Waties Island's Legacy Becomes State Park | Columbia News

Waties Island, a pristine three-mile barrier island in South Carolina, is poised to become a state park and heritage preserve after a century of stewardship by the Boyce family. With no condos or hotels, the untouched land—rich with marshes, uplands, and deep historical layers from Revolutionary War troops to Civil War batteries—now faces a new chapter. Led by sibling Merrill Boyce, the family’s conservation vision aims to create an educational haven where nature thrives. The state is acquiring hundreds of acres, planning trails and beach access while safeguarding ecosystems, with Coastal Carolina University preserving its research role. Though opening dates remain uncertain, this legacy project seeks to balance public access with protecting the island’s wild soul for generations to come. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/887f29a90a4266c4