Prior to 2010, residents owned beachfront property on Hunting Island, SC. Many had built simple rustic cabins and were allowed to occupy them or rent them to visitors under a grandfather agreement set up when the state park was created in the 1930s. I found out about the cabins, and arranged to rent one of the last standing ones, nicknamed "Driftwood," in February 2004. The cabin property, owned by Mr. Geddes Dowling of Beaufort, SC, was spectacular, and our brief visit there was unforgettable. The simple one-story cabin was situated at the edge of the maritime cabbage palm and live oak forest, facing the Atlantic Ocean. Furniture was serviceable but not fancy, understandable for a cabin that might be consumed by the next coastal storm. Cable TV was not available, which encouraged peaceful contemplation of the views, which were worthy of contemplation. The cabin was surrounded by tree skeletons, and one had the impression that dinosaurs might emerge from the edge of the primordial forest each morning, in search of food. The environment at Driftwood had a greater presence than any other I have witnessed. We saw only one other person walking along the beach from another rental cabin, located about a quarter mile north of us. I was inspired to take many pictures of Driftwood Cabin and its surroundings during our brief sojourn, a few of which are included in this special feature. I was saddened to learn that Driftwood Cabin was demolished and removed in summer 2010, owing to cumulative damage from the ongoing beach erosion processes that are prominent on the coastal islands. The surfbound cabin on pilings, "Little Blue," seen in images of Hunting Island from 2014, survived Hurricane Matthew in 2016, but had become too big a safety risk and was dismantled and removed in late 2016. With that loss, there are now no original privately-owned cabins left on Hunting Island for rental, and a bracing and enchanting way of life has ended. I hope that my pictures here will give an idea of the special character of that way of life.
Special Feature p. 1: Driftwood Cabin (2004)
Driftwood Cabin Sunrise, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Sunrise, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Deck View NE, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Deck View ESE, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Deck View SE, Hunting Island
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Special Feature p. 2: Driftwood Cabin (2004)
Driftwood Cabin Deck View NE, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Deck View SW, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin NE, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin NE, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Beach View SW, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin NE, Hunting Island
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Special Feature p. 3: Driftwood Cabin (2004)
Driftwood Cabin N, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin NNW, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin WNW, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin NW, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Visitors, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Interior, Hunting Island
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Special Feature p. 4: Driftwood Cabin (2004)
Driftwood Cabin Deck View S, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Deck View E, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Deck View ENE, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin, Footprints SE, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Deck View SE, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Beach View NW, Hunting Island
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Special Feature p. 5: Driftwood Cabin (2004)
Driftwood Cabin Beach View NNW, Hunting Island
# 20040224F
Driftwood Cabin NNE, Hunting Island
# 20040224J
Driftwood Cabin NW, Hunting Island
# 20040224L
Driftwood Cabin NW, Hunting Island
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Driftwood Cabin Beach View SW, Hunting Island
# 20040224N
