Charles Towne Landing

About Charles Towne Landing

Charles Towne Landing is a South Carolina State Historic Site in Charleston, covering 664 acres on a marshy point off the Ashley River. It is not a standalone zoo but a historic park whose animal component, the Animal Forest, is described on the park's own website as the only zoo in the Charleston area. It is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The site marks the spot where a group of English settlers landed in 1670 and established what became the birthplace of South Carolina, one of only a handful of original colonial settlement sites still in existence in the United States. Alongside the Animal Forest, the park includes a 12-room exhibit hall with interactive displays, a self-guided history trail, 80 acres of gardens with a live oak alley, and the Legare Waring House, an events venue. A dockside attraction called the Adventure, a replica 17th-century trading vessel, can be boarded and explored, and reproduction cannons are fired on select event days throughout the year.

Exhibits and habitats

The Animal Forest is described in the park's own materials as a natural habitat zoo, where visitors can see otters, bears, bison, and other animals; the puma habitat is noted as being temporarily closed for improvements. Outside the Animal Forest, the park's other attractions center on its colonial history and grounds: the Adventure trading-ship replica docked in Old Towne Creek, the 12-room exhibit hall, and the gardens, which include a live oak alley the park describes as a favorite spot for staff and visitors alike, with views of a marsh where wading birds, and occasionally wood storks, can be seen.

Animal highlights

The park's own description of the Animal Forest names otters, bears, and bison specifically, with other unnamed animals also on view; no published species count or fuller species list is available in the sources for this page. The natural habitat zoo makes up one part of a larger historic site rather than the primary attraction.

Planning your visit

As listed on the park's website, the Visitor Center and gift shop are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, the Animal Forest is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and the park grounds are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; all areas are closed on Christmas Day. The Adventure ship is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except Tuesdays, and is taken away from the park for annual maintenance from January 1 through April 1 each year. Confirm current hours on the official site before visiting, since they can change.

• Admission as listed on the site: $12 for adults, $7.50 for South Carolina seniors, $7 for youth ages 6 to 15, and free for children 5 and under.
• Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas of the park if kept on a leash no longer than six feet, but pets and service animals are not permitted inside the Animal Forest itself; owners are asked to clean up after their pets.
• The grounds include miles of trails for walking and biking in addition to the historic attractions, and the Legare Waring House is available to book for weddings and other events.

Confirm current hours, admission prices, and any closures on Charles Towne Landing's official website before your visit.