Fort Pemberton Park Is Now Open on James Island, Bringing New Public Access to the Stono River

James Island has officially gained a new waterfront park combining outdoor recreation, public river access and one of the area’s lesser-known Civil War sites.

Fort Pemberton Park is now open at 221 Yates Avenue in Riverland Terrace. The 8.7-acre City of Charleston park sits along the Stono River and includes a fishing dock, kayak launch, walking paths and a sheltered picnic area.

Although visitors may begin exploring the property now, an official ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29 at 9 a.m.

What Visitors Will Find at Fort Pemberton Park

Fort Pemberton was developed primarily as a passive waterfront park where residents can walk, fish, launch a kayak, enjoy the open lawn or watch the sunset over the Stono River.

The completed park includes a new fishing dock, kayak access, walking paths and a picnic shelter. Separate ADA-accessible entrances on opposite sides of the property provide access to both the elevated historic fort area and the lower waterfront portion of the park.

The original project was also designed with parking areas, stormwater improvements and a public restroom. Construction represented an approximately $1.2 million investment in public access and preservation.

City officials have also encouraged visitors to watch for wildlife around the property, including eagles, wood storks, foxes and the occasional armadillo.

The History Behind Fort Pemberton

Before becoming a public park, the property served as a Confederate defensive position during the Civil War.

Fort Pemberton was completed in 1862 as a large, enclosed, five-sided earthwork. Its pentagonal design was considered unusual because similar layouts were more commonly used for masonry fortifications.

The fort was positioned along the Stono River to prevent Union naval forces from reaching Charleston Harbor through Wappoo Creek and Elliott Cut. Confederate troops abandoned the site when they withdrew from Charleston in February 1865.

The property later became farmland and eventually returned to private ownership before being acquired by the City of Charleston.

Preserving Waterfront Property for the Public

The City of Charleston purchased the property in 2019 for more than $6 million as part of a broader effort to protect greenspace and expand public waterfront access.

City leaders said preserving the land as a public park prevented the historically significant waterfront property from potentially becoming another private development. The park was planned with limited construction so the existing earthworks, open space and natural landscape could remain visible.

Historical interpretation has also been included in the city’s long-term vision for the site, allowing visitors to better understand the fort’s purpose and the wider Civil War history of James Island.

A New Place to Fish, Paddle and Watch the Sunset

Fort Pemberton Park adds another public connection point along the Stono River while giving residents a quiet alternative to Charleston’s larger recreational parks.

Instead of athletic fields, playgrounds or heavily developed attractions, the property is centered around waterfront access, nature, history and open space.

Visitors can walk the grounds, launch a kayak, fish from the dock or enjoy views of the Stono River from a site that remained inaccessible to most of the public for generations.

Fort Pemberton Park Information

Location: 221 Yates Avenue, James Island
Neighborhood: Riverland Terrace
Status: Open to the public
Ribbon Cutting: Wednesday, July 29 at 9 a.m.
Features: Fishing dock, kayak launch, walking paths, picnic shelter, waterfront access and ADA-accessible entrances