Sea Pines Resort facts for kids
The Sea Pines Resort or Sea Pines is a special place on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It is a large, private community that covers 5,200 acres on the southern tip of the island. Sea Pines is famous for its four golf courses, including the well-known Harbour Town Golf Links. Every April, a big golf tournament called the RBC Heritage is held here, which is part of the PGA Tour.
History of Sea Pines
The Sea Pines Company was started on June 20, 1957. It was founded by Charles E. Fraser and Joseph B. Fraser Jr., with their father Joseph B. Fraser Sr. as the chairman. Their first office was in a small trailer on Sea Pines Circle. Back then, the only phone on the whole island was in a car!
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Charles Fraser hired many talented people. He created new ways to develop land. His idea was to build in a way that protected nature, not overpowered it. He wanted buildings to blend in with the natural surroundings. He also focused on tourism that celebrated nature.
Fraser encouraged his team to learn new things and be creative. He wanted them to stay fresh by enjoying life, like playing tennis or having picnics. He also wanted them to share ideas and work together. Many developers across the country learned from Fraser and the Sea Pines Company.
By 1967, Fraser had been developing Sea Pines for 10 years. The company grew very fast. However, in the mid-1970s, the company faced money problems. This was because interest rates on loans went up very quickly.
Sea Pines changed owners many times in the 1980s. Eventually, a judge helped to reorganize the company. Two new groups were created to manage Sea Pines. Sea Pines Associates owns the resort parts, like hotels. The Community Services Associates (CSA) takes care of common areas, roads, and security. For example, CSA has a security team that helps with traffic and other local rules. In 2005, a new group called the Riverstone Group bought the resort. They renamed it The Sea Pines Resort.
There is a historic graveyard called the Braddock's Point Cemetery in Sea Pines. It is a Gullah sea island cemetery. It is hidden near the 18th hole of the Harbour Town Golf Links. Some people say the 18th hole might be haunted because the golf course might pass over old burial sites!
Sea Pines Architecture Style
Charles Fraser is sometimes called the "inventor" of the modern American resort. He first planned to sell only lots right by the ocean. But plans changed when an architect named Stuart O. Dawson helped create "T-roads." These roads led to rows of houses near the sea.
Golf courses were also built, which made people want to live further inside the island. They loved the beautiful wooded views. Sea Pines grew to offer many different types of homes. It also offered a wide range of sports and fun activities.
Charles Fraser and local architects created a special building style. It is called "The Hilton Head Style" or "The Sea Pines Style." This style was inspired by modern architecture and Japanese designs. It also used ideas from local "Low Country Architecture."
This unique style has certain features. Houses often have large roof overhangs and screened porches. They use low roof slopes and earth-tone colors. The landscaping uses native plants instead of fancy gardens. The main goal was to make the house blend into nature. It was not meant to stand out.
Today, this special style is not used as much. Land prices have gone up, and people's tastes have changed. Many of the best examples of this architecture were built between 1961 and 1973. Sadly, many of these older homes, especially those on the beach, have been torn down. Newer, larger houses have been built in their place. Now, homes, villas, and hotels cover almost the entire island.
Homes and Rentals
Hilton Head Island is a very popular place for tourism and travel. Sea Pines is the biggest community on the island. It has many properties available for rent all year round. This makes it a big part of the island's rental market.
In recent years, more and more people have moved to Hilton Head permanently. In 2000, over 33,000 people lived on the island. The island is about 55 square miles (142 square kilometers) in size.
Buying and selling homes in Sea Pines is also very active. In February 2018, the average home in Sea Pines sold for about $639,000.
