Written by: Debbie Martinez • August 19, 2021• Travel

My Little Red Caboose

Have you ever thought how cool it would be to stay in a caboose? One day I was driving around Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and took a frontage road; and what did my little eyes spy across a lake but a red caboose. Curious, I followed the road. At the end was a wooden KOA (Kampgrounds of America) sign and nestled in the distance was my little red caboose. Long story short, I ended up spending three nights there and —you guessed it — I stayed in that little red caboose!

It is absolutely adorable. There is one big room that houses a futon and TV, table with four chairs and a kitchenette. Through a doorway is the sleeping area that has two bunk beds built into the walls, and straight ahead is the bathroom. There is no shower in the caboose, so one must walk down the path to the communal showers. But have no fear … they are pristine. As a matter of fact, the KOA campground in Mt. Pleasant was spotless. I had never stayed in a campground before, so I had conjured up all sorts of stories based on horror movies I had watched as a child, such as creepy workers, broken squeaky swings and dilapidated cabins with spiders running rampant. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The KOA in Mt. Pleasant sits on 377 acres that is Oakland Plantation. The plantation is privately owned with the original house still on it and occupied by the owners. There is a lake with the caboose, some cabins and tent space bordering it, along with interior setups for recreational vehicles (RVs). You can rent canoes or water bikes for a day of exercise or sit by the lake in a swing, read a book or catch and release. There are a couple of cornhole games scattered about, and each cabin or RV space has its own firepit and grill. There are bikes to rent to cruise around the campground and a very serene walking trail, which I took early one morning with my cup of coffee. For families, there are two playgrounds (one with a pirate theme); and they are getting ready for construction on their Splash Pad. There is a pool with an adjacent rec hall and Kamper Kitchen for when families or groups want to gather.

Speaking of gatherings, fall is one of the best times to visit the Lowcountry. There is so much to do, so first let’s focus on the events taking place at Boone Hall Plantation, which is right down the road from the KOA.

Fright Nights, with opening night on September 26. It is open every Thursday through Sunday.
The Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze (October 1–31)
Wine Under the Oaks is my all-time favorite. Picture walking around the grounds under sweeping moss covered oaks with a glass of wine and music playing in the background. There are also cooking demonstrations, complimentary desserts, oysters, breads and spreads.
Worth mentioning, even though it is not a fall event, is Christmas at Boone Hall, which runs from December 6 to January 3. You are sure to get into the holiday spirit walking through the elegantly decorated manor house.

In addition to Boone Hall, there are several other noteworthy events around Mt. Pleasant and Charleston.

Jazz Festival (September 3–5)
The Fall Tour of Homes, which is lovely, takes place October 7 to November 6.
Beer Fest, with a great selection of beer, games, live entertainment and food, is on October 9.
Candlelight Tour of Drayton Hall (October 9). Nothing speaks romance like a candlelight tour of an 18th-century plantation house.
The Scottish Games and Highland Gathering (November 6) is a traditional Scottish competition with Celtic rock music, food and beer.

No matter what you choose to do in the Lowcountry come this fall, what is an absolute must is to bunk down in the little red caboose. All aboard!

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