morris island tours charleston sc

Morris Island Boat Tours

Charleston, SC Est. 2018

843-580-2031

Morris Island Boat Tours offers private cruises on the Folly River from Folly Island to Morris Island. Experience the beauty of lowcountry marshes, creeks, oyster beds, and beaches. Morris Island is Charleston's uninhabited barrier island and site of the Morris Island Lighthouse.  Expect to see plenty of wildlife including coastal birds and dolphins!

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Adventure Harbor Tours

Boat tours, private boat charters, sunset boat cruises, field trips, eco boat tours and morris island boat tours in charleston, sc..

Morris Island Boat Tour

Click “book online now” to browse the sailing schedule without having to buy.

These trips don’t go every day. Please see FAQ at bottom of page for clarification.

ADULTS – 59.00/CHILDREN – 36.00/UNDER 2  – NO CHARGE

The Morris Island tour is 3+ Hours total, with 90 minutes on Morris Island. So…what is the Morris Island boat tour all about? First things first-It’s a walking tour on Morris Island. Don’t sign up for this if  you aren’t comfortable walking approximately 2/3 of a mile!  Come catch some of the sights in Charleston Harbor.  We’ll pass Fort Sumter,  watch for dolphins on the way out (which usually happens)  and of course we’re gonna stop and tell you about all of it.  Once we land, your guide will then spend the next 90 minutes helping you search for beach treasure, as well and share some  ecology,  tidal mechanics, the benefits of marsh areas and exploring the intertidal zone. You don”t have to walk with your guide, but your chances of finding treasure will go way up if you let us help.

Morris Island is unspoiled, undeveloped and undeniably the ecological jewel of Charleston Harbor. It’s also rich in history, scenery and vibe. Go early enough and we might be the only ones there. Walking down towards “the old Charleston jetty”, reveals a set of rocks that acts like a big filter, and “helps” the treasure wash up on the beach.

Shark’s teeth, shells, even live members of the animal kingdom can be found, including sea birds, horseshoe crabs and other creatures of the sea. Your guide will be along to point out and inform you about any and everything you see.

FAQ: Scheduling these trips can be complicated. We’d love to start every day at 9, but it’s not that simple. There are 2 low and 2 high tides every day. To confuse that even more, they scoot forwards about 1 hour every day. So if its high today at 10, its high tomorrow at 11.  That’s why you have to book online for reservations – so that I know you’re going at the best time, and you don’t go home disappointed. Be here 20 minutes prior to your trip. If you are 10 or more minutes late, we we’ll have to reschedule you for another time  You can assume that if I say be there at 9, this really means 8:45. Bring anything you want, coolers, snacks, beer.

Morris Island is spectacular, but not without its hazards . Stay out of the dunes, both for minimizing erosion and the effect on the wildlife, but more importantly for your feet! The interior of Morris Island is  full of brambles, sticker bushes, cactus and the occasional varmint. Also, there are no lifeguards anywhere out on the island, so swimming should be done elsewhere. Currents are strong around Morris Island, so care is urged in water any deeper than your knees.

The Morris Island boat tours is approximately 3+ hours long. Don’t forget to bring your hat and your sunscreen; Carolina summers tend to be HOT, and if you’re not used to it, the sun can do a number on you. Also, bring your camera and a souvenir bag for the shells and sharks teeth you find.

More questions? Read our full FAQ Or call us directly: (843) 442-9455.

Email adventure harbor tours.

Welcome to Morris Island Tours

Salt Marsh & Dolphin Adventures 

Our estuaries are simply amazing and we like to share its natural beauty for all to experience. Our wetlands are home to an abundance of wildlife and you'll have the opportunity to get close and personal with a variety of sea birds and plenty of dolphin!

Morris Island Lighthouse 

Amazing sunsets

T​o ensure that your family or group has a great day, all of our trips are private excursio​ns! ​ 

Video Clips of Hungry Dolphin Strand Feeding

Dolphin strand feeding.

Dolphin Strand feeding in Sunset Cay Marina!

Another hungry dolphin strand feeding off the dock at Sunset Cay Marina where we keep our boat!

Dolphin strand feeding!

This dolphin charges after some mullet like a torpedo! 

Dolphin strand feeding along the bank in the Folly River on the way to Morris Island! There's always fun things to see on the way to Morris Island! Morris Island Tours always aims to please!

Perhaps one of our sunset Cruises is what you're looking for. The Folly River boasts some of the areas most amazing sunsets! 

Morris Island Tours, Sunset Cruises, and Dolphin Watching  Adventures!!!

We often encounter dolphin strand feeding along the banks and sandbars, chasing mullet and slapping them out of the water with their Tails! They can put on quite a show!

- Check out our tour options and book your Morris Island boat tour and dolphin adventure today!

Contact Us For Booking

Not only will you have the chance to see dolphin strand feeding you might get lucky enough to see a Right Whale during the winter off of the beach. Along the way you'll also have the opportunity to see a variety of birds, brown pelicans, sea gulls, comerants, osprey, bald eagles, egrets, grey and blue heron, oyster pickers, buffle head and hooded maganzer ducks, along with marsh hens!  

- Don't hesitate to book a salt marsh adventure, dolphin cruise, or Morris Island tour! Come create memories for you and your family that will last forever!

- Contact us for your Morris Island boat tour today!

Right whale two miles in front of Folly Beach! Come enjoy one of our whale watching adventures during the winter months and book one of our exclusive Folly Beach boat tours! 

Right Whale!

Dolphin strand feeding at Sunset Cay Marina!

Morris Island Lighthouse

BOOKING DATES P OSTED THROUGH: August 31st, 2024!

843.534.9099

Morris Island Adventure

The Morris Island Adventure has it all: shark teeth, fossils, seashells, dolphins, and the historic Morris Island lighthouse!

What to expect:

Tour length: 5 hours

Capacity: 6* people

Rec. Ages: 7+

*12 upon request

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your Adventure. The boat depar ts promptly at the trip start time.

Come board the boat with Captain Mike as we set out to Morris Island to collect shark teeth and other fossils including but certainly not limited to:

dolphin and whale bones

sea turtle shell fragments

fossilized shark poop! (aka coprolites)

swordfish bones

Ice Age remains (horse teeth, mammoth ivory, box turtle shell, and more!)

many other remains from extinct species up to 30 million years old!

Morris Island Exclusive: Native American pottery sherds (up to 4,000 years old)

Morris Island Exclusive:  occasional Colonial artifacts (glass, pottery china, bricks)

General Tour Structure:  Groups will meet Captain Mike at the Folly River Boat Ramp and enjoy a 20 minute boat ride through the calm waters of the salt marsh before landing on the beach. Please note that your group will hike at least 1 mile on the beach before arriving at the stretch with the highest concentration of fossils. By the end of the Adventure, expect the total mileage to be around 4-5 miles of walking . A complementary fossil identification session will be provided at the conclusion of the Adventure.  We do not drop off clients unguided! Our paleontologist(s) will be with you the entire trip to help you spot all types of fossils!

Our style of fossil hunting is surface collecting. The water has done the sorting for us, uncovering new fossils every 12 hours. No digging or sifting takes place at all. Not only is that illegal in SC, but it's less efficient at our localities. 

*Large Group Sizes:  We are able to accommodate up to 12 people MAX on this Adventure. Group sizes over 6 require us to run both boats, so these larger tours will receive both Captain Ash and Captain Mike! 

This cruise takes place on an open air boat. As such, we encourage you to be prepared for all weather types.

Re commended items to bring: ​

Comfortable footwear for a 5 mile hike

Ce ll phone camera

Reader s/Rx glasses for up close viewing

Windbreaker/raincoat

Weather appropriate clothing

Oct-April: Warm layers strongly recommended during faster boat speeds. ​

BUNDLE THIS TOUR WITH ANOTHER FOSSIL ADVENTURE TO RECEIVE 10% OFF YOUR SECOND TRIP!

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Home › Lowcountry & Coast › Getting To Morris Island

Morris Island & Its Lighthouse: How To See It Or Visit The Island

The Morris Island Lighthouse, situated just off Morris Island at the mouth of the Charleston harbor, is one of the area’s most iconic landmarks, and is a favorite sight for photographers.

Morris Island itself is a popular kayaking and boating destination, especially in the summer months, offering long stretches of beach, a good spot for shelling and fossil-hunting, and views of the lighthouse.

If you want to see the lighthouse or visit Morris Island, there are several choices of how to do so. For views and photography of the Morris Island Lighthouse, the easiest option is the beaches off the northeastern end of Folly Island.

Alternatively, it is possible to make the trip out to (or near) the island by kayak or by boat. A wide variety of guided boat tours and kayak tours to Morris Island are available locally, and for most, this is the simplest and safest way to visit the island (sunset and specialized fossil-hunting tours are also available).

For experienced paddlers or boaters, it is also possible to make the trip out yourself, with the easiest access to Morris Island being via the creeks to its rear and south.

The Department of Natural Resources, which oversees the island, officially forbids camping on Morris Island, although some locals do so anyway. If you want to camp, a nearby legal spot is the campground at James Island County Park.

See also: – Things to do in Charleston – How to get to Folly Beach from Charleston

! The waters around Morris Island are dangerous, due to strong currents and high tidal variation. Always consult the weather and other conditions, and seek local advice, before undertaking a self-guided trip. DO NOT attempt to swim or wade to Morris Island or its lighthouse.

Morris Island Lighthouse Views From Folly Beach

The best viewing location on Folly Beach from which to see the Morris Island Lighthouse is the beach at the very eastern tip of the island, accessible via the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve (at the former Coast Guard base), open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Entrance to the Heritage Preserve is via East Ashley Street. Limited parking is available at the end of the street (alternatively, it is also a nice bike ride along Folly Beach). There is a kiosk at which you can contribute $1 per person to the upkeep of the preserve.

From the parking area at the end of East Ashley Street there is a short walk along an old road until you get to the beach. The lighthouse is visible as you approach. This is one of Folly’s most secluded beaches, and a great place to visit around sunrise and sunset for photography and for undisturbed beach walks.

For different aspects on the lighthouse and adjacent Morris Island, you can walk a long way up or down this beach. How close you can get to the lighthouse itself depends on the tides, with the lowest tides opening a wide expanse of beach that stretches to a few hundred yards from the tower.

Although it may look as though you can wade across to the lighthouse from the beach at low tide, do not attempt this! It is dangerous to walk out onto the inlet’s sandbars on account of rapid tidal changes and strong currents in the channel. Swimming is forbidden off this beach.

How To Get To Morris Island

How to get to morris island by boat.

The easiest (and safest) way to get to Morris Island by boat is to take one of the several commercial boat tours operated out of the Charleston area, with departures available from Folly Beach, Bowens Island, Mount Pleasant and elsewhere.

If you have your own boat of suitable size and draft, the necessary navigational experience and a good map, however, it is only a short trip over to Morris Island. Access is easiest via the creeks to the rear and south of the island.

Coming from the Charleston harbor, Morris Island should be accessible at all but the lowest tides, although the channel can be difficult to find for inexperienced boaters.

Alternative boat routes to Morris Island include via the creeks accessible from the rear of Folly Beach, or from off Lighthouse Inlet. Again, these trips should not be undertaken at lower tides due to the likelihood of running aground.

Access by boat from the ocean side of Morris Island is technically possible but carries the highest chance of becoming stranded in shallow waters. You can approach the island either coming through the dynamite hole in the jetties, or around the outer limits of the jetties and back in.

The waters in this area (which used to be part of the island, before it eroded away) can be extremely shallow, and especially near the lighthouse itself it is exceptionally easy to run aground. This route is only suitable at the highest tides, and is best avoided by all but experienced boaters.

Kayaking To Morris Island

The paddle out to Morris Island from Folly Beach is mostly through sheltered waters, and though quite long (4 miles each way, about 2 hours of paddling), it is on a technical level suitable for beginners. The paddle is scenic too, and you can often see dolphins in the creeks, along with a variety of birds, sometimes catching fish.

Take a guided tour if you don’t have much experience of paddling in the area: kayakers have died attempting to reach Morris Island. Currents can be unexpectedly strong, and there are other hazards such as the sharp oyster beds and high tidal range to consider.

Guided tours, and kayak rentals for experienced paddlers, are available out of Folly Beach or from Bowens Island. It is also possible to kayak from James Island, passing (and if you want, landing at) Fort Sumter along the way.

You will often be able to orient yourself by keeping the lighthouse in sight, but a map is a must because the network of creeks is complicated (inquire with the company from which you rent your kayaks if you don’t have one). Remember to consider the tides when planning your trip, to take ample water and sun protection, and never to kayak alone.

Seeing The Morris Island Lighthouse Up Close

The only safe way to see Morris Island Lighthouse close up is in a boat. The trip should be made at high tide unless the boat is of exceptionally shallow draft; even then it is easy to run aground. Entry to the lighthouse itself is forbidden.

Do not attempt to wade or swim out to the lighthouse, even if it appears easy. The currents and tides nearby are strong, especially near Lighthouse Inlet, and have taken lives. It is possible to kayak to the lighthouse, but again, be aware of the currents.

© Melanie K Jones 2024

Folly Boat Tours

 (843) 478-0621

Lighthouse Tour

2 hour tour | $300.

If you love beaches rich with history and only accessible by boat,  there's no greater tour stop than Morris Island. Morris Island is an 840-acre uninhabited island in Charleston SC and is home to the Morris Island Lighthouse.  

First lit in 1876, this 161 foot lighthouse was critically important in helping navigate ships through the Charleston Harbor and will forever be preserved in Charleston's deep history.  

The private tour includes up to an hour stop on Morris Island,  where guests will be given a quick history of the lighthouse and then have ample time to explore the island independently. This beach is also known for it's shelling and sharks tooth hunting. 

1-6 people: $300

$85 each ad ditional hour

For larger groups we are able to coordinate with other local and knowledgeable captains to provide additional boats.

Morris Island Eco/Historical Tours

This is an entertaining powerboat trip to historic Morris Island.  Enjoy dolphins and shorebirds on the trip, along with stunning views of the lighthouse.  You will also have the opportunity to disembark on Morris Island for unparalleled shelling. 

This private trip is only $350 for your party (6 passengers maximum).  The rate is for the entire trip, NOT per person.  Call or email to book your trip today!

Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Fishing Charters, and Eco-tours

Call Us! 843-795-0330

Shark Tooth and Fossil Hunting Tour

Join our seasoned naturalists to explore uninhabited beachfront for an unmatched fossil and shark tooth hunting experience. An expert naturalist will guide you in your hunt, where you’ll learn about South Carolina’s fossil history, shark teeth, ecology, paleontology, and more.

The tour departs from Bowens Island, adjacent to Folly Beach. You’ll cruise pristine marshlands until we reach our destination on the North end of Morris Island. Next, embark on a 4-6 mile round trip hike to a remote location where you are guaranteed to find shark teeth and prehistoric fossils from millions of years ago. As an added bonus, you’ll usually see dolphins and other wildlife along the way!

$85/adult 13 and older

$55/child 12 and under

Requirements

• 4 person minimum for the trip to go out.
• Participants will need to be able to walk 1-3 hours/multiple miles on the beach.

Carolina Skiff Bay Boat

Alpha Cat Catamaran

Ample parking and restroom facilities are located onsite. While our vessels are optimized for adventure, they do not include onboard restrooms. We recommend utilizing the facilities before and after your tour for an enjoyable experience.

Please bring

Water, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, walking shoes that can get sandy and a phone or camera.

We recommend a backpack for the hike.

Liability Waiver

Each guest must complete an electronic liability prior to arrival. There is no need to bring/print a copy. If you cannot complete it online please plan to arrive extra early.

1871 Bowens Island Road, Charleston, SC 29412

Helpful Tips

This is our most adventurous tour! Please plan to be in the elements for a full four hours.

Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking 4+ miles on the beach and prepare children accordingly.  The walk is long, but worth it!

The tour will start promptly at the listed tour time. Please plan to arrive 15-20 minutes prior to departure to park, check in at our office, confirm liability waivers, and use the facilities. 

Digging of any kind, with or without tools, is prohibited. Morris Island is a natural, public island. The beach dunes are protected for environmental & historic reasons. Fossil & shell material can be gathered only when visible.

Due to the remote nature & length of this tour, we do not allow dogs.

Gratuities for your captain or guide are optional but always appreciated. If you’ve received exceptional service or enjoyed an unforgettable experience, a token of gratitude is appreciated!

To obtain group rates and military discounts, please call us at 843-795-0330 .

Shark Teeth of South Carolina

Charleston, Folly Beach, and Morris Island are prized for their shark teeth hunting potential, but what kind of shark teeth are you likely to find? On a COA shark tooth hunting tour potential fossil finds include the teeth of makos, tiger sharks, great whites, and the prized megalodon! Megalodon teeth are among the largest of all shark teeth. A single megalodon tooth is the size of a human hand!

Prehistoric Fossil Finds

You may also come across an assortment of vertebrate fossils from marine mammals, fish, and sea turtles. You may also uncover fossils from Ice Age megafauna (which means the big animals!) like tapir, sloth, llama, bison, horses, saber-toothed cats, mammoths, and mastodons. 

Your guide will provide tips and tricks for spotting fossils and assist with shark teeth and fossil identification as you sort through your new history collection.

Grateful to Joe and his team for offering a great experience. Cade was our guide on a shark tooth and fossil expedition and he was a wealth of knowledge with a keen eye for finding nature treasures! I’m betting our kids (age 6 and 10) will remember this forever. We love adventuring with independent outfitters and local guides and are so thankful we found COA! Jennifer Pharr D., December 2022 (Trip Advisor)

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Charleston Outdoor Adventures 1871 Bowens Island Road Charleston, SC 29412

[email protected] 843-795-0330

Music:  https://www.bensound.com

• Kayak Tours

Lighthouse Creek Charters

Morris island excursions | dolphin watching tours.

Dolphin strand feeding is a unique and fascinating hunting technique used by certain groups of dolphins, specifically bottlenose dolphins, unique to the Charleston Lowcountry. It is a learned behavior that is passed down through generations within specific dolphin communities.

Welcome To The Charleston Lowcountry

Discover morris island and more.

Offering scenic boating excursions and dolphin sighting trips on the Lowcountry waterways surrounding Folly Beach, SC.

Cruise with us for Dolphin Watching, Shelling, or a Sunset Cruise.

Have something special in mind? We can customize any trip just for you!

DOLPHIN STRAND FEEDING

Dolphin Sighting & Wildlife

Watch dolphins, herons and other native animals in their element as they feed and play along the marshes and beachfronts.

Shelling & Beach Walk

Stroll the beach surrounding historic Morris Island in search of shells, fossils and shark teeth. Umbrellas and chairs available.

GUIDED FOSSIL EXCURSION

Sunset Cruises

Shake up your date night, proposal, anniversaries, girls' nights, vacation & more with our sunset cruises.

Tideline Tours

Boat and kayak tours in folly beach & charleston, south carolina, explore the salt marsh surrounding folly island.

We know that different people have different tastes, and we pride ourselves on providing the perfect tour for your group.  Come explore Folly Beach on one of our three boats! Whether you want to go on a crabbing expedition, relax on a sunset cruise, learn about the ecosystem, enjoy the wonders of Morris Island, or take a kayak tour of Charleston, we have the perfect adventure for you.

Kayaking is the perfect way to slow down and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the estuary while getting some light exercise for the day. 

From Lowcountry boils on the beach to bachelorette parties and the destination wedding of your dreams, we can give you the experience of a lifetime. Discover the wild side of Folly Beach on a boat tour today!

Now booking for 2024 – see you on the water!

Select Your Experience

Culinary tours, weddings and special events, kayak tours, after achool programs, whatever you choose, we promise to help create a memory to last a lifetime., what kind of tour are you looking for.

Choose your activity type in the drop down menu. Select 'today', 'this week', 'this month' or a custom date range to see what's happening when you're visiting. Don't see availability? Call us!

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We love to be on the wild side of things.

Fix your nature deficit order today!

Don’t see what you’re looking for? We love creating custom excursions! Bring your imagination to the table and let us help you plan the perfect outing. Contact us.

Top-Rated Coastal Cruise in South Carolina

“Spectacular, it was the best dinner boat ride I have ever been on. Capt. Weatherly, sunset, the lighthouse, boil was so awesome. I’m so glad we found you. We highly recommend you to all we have met while here in Charleston.”

“The Salt Marsh Tour with Captain Phil was great. He’s so knowledgeable and personable and seems to enjoy showing guests the salt marsh. He was just as excited as I was when the spotted ray breached near our boat.”

“This was a really great experience. Weatherly is a great guide, very knowledgeable and informative. Boat trip was very scenic and peaceful. Seeing dolphins on the trip was awesome.”

"Had a great time. Cap. Mike was very knowledgeable and informative about all things Folly. Get to see the light house and all things of the workings by shrimpers, crabbers and oysters."

"We saw dolphins hunting on the shore and even had a chance to do some shelling. Great day and Captain Weatherly is so knowledgeable and taught us many things."

"If you’re in Folly - make the time. Capt. Weatherly is great and it’s a great way to see everything that you can’t see from the beach!"

"We all really enjoyed the boat tour with Captain Mike. He was full of tons of information about the birds and the dolphins and sharks. We definitely recommend Tideline Tours."

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Morris Island Lighthouse

What was once a beacon to ships out to sea now juts out of the Atlantic Ocean as a reminder of days gone by.

The Morris Island Lighthouse, a defunct lighthouse just north of Folly Beach on Morris Island at the entrance of the Charleston Harbor, stands just a few hundred feet off the coast. Its light never shines, but it remains a beloved historical site for both locals and vacationers.

The 161-foot lighthouse tower was completed in 1876 for $149,993. A Fresnel lens powered by lard oil shone light out over the water to guide ships safely to shore. Although the sole function of the lighthouse was to provide safer navigation for ships and vessels, the lighthouse itself was frequently at risk.

During its run as a working lighthouse, it was partially destroyed by a cyclone in 1885. In 1886, an earthquake shook the lens of the main light out of position and cracked the tower. Though these incidents provided blows to the lighthouse, nothing threatened the structure as much as the rapidly encroaching water.

In 1876 the lighthouse stood 1,200 feet from the coast, but when jetties were created in 1889 to protect shipping lanes, natural erosion was intensified and the ocean crept closer and closer. By 1938, the erosion was so great that the lighthouse became automated. Less than 30 years later in 1962 the lighthouse was too close to the shore and state officials ordered it to close.

The Morris Island Lighthouse was replaced by Charleston Light on the north side of nearby Sullivan’s Island. Now the lighthouse is preserved by the State of South Carolina and is under a 99-year contract with Save the Light, Inc. to preserve the historical structure through stabilization, erosion, and restoration. Save the Light also hosts events to raise funds for the preservation of the relic. Currently, a cement barrier is being constructed to help further preserve the tower.

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Save the Light

The morris island lighthouse folly beach, south carolina.

Make a Donation

Become a member today

Upcoming Events

5k run and half marathon.

Saturday, February 3, 2024 Folly Beach, SC

5K: $45 per person, ages 8 & up Half Marathon: $65 per person, ages 10 & up Registration ends Wednesday, January 31. On-site registration will not be available.

About Save the Light

News & events.

Stay up to date with Save the Light’s latest news and updates, and make sure to check the next event you can join.

Watch some of the magnificent videos of the Morris Island Lighthouse, as well as informative videos of our organization.

Get more information about Save the Light, our history and activities, and learn how you can contribute to our mission.

A word from our chairman

Read our Chairman, Bright Ariail’s letter to get a better idea about the idea behind our organization.

Save the Light meets virtually the first Monday of each month at 6:00 pm

Get in touch.

Email Address

Here you can find some conceptualizations for Phase I of the preservation of the Morris Island Lighthouse. Plans were provided by the Hayward-Baker Company.

Changes to the original Phase I plans needed to be made before the actual construction. For photos of the Phase I preservation construction, see the photo gallery below.

The base of the lighthouse will be surrounded by a cofferdam composed of circular sheet piles. This drawing is view looking down from above the lighthouse.

You can view some conceptualizations for Phase II of the preservation of the Morris Island Lighthouse. Plans were provided by the contractor, Palmetto Gunite.

Page 1 shows the layout for the new micro-piles that were installed around the perimeter of the lighthouse foundation. There were a total of 68 micro-piles installed at 75 tons each capacity.

Page 2 shows the actual location of the micro-piles and how they were spaced around the foundation. All of the work was inside of the cofferdam installed in 2008.

Page 3 shows an elevation view of the new piles in relation to the original piles. The new piles were installed into the marl layer under the lighthouse. The area between the cofferdam and the foundation was filled with sand and capped with stone.

For photos of the preservation construction, see the photo gallery below.

March 1, 2010, we awarded our Phase II contract to Palmetto Gunite Construction Company, Ravenel, SC, for just under $2 million. This was a design/build contract to install new concrete piles under the foundation. This contract also filled the inside of the Phase I cofferdam with sand to help stabilize the foundation. The installation of 68 new micro-piles rated at 75 tons each was completed a month ahead of schedule. The jack-up barge pulled away on July 31, 2010.

This work will surely stabilize the tower so that we can continue to restore and preserve it in subsequent phases.