It sits at the mouth of Winyah Bay and is only reachable by boat.
There is a lighthouse there – one of two from the 1790’s. It has withstood everything Mother Nature can hurl its way, including Hurricane Hugo. They say that the storm surge from Hugo actually reached the second story window of the lighthouse as it came barreling towards the coast.
It remains as Lafayette found it when he landed on its beaches from France, one his way to help the Patriot cause during the Revolutionary War.
There are no high rises, no restaurants, no people, only wildlife. I’ve heard it said that every species native to South Carolina still exists on this island – bear, cougar, eagles and more.
We had come to search for shells as they arrive fresh from the Atlantic, along with huge driftwood and even some entire trees.
It is North Island and it is perfectly untouched.
(all photos by author)
Marrow 