Colonial Dorchester Gets a Big Lift from Homebuilders’ Donation

SUMMERVILLE – The S.C. State Park Service is planning a major makeover at Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site and the project has gotten a big lift from Harbor Homes, a Mungo company.

The homebuilder has provided a new house for the park manager, replacing an older residence that must be removed to make way for a new visitors’ center near the park entrance.

The three-bedroom, two-bath manager’s residence was custom built to meet park specifications and is tucked away in a wooded corner of the 325-acre site.

The state park is an archaeological treasure that rests on the site of Dorchester, a trading town that flourished on the Ashley River inland from Charleston from 1697 through the Revolutionary War. Planned improvements at the park will be the most comprehensive since the state first acquired the site in 1960.

“This renovation will significantly enhance the visitor experience and educational opportunities at Colonial Dorchester,” said Chad Prosser, director of the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. “The contributions from Harbor Homes not only benefit the State Park Service, but also the many residents and tourists who visit the park each year.”

Prosser said the company’s contribution is worth almost $100,000.

Steven Mungo, principal of the Columbia-based Mungo family of companies, said they were glad to help out.

“We decided to get involved for two reasons. First, Colonial Dorchester is a really important historic site in South Carolina. Second, the park attracts a lot of school children every year and we are strong supporters of public education in South Carolina,” Mungo said.

Harbor Homes in Charleston, along with Mungo Homes, was selected as a winner of the 2008 National Housing Quality Award. Since its founding in 1954, the Mungo family of companies has become one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, and was recently ranked 38th by Builder magazine. The South Carolina Homebuilders Association also helped coordinate the work with Harbor Homes. “We have a lot of local members who believe it’s important to help out in their communities,” said Mark Nix, executive director of the SCHA. “They believe in giving something back in the places where they do business.”

State Park Service Director Phil Gaines said the renovation of Colonial Dorchester is one of his top priorities. “Colonial Dorchester is an important part of our state history and we need to build a first-class visitors’ center that tells the story of this town,” he said. “It can be a great destination for school children and can be a real tourism draw for Dorchester County.”

More information on Colonial Dorchester and the State Park Service is at www.SouthCarolinaParks.com.