Edisto Island Serpentarium | Edisto Beach SC

When Mark told me that we were going to do an episode on this place on Edisto Island in South Carolina that has a large selection of snakes, alligators and other reptiles, I was a little skeptical. Then I walked into the Edisto Island Serpentarium. It was wonderful! From their tropical room indoors to the beautiful garden and habitats outdoors, I was hooked! Run by area natives, the Clamp Family, the hospitality was warm and welcoming. We watched excited students file in for a field trip and even attended one of their lectures. What an amazing place! It should be a must-see place on your next trip to the beach!

Come with us as we show you some of the amazing reptiles in their care!

Fun Facts About The Serpentarium

1 There are a lot of different varieties of reptiles living at the Edisto Island Serpentarium. In fact, brothers, Heyward and Ted Clamp, collected the majority of them.
2 You can watch the alligators being fed at noon and at 4pm daily. While experiencing this, you also learn pretty cool facts about the life and history of these amazing reptiles.
3 The Serpentarium gives entertaining lectures four time a day: 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. From cool facts to myth busting, you will learn so much about our cold-blooded friends.
4 Can’t come to the Serpentarium, they will come to you! You can book one of their outreach programs will teach everything from identifying venomous and non-venomous snakes and safety to learning about how different reptiles adapt to their environment.
5 The Edisto Island Serpentarium has both indoor and outdoor reptile exhibits where you can observe and admire the different varieties of reptiles in their care.

While in the Area

Of course, while you’re on Edisto Island, you must make a trip to the beach! You can find public parking along the scenic oceanfront, or you can visit Edisto Beach State Park.

What to Eat

While on the beach, find delicious seafood at McConkey’s Jungle Shack. From classic Fish and Chips to All-American fare like hamburgers, hot dogs and wings, you will find something for everyone in your party! They also have several local craft beer options, wine, sangria and, of course, Southern staples like sweet tea and lemonade.

Read the Transcript of This Stories, Secrets & Sagas Episode

I really love being the host of this show…but I have to admit, doing a segment on snakes is not exactly my cup of tea. And what if I told you we were going to a place where everything revolves around these slithery reptiles…hmmmmm???

Popular culture has always given snakes a bad rap. Going all the way back to St. Patrick and driving the snakes out of Ireland, two evil villains with snake-like eyes, our culture has had a disdain for these creatures even though they have just as much purpose as we do. And just south of Charleston, on Edisto Island, South Carolina, is a place dedicated to reptiles. It is called the Edisto Island Serpentarium.

Opened to the public in July of 1999, the Edisto Island Serpentarium is a culmination of more than 50 years of snake hunting adventures and experiences by brothers Ted and Heyward Clamp. This isn’t like a zoo where you peer at a sleeping snake through a thick glass wall. No, these reptiles are in a natural environment where snakes, alligators and others feed and reproduce as they would in the wild.

But there is more.

One of the main goals is to educate the public on reptiles -- teaching children about how these species have adapted over the years and teaching adults how to identify poisonous snakes from non-poisonous snakes.

I’ll never be totally comfortable with snakes, but I have to admit, this place has helped me warm up to our cold-blooded friends. See you next time on Secrets, Stories and Sagas.

Visit The Edisto Island Serpentarium | Edisto Beach SC

1374 Highway 174, Edisto Island SC 29438Get your tickets!(843) 869-1171

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