31 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com Most of the island had been created over the decades from the silt, sand and mud that had been dredged up from harbor deepening and dumped there. But to anchor “The Fighting Lady” and her flotilla, a more respectable name would have to be given to the spot. Thus, Patriots Point was born. Perhaps some of the tourists coming to see the ships might enjoy a round of golf while in town. Since the area lacked any public golf course east of the Cooper at the time, even locals would like the idea. Of course, the golfers coming from “off” would need a place to stay. There were only a handful of small motels in Mount Pleasant, but the harbor views and access to the budding tourist site made Patriots Point the perfect location for a hotel. This couldn’t be just any hotel, though. It would have to complement that picturesque view. Visiting boaters would need a safe harbor too, leading to the construction of Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. Many history buffs coming to the Naval & Maritime Museum would want to visit Fort Sumter without having to trek to downtown Charleston to catch the ferry from there. Subsequently, boats to the fort, harbor tours and dinner cruises were added from the dock at Patriots Point. One look at all that water would certainly make folks yearn for seafood. So, a couple of restaurants were added to what was becoming a growing complex. With land still available and the College of Charleston looking for a place where its athletic facilities could expand, Patriots Point seemed the ideal spot. Later, the Charleston Battery professional soccer team would seize on the idea and establish its program at Patriots Point, too. Patriots Point’s Executive Director Allison Hunt explained that the entity acts as a landlord to the different business enterprises that comprise the 465-acre complex. The star attraction is, of course, the USS Yorktown and the Naval & Maritime Museum, but there are also lots of independent ventures. “There are so many layers of Patriots Point – and lots of moving parts,” Hunt said. A master plan is in place to continue to develop the property wisely. The idea of using the property for something other than a dumping ground for dredged material was first conceived in the 1960s by a group of businessmen who planned to develop a resort on the site. But their plan was upended by the Charleston County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Commission (PRT), which hoped instead to create a public park there. In 1973 the South Carolina General Assembly established the Patriots Point Development Authority to chart yet a different course, one that could do for the Charleston area what Disneyworld had done for the city of Orlando; the development of what would become the vast complex we know today. It seems that the idea has been a huge success! our town Locally Owned and Operated BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT 843-518-1479 Relax, Your Home is Completely Comfortable with 1stChoiceforAC.com 2025 ® VOTED THE BEST HEATING & AIR COMPANY GET THE BEST SOLUTION FOR YOUR HOME AND BUDGET. RELIABLE, UPFRONT SERVICE FOR YOUR HOME’S A/C, HEATING, PLUMBING & GAS. Join the My Choice Wellness Club and save money
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