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In the Lowcountry we enjoy a wide variety in habitat. There are
neighborhoods and areas where lively celebration and recreation are the
order of the day, where there’s always something to do and somewhere to
go. There are also more relaxed burroughs, where the hectic pace of the
outside world is all but forgotten, replaced with a casual atmosphere
and a philosophy that demands relaxation. Perhaps the two best examples
of those extremes are Hilton Head and Daufuskie Islands.
Hilton Head, founded on the principles of a resort community, offers
ample opportunity for celebration, be it at the world-famous Verizon
Heritage or at any of the festivals that dot the calendar. There are
cultural opportunities from musical events to stage performances and
everything in between. On Daufuskie, however, life slows down a bit.
There’s no shortage of good times to be had on Daufuskie, from golf and
tennis to fine dining, but the lack of a bridge and the laid-back way
in which residents traverse the island by golf carts, tells you that
you’re in a completely different world.
Hilton Head is synonymous worldwide with incomparable beaches,
challenging golf, and vacations that create a lifetime of memories. But
for those of us who call the island home, it means so much more. It
means a community that continuously supports our many local charities.
It means a local government that works every day to maintain our
pristine environment and, through its ingenious land-buying program,
control development. It means performances at the Arts Center of
Coastal Carolina that rival anything on Broadway. It means community
events and fundraisers that bring us closer together. In short, it
means we can call paradise home.
The island has a rich history, from the first prehistoric tourists,
Woodlands Indians some 4,000 years ago, to historic battles, the Battle
of Port Royal. Over the years, Hilton Head has seen it all, from a
bustling sea island cotton trade to incursions by Union Army officers
and the birth of a new culture, the Gullah. These descendants of freed
African slaves still call the island home, and their unique culture can
be seen at celebrations, art galleries and musical performances.
The new age of Hilton Head’s history began in the early 1950s, when a
man named Charles Fraser changed the world with his vision. Fraser
first came to the island to survey it for his family’s logging company,
but in her fertile shores and deep forests, Fraser saw something more.
His vision of a unique vacation destination that lived in harmony with
the surrounding nature, in sharp contrast to the neon-glow of resort
towns further down the coast, has shaped every step of the island’s
growth.
Sea Pines, the resort Fraser founded, celebrates its 50th anniversary
in 2006 and in those short 50 years, the tenants it established have
grown into a new movement, affecting resort development from coast to
coast. The rest of the world would get its first formal introduction to
our little island in 1969 when Arnold “King of Golf” Palmer would drive
to victory in the first-ever “Heritage Classic” at Sea Pines’ Harbour
Town Golf Links. This cemented Hilton Head’s reputation as a golf hot
spot in the South, and also enticed an entire country eager for a
vacation and entranced by the beautiful island scenery.
Over 30,000 people now hang their hat on Hilton Head Island, joined
each year by almost 2.5 million visitors. They come from around the
globe to enjoy world-class beaches, golf courses, tennis courts,
shopping, and hospitality. The community, once anchored entirely by
tourism, has now begun to step out as a bonafide hometown.
In 1985, The Town of Hilton Head Island incorporated, marking a turning
point in the island’s history as it began the transformation from
sleepy resort town to thriving community, rich with cultural
opportunities.
Residents now enjoy performances at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
that rival anything Broadway can produce. Almost every weekend,
regardless of the season, gives residents a chance to interact with
their neighbors at festivals that celebrate everything from wine to
chicken wings. They walk galleries and exhibits showcasing a vibrant
art community. They enjoy live music, from toe-tapping jazz to
foot-stomping rock and roll at venues across the island. They enjoy the
unique nature of the island through guided dolphin tours and
interactive exhibits at the Coastal Discovery Museum. For a small town,
there are big opportunities.
Across the water lies a very special island with a very different way
of life. It shares a love of golf with Hilton Head Island, and an
appreciation for its natural surroundings, but Daufuskie Island is a
world all its own.
Residents here have a slightly different outlook on life. Anything
faster than a golf cart is just too fast. Anything bigger than two
stories better be a lighthouse.
The quiet sister of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, Daufuskie Island
offers a calmer pace of life and a distinct feel for the area’s past.
Here, pristine groves of oaks and southern pines set up against the
blue waters of Calibogue Sound and the Atlantic to produce some of the
most spectacular views in the Lowcountry.
For a nature enthusiast, every day is a field day as the island teems
with wildlife. Overlooking this scenery is the historic Haig Point
Lighthouse, constructed in 1872 and recently restored to full operation.
Traveling to Daufuskie is accomplished solely by ferry service from
Hilton Head. Residents of Daufuskie, however, often opt to pilot
themselves back and forth once they find their bearings. On their
island home, however, the only craft they’ll pilot is a golf cart, as
they traverse rustic roads to worldclass vacation resort destinations.
It may come as a surprise to some that nestled within this sleepy
island is a verdant oasis offering a world-class resort experience. The
Daufuskie Resort and Breathe Spa has garnered a reputation for
exquisite accommodations that has earned the resort national attention,
including Pathfinders Magazine, the Travel Channel, and ABC’s The
Bachelorette.
Today, three magnificent planned communities all call Daufuskie Island
their home: Bloody Point, Melrose, and Haig Point. All three boast
fantastic golf courses, world-class amenities, and a promise to
preserve Daufuskie Island’s unspoiled natural beauty.
For an eye-opening look into Dafuskie Island’s treasured history, swing
by the Billy Burn Museum. This small, converted church is an essential
stop and houses artifacts from Daufuskie Island’s past.
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