5 Best Things to Do in Yemassee, South Carolina

By VacationIdea Staff on June 6, 2022 - Updated

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Yemassee is a small Lowcountry town in Beaufort and Hampton counties in South Carolina. There are several historic plantations with interesting plantation houses around the town. The best known are Frampton Plantation House, which often organizes historic reenactments, and Auldbrass Plantation House, designed and built in part by Frank Lloyd Wright. Old Sheldon Church ruins are fascinating remnants of the former church, surrounded by ancient oaks. Stoney Creek Presbyterian Church is the the shooting site of the Forrest Gump movie and is the only church in the area not burnt by Sherman’s march during the Civil War.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Lucky Duck Distillery

Lucky Duck Distillery is a micro moonshine and bourbon distillery in Yemassee, South Carolina, operating from a nicely renovated shed, once a plumbing business. Lucky Duck specializes in a moonshine that is not too strong and can be tasted from the rustic tasting room attached to the production facility separated by a glass window. Guests can watch the process of distilling while enjoying free samples of their favorite product. The owner, Chase Flower, is passionate about his craft and is happy to talk about the long and hard process of fulfilling his dream of making moonshine he learned about as a kid, now that it is legal to do it.

17 Yemassee Hwy, Yemassee, SC 29945, Phone: 843-589-5440

2.Old Sheldon Church Ruins, Yemassee, SC

The Old Sheldon Church Ruins is a historic site of the former Sheldon Church located in Yemassee, northern Beaufort County, South Carolina, approximately 17 miles from Beaufort. The building was originally known as Prince William's Parish Church, built between 1745 and 1753 in the English Georgian style. The traditional belief is that the church was burned in 1779 by the British during the Revolutionary War and was rebuilt in 1826. It was burned again in 1865 by the Federal Army during the Civil War. According to another theory, the church was not burned at all but was destroyed when the interior materials were used to build homes burnt by Sherman army. The ruins are surrounded by majestic oaks and several scattered graves. The remains of Colonel William Bull lie inside the ruins of the church. He was credited with assisting in establishing the physical layout of Savannah, Georgia. The ruins are today a popular site in the Lowcountry for photographers and wedding ceremonies.

Old Sheldon Church Rd, Yemassee, SC 29945, Phone: 843-522-1712

3.Frampton Plantation, Yemassee, South Carolina

Frampton plantation property was part of a King’s Grant to the Frampton family in the 1700s. General Sherman’s troops burned the plantation house and all the farm buildings in 1865. John Frampton built on the same site the present charming Lowcountry farmhouse in 1868, and continued to farm the land. The old house was completely renovated in the 1930, adding indoor plumbing and electrical wiring. In 1993 the Columbia developer Wymann Boozer donated the Frampton House to the Lowcountry Tourism Commission for the Lowcountry Visitor’s Center and Museum, ensuring that the old farmhouse would be restored. The magnificent old oaks that frame the building and the Civil War earthworks in the backyard were also protected. Today, the Frampton House hosts The Lowcountry & Resort Islands Tourism Commission upstairs while downstairs now serves as the Lowcountry Visitor’s Center and Museum.

1 Low Country Ln, Yemassee, SC 29945, Phone: 843-717-3090

4.Auldbrass Plantation, Yemassee, South Carolina

Auldbrass Plantation is located near the town of Yemassee, in Beaufort County, South Carolina. According to the earliest records from 1736, the farm was originally known as Mount Pleasant. The plantation was created when industrial engineer C. Leigh Stevens put together five parcels of land along the Combahee River. The main house, stable complex and kennels were designed and built from 1940–1951 by Frank Lloyd Wright . The plantation is registered in the National Register of Historic Places. The plantation was purchased in 1986 by film producer Joel Silver. Auldbrass Plantation is an excellent example of historic preservation and is rarely open to the public.

Auldbrass Plantation Rd, Yemassee, SC 29945

5.Harold's Country Club, Yemassee, South Carolina

Harold's Country Club was originally built in the 1930s as a Chevrolet dealership in Yemassee, South Carolina. After that it had been converted to a gas station and auto parts store. Harold Peeples bought it in the late 1970s and started hosting Thursday night covered dinners. Harold was doing all the cooking. Soon, he was cooking more than only on Thursdays and started charging a small fee to cover his expenses and Harold’s Country Club was born. The place is today enormously popular. It is decorated with keepsakes from the past lives of the property. The seating is the communal style so that the guests have a chance to get to know people they are sharing a table with. The menu at Harold's is unique as well. There is only one item per night, and you better call in advance to find out what it is and to reserve it. For example, Harold’s steaks are grilled to perfection, but only on Saturday nights.

97 HWY. 17A & 21, Yemassee, SC 29945, Phone: 843-589-4360

5 Best Things to Do in Yemassee, South Carolina

Lucky Duck Distillery, Photo: Lucky Duck Distillery
Old Sheldon Church Ruins, Yemassee, SC, Photo: jovannig/stock.adobe.com
Frampton Plantation, Yemassee, South Carolina, Photo: Frampton Plantation
Auldbrass Plantation, Yemassee, South Carolina, Photo: Auldbrass Plantation
Harold's Country Club, Yemassee, South Carolina, Photo: IamSuperPear/stock.adobe.com
Cover Photo: dc_slim/stock.adobe.com

More Ideas in SC: Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms

Wild Dunes Resort, located along the ocean in South Carolina, is an all-inclusive resort perfect anyone who wants a diverse choice of activities on their vacation. With golf, the beach, and a downtown area complete with restaurants and grocery stores, guests will never have to leave the resort for a good time, though if they wish to do so, historic Charleston is just minutes away.

The Boardwalk Inn at Wild Dunes has been awarded the AAA Four Diamond award every year since its opening. The rooms are decorated in warm colors with furniture made of glass and dark wood. Accommodations in the Broadwalk Inn focus on providing a feeling of privacy and comfort. Located just 150 yards from the beach, the Boardwalk Inn is decorated in a relaxed beachside style with a touch of Southern class. With over ninety rooms in four variations, the Boardwalk Inn has plenty of rooms and options for every guest. The Boardwalk Inn also has a restaurant, the Coastal Provisions, and a pool inside the building. A garage is provided for guest cars, and wheelchair access is available.

The Deluxe Rooms feature a bedroom with a king-sized bed or two queen beds, a separate seating area with a work desk, a bathroom, and a private balcony with patio seating and a lovely view of the beach and pool. High speed internet, a flat screen TV, a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, a CD alarm clock, and a stereo are provided.

The Junior Rooms feature all of the amenities of the Deluxe Rooms, plus a few extras. They boast expanded space with a larger living room that adds a personal bar and a dinette for enjoying a meal in the privacy of a guest’s room. The private balcony is also doubled in size.

The Presidential Suite is perfect for couples. The suite features two floors and all of the comforts of home. The first floor consists of a half bath, a full and stocked kitchen, a living room with a pull-out sofa, a dining room, and access to a large private balcony. The second floor features a seating area with a view of the lower floor, a separate work area with writing desk, a bedroom, and a large walk-in closet. The second floor also includes a large master bathroom with a shower, whirlpool tub, vanity, and water closet. The Presidential Suite also includes complementary valet parking.

The Village at Wild Dunes is the center of activity at the resort. Many of the resort amenities are located in the Village complex, including a restaurant and bar, spa services, the grocery market, the fitness center, and the outdoor fire pit seating area. The Village is also just a short walk from the beach so guests staying at the Village will never be far from the action. The Village guest rooms are decorated inside and out like high-rise apartment buildings. The rooms themselves are located above the plaza in colorful, patchwork buildings surrounded by numerous balconies. Inside, the rooms have a comfortable, homey feel with hardwood floors, neutral wall colors, and elegant accents of dark metal and glass. The rooms at the Village work like puzzle pieces, and guests are able to add on rooms to form interlocking suites to suit their needs. The individual rooms include small guest room additions, one to three bedroom suites, and two story penthouses. The room amenities are everything guests could want from a home away from home and include flat screen televisions, CD alarm clock, stereo, high speed internet, coffee maker, a washer and dryer, and a balcony. The suites come equipped with a living room with a work desk and pull-out sofa, a bathrooms with shower tubs and vanities, a dining area, a half to full kitchen so guests can cook their own meals, and at least one balcony. The Village also provides guests with many complimentary services such as valet parking, trash and towel services, housekeeping services, concierge services, and room service.

Coastal Provisions is located in the Boardwalk Inn. Recently renovated and sporting a new menu, Coastal Provisions is a seafood and chophouse that focuses on fresh, local ingredients and has a rotating menu dependent on the day’s catch. The menu items include everything from raw fish and meat pâté to salads and soups and from classical Southern fish favorites like shrimp and grits to steak and grilled chicken. For breakfast Coastal Provisions focuses on elegant options like duck hash, shrimp and crab omelets, bread pudding French toast, and steak and eggs. To go with their meals, the restaurant provides a range of wine selections, many cocktail classics, and draft beer to satisfy any guest.

Open seasonally in the spring and summer, the Lettered Olive Restaurant and Lounge is the perfect place for guests and families to get a quick and easy meal. The Lettered Olive Restaurant and Lounge serves a dinner buffet every day that changes focus every night to make for a completely new experience throughout the week. Day selections range from Italian, Southern, Mediterranean, and seafood options. A children's buffet is also available for young guests. The Lettered Olive Restaurant and Lounge also offers a wide range of cocktails, wines, and beers with a focus on economic choices. Guests can take their meals outside and eat in the open fire pit dining area.

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Huey’s Southern Eats is located near the Link’s golf course. Huey’s offers relaxed dining for breakfast and lunch. Huey’s offers Southern favorites in an old fashioned diner setting. Breakfast offers dishes such as biscuits and gravy, buttermilk pancakes, and make your own omelet, while lunch features sandwiches and Southern classics like fried chicken, pulled pork, and spinach with fixings. An outdoor dining deck offers great views of the golf course and beachfront.

The Dunes Deli is the place to go when guests don’t even have time to sit down to eat. The Dunes Deli is open for breakfast and lunch and focuses on items guests can pick up and go. The menu focuses on sandwiches, both hot and cold, wraps, pizza, and breakfast platters for breakfast.

For families that wish to dine in the comfort of their rooms but aren’t looking to cook on vacation, Wild Dunes Resort offers a number of special, family sized dinner deliveries. Made to feed eight people, these dining options include everything a family needs, including the entrees, sides, drinks, condiments, and even disposable dinnerware. The options include mostly Southern classics such as smoked pork BBQ and fried chicken, but a pasta special is also available for guests looking for some Italian.

The Sand and Sea Spa offers all of the essential spa treatments so guests can fully relax and rejuvenate on their vacation. The treatments at the Sand and Sea Spa focus on equal parts sea and Southern experiences. For sea inspired treatments, the hot shell massage is ideal. Seashells are polished to perfect smoothness and then warmed to aid in a muscle relaxation massage. Southern inspirations include the Sand and Sea Spa’s true originals, and they will leave guests smelling like a Southern summer. Treatments include the S’mores Indulgence Massage, which uses warm seashells and the aromas of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers for a relaxing experience, the Honey Magnolia Massage, which leaves guests with just the slightest fragrance of flowers and honey, and the Sweet Tea Surrender, which uses a body rub infused with sweet tea and magnolia.

Wild Dunes Resort has bike rentals so guests can get out and see the entire island. Rental options include adult bikes, junior bikes, kid tandems, and kid trailers so the whole family can go together.

Wild Dunes Resort has a number of nature and fishing excursions available throughout the year. Wild Dunes Resort knows which animals and fish are in season, and available excursions change week to week so guests can be assured that their trip will be a memorable experience. Excursions include everything from dolphin cruises to crab and shark fishing to creek fishing to children’s marine camp to a beachside cookout.

Wild Dunes Resort offers a number of boating trips in boats of all kinds, depending on the season. Paddleboat tours, kayak tours, sunset sail boating, dolphin cruises, creek trips, and a trip on a historic steamboat are all available. Wild Dunes Resort even offers a yoga paddleboat tour so guests can find the right experience on the water for them.

Wild Dunes Resort offers a wide variety of activities on their tennis courts. Guests can enter matches as doubles or singles, round robins, or challenge pro tennis players. There are also a number of clinics available, including classic tennis lessons, cardio tennis, peak performance clinics, and clinics aimed at kids of all age groups. On top of this, tennis lessons are available in one-hour increments for one to five people. For a unique and romantic opportunity, Wild Dunes Resort offers its Courts and Cuisine experience. The experience begins with a two-hour tennis lesson for two followed by a tour of either the resort kitchens or the Mixology Tour.

Golf

For guests looking for a seaside golfing experience,resort offers some of the best golfing in South Carolina. Open to the public, the resort offers two golf courses to choose from.

The Links Course was Tom Fazio’s first golf course ever designed. Now it's been newly reinvested and redesigned to bring it to the cutting edge. The Links course is located along the ocean and offers many beautiful and relaxing views for guest enjoyment. The course offers water traps and wooded areas to make the course an enjoyably difficult experience.

The Harbor course is a linear course that follows along an intercostal waterway, offering unique views. The course offers a wide selection of water hazards and long drives.

For a charming Southern wedding by the beach, Wild Dunes Resort is perfect. The event managers at Wild Dunes Resort can take care of all the planning so couples can relax and enjoy their big day. Wild Dunes Resort offers a number of special activities for wedding parties, including a groomsmen game of golf or a coastal fishing trip and a bridal party luncheon or a day of pampering at the Sea and Sand Spa. The resort also offers a variety of venues for couples to host their special day.

The Palmetto Hall is the newest venue space in the resort. The hall features an open floor plan so couples can arrange the seating and extras how they like them. The hall is well lit, making for an excellent ambiance, and is decorated in a beach club style. Beside the hall is a landscaped resort pool that can be incorporated into events. The Palmetto Hall can hold 130 guests.

The Grand Pavilion is a truly unique venue. Rising above the landscape near the Carolina beach, the deck and covered gazebo is a romantic place to spend the evening. Ocean breezes keep the venue cool and fresh, and the sunset over the ocean makes for an unforgettable experience. Complete with two pools and deck lighting, the Grand Pavilion can hold 600 guests.

The Sweetgrass Pavilion is perfect for couples that want an elegant indoor reception. Decorated in refined Lowcountry styling, the Sweetgrass Pavilion is outfitted with high tech lighting, projection, and sound for making a perfect evening. An outdoor terrace promising wonderful views of the resort surrounds the room. The Sweetgrass Pavilion holds 350 guests.

The Palm Cove is a romantic and intimate venue for small outdoor parties. Seating 50 to 100 guests, the Palm Cove features an outdoor lawn for eating and dancing and a pool with a beautifully decorated deck for enjoying the beautiful Carolina weather.

Wild Dunes Resort, 5757 Palm Boulevard, Isle of Palms, SC 29451, Phone: 866-359-5593

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