Johns Island, South Carolina - Angel Oak

The Angel Oak is a gorgeous, historic attraction on Johns Island, SC (near Charleston). It is in grave danger! The City of Charleston has approved development on three sides of her. This will include 600 "low end" housing units and commercial/retail space. Please help us save her!

Go to the petition site, or get in touch with Charleston's mayor Joseph Riley or the Charleston City Council. [Lorna, 07/31/2008]

The Angel Oak is estimated to be 1,500 years old, supposedly the oldest living thing of any kind east of the Rockies. My husband lived in Charleston as a kid and remembers having picnics in the HUGE shady area underneath and climbing on the tree with his siblings, and the tree was just -there- about 100 yards off a narrow back road. Apparently vandalism hadn't been invented yet. *sigh*

When we tracked it down with the kids a couple of years ago on the way back from a beach trip, we found the city (it's owned by the city of Charleston) had put up a fence, designated an official parking area and put up a small cabin which housed the guard/guide and a small gift shop. And there are now official hours of operation. Much to our surprise, we got there a very short time before the tree closed for the day. My husband couldn't believe it. All the way back he kept saying "The tree...was CLOSED. The TREE...was CLOSED..." They have rules signs up here and there asking people not to climb on the branches to prevent damage to the tree and stuff like that, but the person in charge pretty much stayed in the little cabin and there was no one looming over our shoulders as we walked around.

There are a few signs on the way there, but they're hard to spot, and the roads are narrow and wooded. Swallow your pride and ask the friendly locals when you get close. Go slow and keep your eyes open. The parking area is pretty close, so there is no strenuous hiking required.

The tree is worth it. Some of the branches are three or four feet thick, lying on the ground under their own weight. You can see where they've carefully added a few supports where needed and bandaged some hurricane damage. It's peaceful and cool and really an awesome thing to see. [Boadecia, 06/19/2008]