Atalaya Castle

Atalaya Castle is a historic Moorish-style castle located in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, representing an unexpected architectural gem on the Grand Strand. Built between 1931 and 1933 by philanthropist Archer Huntington and his wife, sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, as their winter residence, the castle was constructed during the Great Depression using local laborers who contributed to regional economic development. Archer Huntington designed the thirty-room structure himself, blending Spanish and Moorish architectural styles around a central courtyard with a distinctive forty-foot water tower at its heart. The estate also originally featured animal enclosures and art studios. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, it is now part of Huntington Beach State Park and operates as a tourist attraction offering guided tours, hosting an annual arts festival, and serving as a wedding venue.