Kiawah Island Facts
Fact 1: For millennia, loggerhead turtles have nested on Kiawah's shores. These days, although development and the human presence threatens to interrupt the process, volunteers patrol the shores to facilitate nesting and hatching. Turtle season runs from mid-May to October, and local folks have assisted since the early 1970s, drastically increasing the rate at which young turtles survive – and hopefully return!
Fact 2: Kiawah's charms are myriad, but the price of such appeal comes at a premium. The gated, private island only allows in residents or guests who rent properties or book rooms. Golf courses are just as exclusive, and the River Course and Cassique – in a land of elite courses – require property ownership on the island and membership to the Kiawah Island Club (around $135,000). Homes range from approximately a half-million to $1.5 million.
Fact 3: There's little doubt that golf is the prime pastime on Kiawah. Designers including Tom Fazio, Tom Watson, Pete Dye, and Gary Player have left their imprint on the island, delighting golfers with awe-inspiring scenery and foiling them with doglegs, sand traps, and fickle ocean breezes. Many of the courses, showcased in world-class matches like 1991's Ryder Cup, have become something of a Holy Grail of the sport.
Fact 4: Kiawah first entered private hands in the 1690s, when British lords bought it from a diminished tribe of Native Americans in exchange for tools, cloth, and jewelry. They, in turn, deeded it to its first owner-resident, Captain George Raynor, a reputed pirate. From that point until 1974, the island was under the ownership of various families and used largely for agricultural and logging purposes. However, Kiawah was also inhabited by soldiers during several conflicts, including the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, and World War II. They occupied it for matters of both rest and protection.
Fact 5: Kiawah's luxury resort, The Sanctuary, became the jewel in the island's crown when it opened in summer of 2004. The elegant property is without compare, uniting modern amenities with age-old character. So intent on recalling the past were the owners that they moved hundreds of live oaks to create a gracious, welcoming entrance and had the lobby floor engineered so that its random-width walnut floors shift slightly, giving the illusion of longevity and time-worn charm.
Fact 6: Although many folks equate Kiawah solely with golf, plenty of other activities grab the attention of vacationers. Most capitalize on the island's unspoiled beauty, which entices folks with wildlife, scenery, and vegetation. Biking tours are popular, and kayak expeditions wind through the ocean or the marsh. Canoe excursions explore the creek and marsh, adding to the possibilities, and walking tours point out various bird species and even the occasional alligator. Heron Park Nature Center is a great resource if your tastes run beyond the beach.
Fact 7: Kiawah – along with Johns, Seabrook, and Wadmalaw – comprise some of the Sea Islands, located some twenty miles south of Charleston. These barrier islands, once quiet and isolated, are caught up in the tension of development versus preservation. The distinction between the two realms is quite striking: upscale Kiawah and Seabrook serve as private resorts, accessible only to guests. Johns and Wadmalaw remain largely rural, given over to agriculture but available to all.
Fact 8: Peculiar to this area of SC is Gullah culture, which developed from various African languages and traditions and then incorporated English phrases and ideas into the mix. The unique amalgam began as a way for slaves to communicate and evolved from there, finding its preservation in geographical isolation. Now, as the world tightens, its continuation is threatened, and so, too, are its signature woven sweetgrass baskets and lilting, melodic speech.
Fact 9: For years, the Kiawah Island Inn was one of the area's favorite hotels, welcoming visitors to the island with affordable accommodations. With The Sanctuary's premiere, however, the Inn became a victim of the wrecking ball and a casualty of Kiawah's desire for more upscale lodging. Preserved from demolition is the main building, now a reception facility for other island properties.
Fact 10: Hollywood location scouts found Kiawah an ideal setting for portions of the 2000 film, "The Legend of Bagger Vance." In the movie, Kiawah serves as the fictional "Krewe Island," and the Ocean Course functions as the identifiable backdrop. However, the film's crucial 18th hole was built to fit the book's specifications and required special permission to create. It's not an integral part of the Ocean Course as seen today.
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