Driessen Beach Park

Driessen Beach Park is both a scenic retreat and a living testament to Hilton Head Island’s African American legacy. Named after Henry Driessen Sr., a prominent Black landowner who acquired part of the former Chaplin Plantation in 1921, the park honors a family lineage rooted in land stewardship and civic leadership, including Henry Driessen Jr., the island’s first African American town councilman.

During segregation, Driessen Beach served as a safe coastal haven for the Gullah Geechee community, fostering cultural celebration and intergenerational connection. Today, the park blends modern amenities with historic reverence, offering boardwalk access, family-friendly facilities, and a revitalized landscape that continues to reflect the resilience and heritage of Hilton Head’s Black community.