I’m at the Cypress Gardens swamp park (30 minutes drive from Charleston). The boat pulls slowly towards the dock radiating a familiar big band tune. Nice, weâre getting radio too. Nope, that was Frank, the boat guide. Even better, we will be serenaded thru the flowered bordered black water swamp meanders.
Along the way I learn that Frank, besides being a guide during visiting hours, is also the foreman, a jack of all trades maintenance guy. He takes care of every boat, does the electric, plumbing, carpentry and everything else under sun thatâs required to keep things smooth at the swamp. After spending 20 years working at the steel mill, being the foreman at Cypress Garden itâs âa lot of funâ.
I, along with a family group that includes grandma, mom and two young boys, get settled in one of the flat bottom boats. These were made of California redwood wine casks in 1930âs at the request of Mr. Kittredge, the swamp owner we can now all thank for the privilege to enjoy this masterpiece.
Frank tells us there are no flooding gate “‘cause the swamp was made as reservoir for the rice fieldsâ at the Dean Hall Plantation in the 1700s. Rice was âCarolinaâs Goldâ, the main cash crop and undisputed queen of the Lowcountry that helped built most of Charlestonâs beautiful townhouses, plantation homes and beach gateways, and even the furniture, like the cityâs popular Thomas Elfe bed. âIn my time, I only knew that you grow rice in Chinaâ says Frank with a wide smile.
âLook at all the floating hearts!â yells Nathaniel, the energetic little boy next to me. The âheartsâ are Atamasco lilies; Cypress Garden boasts the largest concentration in the Southeast thanks to a popular inter-bellum challenge that gave young boys a penny for every lily bulb they would scour from the woods.
We are now in the middle of âLizzieâs Gardenâ as Frank calls it fondly. You can tell he is very attached to the Kittredges. âThese were good people, you know?…The day they built this garden they let everyone in to enjoy itâŚI mean everybodyâŚlike you and meâŚback then that was something special, you know?â Legend has it that Mr. Kittredge was mesmerized by a red maple tree striking reflection in the swampâs famous black waters during one of his duck hunting trips. The rest is history and the garden was born.
We stroll pass the âwedding gardenâ a popular celebration area and site of âmany lavish soireesâ in the â40s and â50s. Frank gently avoids a flamboyant cypress knee. âThis is my favorite spotâŚyou can park your boat, take a nap and when the bell rings you know itâs time to go fishinââ. âYou fish Frank?â I ask him politely. âOf course! Mr. Frank donât watch no TVâŚwith all thatâs goinâ on Iâll end up like those folks on Judge Judyâ. Then he points at a lone magnolia tree. âYou should always plant your magnolia tree on the right side of the house. To make lots of moneyâ chuckles he loudlyâŚâwhen you go back to Charleston watch for all those treesâŚthen you can tell whoâs rich or claims [to be] so.â

On our way back it starts raining. Frank points out two shooting scenes from Mel Gibsonâs movie âThe Patriotâ. The bridge is where the militia was hiding waiting for the Red Coats; the island is the location for the âOld Spanish mission in the black water swampâ. As we are getting out Frank is cheering us up with the âIâll be traveling down the mountainâ song. He sounds just like Elvis. We shake hands. Just like his smile, his hands are warm and familiar. Despite the dark clouds and bone chilling rain I feel great. I waive Frank good bye one more time.
He is special, you know?
Things to know before you go
⢠The adult ticket is only $10; seniorsâ ticket is $9; children ages 6-12 is $5 and ones five and under get in for free. Berkeley county residents get free admission (from 9 to 12) on the 3rd Saturday of every month
⢠The guided tour lasts about half an hour give or take depending on how voluble Frank (or the other guide) is. Boats leave every hour on top of the hour. Donât worry if youâre not Michael Phelps type swimmer. The swamp is only 3 feet deep and yes you will be provided with life vests.
⢠Unlike other swamps (i.e. Congaree National Park near Columbia) there are no mosquitoes at Cypress Garden, courtesy to the sap in the water that acts as a repellent.
⢠You can âsafely lose the kidsâ at the Butterfly House, Aquarium, Reptile Center, Crocodile Isle and Aviary, or at the small replica of an inland rice field.
⢠There are 4 miles of walking paths and nature trails for outdoor enthusiasts. You should be on the lookout for alligators, the main animal attraction at the garden, although none will bother to venture out in the âfreezingâ 45 degrees winter temperature. Come May and is a whole different story; no âfeeding or harassingâ please.
⢠Besides âThe Patriotâ there were other famous movies shot here, like âNorth and Southâ, âThe Notebookâ, and âThe Yearlingâ. In fact the SC State Museum in downtown Columbia is featuring an incredible exhibition about all the Hollywood movies shot in South Carolina.
⢠History lovers can spend more time at The Nesbitt House or the Dean Hall Plantation (just note the original is now in Beaufort SC). If time permits go visit the nearby Magnolia Plantation
⢠Locals eat at the Barony House few miles out in Moncks Corner, right pass Burger King
Cypress Garden
3030 Cypress Garden Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
For a calendar of events, passes and discounts, driving directions and more visit http://www.cypressgardens.info/ or call (843) 553-0515
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Filed under: Charleston, Cypress Gardens, Historic Carolina Sites, Inspirational, Outdoor Activities | Tagged: activities under $10, Carolina Alligators, Charleston family attractions, Charleston historic sites, Charleston kids activities, Cypress Gardens, education, Hollywood, Hunley, Just for Kids, movies, Outdoor Carolina, SC family fun activities, swamp | 2 Comments »