Future Angel Oak Preserve entrance road receives a new, community-chosen name
July 31, 2025
Road name honors the promise to safeguard the Angel Oak and its surrounding acres in perpetuity
Lowcountry Land Trust, a nonprofit committed to preserving Lowcountry landscapes and waterways for current and future generations, is thrilled to announce that, after receiving over 350 thoughtful submissions from the local community and approval from Charleston County, the new entryway road leading into the future Angel Oak Preserve will be named Protected Path.
Earlier this summer, the Land Trust invited the public to help shape the future of the Preserve by suggesting names for the entrance road that will guide visitors toward the beloved Angel Oak. Suggestions ranged from references to the Angel Oak’s biodiversity to nods honoring community and conservation leaders, as well as names acknowledging the Indigenous and enslaved peoples historically tied to the site. Several suggestions even highlighted the iconic white squirrels that call the 44 acres home.
“We were blown away by the care, creativity, and meaning woven into every suggestion,” said Samantha Siegel, Angel Oak Preserve director at Lowcountry Land Trust. “This has always been a community-driven project, and Protected Path reflects not only the Angel Oak’s ecological and cultural significance, but also the collective promise to safeguard this landscape for generations to come.”
Protected Path symbolizes the many storied life paths that lead to this sacred place and serves as a reminder that the Angel Oak and its surrounding acres are now protected in perpetuity.
The thoughtfully designed entryway road will pass through the future Preserve’s parking lot, providing a safer connection between Bohicket and Angel Oak roads. The pervious path will help create a more serene experience for visitors, lifting the weight of parked vehicles from the tree’s delicate root system and nurturing the relationship between people and place. Work on the Angel Oak Preserve is anticipated to begin in 2026.
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ABOUT LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST
Lowcountry Land Trust—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—permanently protects land throughout coastal South Carolina that is foundational to the area’s coastal ecosystem and residents’ quality of life. Having protected over 163,000 acres of land since its founding in 1986, Lowcountry Land Trust is one of the most impactful local land trusts in the United States. Its work includes the stewardship of iconic public places, such as the Angel Oak Preserve, and privately owned land throughout the Lowcountry. More information about Lowcountry Land Trust is available at www.lowcountrylandtrust.org.
