking through the entire one-story building and imagining how it must have been living there. Every room had a fireplace. There was no heating or A/C. The window opening had grating for security. We viewed the outside & indoor studios, master bedroom, library, dining room, food preparation room, and walk-in icebox among other rooms. It was interesting to peek into the cook’s quarters and the servants’ quarters. Anna must have loved the sunroom. Seeing bear pens outside the house to the right side of the paved courtyard was astonishing. Anna used the live bears as subjects for her sculptures. You should allow at least an hour to walk through and also time to see the memorabilia of the Huntington’s that is on display in the small museum. The home opens up on all sides to a lovely courtyard landscaped with palm trees with a water tower in the center.

We learned many things during our visit. Anna had tuberculosis and needed to get away from the cold NYC winters. The Huntingtons bought the property in 1930; it took three years to build. The property was originally four rice plantations. Later the Huntingtons purchased additional land. The word Atalaya in Spanish means watchtower. Consider combining a trip to Atalaya with a visit to the Huntington Beach State Park as we did. You can walk from the parking lot to the beach.

The couple that built this place seemed interesting, a rich intellectual and a sculptor. An odd Spanish castle in the middle of low country.

inexperienced tour guide telling hackneyed ghost local folklore in the dark, poorly done, not enough real history to make it halfway interesting

Historic winter home of Huntington's....founders of Brookgreen Gardens. Empty but interesting. Nice little museum.

been in this structur before, but once again find it so interesting to walk through. $2 to enter-staff was friendly and answered our questions. Borrow a map to wander through. the courtyard is beautiful-great for photos!

Very neat to look thru and explore.
Just a small fee to Get in if you Don't have a pass.
I do suggest it.

A very relaxing visit. The staff was very nice and informative even with a wedding taking place. The map was excellent. I can not wait to go back.

A very strange house. Not one that I would like to live in but then again, it's a castle. Well worth seeing.

Cheap to get in and walk around. It's history so interesting to see how this place was built and why. I would recommend going before you go to he beach area.

This was a very interesting and informative experience - we really enjoyed it! The area is beautiful - Huntington State Park is gorgeous and if we were campers, we would stay here!

visited by bike during a recent Litchfield Beach vacation. Do get the audio tour. you have to pay for access through Huntington Beach State park ($5 PP) Plus another two dollars to visit Atalaya. Wll worth the experience.