Santa Elena - Walking with Chester DePratter

Walking tour of Beaufort’s historic district gives you a chance to learn more about our beautiful town and ask questions as you stroll. Over 300 years of history plus stories about Hollywood movies and actors. Beaufort celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2011. Explored by the Spanish, the French and the English, Beaufort has a rich history, beautiful antebellum homes, scenic views and friendly local charm. And a beautiful location for filming some iconic movies.

This one hour tour by golf cart covers Beaufort’s historic district and gives you a chance to learn more about our beautiful town and its history. Our Yamaha Concierge golf cart takes you to sites and homes where the stars stayed in downtown Beaufort. Locations surrounding Beaufort such as The Gump Medical Center (funded by Forrest’s “gazillions” he earned running the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company), The National Cemetery where The Great Santini was buried and the bridge from Forrest Gump that he crossed on the way back east from his cross-country run – yes, the “Mississippi River” bridge in actually here in Beaufort.

“I’ve come home to the place I was always writing about…. I’ve tried to make Beaufort, South Carolina, my own.”—Pat Conroy, The Death of Santini

Presented in partnership with the Pat Conroy Literary Center. See Pat Conroy’s Beaufort in this one hour 30 minute tour of sites from Pat’s writing life— homes in the historic Point where Pat lived and wrote, sites related to his teachers and friends, his parents’ grave site, and locations connected to the filming of The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini.

Following the golf cart tour, guests are also encouraged to visit the Conroy Center at 601 Bladen Street where you can see artifacts from Pat’s life, including his writing desk and chair, the Great Santini’s flight jacket, and the handwritten prologue to The Prince of Tides. Tour guests get a 10% discount on purchases of gifts and books at the Conroy Center.