Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (464 acres, 187.77 hectares) is a historic house with gardens located on the Ashley River at 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston County, South Carolina. It is one of the oldest plantations in the South, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Magnolia Plantation is located near Charleston and directly across the Ashley River from North Charleston. The house and gardens are open daily; an admission fee is charged. The plantation dates to 1676, when Thomas and Ann Drayton built a house and small formal garden on the site. (The plantation remains under the control of the Drayton family after 15 generations.) The historic Drayton Hall was built in 1738 by John Drayton, father of judge John Drayton, Jr., on an adjoining property. Magnolia was originally a rice plantation, with extensive earthworks of dams and dikes built in fields along the river for irrigating land for rice cultivation. African slaves from rice-growing regions created the works. As time went on, the slaves developed a creolized Gullah language and culture, retaining many elements from Africa.
This plantation is really worth the entrance fee. There are so many trails that can be walked. I highly recommend adding on the guided tour.
I spent several hours here. It was peaceful, and big!! Lots of beautiful landscaping. It Some of the paths are near the river. I heard lots of birds, and saw quite a few squirrels.
It’s Charleston’s most visited plantation, and dubbed by T&L as one of America’s Most Beautiful Gardens.
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Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
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