A Quick Stop at Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site
Tucked away in the woods off of a busy road in a busy suburb is the country’s best preserved oyster shell tabby fort. If you hadn’t driven past all the fast food and stores to get here, you’d never believe this small, quiet state park is so close to busy Summerville, SC.
Colonial Dorchester preserves the remains of a once-busy colonial era trading village on the Ashley River. Unfortunately, the British occupied the town for most of the Revolutionary War and destroyed it on their way out at the end.
The tabby fort, the church bell tower, and a small cemetery are all that remain. But the woods preserved this spot well! Ongoing archaeological work reveals new findings every year.
Come explore this small but unique South Carolina state park, and get your Ultimate Outsider stamp checked off your list!
Here’s what to see at Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site.
Top 5 Know Before You Go Tips
- Small entry fee: $3 per adult, discounts for children and seniors, age 5 and under free
- Large open field for kids or pets to run around.
- Polite pets welcome!
- The historic oyster shell tabby fort and church bell tower ruins are the main attractions.
- Not a lot to do here, so have other plans in the area.
The Ultimate Outsider stamp is at the bulletin board kiosk by the parking lot.
What to Do at Colonial Dorchester
Good to Know: If you are only interested in the walking history tour, you can be in and out of this park in 45 minutes or less. Consider checking out another nearby state park or visiting downtown Charleston.
Self-Guided Walking Tour
Begin at the entrance side of the parking lot, near the picnic area. There you will find the beginning of the historic walking tour and a pamphlet to guide you. The path circles clockwise around the park from this point.
You’ll start with the Ashley River. If you arrive at low tide, you can still see the original wooden wharf posts from the 1700’s. Turn right and follow the river to the oyster shell tabby fort.
Constructed by colonists before the town fell to the British in the Revolutionary War, this fort claims to be the best preserved oyster shell tabby fort in the country. Even President Teddy Roosevelt came to admire the fort when he was in town in 1902.
Continuing on the tour, view exhibits for the Market Place (a large open field nowadays), a colonial house foundation, and an ongoing archaeological dig site at Lot 52.
Rounding the corner, you’ll come upon the ruins of the St George’s Church bell tower. Built in 1751 and burned by the British in 1781, these ruins are over 250 years old and still standing!
The accompanying cemetery has 20 marked graves, varying in age from 1772 through 1920. The walking tour pamphlet also has the St George’s Church cemetery guide on the back.
Don’t touch the gravestones! They are all fragile. The guide has each headstone’s inscription typed out so you don’t have to touch.
From there, walk across the open field back to your car in the parking lot.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed on the banks of the Ashley River (with a fishing license, of course) behind the fort or behind the restrooms, past the picnic area.
If you’d rather fish from your boat, the public boat launch is close by, just a couple lights down Dorchester Road from the park entrance.
This is the Lowcountry, so be mindful of alligators near waterways. You’ll see signs in the park warning you about them.
Honestly, they’re unlikely to bother you so long as you give them their space. If they pursue a fish you’re reeling in, cut your line and let them have it.
Have a Picnic
Despite how close Colonial Dorchester is to a busy shopping area, the park is pretty quiet! You could grab fast food on your way here and enjoy a nice lunch outside before you explore.
Bring a picnic blanket and spread out under a tree by the fort or in the old market field. (Check for fire ant mounds first!)
If you prefer a table, the picnic area is shaded. Note there are no grills in the picnic area, and you are not allowed to bring one.
Historical Reenactments & Archaeology
Historical programs throughout the year provide an interactive look into the past, with guides dressed in colonial period clothing and reenacting scenes from colonial life.
A schedule of events is always available on the Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site’s park website.
If you’ve ever fancied the idea of trying out archaeology, then this park is a neat treat for you! Colonial Dorchester offers programs for you to experience a day as an archaeologist. (No, not Indiana Jones but rather real archaeology.)
Help out an archaeologist with digging, sifting dirt for buried treasure, and cleaning historical artifacts. School programs can be arranged by calling the rangers’ office.
Photography
Surrounded by both evergreen and deciduous trees, this park is the perfect backdrop for your photo shoot. You’ll likely have it all to yourselves.
The Colonial Dorchester bell tower ruins, cemetery, and tabby fort are all worthy of their own photos if you prefer documenting your adventures for scrapbooking.
The lighting in the park changes significantly throughout the day due to the tree lines, but there is also a large open field so the park still gets bright, direct sunlight for part of the day.
Boating/Kayaking/Canoeing
While the state park does not have boat access to the river, the public boat launch is literally right around the corner from the park.
Once you’ve finished exploring Colonial Dorchester, turn right onto Dorchester Road and take another right at the 2nd traffic light onto Ladson Road (at the Hardee’s). The Herbert Jessen Public Boat Landing is at the end of this road.
Looking at the river, go left (with the current towards Charleston) for a wider river. If you paddle long enough, you’ll pass the Ashley River Plantations, but that’s a LONG paddle. Beware: you’ll want a motor to get you back to the boat launch if you go that far downriver.
If you paddle right (upriver) from the boat launch, you will pass the Colonial Dorchester site on your right and then find the river narrows down, quite a bit narrower once you pass under the SC 165/Bacons Bridge Road bridge.
How to Get to Colonial Dorchester
This park is an easy 35 minute drive from downtown Charleston, on the west side of Summerville. If you’re coming from upstate, the drive is a straight shot down I-26. It’s about 1.75 hours from Columbia or 3 hours from Greenville, SC or even Charlotte, NC.
We recommend combining a visit to this park with other things to do nearby. Spend some time in Charleston or visit several state parks for one, long day trip. There’s not enough here to justify its own all-day trip.
If you’re also working your way through your South Carolina State Parks Ultimate Outsider bucket list, the following parks are within about an hour’s drive of Colonial Dorchester:
- Givhans Ferry State Park, 20 min
- Charles Town Landing State Historic Site, 30 min
- Colleton State Park, 35 min
- Edisto Beach State Park, 55 min
- Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, 1 hour 12 min
Cost & Permits
Colonial Dorchester has a minimal $3 per adult entry fee. Seniors are half price at $1.50 and kids ages 6-15 are $1. Little ones age 5 and under are free.
Pay online ahead of time, or there is a pay cash via envelope system at the park entrance gate. If you pre-purchase ahead of time, have the emailed receipt available to show as proof if requested by a park ranger.
Fishing is allowed on the Ashley River in two specific locations within the park: behind the fort or beyond the restrooms. A freshwater fishing license is required. Prices vary based on residency.
Safe travels, adventurer!
Rachel Means is the founder and author of Adventures in the Carolinas. She’s lived in the Carolinas for over a decade and has been creating useful travel guides and tips for almost 5 years. She enjoys sharing fun things to do across the region, not just the big touristy areas. There are plenty of adventures to be had in the Carolinas!
Share it!
