On the Hunt in the ACE Basin

Landowners honor the centuries-old history and traditions of English foxhunting.

Photo by Kendrick Mayes, former artist in residence at Airy Hall Plantation owned by the Limehouse family for over 40 years. Airy Hall was recently sold.

Due east from Hwy. 21, across vast marshes, through palmetto-studded live oak hammocks and dark-water cypress swamps, the landscape breaks into open vistas and well-tended fields in the heart of the ACE Basin’s plantation country. This is the land of forgotten places, country churches, roadside shacks, cinder block fish houses, and so much more.

It’s home to antebellum plantations, polo matches, foxhunting, and some of the most breathtakingly beautiful vistas in all of coastal South Carolina. The Lowcountry Hunt was founded in 2006 by Nina Burke—a centuries-old tradition kept alive through the generosity of Ms. Burke and other landowners. This year’s “Masters of Lowcountry Hunt” was held at Ravenwood Plantation. Guests are welcome to participate. Participants wear colors of indigo and gold in honor of two vital historical crops: indigo and Carolina Gold rice.