Cypress Gardens (South Carolina)
Cypress Gardens is a 170-acre (69 ha) preserve and gardens located at 3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Moncks Corner, South Carolina, United States. The centerpiece of the garden is the 80 acres (32 ha) blackwater bald cypress/tupelo swamp, surrounded with both boat and foot trails.
History
The gardens were originally part of the 1750 Dean Hall rice plantation, which depended on fresh water from the Cooper River. The area that is now a swamp was dug out and fitted with water gates to become a fresh water reservoir. It had fallen into disuse when the property was purchased by Benjamin Kittredge for a duck hunting reserve. During the depression, over 200 men built out the 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of trails around the swamp. It was opened to the public in 1932. Kittredge's son donated the property to the City of Charleston on June 1, 1963.[1] Hurricane Hugo in 1989 severely affected the park, causing it to close for a year.[2] Berkeley County took over ownership when the City of Charleston no longer wanted to support the garden.
Description
Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day; an admission fee is charged.
The gardens are viewed via flat-bottom boat or foot paths. Plantings around the swamp include azaleas, blueberries, a camellia garden, daffodils, a daylily island, dogwoods, pitcher plants, redbud, a small rice field, and a rose garden, as well as the following major features:
- Swamparium (1998) - features native and exotic fish, reptile and amphibian species from swamp habitats, including common local venomous snakes and large aquatic salamanders called sirens. The Swamparium holds approximately 24,000 US gallons (91,000 l; 20,000 imp gal) of water.
- Aviary - houses African grey parrots and a sulfur-crested cockatoo, former pets.
- Butterfly House (1997) - a 2,500-square-foot (230 m2) indoor exhibit housing butterflies, birds, koi, goldfish and turtles.
The gardens also include picnic tables, rental facilities, and 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of walking paths and nature trails.
Movies and Television
Cypress Gardens has hosted over 16 major movies and television series including:[3][4]
- The Patriot
- Cold Mountain
- The Notebook
- North and South
- Swamp Thing
Gallery
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Cypress Gardens
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Cypress Gardens Cypress Knees
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Cypress Gardens Wildflower Field
External links
Coordinates: 33°3′23″N 79°57′21″W / 33.05639°N 79.95583°W
References
- ↑ Lindsay, Howard H. "A gift for Charleston, S.C.". April 14, 1963. New York Times. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ↑ Wade, Betsy. "Charleston Comeback: It's Ready for Spring". 11 February 1990. New York Times. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ↑ "Movies & Television". Cypress Gardens. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
- ↑ "Movies Filmed in South Carolina – The Patriot". South Carolina Information Highway. Retrieved 2012-08-10.