Amazing Uninhabited Island
Pritchards Island is just southwest of Fripp and is only accessible by boat. This uninhabited island is owned by the University of South Carolina which conducts research on the island and welcomes daily visitors who enjoy strolling along the beaches and enjoying the barrier island's wildlife and tranquility.
Atlanta businessman Philip Rhodes donated the 1,600 acre island to the University of South Carolina in 1983 with the condition it not be developed commercially but rather used for coastal research. Students would stay in the "old stilt house", the Rhodes Research Center, while studying the ecosystems on the island and managing the preservation of the loggerhead sea turtles that nest on the island. The island is still managed by USCB and is used for education, conservation and research purposes by the University, other state institutions, and the general public.
In October of 2022, the abandoned research lab was removed, section by section, and hauled off on a barge.

For several years, the Beaufort County Arts Council collaborated with USCB to hold an annual artist retreat on Pritchards. Each artist was required to provide a piece of art that became the Pritchards Island Collection.
That collection now hangs in the library at the Hilton Head Gateway campus. (Source: Island Packet 2015)
If you're looking for an adventure, visit Pritchards by kayak or canoe. The Fripp Island Resort offers guided canoe trips that launch off the beach behind the Cabana Club. It's a great way to safely navigate the swift current that runs through Skull Inlet and learn more about the barrier islands. Contact the Activity Center for more information and reservations.
If you're ready to head out on your own, you can check tides and head over in your kayak or canoe. Single and tandem kayaks are also available to rent at Island Excursions. Once you get to Pritchards, you'll enjoy the peace and quiet of the island while strolling, shelling and exploring.
They are open!!!
All pools with the exception of the Marina Pool are OPEN for the season! They may be chilly but they are open! The Cabana Club main pool is heated - fyi.
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Must add-on Fripp Island Resort Club Cards during your stay for access to pools
#thebyrdnestfripp #pool #pools #frippislandliving #frippisland #fripplife #fripp #frippislandsc #frippislandstay #frippislandsouthcarolina #frippislandgolfandbeachresort #frippislandresort #frippinit #travel #pritchardsisland #vacationrental #vacation
The famous house on Pritchard’s Island, SC #zillow #pritchardsisland #sc
I just spent a week in one of my favorite places with three of my favorite people, chasing sunsets, waves, and deer. It was a MUCH needed respite from the last several months. Thank you, Fripp Island. 💙 ⛵ 🌅 🏖⠀
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#kimberlycaublephotography #charlottefamilyphotographer #rockhillfamilyphotographer #fortmillfamilyphotographer #cloverfamilyphotographer #lakewyliefamilyphotographer #belmontfamilyphotographer #familyphotography #familyportrait #risingtidesociety #honeybook #family #familyportraitphotographer #frippisland #frippinit #sunset frippislandrsrt #fripp #frippsunset #pritchardsisland #chasingsunsets #jumpingwaves #family #vacation #coronacation #quarantinelife
Pritchards Island Mini Series:
Owned by the uofsc, this Atlantic barrier island was once home to a research facility where erosion and marine life were studied. Surrounding the abandoned research facility is myriad equipment slowly being reclaimed by the sea.
Photographed here is the research facility.
#documentaryphotography #wncphotographer frippislandrsrt #frippisland #pritchardsisland #universityofsouthcarolina #landscapephotography
Pritchards Island Mini Series:
Owned by the uofsc, this Atlantic barrier island was once home to a research facility where erosion and marine life were studied. Surrounding the abandoned research facility is myriad equipment slowly being reclaimed by the sea.
Photographed here is an all terrain tire and an axle. The rim has been eaten away by the surf.
#documentaryphotography #wncphotographer frippislandrsrt #frippisland #pritchardsisland #universityofsouthcarolina #landscapephotography
Gonna miss seeing her on the horizon during sunset. The Pritchard Island house (really an old loggerhead sea turtle research lab run by the University of South Carolina) is now just a memory.
The removal of the abandoned research lab affectionately known as Loggerhead Hilton back in the day began early this week. Section by section carefully taken down and hauled off on a barge. From now on the view during sunset at the end of Tarpon will only hold the ghost of what was once there.
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#pritchardsisland #pritchardsislandhouse #uofsc #universityofsc #loggerhead #loggerheadhilton #fripp #frippislandliving #frippisland #frippislandsc #frippislandstay #frippislandgolfandbeachresort #frippislandresort #SC #southcarolina #abandonedplaces #sunset #beaufort #beaufortsc #thebyrdnestfripp #frippinit
It went too quickly, but we got a night to ourselves and paddled to #pritchardsisland courtesy of nalu.paddle.boarding.
Spooky Beach. Old abandoned turtle research center. Fooling around with premier rush
#pritchardsisland #frippisland
This is a photo I took of the sand on Pritchard's Island SC and I drew a sand dollar on top using the #leonardoapp.
#digitalart #digitalillustration #digitalartist #pritchardsisland #sanddollar #melissasaporito #melissasaporitoart #cseventybee #c70B #c70bee
Our view from our front porch this week has been the abandoned house on Pritchard Island. Adjacent to Fripp this island is owned by the University of South Carolina and the house was once a research station for costal ecology. Due to the cost of storm repair it was abandoned. #pritchardsisland
One of Beaufort County's most nested beaches, Pritchards Island is host to Loggerhead Sea Turtles between May and October. A group of dedicated volunteers patrol the island during nesting season to protect, mark and relocated nests when necessary.
