Fripp Island, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fripp Island
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Beaufort County, South Carolina
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Carolina |
| County | Beaufort |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.59 sq mi (11.89 km2) |
| • Land | 3.26 sq mi (8.45 km2) |
| • Water | 1.33 sq mi (3.45 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 963 |
| • Density | 295.31/sq mi (114.03/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29920
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| Area code(s) | 843 and 854 |
| FIPS code | 45-27565 |
Fripp Island is a beautiful barrier island located on the Atlantic Ocean coast of South Carolina. It's about 6.5 square miles (16.9 square kilometers) in size. In 2020, about 963 people lived here permanently.
This island is roughly 21 miles from Beaufort. It's also about 96 miles south of Charleston and 65 miles north of Savannah, Georgia. Nearby islands include Hunting Island, Harbor Island, and Saint Helena Island. Fripp Island is mostly a vacation spot, but many people call it home all year. It's known for its fun resort activities and its efforts to protect nature.
Contents
History of Fripp Island
Fripp Island has had different names over time. It's now named after Captain Johannes Fripp. He was a British sailor who helped protect the Carolina colony from Spanish attacks. Some old stories say that the famous pirate Blackbeard might have hidden treasure here. While pirates might have visited the island, they rarely buried treasure.
For a long time, Fripp Island was mostly used as a private hunting area. This was because it was quite far away from other places. In the mid-1900s, things started to change. Bridges were built that connected Beaufort to nearby Hunting Island State Park. This made people think about building a resort community on Fripp Island.
In 1961, a bridge was built connecting Fripp Island to Hunting Island and U.S. Highway 21. This bridge helped bring more people and development to the island. Within ten years, developers had built a golf course called Ocean Point Golf Links. They also added a Racquet Club for tennis and a marina. Many homes and condos were built, setting the stage for the island's growth for the next 30 years.
The last big development on the island happened in 1994. A new golf course, Ocean Creek Golf Course, was built. It was designed by the famous golfer Davis Love III. More types of homes were offered, and the marina was made bigger. Even though the island won't expand much more, about one-third of its land is still undeveloped.
Island Services for Residents and Visitors
Fripp Island Fire Department
The idea for a fire department on Fripp Island started in 1962. At first, the fire department was just a volunteer group. Their first fire truck was kept in a simple, three-sided building. In 1982, a new fire station was built for their two trucks. Four years later, the island hired its first professional Fire Chief. The current fire station was built in 1999.
In 2001, a full-time paramedic joined the team. Today, the department has 34 volunteers and 19 paid staff. They have fire trucks, a squad truck, a Quick Response Vehicle, and a special 6-wheeled Beach Rescue ATV. Their main jobs include putting out fires, searching and rescuing people, responding to medical emergencies, and teaching about fire safety.
Water System on Fripp Island
In the early days, all drinking water had to be brought onto Fripp Island. By 1965, St. Helena Island started pumping water to Fripp's main water tank. Since 1980, all water for the island comes from the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority. They pump about 172 million gallons of water to the island each year.
Fripp Inlet Bridge
The main bridge that leads to Fripp Island was finished in 1964. It is 2,067 feet long. When it was first built, there was a two-dollar toll to cross it. Now, you can cross the bridge for free. The Fripp Island Public Service District owns and manages this important bridge.
Geography of Fripp Island
Fripp Island is a type of island called a barrier island. It's the island closest to the ocean among the Sea Islands. It acts like a natural cape. The island is located about halfway between Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. To its north is Hunting Island State Park, and to its southwest is Pritchards Island. A wide area of marsh and water separates these islands from the larger St. Helena's Island.
Fripp Island has about three miles of beachfront along the Atlantic Ocean. However, some parts of the beach can be completely covered by water at high tide. The island is about 20 miles (30 km) from Beaufort. You can reach Beaufort by taking U.S. 21. Savannah is about a 75-minute drive away, and Charleston is about 1 hour and 45 minutes away.
Population and How Fripp Island is Run
In 2000, about 887 people lived on Fripp Island all year. However, the real number is probably higher. Many people own second homes here and stay for weeks or months. During the summer, the island's population can grow to about 5,000 visitors.
Fripp Island is a private, gated community. This means you need permission to enter. It's managed by the Fripp Island Property Owners Association (FIPOA). This group has been in charge since the mid-1980s. Fripp Island is not a city or town, but it runs its own services. It has its own security team and fire/rescue squad. The island also takes care of its bridges, roads, paths, parks, and beach access points. Meetings and events often happen at the Fripp Island Community Centre. There is also a chapel on the island for all faiths.
Transportation on Fripp Island
While cars and trucks are allowed on the roads, golf carts are the most popular way to get around the island. Bicycles are also very common for both residents and visitors. Some streets even have special bike trails next to them to keep cyclists safe from cars.
Fun Things to Do on Fripp Island
All the fun activities and places on Fripp Island are owned and run by Fripp Resorts. This includes all the restaurants, golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, and shops. To join, there's a fee, and then an annual fee depending on the type of membership you choose.
Restaurants on Fripp Island
- The Beach Club Restaurant
- Ocean View Sports Bar
- The Bonito Boathouse
- The Ocean Point Grille
- Cabana Club Restaurant
- The Food Club
- The Marina Deli
- The 19th Hole
Golf Courses
- Ocean Point Golf Links
- Ocean Creek Golf Course (designed by Davis Love III)
Rentals for Fun Activities
On the island, you can rent:
- Stand up paddle surfing boards for tours
- Bicycles
- Golf carts
- Mopeds
- Kayaks and canoes
Nature and Wildlife on Fripp Island
Plants of Fripp Island
Most of the trees on Fripp Island are loblolly pines. But you can also find beautiful live oak and magnolia trees. Spanish moss hangs from many trees, adding to the island's unique look.
Animals of Fripp Island
Before people developed the island, many wild animals lived here, including wild hogs. However, the island's development has been done carefully to protect the homes of these animals. It's very common to see deer all over the island. Managing the deer population is an important task for the island.
Several small mammals also live on Fripp Island. These include squirrels, raccoons, opossums, bats, and armadillos. Most of the lagoons inside the island have alligators.
Fripp Island and its nearby areas are home to many kinds of birds. You can see beautiful egrets, herons, osprey, and pelicans. Seagulls are the most common birds. In 1978, island residents started an Audubon Club. Because of their efforts, the entire island is now a special bird preserve.
The island is a very important place for loggerhead turtles to lay their eggs. A dedicated group of residents works hard to keep the beaches safe for these nesting turtles. They make sure outside lights don't bother the turtles during nesting season. They also protect the nests from animals like raccoons and from people.
Many types of fish and crabs live in the waters around the island. Fripp Island is a popular spot for fishing and crabbing. The Fiddler crab is the most common type of crab you'll see. The blue crab is the most common type caught for food.
Fripp Island in Movies and Books
Fripp Island has been featured or inspired several famous movies and books:
- The novel Beach Music by Pat Conroy mentions a fictional "Isle of Orion," which is based on Fripp Island. Pat Conroy lived on the island for many years.
- Parts of the movie Forrest Gump (1994) were filmed on Fripp Island. This includes the scenes set in the Vietnam War. Many other scenes were filmed nearby in the Beaufort area.
- The movie Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (1994) was also filmed here. The scenes with Jason Scott Lee as Mowgli and wild animals were shot near the Ocean Creek Golf Course.
- The Prince of Tides (1991), based on the Pat Conroy novel, was partly filmed on Fripp Island in 1990. The home of the main characters, Tom and Sally Wingo, was located on the beach on the northern part of the island.
