Once upon a time there was a little blue house that photographers flocked to just to get pictures of it. The “Last Cabin Standing” or “Little Blue” as it was affectionately called was technically not the last cabin to stand at Hunting Island State Park, but it was the last one to stand on the southern end of the beach. It was something that had intrigued me since I had gotten interested in the state parks. I was just amazed that a house could be standing in the ocean.

I first visited Hunting Island in October of 2012. I really didn’t know a lot about the park except that it had the only public accessible lighthouse in the state of South Carolina. I made it halfway up the lighthouse that day, but eventually my fear of heights won over and I didn’t make it to the top. When I got back home I started researching the park. I found out that beach erosion was a huge problem there.

Hunting Island State Park was basically known for its boneyard beach. I have a soft spot in my heart for dead trees on a beach. They make fantastic pictures for one thing, but they also represent the ocean and just how powerful it really is. I knew from pictures that I had found online that the cabin that I was in search of was near some dead trees, but I never could find it. One day after a couple of years I finally saw it from a distance, but I couldn’t get to it because I couldn’t get by all of the trees that were blocking me. I was determined to see it up close since I had finally seen it from a distance.

Fortunately a photographer from the area had posted some pictures on a website, and told how to get to the cabin. I had to park at the nature center, walk the trail through the woods, cross over the bridge at the lagoon, and then there was Little Blue in all of her glory sitting out in the Atlantic Ocean. I literally could have cried tears of joy when I finally laid eyes on it the first time. It only took me almost four years to finally find the cabin I had been looking for.

Little Blue had replaced Big Blue. Big Blue was the original cabin that had been on the lot that the family that owned Little Blue had. Big Blue was taken out into the ocean due to erosion in 2000, so the family rebuilt a smaller home in 2003 so they could still enjoy the family get togethers at their beloved Hunting Island. One by one all of the cabins that surrounded Little Blue would succumb to their fate of meeting the powerful ocean, but Little Blue held on strong.

Unfortunately by 2009 the little cabin that once could be walked into from the ground level was having to be accessed from a tall ladder that looks like stairs leading up. The beach erosion had taken its toll on the beach that surrounded Little Blue, and the family that owned the little cabin knew it was time to say goodbye. They had one last get together in the house in 2009 for July 4th, then they cleaned out the house in 2010.

What I found fascinating about Little Blue was that even though it had been abandoned for six to seven years by the time I finally got a chance to see it in person, a ceiling fan could still be seen gently spinning through a window. I know that it was just the wind blowing it, but it was special to me. I would have thought that all of the hurricanes that had passed by the little house would have ripped it down, but it was still there.

As fate would have it, not even a week after I finally found the little cabin I had been searching for what seemed like forever, the state announced that it would be tearing it down before the end of the year. I was sad to learn that news, so I did make another trip down just to see the house. I was greeted with a beautiful sunrise that morning. I couldn’t have asked for a better morning for photography that day. I told my mom that it was sad to know that would be the last time I would ever get to see the cabin, but I was happy that I had ever got to see it at all.

By October of 2016, Hurricane Matthew had hit Hunting Island hard. The park had major damage, but everyone seemed to be interested to know if Little Blue had survived or not. The tough little cabin had survived the hurricane, but according to the pictures I saw of it posted online, showed that it was leaning a little. Even though the hurricane didn’t bring her down, she did finally meet her fate in February of 2017 when the state brought her down. It was heartwarming to see all of the tributes that the photographers that had loved the little cabin posted online to honor the cabin.

Even though you can no longer see Little Blue, you can visit the amazing Hunting Island State Park. It is known as the most visited state park in the state of South Carolina. It also makes an appearance on the list as one of the best state parks in the United States. The address is 2555 Sea Island Parkway in Hunting Island, South Carolina. The hours are 6am until 9pm during daylight savings time, and 6am until 6pm during standard time. There is an $8 fee for each adult, $5 fee for seniors, $4 for children between the ages of 6 and 15, and free for children under the age of 5. The state park does have one cabin located at the lighthouse that can be rented. I always love to refer to this park as a slice of paradise right here in South Carolina.

Published by travelingthesoutheast

My name is Donna. At an early age I had a love for photography. There was nothing more fun than taking film to a store and then having to wait several days to get the photographs back, sometimes only to find out that none of the pictures turned out the way I wanted them to. Quite a few years ago digital came out, and the rest is history. I can always be found with a camera around my neck, on my arm, or in my hand. I have always had a love for telling stories and sharing them with others. My imagination has always been a little on the wild side. About ten years ago, I decided one day that I wanted to start traveling, and I have never looked back. There is nothing in the world that I enjoy more than traveling and taking photographs. View all posts by travelingthesoutheast