Widgeon Point
162 Acres
Preserved 2007 • Beaufort County
idgeon Point is located in the heart of Beaufort County, surrounded by the pristine marshes of the mighty Broad River. Widgeon Point Preserve is the crown jewel of a series of islands situated between the Chechessee River and the Broad River. At 162 acres, the property supports various habitats and sustains a rich diversity of wildlife and plant species, like bald eagles. Widgeon Point Preserve offers unparalleled views of the Broad River and Port Royal Sound. A brackish pond, visible from Highway 170, is often home to white pelicans, woodstorks, and other transitory bird populations.
Could you imagine if this property was instead a development of up to 130 homes? It just wouldn’t be the same. This is why thoughtful planning and land conservation is so important in the Lowcountry to protect and preserve the many reasons we all live here and stay here. Caylor Romines
Widgeon Point is open to the public. Home to a nature trail, event barn, lookout, and picnic facility, Widgeon Point is frequented by county residents and visitors from dawn to dusk.
As sea levels continue to rise, the salt marsh in Port Royal Sound may suffer from higher tides and inundation, risking the possibility of becoming open ocean. Widgeon Point and similar properties currently buffer the salt marsh, but may become overtaken by marsh grasses and salt tolerant plants–becoming future salt marsh. Protecting places like this now preserves the salt marshes of the future, ensuring that if an acre is lost, an acre can be gained. Our work ensures the incredible ecosystem support that the salt marsh provides to the Port Royal Sound region.
Widgeon Point was protected in 2007 with funding support from the Beaufort County Rural and Critical Lands Program and South Carolina Conservation Bank. It is owned by Beaufort County and the Open Land Trust.
