Nice historical spot with some old ruins, very good interpretive signs and displays for old fort, old church and life in a colonial town to the 1770s. Several old graves, plenty of parking and open space to enjoy, walk down by the river and through the woods. Honor payment in box when you arrive and display hang tag on your car rear view mirror. $3 per person so bring some small bills to stuff the envelope. We used some change but had a tough time getting the overstuffed envelope in the slot.

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site on Dorchester Road in Summerville is a well preserved colonial experience that is a worth a visit. I like the self guided tour that they have available and all of the information stations that they have at different stops. You are able to imagine what everything looked like 300 years ago. This is something that can be fully visited quickly if you would like or you can stay longer and have a picnic by the river.

My kids and I loved this place.Its small, but deceptively so-- we found ourselves transported into history as we examined the tabby fort, stood on the riverbank, and walked through the remnants of the sacked town.At some point we learned we were standing where Theodore Roosevelt once stood, when he toured the same location.I really didnt expect my two teenagers to enjoy this so much. Its possible they were humoring me, but they asked so many questions!The pamphlets for the self-guided tour were very comprehensive and well written, and we found ourselves doing some further reading about events and personalities brought to life by this experience once we had gone back to the hotel. Theres just something surreal about being in contact with history this distant in such a way: it feels almost like youve stumbled onto it by accident, discovering it for yourself.If youre near Summerville or Charleston and want to feel the past in a visceral way, check this out.

This is a beautiful bit of the home town heritage. A wonderful place to take a walk and enjoy the outdoors. It is not very big so its easy to take the adventure across the whole grounds. If youve never been you should swing through and enjoy all the park has to offer and if youve been before you should really check out all the new improvements.

Beutiful park to visit if from out of town. My daughter went here to have a quick look given the amount of time we had to spare. Took a walk and was gorgeous with all of its trees and scenery. Too bad they were doing construction on the tower

Small park with lots of history!! Amazing tabby fort along the Ashley River. We love seeing how they are still uncovering this historic place. We even found a geocash!

I visited this park about a week ago just to get some fresh air. I was definitely in for a surprise. The Ashley River runs at the back of the park. The different landmarks that are left on the property are pretty cool. Truly enjoyed learning about Dorchester.

Another historical gem, surrounded by gorgeous Low Country nature, among the many you find hidden all over this awsome county.

Great little nature park. Part swamp, part river, part historical society. Tons of old buildings, an old fort made out of seashells. Great place to picnic or nature walk. Gators, critters and ghosts.

For such a small park there is lots to enjoy here. From spending they day here for a picnic or going on the self guided tour you can appreciate this SC State Park for all its worth. There is an entrance fee based on the honest program so they dont have anyone guarding the entrance. Please make sure to pay it truly helps persevere and keeps our parks open. There is an SC National Guard and Senior discount when entering. This park is surrounded by the Ashley River and you can see a great view of it near the brink that reminds. Ive gone to this place for years and it has evolved over time. The park now has its own replica stand of what the area may have looked like when the settlers were there. Since this is one of the SC State Parks that you can get a stamp for its located by the main sign within the park. There is plenty of parking as well. Theres no store to get souvenirs from, unfortunately. You will see the sign for the park from the road where you will drive about a quarter mile or so to get to the gate.

Beautiful place! Lots of views and intereating facts from Colonial Dorchestor. Had a great time and was a lovely walk. Great opens areas to let kids or dogs run and play.

Beautiful historic site. Definitely worth a quick stop.

Well maintained by Park Rangers. Beautiful views of Ashley River & the Tabby Walls. Great place for picnic & pictures. Truly a blessing in our area to visit & enjoy nature.

Really beautiful and historic place to go when theres not much to do. Plenty of shade to go on hot sunny days.

This park is all about history. Where the colonial Dorchester site was. It was quite interesting to see where history was. Grave sites and a bell tower are there along with the walls of Fort Dorchester. There are picnic areas and trails. Also is a diorama of the village.

Good place to walk around and see some historical places. Dog friendly. We just needed an hour to check everything out.

Every time we go, I notice something different. Underrated treasure of history.

Its a relaxing and open environment with plenty of historical facts.

Very cool, old site. The graveyard is neat and the bell tower is the only standing relic left. A lot of neat history.

This is a very interesting stop with a lot of history. Definitely worth an afternoon and the couple bucks to get in. There is a field which people seem to use to play frisbee and other games on. Probably not much to do for younger kids unless they are really interested in history. There are some geocaches here.

Beautiful setting on the Ashley River. Nice easy walk for kids and interesting history for adults.

Pretty spot with lots of history. Very peaceful and tranquil by the river. Not very big and not much to it other than a few sites. Good spot to get away from the bustle of town or show out of towners.

Beautiful place with loads of local history! Great for a pinic, a stroll among the trees or maybe some outdoor playtime with/for your kids. Recommended for all ages!Would love a small bridge in the stream (river) for kids to fish from, but that would perhaps attract local gators aswell...so maybe better without one?

Great place to stop. Picturesque views of the old tabby fort/brick ruins, riverside views and trails, ruins of the St George Anglican Church and cemetery, nature trails. Lots of things to photograph, geocaching opportunities. Bring bug spray in the warmer months. Not recommended for warm days.

Nice walk, beautiful scenery and some very interesting historical information.

This site is very well maintained, the rangers are kind and personable, and there is plenty of open space to enjoy. You pay a few dollars for parking, if which there is plenty. We always enjoy spending time here!

Very nice park. Enjoyed the walk

Nice Surprise when you come over the hill... You can sit by the water and relax...$2.00 parking (worth it)

Great pice of history. Quiet and peaceful. My only negative is that as a photographer, it would have been nice to have an indication that ther were working on the tower is this way the main reason for my visit. I was unable to photograph this as the interior was closed and there was a piece of heavy equipment parked right at the front of it.

Amazing, tranquil, beautiful, historical my wife and I loved it here. Came for a quick visit spent hours enjoying the day.

Wooded park with picnic tables, views of the river, & public bathrooms. $2 per person entry fee to see colonial remains of a church tower and weathered battery wall. Great for 1 hour hike.

See some of the history of this area. The remains of a church that was burned down in a war (I think) is here. Only the bell tower and some grave markers remain. There is also a munitions storage magazine that was built before the American Revolution and then abandoned before the British arrived. Really cool park to walk around.

A beautiful slice of history... Only $2 for entry and an amazing place for an afternoon walk or picnic.

Awesome place to just relax and walk around. Love bringing the family here for pictures!

This place has some amazing facts...check it out

Beautiful sites! Very peaceful and not crowded!

Real nice park went during the winter i was the only one there it was very tranquil had a nice walk

It was great. My son and I really enjoyed it

Lovely little historical park. A nice little walk through with detailed signage giving you thought provoking history. As we were departing we met Ranger Noah who said they give tours, too bad we missed it. Not wheelchair accessible unless its a 4wheeler but well defined paths under gorgeous southern oaks.

Learning a bit of history while walking around.. we came on a Sunday ..nice place to spend afternoon walk.

Wonderful place to have an easy stroll on a sunny day through a couple historical sites

Very nice historic place to walk around. Plenty of open space for picnics and a river to kayak on. Plus a few hisistoric spots to read up on Dorchester history. Definitely a bunch of shade to walk and just take in the sights

Beautiful grounds, well maintained. Easy walking paths.Good Historical signage.

Very pleasant place. Peaceful.

Great place to go on the cheap to get some good nature in mixed with the history.

Pretty cool place to check out!

Very awesome great historical information

Beautiful park. Great history. The open area would be perfect for a summer concert series.

Great to be in a park on covid 19 situation.

Great place to get out for a stroll and learn some history.

Lovely park. Colonial day was well done. Normally not a lot at the park but fort and a few ruins

If you are lucky enough to arrive when a dig is in progress, they are happy to answer questions. Theres also plenty of area for kids to run. Pets, on leash, are welcome. In the fall its a great backdrop for photos

Beautiful park, well maintained. Lots of history here.

Interesting historic site. Will visit again when weather is cooler.

This is a great place for a picnic and a walk.

Nice historic area with beautiful trails.

Nice way to kill an hour. It costs 2 dollars to go in. They have a nice self guided tour and beautiful trees

I enjoyed walking and seeing all...spoke to a Ranger who was doing some excavating and learned alot.

Well maintained and informative. Not a lot of people know about this site, it was nice and quite when we went.

This is a great place for a day trip with your family

I used to come here when I was I child and as teenager, but now you have to pay. Things change, I get it, but you should not charge for local history that was free 30 years ago. Still love this place and my history.

I seem to really like a lot of places but I have been visiting Fort Dorchester since I was a little girl. Its one of those places where you can imagine the people who lived there. The sign posts are very descriptive and the site is beautiful. Steeped in history

Great place to learn about a little slice of history!

This is a great spot for Pokemon. Its also very beautiful and historic.

Wonderful excursion alone or with family. Dog friendly too. Rich in history. Fantastic viewing of the Ashley River. During the archaeological digging season you can participate along side the professionals. Pretty cool!

Great place to explore with elderly or young children since not a lot of trails and easy to follow self guided tour. Lots of roots, but you have a beautiful view of the Ashley River and a piece of history to learn about.

Very cool park, bring your walking shoes for the self guided tour of the park.

Very nice short hike to learn a little bit history!

This was very cool to see! I really enjoyed trying to read all the old gravestones and the dates on them. It is a very quiet and nice little area!

Good place to go with a nice picnic area and restrooms, but no trash cans... Anywhere...

Quiet, beautiful area to learn about some of our local history.

This is a very interesting place. The old fort is very unique. Its like stepping back in time. The only downside was there are no trash cans. Not even in the picnic area.

Very interesting facts. I cant wait until more is excavated for us to see.

Very nice place. If you like the area history, you can learn a lot.

A very nice colonial fort that needs to be protected and saved for posterity. A sacred place!

A great historical spot. Very pretty. I only wish that it was open later than 6, Id love to come back and finish the personal walking tour.

Great for pictures and no permit required! A beautiful open grassy area fun for a picnic but look up it for fire ant hills!

Nice site but you have to deal with people literally setting up for their own little photo shoots in the middle of the self-guided tour. Can we say rude.

Still uncovering artifacts from this colonial site. Wish more historical markers & trails but interesting!

Love this place, great history, beautiful walk, love the river and old fort.

Great place to spend a couple hours!

This is a great little learning hike.

Very historic with views and access to the Ashley River. Great place to walk, take the dog or family.

Not a bad place, really nice view just not a lot to see since the park is small.

Always a wonderful place to go.

Next one place to go and see some of the most historic upper Ashley River areas. Its cheap and easy and you get to walk the grounds without anybody following you around. You can see the river just watch out for the snakes. The tower is interesting as well as the surrounding ground. Its a good way to burn an hour or so if you just need some time to chill out

It is a great place for any history buff. I personally find it very beautiful, and the placards that tell the stories, are really interesting. With a small $2 gate fee, it should be added to anyones trip that is visiting near the Charleston/Dorchester Area.

An interesting old fort and Bell tower from the 1700s. We enjoyed walking the property and reading about the part this fort played in the revolution. There is also a scattered old graveyard. History lovers or people looking for peace would enjoy this site. The stamp for the ultimate outsiders book is on the kiosk near the parking area.

Relaxing place to visit

Great piece of history

Great for an afternoon walk with the family.

Always a great park to visit!

Nice place, didnt see a trash bin anywhere though. Had to transport the dogs poo home to dispose of it....

Great place to enjoy history of our area.

Beautiful park make sure to check yourself before leaving. We found a tick on us probably from the mulch. So be sure to check yourselve .

Awesome spot to learn and explore. The fort is extrodinary. Would make for a nice picnic àlso

My experience, I expected more, theres nothing out there but a wall, and a brick steeple. I understand the history associated with it but they could have staged more things to view. Its just a piece of land. I enjoyed being out nature but I did not enjoy what they had to offer as a Historical Park. I was very disappointed

State Park so therefore it was open since the government is on partial shutdown. Paid $2.00 per person was some old grave stones Bell tower. They are still exavating sites pretty interesting. They are restrooms on site. We spent around 1 1/2 hrs there.

We play Pokémon go a lot and this has a couple of gyms and a bunch of stops. We are new to the area and don’t know about this spot until we played Pokémon go there. It is a really beautiful area and is a great spot to learn about local history. The rangers there are always nice and very helpful! Definitely a great place to go and take pictures or just take a nice walk around.

Not a lot to see and do. Neat as a historical site, but probably not worth seeing more than once, unless you really love colonial history.