shrink in size by ten per cent over the next forty years. At times there is ride-able surf on the island, which is best three hours before high tide due to the large continental shelf effect on incoming waves. In 1993, most of the Vietnam scenes in Forrest Gump were filmed on Hunting Island and neighboring Fripp Island. Sequences from 1997's G.I. Jane were also filmed in forests on the island. Wildlife The wildlife includes loggerhead turtles, deer, alligators, raccoons, diamondback rattlesnakes, and hundreds of species of birds. The island has an abundance of herons and egrets, as well as summertime sightings of the painted bunting. The interior lagoon (which was created by sand dredging in 1968) has become naturalized and home to such species as seahorses and barracuda. Each summer loggerhead turtle hatchlings emerge from the sand and walk out to the ocean. Around 60 and 130 nests are laid annually on the beach. A volunteer organization, the Friends of Hunting Island has a permit from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to find and protect the nests. Each morning during nesting season, volunteers walk every mile of the beach to help find and protect nests. Facilities Hunting Island provides locations for recreational vehicles and tent campers on the northern portion of the island. All but one park's cabins have been destroyed in recent years due to high beach erosion. A lagoon is adjacent to a washed-out cabin road and serves as a popular location for fishing. Hunting Island Visitors Center is located in the middle of the island, overlooking a small lagoon. The center provides general information on the island, and has space for activities and offices for park staff. The center is also connected with Hunting Island's extensive trail system and is a short distance to several beach access points. The Hunting Island Nature Center features live animals and exhibits about the habitats and history of the park. The center is located at the entrance to the Paradise Pier fishing pier, which juts into the Fripp Inlet between Hunting and Fripp Island. The lighthouse is open year round to the public. Visitors are able to climb to the viewing deck of the tower for a nominal fee. Hunting Island's of beachfront provide a pristine, natural experience for visitors. Although the beach is heavily eroded towards the southern end of the island, ample shore remains in the