Our Neighbor: Hobcaw Barony

DeBordieu's southern neighbor is Hobcaw Barony. Below is some information pulled from their website. This is a lovely and historical piece of property that is well worth visiting.

History of Hobcaw Barony

A 17, 500 acre research reserve, Hobcaw Barony is one of the few undeveloped tracts on the Waccamaw Neck. The Native Americans called it "hobcaw," meaning between the waters. In 1718, the land became a colonial land grant, a barony. Sold and subdivided into plantations extending from the river to the sea, Hobcaw Barony was part of the great rice empire until the turn of the 20th century.
Bernard M. Baruch, Wall Street financier and advisor to presidents, purchased the property comprised of 11 former plantations in 1905 for use as winter hunting retreat. He invited presidents, prime ministers and politicians to hunt duck, turkey, deer, quail, foxes and hogs in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
After 50 years, he sold all the land to his daughter and the time of her death, she created a foundation to manage the land as an outdoor laboratory for the colleges and universities in South Carolina.
Swamps, abandoned rice fields, pine and hardwood forests, salt marsh and barrier island environments provide habitat for many native animals of the coastal plain. Historic sites include Hobcaw House, rebuilt in 1930 on a bluff overlooking Winyah Bay; Bellefield House and stables, built in 1936 for Belle W. Baruch; and Friendfield, a 19th century slave village used until 1952.
Although privately owned, Hobcaw Barony is now used as a research reserve by the colleges and universities of South Carolina. Restricted access is allowed through tours and programs offered by the foundation and universities.
We offer many tours and programs throughout the year. Please read below or click the links to the right to start your adventure today!

Tours of Hobcaw Barony
(Year Round)

This three hour van tour requires little walking but includes highlights of Hobcaw's history. Once eleven plantations, the property was bought in 1905-07 by Bernard Baruch, native South Carolinian and Wall Street financier. At this winter retreat he and other millionaires hunted ducks, deer and wild turkeys throughout the 17,500 acres. The van stops for a tour inside his 1930 mansion that played host to politicians, generals and newspapermen as well as Winston Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt.

In addition to Hobcaw House, tours include a drive by the home and stables of Bellefield Plantation, Friendfield Village, the last 19th century slave village on the Waccamaw Neck and travel a portion of the original King's Highway. We share information on coastal ecology, wildlife and endangered species.