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May Forest State Park
A serene James Island park with harbor shoreline, live oaks, a historic chapel, picnic space, and views toward Charleston.
Live Oaks, Sacred History, and a Harbor-Wide View
May Forest State Park protects 23 quiet acres at the end of Fort Johnson Road on James Island. Moss-draped live oaks, a nineteenth-century chapel, the former Sisters of Charity property, and a broad Charleston Harbor bluff give this young park a deep sense of place.
A New State Park With a Long History
South Carolina acquired the former May Forest convent property in 2021, and the grounds opened to the public in October 2023. The site’s human history reaches much farther back, from the Archaic Period through the long stewardship of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy.
The Bluff Above Charleston Harbor
The signature experience is the open view from the bluff. From here the harbor connects the Battery, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, Patriots Point, and Sullivan’s Island in one wide coastal panorama.
Live Oaks, Chapel, and Quiet Corners
A moss-draped drive leads into a landscape of live oaks, native and exotic plants, a screened waterfront gazebo, swings, picnic space, and a chapel whose stained glass dates to the 1890s.
A Park Still Taking Shape
May Forest is in a day-use soft-opening phase with limited weekday hours and no overnight accommodations. Future plans include an event venue and lodging, so current hours and access should always be checked before visiting.
Why It Belongs in R&M Adventures
May Forest completes an important new chapter in Ron and Michelle’s state-park collection: a protected Charleston Harbor landscape where cultural history, coastal wildlife, and a remarkably peaceful view meet.
Live Oaks, Sacred History, and a Harbor-Wide View
May Forest occupies 23 acres on Charleston Harbor beside historic Fort Johnson at the end of Fort Johnson Road.
Ready to plan your next adventure?
Tell Ron what you’re dreaming about, and Cruise Time Booker will help turn it into a clear vacation plan.
See the Complete May Forest State Park Album.
Continue through Ron and Michelle’s original photographs, or return to the main R&M Adventures collection.
Park history, acreage, shoreline, features, and current access were checked against the official South Carolina State Parks May Forest pages. Original photography remains credited to R&M Adventures.
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