Atalaya Holiday Celebration 2019
We have long loved Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet SC. Our very much unplanned move here started when we found a house within walking distance of the park and with the huge bonus of the extraordinary view across the marsh at the park.
A popular hangout marking the channel beside the jetty. 
Ruddy Turnstone enjoying lunch on the jetty. 
Myrtle Beach as seen from the jetty at the north end of the park. 
Dead trees on the edge of the marsh – the park in the background. 
Double Rainbow over Huntington Beach State Park viewed from the back deck.
Atalaya was the winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, built in the early 1930’s on four former rice plantations the couple had recently purchased. They used the home until the early 1940’s when it was provided to the Army Air Corps. After the war, they last used the home in 1947.
Today, the land encompasses the 2500 acre Huntington Beach State Park, preserving the house and amazing array of wildlife along undeveloped coast, salt marsh, and brackish marsh, and the 9100 acre Brookgreen Gardens showcasing the gardens and sculptures of Mrs. Huntington.
The former home featured the annual Atalaya Holiday Celebration this past weekend. We had the opportunity to visit the many vendors, wander the halls of the old home, and listen to some terrific music from the Pawley Island Concert Band and the Resurrection Ringers of the Church of the Resurrection. With perfect winter beach weather and some great music, we had a terrific time.
The charismatic Carson Tucker talking to the crowd. 
The jazzy brass sounds rang through the courtyard. 
Trombone in the Christmas Spirit. 
Santa Saxophone 
Plunger mutes. 
Guitar and palm fronds. 
A gorgeous Saturday in the courtyard of Atalaya. 
Finger tapping with the music. 
Lots of video and photographing during the concerts. 
Carson Turner directs the Pawleys Island Concert Band. 
The Resurrection Ringers. 
Some of the chimneys of Atalaya. 
The crowd waiting for opening time outside Atalaya. 
A service dog, the only audience member napping during the jazz.
