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Yemassee, South Carolina: Old Sheldon Church Ruins

If you're a fan of Southern Gothic imagery, go here. The empty walls of a ruined church, plus a graveyard, set among gnarled oaks dripping with Spanish moss.

Address:
Old Sheldon Church Rd, Yemassee, SC
Directions:
I-95 exit 33. Drive east on US Hwy 17/Trask Pkwy for eight miles. Turn left (no stoplight) onto Old Sheldon Church Rd. Drive 1.5 miles. The church ruins are on the right side of the road, in the trees. There's a parking lot on the left side of the road.
Admission:
Free
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Old Sheldon Church Ruins

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Old Sheldon Church Ruins.

Old Sheldon Church Ruins

A sunny June day in 2023. A quick detour off I-95. Has picnic tables.

[Dennis & Maureen Jackson, 06/30/2023]

Old church ruins.

Old Sheldon Church Ruins

Beautiful setting among the old trees and Spanish moss. There is an open area across the street that can be used for parking, so you don't have to pull over on the side of the road. Also, make a fun stop at the Carolina Cider Company, one mile down Hwy 17, on the other side of the connection to Hwy 26. Delicious goodies and a great place to sit in the shade.

[Lisa, 05/22/2021]

Church ruins.

Old Sheldon Church Ruins

Beautiful and worth the stop. The oak trees are gorgeous.

[Rose Howe, 05/22/2020]

During the Revolutionary War, in 1779, local Loyalists torched the church. But the belief persists it was burned 86 years later, in 1865, by evil Northern troops during the Civil War. A historical marker notes it "was actually dismantled by local freedman ca. 1865-67."

Church ruins.

Old Sheldon Church Ruins

A wonderful stop if you're traveling on Hwy 17. If you're hungry, go on up to Yemassee and have lunch at Fletchers Cafe. Worth the 8 miles!

[Elaine, 11/12/2018]

Ruins.

Old Sheldon Church Ruins

Great place! It was only 10 minutes off of the highway. So glad that it is kept up and no vandals have gotten to it.

[Shanda Barrera, 03/10/2018]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Kingdom of Oyotunji African VillageKingdom of Oyotunji African Village, Sheldon, SC - 1 mi.
Kazoo Museum and Factory TourKazoo Museum and Factory Tour, Beaufort, SC - 13 mi.
Water Tower and JailWater Tower and Jail, Walterboro, SC - 21 mi.
In the region:
Black Holocaust Memorial: Folk Art, Savannah, GA - 43 mi.

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