Anchorage 1770 is the place to stay if you want to turn the Beaufort day trip into a night, and it is one of the most characterful small inns in South Carolina. It occupies a grand tabby house at 1103 Bay Street, at the corner of Newcastle Street in Beaufort's historic downtown, facing the Beaufort River. The National Register listing dates the house to 1770, though the inn itself notes that its tabby construction suggests it may date to a few years after the Revolution; it was built by the Elliott family of planters. Its later history is colorful: in 1891 a club of young gentlemen called the Ribaut Social Club moved in and soon became known for lavish parties, plays and gambling, and around 1902 Rear Admiral Lester Beardslee renovated it and named it The Anchorage. Over the following decades it served as a tourist home, guest house and restaurant before being restored as today's inn. The rooms reflect that layered history. Four waterfront rooms face the Beaufort River: two on the third floor with 13-foot ceilings open onto the covered piazza, and two on the fourth floor open onto the open-air deck with what the inn calls the best view in Beaufort. Water View rooms at the back have bay windows about fifteen feet wide, ornate plaster relief and wood moldings, and garden-view rooms in the half-basement show off exposed late-1700s ceiling timbers with modern rain showers. Two private cottage suites for couples, with gas fireplaces, add more seclusion. Downstairs, the Ribaut Social Club restaurant revives the old club's name. Bay Street's shops and restaurants and the waterfront park are steps away.
Why stay in Beaufort: the town is at its most magical early in the morning and in the evening, when day-trippers have gone, the light softens over the river and the historic district's streets are quiet. Staying the night lets you walk the Point neighborhood at golden hour, dine without watching the clock, and set out early for the Penn Center on St. Helena Island or the newly reopened Hunting Island Lighthouse. Anchorage 1770 puts you in the middle of it all, with porches and piazzas made for watching the river.
Choosing a room: the waterfront rooms are the showpieces and book first; the fourth-floor rooms with deck access have the best views, while the third-floor rooms have soaring ceilings and the covered piazza. Water View rooms offer character and generous bay windows at a lower rate, and garden-view rooms appeal to history lovers who enjoy the exposed timbers. Couples wanting privacy should look at the cottage suites. Ask the inn about breakfast, parking and its policies on children when booking, as historic inns vary.
The trade-offs: this is a historic house, so expect stairs, some creaks and room sizes that vary, and it is about an hour's drive from Hilton Head's beaches. It is not the base for a beach holiday. But as an overnight on a Lowcountry road trip, or a romantic weekend in South Carolina's second-oldest town, it is hard to beat, and the inn has been recognized in national lists of charming inns and coastal retreats.
Why stay here
- ✓Historic house on Bay Street
- ✓Beaufort River views
- ✓Covered piazza and rooftop deck
- ✓Cottage suites with fireplaces
- ✓Ribaut Social Club restaurant
- ✓Walk to Waterfront Park
- ✓Exposed 1700s ceiling timbers
- ✓Rain showers in garden rooms
Good questions
How old is the Anchorage 1770 building?+
The National Register dates it to 1770, though the inn notes its tabby construction may date to a few years after the Revolution. It was built by the Elliott family.
Which rooms have river views?+
Four waterfront rooms face the Beaufort River, two opening onto the third-floor piazza and two onto the fourth-floor deck. Most Water View rooms at the back also have water views.
How far is it from Hilton Head?+
About an hour's drive. It is best as an overnight on a Beaufort day trip rather than a beach base.
