Header photo courtesy of Charleston County Parks.
Lowcountry Land Trust is excited to announce the permanent protection of the 35-acre Holly Grove property, which will serve as an official addition to the Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel, South Carolina. In collaboration with the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission (CCPRC), this strategic acquisition expands public access to nature, enhances water quality, and ensures the long-term conservation of vital habitats in one of Charleston County’s most ecologically and recreationally valuable public spaces.
The addition of Holly Grove’s 35 acres to the Caw Caw Interpretive Center enhances the park’s highly visible landscape and vital natural buffer between the water and the highway, boasting approximately 2,300 feet of waterway frontage along Tea Farm Creek and the Wallace River, and about 850 feet of scenic frontage along U.S. Highway 17 South (Savannah Highway). Future plans for the Caw Caw addition could include an all-tide paddlecraft launch for water-based exploration. Bordering the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway route, the newly conserved land also opens the door for movement of the trail off the highway and onto more protected terrain, improving safety for cyclists, runners, and walkers alike.
Previously at risk of development, the Holly Grove property was purchased by Lowcountry Land Trust, protected, and then transferred to the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. The Land Trust now holds and will monitor a conservation easement in perpetuity, partnering with CCPRC to ensure the long-term stewardship of a place that reflects the very best of the Lowcountry’s natural heritage.
“The expansion of Caw Caw through the addition of the Holly Grove property is a great example of what strong partnerships can achieve,” said Kevin Bowie, executive director of CCPRC. “We’re grateful to the Lowcountry Land Trust, Charleston County Council, and the County’s Greenbelt Program. By working together, we’re able to expand public access to this remarkable property. We look forward to creating even more trails, water access points, and recreational opportunities at Caw Caw in the years ahead.”
The $2.2 million project was made possible through generous public funding: $2.09 million from Charleston County’s Greenbelt Program and an additional $110,000 provided by CCPRC. The collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to balancing growth with permanent protection of the region’s most treasured natural areas.
“Charleston County is fortunate to have iconic, publicly accessible green spaces, and Caw Caw stands out as one of the finest,” said Joe Boykin, Charleston County Council Member (District 8). “Expanding and protecting places like this through our Greenbelt Program isn’t just smart land use—it’s a lasting investment in quality of life.”
