There’s good news to report on many beloved Lowcountry sites, including Cypress Gardens and the extraordinary Angel Oak, in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. Thankfully Charleston and the Isle of Palms were spared the wrath of the mega-storm. None of our beach homes suffered damage. The main issue around the Lowcountry was downed leaves and branches, with some trees down, and subsequent power outages. Two classic Lowcountry places are very tree-centric, and thus vulnerable to damage from such storms.
Angel Oak and Hurricane Dorian
First up is Angel Oak. Right after the storm, officials announced that there was no damage to the tree itself. The site was temporarily closed to the public due to tree issues on the entrance road, but nothing involving Angel Oak itself. Thank goodness! Angel Oak truly is a miracle of nature - a living connection to the distant past. Recently Lowcountry Weekend and Live 5 News filmed drone footage of the tree.
“If the Angel Oak Tree could talk, oh the stories it could tell. It’s estimated that the southern live oak located on Johns Island is 400-500 years, but some believe it could be much older… possibly 1,500 years old! Check out this drone footage of the probably one of the oldest living things in the entire country. “
Watch the drone video here.
What about Cypress Gardens?
The folks at Cypress Gardens breathed a gigantic sigh of relief as they surveyed the park post-Dorian. Cypress Gardens suffered massive damage back in October 2015, back in the 1000-year flood. Repairs and renovations began after sorting through bureaucratic red tape. However, just as they were making headway, another weather event would come along and derail the progress. Matthew (2016), Irma (2017) and the weird ice and snowstorm of January 2018 all dealt blows to the reopening timeline. Cypress Gardens finally reopened this past April after an almost four-year closure and $2 million in renovations. Improvements helped prevent any Dorian damage, as did draining the swamp and putting up sandbags ahead of time. The park only had debris, like the rest of the Lowcountry. It’s open and ready for visitors. Cypress Gardens is an iconic and scenic spot. It’s served as the location for numerous photo shoots and movie scenes, including The Patriot and The Notebook, where Noah paddles Allie in the canoe amidst the flock of white birds. Read all about it here.
MCG at the Marina
Also, here on the Isle of Palms, Morgan Creek Grill dealt with some post-Dorian cleanup. The marina area had some wind and water issues right around the boat landing. Owners are happy to announce everything’s back up and running. Following is their announcement and fall schedule:
Morgan Creek Grill's Fall Hours of Operation
Main Dining Room & Dog Friendly Patios:
*Sunday, Tuesday - Thursday:
*Sunday Brunch: 10am - 2pm
Lunch: 11am - 4pm
Dinner: 5pm - 9pm
*Friday & Saturday: 5pm - 10pm
Creekside Bar:
*Tuesday - Friday: 4pm - volume
*Saturday & Sunday: 11am - volume
**Creekside Bar now serving our casual menu nightly
and on weekends!**
We are now closed on Mondays until Spring. Creekside Bar hours are dependent upon weather.
Live Music every Friday and Saturday at 5:30pm
We just want to say thank you to all of our patrons as you were so patient while we recovered from Hurricane Dorian. We look forward to seeing you!
It's always a good day to #MeetMeAtTheCreek (843) 886-8980
It’s actually a great time to be in one of our Isle of Palms luxury rentals. The rates are lower, the humidity’s dropping, and the beach is less crowded. Just call us at EP to book the perfect one. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger