Drayton Hall, Charleston

The plantation tour ticket gets you a tour of the house (as well as the ability to walk around the grounds on your own, but it didn’t really seem like you needed a ticket for that). They have some marked locations around the grounds, identifying where things used to be, but apart from some brick foundations, it’s kind of just a nice nature walk. The house tour was the clear highlight. The tour guide was a very sweet grandma who was very knowledgeable about the house itself and the members of the Drayton family. Seeing the unrestored interior of the house was really cool, since it actually feels like it’s old, as opposed to some other highly restored old building museums.

This is a bare-bones skeletal structure of the past. The grounds, while devoid of a properly flowered garden, is well maintained and provides a charm for those that crave a snapshot in time. The house, as stated, has absolutely nothing inside...which made my visit that much better. No lavish furniture to hide the wooden floors (except for rugs that are used to preserve the flooring.) No wall coverings to show the ghostly outlines of the strings used to hold period-piece coverings/art. This is a charm filled experience that leaves the open space as your canvas...just close your eyes and enjoy what you dream.

Things have changed here. I confess to being spoiled by the place when little blue haired ladies ran place and you could wander the house as you pleased like rest of grounds. Which this would've bothered me less had they been more clear when charging the whopping $32.00 a head with no one specifying, not even in their printed literature, that you could wander the grounds self guided but not the main house. When we got to the house a tour was inside but confusion grew when we saw ropes were blocking stairs with no signage. Our logical thought was to attempt to engage the tour inside but as we tried we were RUDELY chided by a staffer like children. Too bad, a little inquiry goes a long way in customer service and even after trying to explain our side of things it didn't seem to much matter. No tone of, "you can put your tickets towards a future tour" or "let's see about a refund." Nothing of the kind. "Beware of Alligators" signage may be the property's least issue as they were actually friendlier.

Wonderful visit to this plantation. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable in the history of the home and grounds. I would recommend this to everyone to visit next time your in Charleston. My wife and I really liked that we can walk around the entire ground by ourselves. The house tour was guided and was very informative. The only downside was that there was no furniture in the house. But that did not take away the fact it was an informative period house.

A family favorite. We visit each time in Charleston. Impressed by the new visitors' center and museum. Always a quality visit. A "must go."