Bluffton’s Waterfront Park

At the end of Calhoun Street, where Old Town Bluffton meets the May River, the Wright Family Park and Calhoun Street Dock invite you to explore and experience the beauty of the Lowcountry. 

The park is just across the street from the historic and striking Church of the Cross, and overlooks the river. This is where the Wright family lived for 80 years before deciding to share it with the public. 

You can catch a glimpse of history at the Squire Pope Carriage House, a remnant of the pre-Civil War homestead and the family’s only building to survive the Burning of Bluffton in 1863. 

Today you can walk on the path, relax on a bench along the riverbank, or have a picnic in the shade of the live oak trees. And the stunning scenery creates awesome photo opportunities, too!

If you like a good scavenger hunt, try to find the 10 fiddler crab statues hidden throughout Old Town with “Follow the Fiddlers.” This art project makes a fun challenge out of teaching kids and adults about the local fiddler crabs and ecosystem. A plaque in the park is one of several around Old Town with clues and insights about these small crabs who play a big role in the environment.

Other plaques throughout the Wright Family Park tell about the history, the people, and the natural environment of this area.

Keep your eyes open for wildlife here. You never know when you might see great blue herons stalking their next meal, crabs shuffling at the water’s edge, or even bottlenose dolphins swimming by.

Take the stairs down the riverbank to get up close and personal with this estuarine environment of marsh grass, sand, pluff mud, and oyster shells.

Stroll over to the adjacent Calhoun Street Dock, which was most recently renovated in 2020, though it dates back to the early 1800s. The dock provides public river access for activities like fishing, boating, shrimping, and nature watching. 

You can walk down the dock, enjoy some shade under the pavilion, and go farther on to the floating portion of the dock. Take a deep breath of the distinctive marsh-scented air while you’re here.

The Wright Family Park and Calhoun Street Dock are family-friendly and wheelchair accessible. Pets are welcome as long as they are leashed and cleaned up after. Park hours are from sunrise until sunset, while the dock is open from sunrise until 10:00 pm.

When you want to relax like a rock star, stop by the Wright Family Park and Calhoun Street Dock and soak up the easy Lowcountry vibes. 

Address: 110 Calhoun St, Bluffton, SC 29910