Last Updated on August 13, 2026 by PorchLightReading
Explore Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina. History, admission, helpful tips and what to expect while visiting this beautiful, old castle.
We booked our camping trip for Huntington Beach State Park about 6 months in advance and every weekend we’d look at thing to do in Murrels Inlet, South Carolina. Daydreaming about our future family trip of beach days, grilled cheeseburgers, exploring downtown and the marsh walk, and seeing all that Atalaya Castle has to offer.
A much needed summer getaway right on the ocean with a bit of history thrown in. Little did we know just how much we’d enjoy exploring this beautiful old castle!
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- Table of contents: Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park, SC
- A brief history of Atalaya Castle
- Castle photo gallery
- What to expect while visiting
- Atalaya Castle admission and hours
- Helpful tips while in the area
- Frequently asked questions
Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach SC
Truth be told, if you didn’t know Atalaya Castle was there you might just miss how beautiful it is. From the outside it can look a little underwhelming with its one story stone wall surrounding the building.
But once you enter the front gate and take a peak down the watchtower tunnel, you know you’re in for something a bit more adventurous.
A Brief History of Atalaya Castle
Walking up to this castle I made a quick comment about how this was probably someone’s winter home from the North, and it turns out I was right!
Atalaya Castle was the former winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. The home was built in the 1930’s and was designed in the Mediterranean Revival-style.
Archer Huntington was a philanthropist and scholar with strong interests in Spanish culture. His wife, Anna, was a well known American sculptor whose work included large animal sculptures, many of which can be found at Brookgreen Gardens. Including the famous fighting stallions at the main entrance.
Atalaya Castle Photo Gallery
What To Expect While Visiting
Walking through the large gate you start to get a sense of what this castle was really like almost 100 years ago. Over to the right are the dog kennels, horse stables, and bear pens. She even kept several Rhesus monkeys as pets that lived in her indoor studio!
On the left is where you’ll purchase your admission tickets and where they have a little museum that gives you a better idea of the family that once lived here and the type of lifestyle they enjoyed.
The Watchtower Walkway
It’s easy to be drawn forward to the watchtower walkway with arch open air windows and a lush green courtyard on either side. The palm trees make a gentle flapping sound in the breeze and it brings you back to a simpler time in the 1930’s, with no air conditioning, internet, and other modern inventions that most of us could never dream of living without.
Along with a paper map to guide your way, they also have plaques in each room that are hung on the wall that tells you about each room, how it was used, and more interesting information for all of us who love a little history.
You’ll no longer find beds or desks but that kind of makes it a little more neat. The walls are showing wear, the floors are all marked up, the edges of the windows are missing plaster, and somehow it makes it all the more fun to explore with kids. Imaging where they might have put their bed, or what it might have been like to have monkeys for pets!
Walking around the castle you’ll see that it’s not like a mansion you’d find in a fairy tail story but more spread out along one level with long hallways and 40 rooms. It feels a bit like a maze and might even make you nervous that you could loose a little one if they run too far ahead! (or loose a grandpa if they read the plaques too slowly a few rooms behind.)
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Atalaya Castle Admission
Atalaya Castle is located inside of Huntington Beach State Park, so you’ll need to account for both the state park and the castle admission when planning your visit. Be sure to get the most up to date information at the Huntington Beach State Park Website.
You can visit the castle between the hours of 9am-4pm (5pm during Daylight Savings Time).
- Admission to Huntington Beach State Park
- $8 per adult
- $4 ages 6-15
- Free ages 5 and under
- Admission to Atalaya Castle
- $2 per person
- Free ages 5 and under
Helpful Tips For Visiting Atalaya Castle
Of course you can just pack up the car and get on the road! But sometimes it’s nice to have a few helpful tips for a better trip. Ones that include the best time to visit, what to pack, and other things to do in the area.
- The best time to visit Atalaya Castle
- During the summer months the morning is a much more comfortable time to visit! We all know it can get hot and humid quick, so enjoying the morning visiting the castle and the afternoon at the beach is the perfect way to spend the day. But try not to get too wrapped up in the timing. Although they don’t have air conditioning it is mostly shaded and each room has a nice breeze that flows through.
- Wear comfortable shoes. There are several walking trails in the area, boardwalks for viewing the pond, and an ice cream shop clear across the parking lot! Make sure your shoes are comfortable for it all.
- Double check the hours. This historic site has different hours then the state park itself, so be sure you’ll be arriving while they are open.
- Plan the castle with other activities. The castle and self guided tour will take you approximately 45 minutes, so you might have some time for other fun things in the park. Check out one of their several hiking trails, octopus tree, the nature center, the visitors center and gift shop, a day at the beach and ice cream at Spoonbill Ice Cream shop!
- Bring snacks and water and pack a lunch. You won’t want to leave the area and come back for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that during the summer they usually have a long long of cars waiting to get into the park and do not allow reentry. And the second is that you won’t want to leave! Most everything is within walking distance from the main parking lot so pack a picnic lunch and enjoy an entire day there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Atalaya Castle is located inside Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
I think it is, especially if you’re already visiting Huntington Beach State Park. It’s a relatively easy addition to a park day and gives you the opportunity to see something a little unusual and a piece of history.
I’d say that most families can explore the castle in around 45 minutes or so, depending on how much time you spend reading and looking around.
Yes! This is a great place to bring children for a little outing and history! Hand them a map and let them guide the way. When you’re done head over for a beach afternoon or grab some ice cream at Spoonbills Ice Cream shop right at the park!
Be sure to walk the nature trails all around the park including the one just behind the visitors center. This trail will bring you right to a long pier to view the wildlife that live in the pond below. You can also visit the nature center, have a beach day, or drive up to the north point and see the octopus tree.
Other Things To Do In Murrells Inlet SC
This area is absolutely beautiful. Between viewing the wildlife, enjoying one of the state park trails, shopping at the little gift shop and visitors center, and spreading out on the beach, it’s really the perfect summer family adventure.
Although visiting Atalaya Castle isn’t an all day trip, when you pair it with exploring and enjoying the rest of the park you really can’t go wrong! And if you need a little more adventure I’d highly recommend Brookgreen Gardens (your ticket is good for 7 consecutive days and they give a discount for people camping at Huntington State Park!) or head into downtown Murrells Inlet where you can stroll the Murrels Inlet Marsh Walk (boardwalk) and have a bite to eat right on the water.
We’ll see you guys on our next family adventure!
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