Brookgreen gets $150,000+ worth of storm damage, adjusts Summer Light. Here’s the plan
Brookgreen Gardens has canceled its Summer Light: Art by Night for June 12 after receiving at least $150,000 worth of damage during the storm on Monday, said Brookgreen spokesperson Kristen Thomas.
Although the light installations will close, food trucks and live music as well as the various art galleries will be open and available to anyone with a general admission ticket. Brookgreen will not close for the normal hour before Summer Light, instead staying open from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
All proceeds from Wednesday night will go towards repairs, Thomas said. Brookgreen is calling this event “Help Us Heal.” Donations are also being accepted through its Venmo, @BrookgreenGardens.
There was damage to Summer Light installations that Brookgreen was not able to repair them before Wednesday evening, which is why Summer Light was canceled. It will be back Saturday night.
A storm hit the area beginning late Sunday night and lasting into Monday morning. Many trees fell, hitting electric wires on their way down. People in Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island lost power for several hours on June 10. Brookgreen closed on Monday and part of Tuesday.
People who bought tickets for June 12 will not be refunded but they will be offered a ticket for a later date or a general admission ticket into the gardens, said Thomas.
Thomas said Brookgeen Gardens sustained at least $150,000 worth of damage. Since there was no structural damage, insurance will not cover it.
The butterfly garden was completely destroyed and will not reopen, according to Thomas. Brookgreen employees saved as many butterflies as they can and they were sent to the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.
The Lowcountry Trail and Cypress Aviary are currently closed as trees and branches are blocking parts of the trail. Parts of the Lowcountry Zoo are inaccessible due to tree damage. All the zoo animals are okay, Thomas said.
Summer Light is an opportunity for people to explore Brookgreen Gardens at night. The grounds are covered in lights, food trucks are brought in and there’s live music. It happens every Wednesday and Saturday through the summer.
This story was originally published June 12, 2024 at 9:34 AM.
