More than any of its rich amenities, Kiawah Island is defined by its endearing respect for nature. The curve of the rivers and streams, the soaring boughs of live oak trees, the gentle pull of the tides along 10 miles of beach–these are the foundations upon which we built a community like no other. And for more than 50 years, Kiawah has served as a nurturing habitat for wildlife and the inspiration for families who call it home.
Photography by Eric Piasecki Architecture by Shope Reno Wharton
ON THE COVER: Kiawah Island Club
Caddie Stefan Kwasny
28
MEMBER PROFILES
JESSICA AND MATT PERKAL
AND GRIFFIN BELL
Painter Sheryl Stalnaker explores the grandeur of the Lowcountry with six Kiawah kids in this summer painting workshop. 38
KIAWAH GOES TO TOWN
Following an award-winning renovation, Two Meeting Street Inn provides Kiawah Island Club Members with a home away from home in downtown Charleston.
CHEF & FARMER
Cassique Executive Chef Mike O’Shaughnessy collaborates with local purveyors to craft a menu that reflects the changing seasons. 62
CAPE CLUB
The visionaries behind the project share insights on cuisine, service, and setting. 68 SUMMER LOVE
Read how newlyweds Bridget and Grant Balogh’s love story unfolded on Kiawah Island.
SEAFIELDS BY BISHOP GADSDEN | 126
GOOD WORKS: ANGEL OAK PRESERVE | 128
WILD HAVEN | 136
ON & ABOUT KIAWAH | 142
END NOTE | 154
76
KIAWAH CADDIE
Five veteran caddies provide a unique and memorable golf experience at Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique and River Course.
90
MEN AT SEA
Discover how Charleston’s famed Mosquito Fleet shaped the city’s maritime economy and enriched its cultural heritage.
98 FULL CIRCLE
As new amenities revitalize Kiawah’s west end, Kiawah Partners’ newest luxury residences at Ocean Pines are set to redefine Lowcountry living.
106
POLLINATOR PARADISE
Support Kiawah Island’s thriving bee and butterfly populations by planting these native perennials.
116
FORCES OF NATURE
The dream team behind Club Members Greg and Kara Olsen’s Kiawah home draws inspiration from the beauty of the Sea Islands.
Extraordinary quality + style
Dolphin Architects + Builders crafts homes where families gather for generations. With seasoned expertise, our team provides one source for creative architecture, interior design and construction. Dolphin delivers the highest-quality results and an unsurpassed, 5-year warranty. Experience our proven track record of designing, building, and renovating the Lowcountry’s finest homes since 1990. dolphinbuilders.com | 843-768-2404
LEGENDS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR & DESIGNER
Hailey Wist
MANAGING EDITORS
Jessica Puder
Brittany Nelson
COPY EDITOR
Sunny Gray
PUBLISHER
Kiawah Partners
SPECIAL THANKS
Amy Anderson
Bridget Balogh
Grant Balogh
Griffin Bell
Nicole Bell
Kimberly Borts
Leslie Bunnell
Layton Campbell
Taylor Cochrane
Tammy Connor
Susan Corcoran
Lucinda Detrich
Nathan Durfee
Paul Freeman
Jeff Heikkinen
Stefan Kwasny
Mike Lata
Sidi Limehouse
Ethan Linen
Celeste Marceca
Jennifer McCormick
Chris McNeill
Patrick Melton
Tommy Metherell
Amanda Mole
Tom Nevin
Teddy Norton
Greg Olsen
Kara Olsen
Michael O’Shaughnessy
David Palefsky
Jessical Perkal
Matt Perkal
CONTRIBUTORS
Christina Rae Butler
Joel Caldwell
Stephanie Hunt
Bryan Hunter
Barry Kaufman
Sandy Lang
Katie Charlotte Lybrand
Patrick O’Brien
Blake Shorter
Lindsey Shorter
Ashley Spangler
Katherine Barry Verano
Charlotte Zacharkiw
Mark Permar
Jordan Phillips
Maya Poduri
Wyatt Poduri
Elizabeth Pope
Ken Pursley
Nico Quintero
Chris Randolph
Sam Reardon
Dawn D.J. Sanders
Chris Shope
Samantha Siegel
Lee Sneed
Jonathan Spence
Sheryl Stalnaker
Jeremy Storey
Atticus Story
Sarah Tipton
John Warren
Thomas Woltz
Alice Zerbe
Mason Zerbe
Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No Federal or State agency has endorsed or judged the merits of value, if any, of this property. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offer to buy real estate in any jurisdiction where prohibited by law. This offer is made pursuant to the New York State Department of Law’s Simplified Procedure for Homeowners Associations with a De Minimis Cooperative Interest (CPS-7). The CPS-7 application (File No. HO16-0007) and related documents may be obtained from the sponsor. This project is registered with the State of New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Real Estate Commission. Obtain and read the NJ Public Offering Statement before signing anything (NJ Reg#1615-0012). An affiliate of Kiawah Partners.
Contributors
BLAKE SHORTER | PHOTOGRAPHER
Blake Shorter is a photographer living in Charleston who grew up in the Deep South and spent a decade as a drummer in a touring band. His work now centers primarily on documenting the world of art and design, and he still loves a good road trip.
The opportunity to peek inside beautiful and thoughtful homes always satisfies my curiosity— the Olsen’s Kiawah home really brings some of the magic of the Island inside the house.
I enjoyed looking back into the history of West Beach as much as I did the sneak peek into its future.
KATHERINE BARRY VERANO | WRITER
A Charleston-based writer and editor, Katherine Barry Verano is a Lowcountry native whose love affair with Kiawah stretches across decades. Whether it’s splashing around in the surf or trotting along the trails, she relishes any opportunity to spend time on the Island with her family. Getting to write about what makes Kiawah special is icing on the cake.
PATRICK O’BRIEN | PHOTOGRAPHER
For twenty-five years Patrick O’Brien has created memorable photography for clients across the globe. He learned early in his career that passion, preparation, and discipline are the fundamental traits for sustained creative success. He has been thrilled to collaborate with art directors, designers, and clients who share his passion for creating images that inspire and surprise.
These farmers’ contribution to our community often goes unnoticed, but it is vitally important.
STEPHANIE HUNT | WRITER
Stephanie Hunt writes about travel, design, conservation, lifestyle, and the arts for regional and national publications, including Garden & Gun, Veranda, Southern Living, Southbound, and Charleston Magazine, where she is editor-at-large.
I’ve long been a fan of Tammy Connor’s spoton eye and warm sophistication. I loved writing about her transformation of this iconic Charleston property.
A HOUSE ON THE KIAWAH RIVER
ERIC PIASECKI
Contributors
KATIE CHARLOTTE | PHOTOGRAPHER
A Charleston native, Katie Charlotte is celebrating her tenth year as an architectural and interior photographer in the Lowcountry. Featured in national publications including Traditional Home, House Beautiful, and Southern Living, she loves to collaborate with designers, architects, and art directors.
Getting up close and personal with Two Meeting Street Inn was nostalgic for me as I have been walking past this historic gem since childhood.
SANDY LANG | WRITER
Writer Sandy Lang loves a good “where food comes from” story, so talking with Cassique’s Chef Mike and local farmers was a joy. She has her own tangled garden on Wadmalaw, and she writes for commercial and editorial clients about art and design, food and drink, and fascinating people and locales.
So cool to get to know some of the local farms better—including following the labyrinth path through the field of sunflowers by Spade & Clover.
BARRY KAUFMAN | WRITER
Barry Kaufman has lived in the South Carolina Lowcountry since 2002, the last eighteen years in Bluffton. A freelancer for publications including South and Garden & Gun , he takes particular joy in shelter writing, helping builders and architects translate their work into prose.
As an architecture nerd, it was a treat to go behind the scenes on the Olsen house and learn how it was built.
It was fascinating to research the bravery and skill of the Mosquito Fleet and to imagine the fishermen sailing the ocean each day in handcrafted boats to provide fresh seafood to the waking city.
CHRISTINA RAE BUTLER | WRITER
Christina Butler is Provost and Professor of Historic Preservation at American College of the Building Arts and adjunct faculty at College of Charleston and Clemson University. She owns Butler Preservation LC, and she is the author of Charleston Horse Power, Lowcountry at High Tide (University of South Carolina Press), Italians in the Lowcountry, Ansonborough: From Birth to Rebirth, and Footlight Players: A Century of Charleston Theater Tradition.
The Kiawah Island community is, as it always has been, incredibly dynamic and generous. We are continuously astounded by the potency of the philanthropic organizations and large-scale giving that helps make the surrounding Sea Islands a better place. It is our mission to enhance this important work, to contribute to the good of our greater Lowcountry community. Thanks for being part of the story.
PATRICK, JORDAN, AND CHRIS SOUTH STREET PARTNERS
In creating each edition of Legends, I have the privilege of speaking with families who have made this sweet Sea Island their gathering place, their home away from home. I’ve heard countless stories about kids and grandkids, treasured traditions, and family legacies. The prevailing sentiment in these conversations is always the same—just how lucky everyone feels to be here, to create the beloved rituals that shape a life on Kiawah.
For this issue, I sat down with newlyweds Grant and Bridget Balogh for “Summer Love” (pg. 68). They met at Freshfields Village, got engaged at The Beach Club, shared their “first look” at Cassique Clubhouse, and were married at River Course. The storybook setting of their romance is a place their families have cherished for years, woven into childhood memories and family traditions. I can’t imagine a more fitting backdrop for the moments that matter most.
Kiawah Island is, after all, the stage for life’s most meaningful milestones—falling in love, family bike rides, reunions, and summer traditions. May we all be so lucky. This 39th issue was a joy to make. I hope you enjoy it!
THERE ARE A THOUSAND WAYS TO KNEEL AND KISS THE GROUND; THERE ARE A THOUSAND WAYS TO GO HOME AGAIN.
RUMI
HAILEY WIST
Known nationally for her touring exhibition We the People: Portraits of Veterans in America, Mary Whyte’s work has been featured in many international publications, including periodicals and books in China, Russia, France, Germany, Canada and Taiwan. Whyte’s private Charleston studio is open by appointment. Paintings of the
Mary Whyte
AMERICAN ARTIST
JESSICA & MATT PERKAL Kiawah Island Club Members
Q Where are you from?
A Matt: I grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, and then Rye, New York, for high school. Jessica: I’m from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Q How did you meet?
A Jessica: Matt’s cousin went to school with me at Duke. I told her I was looking for a new job, and she suggested I meet her cousin. So I met Matt for an informational interview and started interviewing for his firm. But we wore blazers! It was very professional. It was not a date.
Q Was it love at first sight?
A Jessica: We were just friends for a while, and I moved to Washington, D.C. Almost a year later we had brunch with some mutual friends and started dating long distance.
Q When did you first come to Kiawah?
A Jessica: I was probably ten the first time we visited. My parents ran the Kiawah [Island Golf Resort] Marathon, and we rented houses. So Matt’s family vacationed here, my family vacationed here, and his sister got married here. It was a place we’ve always loved.
Q When did you move here?
A Jessica: We were living in New York, and I was pregnant with Ralph when the pandemic hit. We got in the car and drove to Kiawah. We rented a house at first. So did my parents and Matt’s parents, and all our siblings came. It was like a big family reunion. Matt: We figured it would be two or three weeks. Jessica: But we just kept renting week after week, and we kept getting grandfathered in. Then we started looking at property. We bid on a house on Ocean Marsh, and we’ve had it ever since. We rented a house in Charleston and enrolled Charlie at Ashley Hall. Eventually we bought a house downtown. But we spend most of our weekends on Kiawah, and almost every holiday and the entire summer.
Q What do you like about living here?
A Jessica: We love the lifestyle here. We love the sunny weather and the spontaneity. If it’s a beautiful day, we can go on a bike ride or go out to dinner. Everything is a little bit more relaxed. We still spend a lot of time in New York, but this is just a better fit for our family.
Q What about Kiawah fits your family so well?
A Jessica: We can walk to The Beach Club and have become so close with the staff there. And GoKiawah is amazing! Matt: Family. We have so many family traditions that revolve around being outdoors. We love to bike to The Sanctuary or to the Ocean Park Treehouse. Jessica: And we always go to Marsh House on Sundays for live music. We have so many friends who are from all over the country that we look forward to seeing here. They come in at different times and so it’s refreshing. And there is a small contingency that comes from Charleston.
Q Tell me about your children.
A Matt: Charlie is five and she goes to Charleston Day. She just started kindergarten. Ralph just turned four and he’s at Ashley Hall, and Niyah is two and she just started Ashley Hall this year as well. We just officially adopted Niyah a couple weeks ago. When she first started staying with us, it was on Kiawah. So really that’s the place she associates with home.
Q What do you love about the Club?
A Jessica: They make every holiday special. We almost always go to Rock the River! And we do the Polar Bear Plunge and the Easter Egg Hunt. The Club staff is amazing. They’re so good with children and always know our names. They’re so generous and kind.
Q How do you think your time here affects your children?
A Jessica: Everyone in our family prefers to be at Kiawah because we’re more relaxed here. And when we’re relaxed, they’re relaxed. We’re outside more. Everyone is happier.
GRIFFIN & NICOLE BELL Kiawah Island Club Members
Q Where are you from?
A Nicole: We’re from Greenville, South Carolina. We both grew up there but we didn’t know each other until after college.
Q How did you meet?
A Nicole: We met in downtown Greenville in 1999. Griffin: We fell in love quickly—two weeks for me—and got married in 2000. Nicole put me through law school; we moved back to Greenville and I began practicing real estate law. The kids started arriving in 2003. We didn’t slow down on that front and ended up with five.
Q How did you find Kiawah?
A Griffin: I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know Kiawah. My parents brought me and my two older sisters here in 1978 when I was just two years old, and I’ve been coming ever since. It was as beautiful then as it is now, but it was much more rustic—kind of wild. I remember seeing the wild horses on the Island and the white stag. I never caught a glimpse of the white puma, though, which was rumored to roam the “jungle” behind the second gate!
Q What are your memories from childhood?
Griffin: It was family time, plain and simple. And when you’re a little kid, there’s nothing better—the safety and freedom of the bike trails, the unparalleled expanse of the beach, the quiet serenity of the ocean, and the unique, abundant wildlife. As you get older, it changes in the sense that you get to share those experiences with your friends, your spouse, and your children. Nicole and I came down while we were dating, and later, after we were married, with kids. It’s cool to watch my children trace my same footsteps decades later.
Q Nicole, tell me about your first time on the Island.
A Nicole: I came down with friends as a child. When I
From GREENVILLE, SC
started distance running, I participated in the Kiawah [Island Golf Resort] Marathon. When Griffin and I started dating, we visited his family’s home on Green Winged Teal Road, and I grew to love the Island. After our last baby was born, we were fortunate to find a long-term rental that included access to Kiawah Island Club. When I walked through the entrance of The Beach Club in 2013, holding my newborn, and saw the pools, the big lawn, and the ocean beyond, I knew my children would create lasting summer memories. From that first summer, we made it a priority to come back, year after year. Kiawah is such an essential part of our family.
Q What do you like to do when you’re here?
A Nicole: I love to walk the beach and run the trails, and we all love to hop on bikes and explore. Our children ride back and forth from The Beach Club to swim. And we look forward to kayaking every summer. Griffin and Griff Jr. play golf, and the kids love to bring friends down to the beach. Above all, my favorite part of Kiawah is watching my kids interact with one another—knowing they are happy makes me happy.
Q Why do you think the Club is so special?
A Nicole: The people first and foremost. There is a welcoming tone the moment you walk into any facility. The level of quality and service is unmatched compared to other places. The Club’s locations are thoughtfully planned and allow Members to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of the Island. There’s no place quite like it.
Q You’re building your legacy here!
A Nicole: I hope so! The goal is to create an opportunity for future generations of the family to experience Kiawah with the same sense of wonder and excitement that we feel now, that we’ve always felt here, and that we hope to experience for years to come.
AS THE TIDE ROSE IN CINDER CREEK AND AN EGRET STEPPED SOUNDLESSLY THROUGH THE MARSH GRASS, SIX KIAWAH KIDS STARED THOUGHTFULLY AT THE HORIZON, CONSIDERING THE COLOR GREEN.
STORY by HAILEY WIST PHOTOGRAPHS by LINDSEY SHORTER
PLAYING OUTSIDE IS FUNDAMENTAL TO CHILDHOOD, TO THE CULTIVATION OF IMAGINATION AND WONDER. ON KIAWAH ISLAND, CHILDREN ARE FREE TO ROAM—TO RIDE BIKES, SWIM IN THE OCEAN, AND SPEND SUMMER AFTERNOONS IN THE CROW’S NEST OF A GIANT TREEHOUSE. IT IS ON KIAWAH THAT THESE KIDS LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HERON AND AN EGRET, HOW TO SURF AND KAYAK, AND WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE NESTS OF SEA TURTLES.
NATURE AFFECTS THE MIND OF A CHILD IN DRAMATIC WAYS, ENHANCING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COGNITIVE SKILLS. AND ART— PAINTING, WRITING, DRAMATIC PLAY—IS LIKE THE OTHER HALF OF THE WHOLE—FOSTERING EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY. TO CREATE ART IN NATURE? NOW THAT IS A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR. ON A BREEZY MORNING IN LATE JUNE, CHARLESTONBASED ARTIST SHERYL STALNAKER TAUGHT A PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOP TO SIX KIAWAH KIDS. THE EXPERIENCE WAS MAGIC.
I love to watch kids get in a flow state. They get really calm and start to observe the world around them. They are standing behind their easels tuning into sights and sounds—the birds and the wind. There's something about that that resonates with them. That's how they feel like real artists. And a small group like this is free to experiment and play. It is a very mindful way to be outside.
When you paint plein air, you are painting the smells, the weather—the energy of the day and setting. My goal is to teach them to paint the feeling.
Painter Sheryl Stalnaker finds inspiration in depicting the beauty of wildlife and aquatic habitats, capturing the essence of these fragile landscapes that are increasingly threatened by human activity. Whether it’s a Lowcountry marsh, an Atlantic coastline, or the rapids of a freshwater river, Sheryl brings each scene to life, capturing the light, movement, and energy with her unique approach to painting.
Stalnaker’s award-winning works have been exhibited in galleries along the East Coast and showcased in juried events like Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition’s landscape show, ArtFields, and the Telfair Museums’ PULSE Art and Technology Festival in Savannah. A graduate of the University of Washington, her paintings are held in private and corporate collections across the United States, England, and Asia.
Places like Kiawah are rarer and rarer—these are unspoiled landscapes that I love to paint.
PAINTING OUTSIDE THE LINES
In the Lowcountry, we have endless shades of greens. The limey-yellow green of the marsh, blue-teal greens, dark greens of the maritime forest, and light mossy greens. To see this kaleidoscope, you have to quiet yourself and really observe. And when children start really observing, they can see the nuance.
There are so many different levels to the landscape here. We have the flat marsh grass, the height of palmettos, and live oaks. We have big skies, expansive landscapes. And the water! I love painting water—winding creeks and rivers, the ocean.
KIAWAH GOES TO TOW N
With the addition of Two Meeting Street Inn, Club Members enjoy Kiawah style and comfort in downtown Charleston.
STORY by STEPHANIE HUNT PHOTOGRAPHS by KATIE CHARLOTTE
For more than a century, the Queen Ann-style abode at the foot of Meeting Street has caught the eye of passersby. Its gently curved piazza and parade of arches and columns command a double take. The property’s wedding-cake appeal, all white icing and layers of architectural delight, is fitting, as Two Meeting Street Inn was originally built in 1892 as a gift from George Williams, a wealthy banker who lived in what is now the Calhoun Mansion (just a few houses away on Meeting Street), to his daughter, Martha, upon her marriage to Waring P. Carrington, a jeweler. The tale goes that Mr. Williams pinned a check for $75,000, funds to build the house, on a rose-colored pillow and left it for his daughter on her wedding night. The Carringtons, in turn, gifted each other the home’s two Tiffany glass windows for their fifth wedding anniversary. In 1907, the couple erected the bandstand in White Point Garden in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Williams. The house, with its infinite porch appeal, is quintessentially Southern but also fresh and distinctive. Witness her rounded edges while neighboring Charleston manses are boxy and tall, her unabashed preference for romance and charm over stately ostentation, her Victorian flair and Tiffany touches that are simultaneously sophisticated and lighthearted.
All this and more is why South Street Partners snapped up the iconic former bed-and-breakfast overlooking White Point Garden when Two Meeting Street Inn went on the market in 2022. For seventy-six years it had been operated as an inn by the Spell family, who bought it from the Carrington family in 1946. Now South Street Partners, only its third owner, honors the abode’s long-standing legacy of hospitality.
“We had always looked for a downtown amenity as there are so many Kiawah Island Club Members who have limited or no direct access to Charleston,” says Jordan Phillips of South Street Partners. With plentiful, award-winning restaurants
and world-renowned arts and cultural events, Charleston has ample allure, but the drive back to Kiawah after enjoying a night out can be a disincentive. “We thought a quality, Clubowned facility would be well received and help provide that access,” Phillips adds. Judging by the steady demand since the Club opened Two Meeting Street Inn in May 2024, he and his partners were correct.
With eight spacious suites sumptuously decorated by Tammy Connor of Tammy Connor Interior Design, the private pied-à-terre exclusively for Club Members extends Kiawah-style hospitality inland. “Chris Randolph and I both own historic homes downtown, and having recently completed renovations ourselves, we understood how much care is required when restoring these types of properties, and knew the right team to do it extremely well,” Phillips says.
In addition to Connor, that team included Eddie Fava of e.e. fava architects, Tupper Builders, and landscape architect Elizabeth Pope.
Over the course of a two-year renovation, Fava and the Tupper team meticulously retained the property’s historical integrity while incorporating completely new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. On the main floor, the
restored main dining room features one of the Tiffany windows, while adjacent is a fully renovated kitchen with custom millwork and professional grade appliances. A Kiawah Island Club chef creates a lavish breakfast buffet daily as well as other delicious refreshments and treats exclusively for guests staying at the Inn. In the main hall, where original carved English oak panels and a grand staircase were refurbished, the stairwell huddles over a quaint bricked reading nook behind the reception. Upstairs, a gracious second-floor sitting room, complete with a fully stocked, complimentary “comfort station” featuring wines and spirits, such as a curated Madeira program authentic to the Inn’s 1890s era, opens onto a breezy piazza with expansive views over White Point Garden and Charleston Harbor. Guests can relax with a beverage, or enjoy tea or coffee and conversation on the Inn’s original vintage wicker.
All the guest rooms, many featuring original fireplaces, were renovated to enhance spaciousness and include thoughtfully appointed en suite bathrooms. On the third floor, Fava revealed formerly covered vaulted ceilings, and with Connor, augmented the cozy character of dormers. Throughout the Inn, doors, moldings, trims, and historic details were reproduced to match the existing features.
“A building’s architecture and setting are always our starting place,” says Tammy Connor, who happily honored the distinctive Queen Anne architecture. “And this setting
The breezy perch fronts the South Battery and overlooks a classic Charleston garden, which Elizabeth Pope reinvigorated with a blend of traditional plantings and vibrant pops of color and texture.
just couldn’t be more quintessentially Charleston—we hit the jackpot.” Her design goal, then, was to create a space that evokes that elemental sense of Charleston hospitality, a feeling of “being welcomed in a home, not a hotel,” she says. In general, she and her project lead, Sara McKinnon, updated interiors that felt a bit dated, “giving it some airiness and new life,” she says.
Connor’s signature subdued palettes and tasteful mixing of antiques with comfortable upholstered pieces does just that. Each of the eight suites has individual character, with one-of-a-kind pieces and a layering of classic textures, fabrics, art, and lighting. “Our relaxed approach to formal spaces creates rooms that are refined yet inviting,” adds Connor, who’s not afraid of mixing in some whimsy, as in the ground floor’s “bird bath” powder room, aflutter with carvings of birds flocked around a wooden mirror. In the dining room, a cobalt Murano chandelier amplifies the Tiffany window’s jewel tones, “but we kept everything else in the dining room quiet to let the windows do their thing,” Connor says. In the entryway and stair hall, a monotone blue-gray floral wallpaper adds an understated punch that feels both retro and contemporary. Art throughout the Inn is original, by predominantly local artists.
Much of Two Meeting Street Inn’s timeless curb appeal stems (literally) from the property’s connection to the outdoors. “That veranda might just be my favorite ‘room’ of all,” adds Connor, who refurbished existing wicker and added new pieces. “It’s like being in a treehouse out there, with that gorgeous oak covered in resurrection ferns.” The breezy perch fronts the South Battery and overlooks a classic Charleston garden, which Elizabeth Pope reinvigorated
with a blend of traditional plantings and vibrant pops of color and texture. Climbing roses delicately creep through the historic wrought iron fence as historic boxwoods line brick walkways, summoning “the charm of streets South of Broad,” Pope says. The round arches of the porte cochère inspired her choice of an arched garden gate. While she kept mature plantings that guard privacy along the Battery, Pope added a fountain—ubiquitous in Charleston gardens—to the rear garden, creating a soothing soundscape buffering guests from busy streets. “Keeping the property’s authenticity guided the design,” she says, “so the essence of Charleston’s past is palpable at every turn.”
Thanks to the attention to detail that Pope, Connor, Fava, and team brought to this project, that essence and unique historic flavor is newly alive in this storied property. In February of 2025, the Preservation Society of Charleston awarded South Street Partners the Carolopolis Award in the Pro Merito Category for the exceptional restoration and stewardship of the historic building. “Two Meeting Street Inn’s location and history are irreplaceable,” says Phillips, “and, just like Kiawah, that only adds to the charm of the offering.” Whether Club Members seek a comfortable landing spot after a Spoleto concert, or want to relax after a downtown meeting, or simply wish to share Charleston’s magic with family and friends, the Inn offers convenience, luxurious hominess, and an extension of exclusive Kiawah hospitality in an unparalleled Holy City setting. — S.H.
Scan the QR code for a behind-the-scenes look at the Two Meeting Street Inn renovation.
CHEF &
FARMER
CHEF MICHAEL O’SHAUGHNESSY BRINGS
A JOHNS ISLAND HARVEST STRAIGHT TO THE CASSIQUE KITCHEN.
STORY by SANDY LANG
PHOTOGRAPHS by PATRICK O’BRIEN
It’s midmorning, and Cassique Executive Chef Michael O’Shaughnessy’s phone buzzes. “That’s one of the farmers now. He’s got arugula.”
Chef Mike gets texts like this weekly from Johns Island farmers—it’s like a fresh-produce hotline. And because he commutes across Johns Island, O’Shaughnessy often replies, “Don’t waste the gas. I’ll swing by and pick it up.”
The busy chef loves seeing what’s growing when he stops at fields and markets on his way to Cassique. O’Shaughnessy might inspect the planted rows and walk-in storage at John Warren’s farm, Spade & Clover Gardens, or pick up an order for fresh basil, lettuces, melons, or ginger. Other days, he’ll grab extra eggs and confirm an order for duck or hams at Storey Farms. He might also join his sous chefs at the open-air market at Rosebank Farms, where tables and bins are piled high with seasonal produce grown by longtime farmer Sidi Limehouse.
With all this freshness and variety just down the road, O’Shaughnessy knows he’s lucky. He has been cooking at Cassique since 2008 and values the relationships he has built with his farming neighbors.
“I talk with chefs from other parts of the country and they are amazed by what we have here,” he says. Alongside aged
steaks, specialty cuts, and just-caught seafood, locally grown produce takes center stage on the clubhouse menus. Chef Mike and his team are constantly experimenting with new ingredients and techniques—incorporating fresh turmeric into a risotto, brewing squash-based vinegar for a seasonal vinaigrette (a hit with diners), and cracking into the orangegold yolks of Storey Farms’ brown eggs whenever they can.
“We keep our ingredients as local and regional as possible to reflect what’s going on outside,” O’Shaughnessy explains. In summer, that means light, bright flavors featuring tomatoes, peppers, and sweet corn. Cooler months inspire heartier, warming dishes. For example, the chef describes an autumnal variation of one of the fish dishes: “A beautiful piece of halibut resting on fall vegetables—baby turnips, potatoes, carrots, and kale. Then the server pours a light fish broth made with seasonal spices and herbs, and you’ll take in all these fantastic fall aromas.”
The Cassique kitchen keeps the dishes coming, full of freshness and flavor, thanks to the bounty of nearby farms.
ROSEBANK FARMS
The elder statesman of farming on Johns Island sits in his truck with his rescue dog, Rufus, beside him. “He’s as old as me,” Sidi Limehouse says with a smile, referring to his beagle mix with red-brown fur.
At eighty-six, Limehouse no longer handles the heavy labor of farm work, but he actively oversees operations at Rosebank Farms, which has approximately one hundred acres in production. “As long as you keep on trucking, you keep on living,” he quips. He usually starts the morning with a crew meeting, followed by slow drives along the fields to monitor progress and troubleshoot issues. Today, the crew of seven is watering strawberry rows, repairing equipment, and harvesting beans and winter squash.
“This is some of the same land I grew up on, but with different owners,” Limehouse notes. Born in 1938, he spent his childhood on the 1,685-acre Mullet Hall Plantation on Briar’s Creek, which his father purchased for twelve thousand dollars in 1942. The family raised cattle and potatoes there. (After his father’s death, portions of the property were conveyed to Charleston County for a park and sold to The Beach Company.) “Johns Island wasn’t like it is now,” he recalls. “They planted a lot of cabbage and Irish potatoes when I was young. Then the tomatoes came, and they did well with those.”
A font of farming knowledge and colorful stories, Limehouse has spent most of his life farming. He has also taken on roles in the South Carolina legislature, managed hunt clubs, and led conservation efforts.
Since founding Rosebank Farms in the 1980s, Limehouse has made farming his priority. The hallmark of Rosebank is its quality and the variety of its Johns Island-grown produce. A partial harvest list includes tomatoes, eggplants, peas, beans, muscadine grapes, blackberries, numerous types and sizes of squash and pumpkins, green and gold bar zucchini, lettuces and greens, broccoli, onions, carrots, sweet potatoes, and the highly coveted fruit of more than two hundred fig trees.
Chef Mike describes the Rosebank Farms Market, located just off Betsy Kerrison Parkway, as essential to Cassique for year-round ingredients and inspiration. He eagerly anticipates the arrival of ripe muscadines and the return of fig season. Along with neighboring farms, the chef says, “Rosebank is just such a staple in our world. It’s a huge, huge asset.”
SPADE & CLOVER
“We pretty much grow what’s easy to grow,” says farmer John Warren, describing some of the vegetables he cultivates at Spade & Clover Gardens on Johns Island.
He’s modest. Ginger, fennel, basil, turmeric, okra, sweet potatoes, mustard greens, Thai eggplants, African jelly melons, turnips, broccoli, Southeast Asian winged beans, and winter squash are just a few of the crops he has planted, nurtured, and harvested. With a small crew to help in the fields, Warren has put about twelve acres into cultivation across three locations on the island—actively farming around four acres at a time.
Early on, he developed a relationship with Cassique and regularly supplies the kitchen with fennel flowers, arugula, green coriander “berries,” basil, turmeric, and, as he notes, “they really like mustard greens.”
It’s satisfying, hands-in-the-dirt work for forty-twoyear-old Warren, a former New York City-based sculptor who returned to his home state of South Carolina in 2011.
Seeking a lifestyle change, he and a friend began farming through a Lowcountry Local First incubator program on Johns Island. When his friend dropped out after about a year, Warren persisted.
The first several years were particularly challenging, he recalls, but the young farmer discovered that Johns Island offers excellent growing conditions. The soil is malleable and easy on tractors—not dense with clay or rocks—and is also high in phosphorus, “one of the nutrients that plants love.” These days, except during the hottest months of July and August, Warren consistently has produce to sell at markets, through CSA subscriptions, and to restaurants.
Cassique frequently showcases Spade & Clover’s specialty produce on its menus, including green coriander “berries” that remind Chef Mike of capers and “fairytale tiny” eggplants. O’Shaughnessy and Warren often talk about food and farming, and the chef appreciates Warren’s humble wit.
“He cracks me up,” says O’Shaughnessy of the easygoing farmer. “John tells me that if I don’t see what I need in the walk-in, I can go into the field and pick it myself.” (Sometimes, O’Shaughnessy does just that.)
Meanwhile, Warren envisions digging in this soil for decades to come. He donates produce to local residents in need through the Fields to Families program and has been planting perennials—citrus, blackberries, persimmons, and peaches—“to harvest when I’m older, when I retire.”
STOREY FARMS
From a handful of acres overlooking a stretch of tidal marsh and the Bohicket River, Jeremy Storey launched his farm plan—literally—by raising five hundred chicks in 2014. It was the start of Storey Farms. And when nearby farmer Sidi Limehouse mentioned he had 1,000 laying hens and had been considering exiting the egg business, Storey took over the care of those hens and their coops as well.
Committed to raising free-range chickens on an allnatural diet, free of antibiotics and hormones, Storey quickly gained a following. The farm-fresh brown eggs, packaged in paperboard cartons, became a popular item at Storey Farms Market on Betsy Kerrison Parkway and a key ingredient at Cassique, alongside Storey Farms meats. “His chickens are the best,” says Chef Mike. “It’s just a different quality, and the skin gets fantastically crispy.”
Storey’s expertise isn’t limited to farming; he also knows his way around a kitchen. Early in his career, he worked in Chicago restaurants as a cook and chef, including a stint in the front of the house at Alinea, a Michelin-starred modern cuisine restaurant.
“I realized that I wasn’t truly as passionate about cooking as I was about farming,” he says.
Storey’s vision crystallized when he brought a pheasant he’d harvested on a hunt to the Alinea kitchen, then had the satisfaction of being at the table when it was served. “That was when I knew I wanted to do something where I’m providing the ingredients.”
He and his wife wanted to raise their family near the coast and were drawn to the storybook scenery of Johns Island and since those early days, Storey Farms has expanded to include hogs, sheep, goats, and ducks among its sustainably farmed offerings. The farm now produces approximately 1,300 brown eggs daily.
Storey Farms delivers to Cassique weekly, often supplying five hundred eggs, several dozen whole chickens, fifty pounds of pork, and occasionally a whole hog. The farm and kitchen stay in regular contact through group texts, exchanging feedback, special orders, and custom butchery details.
“They’ll tell me they’re dry-aging a duck and let me know if there’s not enough fat—or too much,” Storey explains. “We may then try a different breed or adjust the feed.”
Storey understands and adjusts—another day in the life of this chef-turned-farmer. — S.L.
CHARRED ONION RISOTTO WITH LOCAL KALE, FRIED OKRA, AND A STOREY FARMS EGG YOLK
Charred Onion Purée
1 lb yellow onions, quartered with roots intact
5 oz unsalted butter
Directions
3/4 cup white wine
2 cups whole milk
4 sprigs thyme
Heat a cast-iron pan over high heat until smoking hot. Sear each cut side of the onion quarters until lightly charred. Transfer to a plate to cool. Chop two-thirds of the onions and add them to a medium saucepan, reserving the remaining one-third for later. Add the butter, milk, and wine to the saucepan. Bring to a light simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add the thyme to the saucepan, then remove from heat and let the mixture steep for an additional 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a blender and purée on high until smooth.
Fried Okra
1/4 lb okra, thinly sliced at an angle
1 quart grapeseed or canola oil
Salt, to taste
Directions
Place the sliced okra into a medium saucepan. Pour in enough grapeseed or canola oil to fully cover the okra. Heat the oil over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the temperature reaches 250°F. Continue stirring until the okra turns a light golden color. Note that the okra will continue to darken slightly after it is removed from the oil. Strain the okra and transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt to taste.
Risotto
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup Arborio or Carnaroli rice
5 cups water
1 cup charred onion purée
2 tablespoons minced charred onion
1 cup local kale, thinly sliced
Directions
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 lemon, juiced
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 Storey Farms egg yolk
Fried okra (for garnish)
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over low heat. Once hot, add the rice, stirring with a wooden spoon to coat. Lightly toast the rice in the oil for 2-3 minutes, or until fragrant but not browned. Gradually add the water, 1½ cups at a time, stirring continuously and allowing each addition to absorb before adding the next. Once all the water has been absorbed and the rice is nearly al dente, stir in the charred onion purée and Parmesan. Cook until the rice reaches al dente—when the grains are tender but still slightly firm to the bite. Fold in the minced charred onion, kale, butter, and lemon juice. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. The consistency should be between thick and runny. (Think of it this way: risotto should move like your shoulders after the first sip of wine at the end of a long day—a short but marked shrug.) Spoon the risotto into a large bowl, creating a small divot in the center with the back of the spoon. Place the Storey Farms egg yolk in the center and garnish with fried okra, if desired.
MADEIRA-BRINED STOREY FARMS PORK CHOP WITH ROASTED SWEET POTATOES AND A POLE BEAN SALAD
Madeira Brine
12 oz water
12 oz Madeira wine
8 garlic cloves
Directions
10 bay leaves
3 oz salt
3 oz light brown sugar
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the brine to cool to room temperature. Place the pork chop in a resealable plastic bag or container, and pour the brine over it. Brine the pork chop for 24 hours, then remove it from the brine and pat dry before cooking.
Marinated Beans
10 garlic cloves, sliced
2 oz (or 1 large) shallot, julienned
1 oz white anchovy, minced
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
Directions
3/4 cup champagne vinegar
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 lb assorted beans, 1/4-inch pieces
Salt, to taste
In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat until hot. Add the garlic, shallot, chili flakes, and anchovies, stirring until lightly caramelized. Remove the pan from the heat and deglaze with the champagne vinegar, stirring to combine. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl. Add the raw, cut beans along with a pinch of salt, and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight to soften the beans and allow the flavors to infuse.
Pork Chop and Salad
1/4 cup grapeseed oil, divided
1 cup diced local sweet potato
1 cup diced carrot
2 cups marinated beans
1 lime, juiced
3/4 cup parsley leaves, torn
Directions
1/2 cup mint leaves, torn
1/2 tablespoon tarragon, chopped
1 Storey Farms bone-in pork chop (12-14 oz)
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Remove the pork chop from the brine and pat dry with a paper towel. Allow the pork chop to come to room temperature for 10 minutes before cooking. Remove the marinated beans from the refrigerator to warm to room temperature. Heat a large cast-iron or stainless-steel pan over high heat until just smoking. Reduce the heat to medium and add 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil. Sear the pork chop for 8-10 minutes per side, or until cooked to a juicy medium temperature. Note: the brine provides sufficient salinity, but you may lightly season one side of the pork chop to help form a crust. Once cooked, remove the pork chop from the pan and allow it to rest for 8 minutes before serving. In a medium sauté pan, heat the remaining grapeseed oil over high heat until very hot. Add the sweet potato and carrot, sautéing until cooked and golden brown. Combine the roasted vegetables with the marinated beans, parsley, mint, tarragon, and lime juice in a mixing bowl. Toss to combine and season to taste. Plate the vegetable salad in a large bowl. Top with the roasted pork chop. Drizzle any excess marinade from the beans over the pork chop as a light sauce.
SPADE & CLOVER ARUGULA SALAD WITH PERSIMMON VINAIGRETTE, CRISPY CAROLINA GOLD RICE, EASTER EGG RADISH, AND AGED GOUDA
Persimmon Vinaigrette
1 oz sliced shallot
10 oz water
8 oz ripe persimmon, chopped
1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
3 oz honey
Directions
10 oz apple cider vinegar
6 oz canola oil
2 oz extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
In a small saucepan, combine the persimmon, shallot, and water. Simmer over low heat for 5–8 minutes, or until the persimmons have softened thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a blender and add the honey, apple cider vinegar, coriander, and salt. Blend until smooth and uniform. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. With the blender running on high speed, slowly pour in the canola oil and extra virgin olive oil until fully emulsified.
Crispy Carolina Gold Rice
1/2 cup Carolina Gold rice
6 cups water
Directions
Salt, to taste
1 quart grapeseed or canola oil
Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan and season with salt. Add the rice, stir once, and cook uncovered for about 15 minutes, or until tender in the center. Strain the rice and allow it to cool. Spread the rice in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. Flip the rice over and return it to the oven for an additional 7 minutes. Heat the oil in a deep pot to 350°F. Fry the rice in small batches for 60–80 seconds, or until crispy and golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Salad
4 cups washed local arugula
3 Easter egg radishes, cut into slivers
2 tablespoons crispy Carolina Gold rice
Directions
1/3 cup persimmon vinaigrette
1/4 cup aged Gouda, shaved
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the arugula with the persimmon vinaigrette. Gently toss to coat the greens, seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste. Transfer the dressed greens to a large serving bowl. Garnish with the shaved aged Gouda, crispy Carolina Gold rice, and slivered radishes.
STORY by HAILEY WIST
PHOTOGRAPHS by PATRICK O’BRIEN
In 2025, The Cape Club will open its doors to Kiawah Island Club Members. This long-awaited amenity will feature an oceanfront infinity pool with chaise lounges and cabanas, an expansive sundeck, and a Latin-inspired restaurant led by Kiawah Island Club Chef Nico Quintero and Culinary Advisor Chef Mike Lata. The menu will reflect an elevated take on traditional Central and South American flavors and preparation. And like so many of Lata’s renowned restaurants, there will be an emphasis on fresh, local seafood.
“The Cape Club is a dream realized,” says Clubhouse Manager Leslie Bunnell. “It was so incredible to watch this project take shape. We’ve had such an amazing team of visionaries—from Lata and Quintero concepting the culinary side to Cortney Bishop Design and Kennon Williams Landscape Studio creating such an enchanting setting.”
According to Bunnell, The Cape Club strikes an earthy middle ground between Marsh House and The Beach Club. Where Marsh House is tucked away and serene, The Cape Club is more social and lively. Where The Beach Club is a family favorite, The Cape Club offers a refined setting.
Proximity is also key. The opening of The Cape Club will round out the oceanfront amenities available to Club Members. The pool and restaurant will offer lunch and drinks by the beach, providing Members with the opportunity for al fresco daytime dining throughout the year.
“From exceptional service to the highestquality ambrosial Latin fare, we intend on redefining your poolside experience.”
- CLUBHOUSE MANAGER LESLIE BUNNELL
“The menu at The Cape Club will reflect the attention to detail throughout the property—luxurious in its simplicity.”
-CHEF MIKE LATA
By design, The Cape Club is intended to feel seamlessly integrated into the landscape. Everything is open-air—the porch and bar flow onto the pool deck, creating a continuous space that appears to float above the dunes. The thoughtful orientation of the design takes evening sunsets and maritime breezes into account, with the expansive deck opening wide to the shimmering Atlantic.
And really, that’s the best part of an oceanfront amenity— the beach. Kiawah boasts some of South Carolina’s most stunning coastline, with a wide, white-sand beach that unfolds from the dunes. The intent of this amenity has always been to immerse Members in this natural environment.
A ribbon boardwalk connects the pool deck to the beach, allowing Members to easily move between the two. The Cape Club will offer full service to beach chairs as well as poolside. And Members can stroll or bike up from the beach to enjoy a cocktail or a sunset dinner. — H.W.
“I grew up in Colombia and then in the San Francisco area. The dishes from my childhood were defined by big, bold flavors— very homey. In my career, I’ve learned how to balance and refine all these influences for very clean dishes. There’s going to be a lot of cilantro, avocado, and smoked chilies. I’ve always enjoyed the smokiness of aguachiles and love cooking with ancho chiles, cumin, and coriander. It’s all the flavors I grew up with, and they translate well through multiple cuisines.”
-CHEF NICO QUINTERO
SUMMER LOVE
BRIDGET FILE AND GRANT BALOGH MET
WHILE WORKING SUMMER JOBS ON KIAWAH
ISLAND. IT WAS A CHANCE MEETING THAT LED TO A FOREVER ROMANCE.
STORY
by HAILEY WIST
PHOTOGRAPHS by ASHLEY SPANGLER
Theirs was a quintessential summer romance.
Bridget File’s family had been coming to Kiawah Island from Atlanta since she was a baby. She had grown up here—riding bikes, swimming in the Atlantic, and playing in the maritime forest with her brothers and sister. Bridget was in school at the University of Alabama when the pandemic hit. Her family was building a house at River Course and had just sold their longtime villa at Fairway Oaks. “It was the first year we weren’t going to spend the summer at Kiawah. I couldn’t believe it.” Bridget begged her dad to rent a house. He told her that if she got a summer job on the Island, he’d do it.
“I applied at SeaCoast Sports and Outfitters in Freshfields Village that day and got the job the next,” she remembers. “And he did it!” They got a house on Greensward Road for the summer, and Bridget clocked in for her first day of work. That’s when she met Grant Balogh.
Grant’s parents had honeymooned on the Island back in the nineties. But it wasn’t until Grant and his twin brother and younger sister were teens that they started to vacation on Kiawah as a family. After a few visits, they bought a house on Surfsong Road and Kiawah became the new Balogh getaway. When the pandemic hit, the family hightailed it to the Island from Charlotte. Grant’s summer internship had fallen through, and he got a job at SeaCoast.
It was the silver lining of a global pandemic. Grant and Bridget stood side by side, filling out paperwork on their first day of work. Grant leaned over and asked, “Are you writing your home address or your Kiawah address?” And as they say, the rest is history.
The two played it cool at first. They were friends. As restrictions tightened on the Island, Bridget was stationed at the front of the store, counting how many shoppers came in at a given time. Grant would linger at the front, keeping her company. One day, he invited her night fishing and that
The plan was to propose at The Beach Club in mid-November. Grant and Bridget’s friends Kate and Andrew would be there, hiding in the bushes, ready to jump out and take photos when the moment arrived.
b e c a me t he i r go -to e ve n i ng ac t iv it y But Gr a nt a lway s br oug ht a f r ie nd
“ Fi na l ly I wa s l i ke, Do you want to do somethin g el se? I don’t really like f i shin g,” Br idget remember s, laugh i ng “A m I not g iv i ng enough of a h i nt?”
Gra nt sh r ugs, smi l i ng “I wa sn’t pic k i ng up on a ny t h i ng I rea l ly l i ked her a nd it wa s just a way to be a rou nd her I t hought she enjoyed it!”
One night t hey went out to t he beach w it h some f r iends, and Grant lef t t he f ishing poles behind It was a glor ious summer night and t hey stayed out late, counting shooting stars A nd t hat ’s when t hings k icked into high gear T hey didn’t say it t hat night, but Grant Balogh and Br idget File were in love.
L i ke a l l su m mer roma nces, t h i ngs got a bit st ic k y come Aug ust. T hey made pla n s to see eac h ot her agai n i n At la nt a, agai n on K iawa h, a nd on a tr ip to F lor ida w it h Br idget ’s col lege f r iends. “ Ever yone a lway s told me to leave w it h a pla n about when to see eac h ot her ne x t,” Br idget remember s
“It wa s rea l ly ha rd somet i mes.” But t he t wo made it work , piec i ng t h i ngs toget her mont h by mont h, yea r by yea r
“I just remember t here wa s a moment when she st a r ted sendi ng me r i ngs,” Gra nt say s It wa s 2022 a nd Br idget wa s l iv i ng i n At la nt a a f ter col lege. Gra nt wa s i n C ha rleston. Ma r r iage had def in itely come up, a nd Gra nt met w it h Br idget ’s dad, Jay, to a sk for her ha nd. Wit h Jay ’s blessi ng, Gra nt got a r i ng a nd ca me up w it h a pla n for t he proposa l It wa s to t a ke place on K iawa h, of cour se.
“I held tight to t he r ing for a mont h and kept it in my closet I was so ner vous. I kept check ing on it ever y day,” he smiles, remember ing “I would open it just to make sure it was t here ”
T he pl a n wa s to pr op o s e at T he B eac h C lub i n m idNove mb e r Gr a nt a nd Br idget ’s f r ie nd s K ate a nd A nd r e w
wou ld b e t he r e , h id i ng i n t he bu she s, r eady to ju mp out
a nd t a ke photo s whe n t he mome nt a r r ive d. T he n Br idget ’s
pa r e nt s wou ld joi n , a nd t he y ’d a l l h ave c h a mpa g ne a nd
d i n ne r at B - L i ne r.
“I had a n i n k l i ng,” Br idget sm i les “Gra nt ’s not a plan ner, a nd he had made t hese pla n s on t h is spec i f ic date, t h ree week s i n adva nce ”
T hey had a d r i n k at T he Beac h Club ga zebo f i r st Br idget forgot her I D a nd Gra nt wa s f lustered He suggested t hey t a ke
a wal k on t he beac h By now, Br idget wa s su re a proposa l wa s i m m i nent Br idget took of f her shoes; Gra nt kept h is cowboy boot s on Br idget made a com ment about cowboy boot s a nd how she wa nted a pai r, a nd Gra nt blu r ted it out, “Maybe I w il l get you a pai r for ou r weddi ng because w il l you ma r r y me?”
T hey laugh, remember i ng. “I wa s so ner vous! I just wa nted to get it out,” say s Gra nt Br idget sha kes her head “ We were l itera l ly m id- cowboy boot- conver sat ion.” K ate a nd Andrew jumped out of the bushes and started taking pictures as Grant dropped to one knee. And Bridget, of course, said yes. It feel s f it t i ng t hat Gra nt a nd Br idget ’s su m mer love
c u lm i nated i n a w i nter weddi ng, t he sea son s of t hei r roma nce
l i ke t wo ha lves of a whole “I had watc hed weddi ngs on K iawa h my whole l i fe,” say s Br idget. “I k new I wa nted to get ma r r ied here ” T he couple did n’t even enter t ai n ot her opt ion s
T hey booked t he ne x t ava i lable date December 16, 2023, at t he R iver Cour se c lubhouse
T h e b r i de g o t r e a d y i n t h e l a d i e s lo c k e r r o o m at
C a s s i q u e w it h h e r b r i de s m a i d s , a n d t h e c oupl e d i d t h e i r
f i r s t lo ok i n t h e g a r de n n e x t t o t h e c lub h ou s e G r a nt i n
a B r o d i e t a r t a n k i lt a n d B r i d g et i n a n A n n e B a r g e g ow n
W h e n t h e y g o t t o R i v e r C our s e , a l m o s t t wo hu n d r e d g u e s t s
we r e w a it i n g o n t h e l a w n
After a Catholic ceremony officiated by family friend Father Kevin Peak, a bagpiper led the newlyweds and their guests back toward the Clubhouse.
It was a late-night affair. After cocktail hour (the bride’s signature drink was an espresso martini and the groom’s was the “Dirty Bird”—Woodford Reserve and lemonade), speeches, and dinner, the guests flooded to the dance floor, dancing into the wee hours. Around midnight, Bridget’s dad arranged for Chick-fil-A sandwiches to be delivered.
The next day, the couple drove up to Highlands, North Carolina, to stay at Old Edwards Inn for a mini honeymoon. They took a proper honeymoon the following June, traveling to Sardinia and the Amalfi Coast.
Grant and Bridget now live on Johns Island, just a quick drive from the roundabout at Freshfields, where their story began. “What if we hadn’t rented the house that summer?” Bridget muses. “I would’ve never met my future husband.” — H.W.
When they got to River Course, almost two hundred guests were waiting on the lawn.
CADDIE
MEET THE
CADDIES WHO MAKE A ROUND OF GOLF SO MEMORABLE.
STORY by HAILEY WIST
PHOTOGRAPHS by JOEL CALDWELL
KIAWAH ISLAND CLUB
Stefan Kwasny
THE STRATEGIST
KIAWAH ISLAND CLUB CADDIE SINCE 2011
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COURSE ON THE ISLAND?
Cassique gets a lot of love but River Course is my favorite. It’s very hard, especially when you play it from the back tee.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HOLE?
Number fourteen at River Course.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
My favorite place in the world is the Charleston Municipal Golf Course. I’ve been to some really cool places like Shinnecock [Hills], National, and Oakmont, but every time I’m out of town, I just wish I was back home at the Muni. That’s where I take my kids. It’s like backyard golf.
WHAT’S THE MOST MEMORABLE ROUND YOU’VE CADDIED?
I got to watch Bernd Wiesberger play Cassique one day, and he was nine under through fourteen. His caddie asked us what the course record was on fourteen, and we told him it was ten under sixty-two, and that one of the cart service guys at River Course actually held it. As soon as we told him that, he quit trying. His caddie told us that he won’t take course records from local guys. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.
WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE GOLFERS MAKE?
It drives me crazy when people blindly lay up to a number that they’re terrible at. Say, you’re on a par five, and I’ll tell them, You’re 253 yards away. They laugh and they’re like, I can’t hit it that far, and they just grab their three wood and hit it as far as they can, but they hit it down to forty-five yards. Nobody’s good at forty-five yards to a tight hole location. It’s totally avoidable. Hit it to a number you’re good at!
WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE PRO?
Payne Stewart was my favorite. He dressed cool and he was a really good person off the golf course. We named our son Payne after him.
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH AS A CADDIE?
I’m good at course management—plotting your way around the golf course and hitting the right shots. I’m supposed to keep you out of trouble and not let your brain take over and make bad decisions. When I first started, I didn’t know how to read putts for other people. I was a good putter myself, but some Members actually taught me how to caddie, how to read putts, and how to communicate well. The best thing a caddie can do is be four or five steps ahead of their player at all times.
Tommy Metherell
THE SQUARE
KIAWAH ISLAND CLUB CADDIE SINCE 2005
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COURSE ON THE ISLAND?
River Course. It’s a proper golf course.
FAVORITE HOLE?
Number twelve at River Course.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I just love being outside. It’s like the beginning of Caddyshack when the sprinklers are going, the sun is coming up, the grass is green. I get to be in this beautiful place every day. I’m in paradise, right? It’s just unreal.
WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE GOLFERS MAKE?
I think it’s all about tempo and balance. Everyone is kind of swinging too hard and too fast. So I would say to just slow down a little, keep a steady head.
ANY CRAZY WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS?
I swear this really happened but sometimes I think I dreamt it. I think I’ve talked myself out of it. About fourteen years ago, I was on fourteen at River. There is a pond there with a little island. And lo and behold, a cougar walks onto the bank. It was not a bobcat. I’m a big cat guy, and this was twice the size of a bobcat. He came strutting out and didn’t even look at me. My jaw dropped. I was the last one on the hole, and when I caught up to my guys, no one believed me. They told me it was a bobcat.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COURSE IN THE WORLD?
Nicklaus [Club] Beijing. I had the opportunity to go to China twice to train caddies. It is an eighteen-hole course on one hundred and two acres, which is small. But the way they engineered it, six, twelve, and eighteen went back to the clubhouse. There wasn’t a piece of grass out of place. It was perfect.
WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL TO WATCH?
Freddie Couples. He’s in the groove.
Lee Sneed
THE GOOD-TIME GUY
KIAWAH ISLAND CLUB CADDIE SINCE 2008
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COURSE ON THE ISLAND?
Definitely Cassique. If golf is a religion, I tithe Cassique. I love that place. It’s my church.
FAVORITE HOLE?
Cassique’s hole number fifteen.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COURSE IN THE WORLD?
The back nine of the Muni in Asheville, North Carolina.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I’ve never loathed this job. I’ve had a bunch of other jobs, and I’ve loathed them on Monday mornings. I basically wake up happy every day and can’t wait to go to work. It’s a beautiful existence, honestly.
WHAT IS YOUR STRENGTH AS A CADDIE?
Golf has “hang around” people. There are always people who hang around and make the group. Nobody wants to play by themselves, so I guess I’m just a good hang-around guy. I try to make it smooth, keep things positive. I caddie for high handicap and low handicap, and they both seem to like me. I’m the old pair of boots.
WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE GOLFERS MAKE?
Moving your head and swinging too hard. Everybody thinks you need to swing really hard. You don’t!
WHAT’S THE MOST MEMORABLE ROUND YOU’VE CADDIED?
I was on a group with Lindsey Graham, the senator. Something happened with Benghazi, and they wanted Susan Rice to be the Secretary of State. He called Greta Van Susteren, and then the next call he made was to John Kerry. And Kerry ended up being the Secretary of State. I know it’s conjecture, but I’m pretty sure I saw that happen.
WHAT’S YOUR CRAZIEST WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE?
I watched a bald eagle harass an osprey. The osprey gave up his fish, and the eagle caught it in midair. The whole thing took two and a half seconds. It happened right above our heads. It was amazing.
Jeff Heikkinen
THE GROUCH
KIAWAH ISLAND CLUB CADDIE SINCE 2005
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COURSE ON THE ISLAND? Cassique.
AND WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HOLE?
Number fifteen at Cassique. It’s a par five that looks like it was put there by nature—almost as if a high tide brought it in and left the hole there for us.
TELL ME WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB.
It is so much more than golf now for me. I take a lot of pride in making someone’s day better. When people find out that I’m a caddie, they want to know what celebrity or professional I’ve caddied for but honestly, it’s the Club Members I enjoy the most. I’ve gone to the graduations of kids I caddied for when they were eleven. I’m part of something out here and that’s extremely rewarding.
WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON ADVICE YOU GIVE DURING A ROUND?
The main thing is confidence. It’s not necessarily getting a lesson or a new putter, it’s believing that it’s going to go in the hole. So my blanket advice is just to believe in yourself.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH AS A CADDIE?
I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve been here for twenty years. I started when I was twenty-two. I say it how it is and don’t sugarcoat things. But I’m going to try as hard as I can to make you have the best day.
WHAT’S YOUR CRAZIEST WILDLIFE RUN-IN?
Everybody thinks that I’m lying but I’ve definitely seen “the Cougar.” It was fifteen years ago, and I was on the ninth hole at River Course. I looked to my right out at the marsh and thought, that’s a thick deer. Then the tail popped up. It was a cat, a very large cat.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COURSE IN THE WORLD?
I have had the opportunity to play golf all over the country. I’ve played Cypress Point and Pebble Beach. But one of my regulars asked me what my number one bucket list golf course was, and I said, Fishers Island. She just laughed. I mean Fishers Island has like one hundred members. It is one of the top ten golf courses in the world. It’s impossible to play there. But her godmother is a member. So another caddie and I stayed with this woman on Fishers Island and played the course. Her dad was the original professional there and was there the day it opened in 1926. The whole experience was unreal.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PRO?
It’s always been Phil Mickelson. When he won the PGA Championship here in 2021, I was at three of the four rounds and followed him exclusively. That was obviously one of my top golf experiences in life—just to be there.
David Palefsky
THE DAD
KIAWAH ISLAND CLUB CADDIE SINCE 2015
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COURSE ON THE ISLAND?
My favorite course is Cassique. It’s like Africa meets Ireland.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HOLE?
Number five on Cassique, Pulpit routing.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
The relationships. Some of these ladies I caddie for have followed my engagement and then marriage and then the birth of my daughter and son. These are long-term relationships. I also like intimately knowing the courses and learning everyone’s favorite spots.
WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE GOLFERS MAKE?
A lot of people get hung up on finding the one thing they’re doing wrong. But it’s usually not as simple as that. I might tinker with their setup, but I won’t dive too deep into swing mechanics. That usually just doesn’t go too well. The best thing you can do is confidently choose a target and go after that.
WHAT’S YOUR STRENGTH AS A CADDIE?
I’ve been called Mr. Mellow. I’ve been called the psychiatrist. But the other caddies call me Dad. I over-prepare and take a bunch of extra things on the course with me in a fanny pack.
LIKE WHAT?
I bring an extra towel, sand bottle, Band-Aids, Advil, Tylenol, ChapStick, matches, batteries, a Koozie, a yard book, a pencil, prescription sunglasses, tissues, breath mints, and business cards.
WHEN DID YOU START GOLFING?
I’ve been golfing since I was nine years old. We moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and the movers left somebody else’s nine iron at our new house. I put vegetable cans in the ground and taught myself how to play.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COURSE IN THE WORLD?
TimberStone in Iron Mountain, Michigan. And the other River Course at Blackwolf Run in the Sheboygan [River Valley]. In early October, twoand three-foot long salmon come up the Sheboygan River from Lake Michigan and swim alongside the course. They’re too fat for the river so they stick out of the top of the water. It’s incredible.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL?
I grew up with Tiger [Woods]. I saw him finish tight with Payne Stewart at Pinehurst in 1999. And I was at the Masters on Sunday when he won in 2019. I also like Bryson DeChambeau. I appreciate his self-confidence and creativity. He’s not afraid to think outside the box.
MEN AT SEA
STORY by DR. CHRISTINA RAE BUTLER
BEFORE REFRIGERATION AND SUPERMARKETS, BEFORE CORPORATIONS AND LONG-DISTANCE SUPPLY CHAINS, CHARLESTON’S SEAFOOD CAME FROM LOCAL WATERS, FROM THE NETS AND HOOKS OF GENERATION AFTER GENERATION OF HARDY, DEDICATED FISHERMEN.
Charleston’s Mosquito Fleet was something of a cultural phenomenon. These brave and highly skilled African American mariners fished the coastline in small, handmade boats with names like The Peerless, Victoria, Davie Jones, Ocean Queen, Match Me, and Too Sweet My Love. Onlookers from land were said to have likened the scene of tiny fishing boats with brightly colored sails to a “mass of mosquitos skimming over the water.” And so was born the Mosquito Fleet. These simple but agile crafts supplied Charleston markets with fresh fish, crab, and shrimp for centuries.
Fishermen of the early Fleet were mostly enslaved men. In 1770, the South Carolina legislature noted that “the business of fishing is principally carried on by Negroes, mulattoes, and Mestizoes.” After emancipation, the members of the Fleet were freedmen who sailed their own boats.
The Fleet’s boats ranged in size from eighteen to over thirty feet, with crews consisting of two to seven men. The crafts were designed for sailing, but they also had oars for when the sails were slack. The Mosquito Fleet built and repaired their own boats and often made their nets and rigging. In bad weather, as few as ten fishermen braved the sea, but in summer the fleet would swell to the hundreds. The boats always went out together for safety and raced to reach the best drops, or spots
to anchor and drop their fishing lines.
Sailing as far as twenty miles offshore, Mosquito Fleet fishermen navigated by memory and an expert knowledge of coastal landmarks and tides. The Fleet often used shrimp as bait to catch a variety of fish, including black sea bass, porgy, whitefish, summer trout, flounder, sheepshead, snapper, mullet, redfish, croaker, and drum. The fishermen brought in an average of three hundred “packages” of fish a day, the equivalent of three railcars and seventy-five thousand pounds of seafood.
Each small squadron had their preferred launching points, including Adgers Wharf across from Rainbow Row, and further up the Cooper River where Fleet Landing restaurant is today. In the 1880s, “De Sous Bay Fleet” left from Moreland’s Wharf near the foot of Legare Street. And Cantini’s Wharf at Tradd Street and Rutledge Avenue was a popular launching point before the area was filled in the 1910s. But “Fisherman’s Pier” at the east end of Market Street was the most popular launching point over the centuries. The wooden structure was equipped with a fish basin and a large shed for the Fleet to store equipment.
Crowds gathered on the wharves to see the daily catch “or hear some fishers yarn about the leviathan who got away.”
THE PHOTOGRAPH ABOVE FEATURES VARIOUS SMALL SAILBOATS THAT MADE UP THE MOSQUITO FLEET DOCKED AT A CHARLESTON WHARF | SEVERAL FISHERMEN ARE TRANSPORTING THEIR CATCH IN BASKETS AND BUCKETS TO MEN ON THE DOCK | PHOTOGRAPH BY GEORGE
ROBERT LUNZ JR. | COURTESY OF THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
LEFT: ADGER’S WHARF, EARLY MORNING | STREET VENDORS (OR HUCKSTERS) WAITING FOR A BOAT TO ARRIVE WITH PRODUCE FROM JAMES ISLAND AND JOHNS ISLAND | COURTESY OF THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM | CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
RIGHT: THE CITY MARKET AT CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, 1866 | FROM FRANK LESLIE‘S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER
There were lively scenes each afternoon as fishermen sold their catch to seafood wholesalers and hucksters peddled foodstuffs door to door throughout the city.
In 1889, beachgoers watched in terror as a cloud burst erupted just as the Fleet cleared Drunken Dick Shoal near Sullivan’s Island; “the manner in which these daring and hardy fishermen rode the squall out was really worth seeing. They put their little boats before the wind and went racing, tearing, bobbing, bounding, dipping, and jumping through the white crested billows until they fairly outraced the storm and reached their fishing grounds. It was a thrilling sight. Not a single boat was damaged.”
Though stout, the vessels were quite small, and over the decades, many of the legendary Mosquito Fleet fishermen drowned when treacherous squalls and hurricanes swept in with little warning. The work was so dangerous that the Fleet organized a union “to care for the sick and bury the dead.” The union had over one hundred members who “brave storm, sea, and darkness so Charleston’s dinner tables might be graced by fish.” Fifty-four men died at sea between 1900 and 1931 alone.
DuBose Heyward immortalized the Fleet in his 1925 novel Porgy, which was unique for its portrayal of African American life in Charleston, and which he later adapted with Ira Gershwin into a nationally acclaimed opera, Porgy and Bess. Heyward captured the excitement, drama, and danger of the daily campaign at sea. In Porgy, news spread quickly of favorable conditions and the “crews got their boats hastily in commission and were ready to join the ‘Mosquito Fleet’ when it put to sea. When the sun rose out of the Atlantic, the thirty
ABOVE: MOSQUITO FLEET CRAFT WITH CASTLE PINCKNEY IN THE BACKGROUND | PHOTOGRAPH BY GEORGE ROBERT LUNZ JR. | COURTESY OF THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
A SEAFARING SPIRIT
CAPTAIN GLOVER HAYES, WHO TOOK HIS FIRST TRIP IN 1912 AT AGE THIRTEEN, REMINISCED, “I RECALL MAMMA TELLING ME I MUST BE CRAZY TO GO ON THE OCEAN RIDING A STICK OF WOOD WITH A PIECE OF RAG FOR A SAIL. EVERY TIME I GOT IN A BLOW OR HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BOAT DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS, I WOULD SWEAR WHEN I GOT BACK TO LAND, I WAS GOING TO QUIT. THEN I WOULD GO RIGHT BACK OUT.” HE SERVED IN WORLD WAR II, WENT TO COLLEGE IN PHILADELPHIA, AND WORKED AS A PIPE FITTER, BUT KEPT RETURNING TO HIS FIRST LOVE, THE MOSQUITO FLEET.
CLOCKWISE: A MOSQUITO FLEET SAILBOAT BY GEORGE ROBERT LUNZ JR. | COURTESY OF THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA || THE WATERMELON MARKET AT CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, 1866 | FROM FRANK LESLIE‘S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER || ADGER’S WHARF IN THE MORNING | COURTESY OF THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM | CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
QUIET DEDICATION
IN THE 1920S, AFTER SPENDING A DAY WITH CAPTAIN BOYSEY AND HIS CREW OF EIGHT, A LOCAL REPORTER WROTE THAT “AS SOON AS THE SAILS HAD BEEN FURLED AND THE ANCHOR CAST, A GREAT CHANGE CAME OVER THE FISHERMEN. ON THE TRIP OUT, THEY HAD BEEN VERY MERRY AND HAD BEEN LOUD IN THE JOKES AND LAUGHTER. BUT NOW AS THE LINES WERE CAST OVER THE SIDES OF THE BOAT, ALL THIS WAS HUSHED. IT WAS NOT THAT THEY WERE SILENT THROUGH FEAR OF FRIGHTENING THE FISH AWAY, OR FOR ANY REASON OF THIS SORT. IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE THEY HAD NO LONGER INTEREST IN ANYTHING BUT THEIR FISHING. NO SONGS WERE SUNG, NO LOUD LAUGHTER NOW RANG OUT OVER THE WATER.”
THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT
THE FISHERMEN’S FORTITUDE WAS LEGENDARY, AND ONE JOURNALIST WROTE THAT “THE WIND MAY BLOW, THE SUN MAY BAKE, BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO HIM. HE SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS AND GOES ON WITH HIS FISHING.
IN THE WINTER IT MAY BE ICY COLD, BUT THIS AFFECTS HIM NO MORE THAN THE HEAT OF SUMMER. HE WRAPS A PIECE OF OLD SAIL OR BAGGING AROUND HIS FACE AND HANDS AND GOES ON FISHING WHILE HIS OILSKIN SLICKERS KEEP HIM DRY.”
or forty small vessels were mere specks teetering upon the water’s rim against the red disc that forged swiftly up beyond them. Afternoon found the wharf crowded with women and children, who laughed and joked with each other as to the respective merits of their men and the luck of the boats in which they went to sea. Custom had reduced adventure to commonplace; yet it was inconceivable that men could put out, in the face of unsettled weather, for a point beyond sight of land, and exhibit no uneasiness or fear. By the time that the leisurely old city was sitting down to its breakfast, the fleet had disappeared into the horizon, and the sun had climbed over its obstructions to flood the harbor with reassuring light.”
Sadly, the march of progress took its toll on the once mighty Mosquito Fleet. Larger boats equipped with diesel engines moved in, and seafood was shipped in from around the nation. Development threatened the docks and wharves along the Cooper River. In 1959, Hurricane Gracie struck a final blow. After the storm, News and Courier reported, “all that is left of the flotilla of tiny craft which once sailed for the sea to gather blackfish, mullet, whiting, ‘cats’, and ‘swimp’ are a few rotting hulls in the mud of Fisherman’s Wharf at the east end of Market Street.” In 1960, City Council deeded the property east of East Bay Street to the Ports Authority, and the Mosquito Fleet was rendered homeless.
Charlestonians still remember the fleet fondly, and tour guides share the city’s maritime heritage with visitors, pointing to the lost Fisherman’s Wharf. In 1995, the New Charleston Mosquito Fleet was launched to mentor young people to build boats, row, and to again connect with Lowcountry waters. The final home of the Fleet, today Union Pier, is about to change once again—shifting from an industrial landscape to a mixeduse residential development. Done right, the project might provide public access to the waterfront again, in honor of the noble Mosquito Fleet.
Local writer Robert Behre notes that “many expect that one day, descendants of the men of the fleet will be able to fish, perhaps even set sail, from the same spot where their ancestors once did the same.” — C.B.
FULL CIRCLE
KIAWAH PARTNERS INTRODUCES OCEAN PINES, ELEGANT NEW RESIDENCES NESTLED BETWEEN THE ATLANTIC AND THE KIAWAH RIVER, REDEFINING LUXURY AT WEST BEACH.
GOOD THINGS TAKE TIME. BETTER THINGS TAKE LONGER—SO THE OLD ADAGE GOES. AND SO IT IS WITH KIAWAH. EVEN AFTER HALF A CENTURY OF DEVELOPMENT, THIS LAND, SHAPED BY NATURE AND CAREFULLY STEWARDED, CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, FLOWING FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION WITH THE SAME NATURAL BEAUTY AND LOWCOUNTRY GRACE THAT HAVE DRAWN PEOPLE TO ITS SHORES FOR CENTURIES.
STORY by KATHERINE BARRY VERANO
ILLUSTRATIONS by TECMA SOLUTIONS S.p.A.
INEVITABLY,
places have to evolve to stay relevant,” muses land planner and longtime Kiawah resident Mark Permar. “The whole notion that a community is planned and developed, and that’s the end…well, that’s not it really. Creating community never truly stops.” It is fitting then, that the evolution of Kiawah has come full circle, back to where it all began. The contemporary story of Kiawah unfolded fifty years ago along the western reaches of the Island, and it is here, amid the dynamic inlets and sparkling shores of West Beach Village, that a new chapter is being written.
No exploration of the West Beach community would be complete without a look back at its iconic origins. In 1974, the Island’s new owner, Kuwaiti Investment Corporation, hired the Sea Pines Company to guide the development of Kiawah. Their first order of business was a sixteenmonth ecological and environmental analysis, from which a comprehensive master plan was born. With respect to natural features, the plan designated certain areas, like West Beach, to be more conducive to more intense land uses.
“In the western end, the forest floor was not exaggerated,” recalls Permar. “You could see some subtleties of old dune lines, but in general, the topography and tree cover
lent itself well to development. It was simply a matter of reshaping what was already there, not disrupting it.” These site characteristics, plus its proximity to the Kiawah River, the ten-mile beach, and the front of the Island (literally at Kiawah’s front door)—all made it an ideal location for future resort amenities and multi-family dwellings.
In 1976, West Beach Village was born. It was the beginning of “what Kiawah Island was to become to the rest of the world,” adds Permar, “because very few had access before.” The Kiawah Island Inn and Marsh Point (now Cougar Point) golf course opened, and real estate sales began. Villas such as Shipwatch, Seascape, and Duneside sprung up along with the Sparrow Pond and Inlet Cove cottages. Beachwalker Park opened the same year as well as a maze of overland trails that connected the resort’s core to the rest of the Island. The jeep safari was a popular way for guests to experience the Island.
The strategic decision to locate the Island’s first phase of development, which stretched from the Kiawah Island Parkway bridge to Sora Rail Road, relied heavily on its walkability. The resort amenities, the hotel, the villas and cottages, and the beach were all within a five-minute walk.
“This proximity made it possible for people to easily convene when they wanted, but also go off and do their own thing too,” notes Permar. “No one needed a car because walking or a bike could get you anywhere you wanted to be.”
Over the next thirty years, as development moved eastward with a focus on residential neighborhoods and the advent of the private Club, many of the original resort amenities, including the Inn and Straw Market, were demolished to pave the way for West Beach’s second act.
Today, Island stakeholders, including the master developer Kiawah Partners, Kiawah Island Community Association, and Kiawah Island Golf Resort, are breathing new life into the Island’s iconic core. “The continuity of leadership on this effort has been incredibly impactful,” says South Street Partners’ Jordan Phillips. “The team has tremendous institutional knowledge and understands how to create value while remaining true to the legacy of West Beach and of Kiawah itself.”
Kiawah Island Golf Resort led the revitalization effort with the addition of the Robert A.M. Stern-designed West
A HALF-CENTURY AFTER THE STORY OF WEST BEACH BEGAN, THIS NEXT CHAPTER CARRIES ON WITH RENEWED FOCUS AND ENERGY.
Beach Conference Center and Villa Check-in, the West Beach Pool complex, and the Cougar Point Clubhouse, which opened in 2019. The Community Association has installed extensive landscaping in core West Beach areas, and Kiawah Partners has contributed a new private Club amenity, The Cape Club, and the future Ocean Pines enclave. The Cape and Timbers Kiawah also joined West Beach as the first oceanfront multifamily residences to be built since the 1980s. These new additions not only complete, but enhance the vision for West Beach that began way back in 1974.
“We have been anticipating and planning for the revitalization of the west end for years,” says Amanda Mole, Kiawah Partners’ Chief of Architecture and Design. “What was once a more resort-focused, dense plan has been scaled back. Nature still owns the Island; we’re just blending in the most thoughtful way we can.”
And blending in isn’t as easy as it sounds. It takes careful consideration by all involved, including hours of site analysis, significant time in planning and design, and lots of iterations to get it just right. Fortunately, the core characteristics that made West Beach successful early on—walkability, proximity, and nature-led design—still hold true. In fact, the Ocean Pines enclave, which will welcome families in 2026, may even seem familiar. The land use type, the density, and even the material usage are all consistent with the original West Beach designs. “Harkening back to the early days of Sparrow Pond and
CHARLESTON-BASED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
WERTIMER + CLINE ENHANCE THE DESIGN WITH CURVING LANDSCAPES THAT SOFTEN THE STRUCTURED ARCHITECTURE. AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY, A CENTRAL COURTYARD WITH WALKWAYS AND A SERENE LAGOON CREATES A SEAMLESS, FLOWING FOCAL POINT.
Shipwatch, we are aiming for a more natural look and feel in Ocean Pines,” says Mole. The materials are organic and refined, such as wood siding and paneling that will age well over time, muted colors that blend into the surroundings, and integrated plantings that further weave nature into the site. The buildings are sited to best connect to breezes and light patterns and to the site’s natural characteristics, which include a central lagoon and large stands of pines.
“West Beach was an old timber site, and because of that the West Beach forest is now dominated by tall stands of pines,” adds Mole. “Those pine groves have matured beautifully and play a central role in the site design of Ocean Pines. We have located the buildings to avoid larger stands, which in turn provide grounding to and screening of the structures. In the end, it will seem as though it’s always been there, the same as the balance of the West Beach development.”
Sticking to the Designing with Nature playbook and applying lessons learned over the course of fifty years means the fabric of this original Island community remains intact. Its connectivity, walkability, and proximity to everything remains a desirable way of life. It’s a way of life that’s attracting new families with a fresh outlook on the family beach getaway, re-engaging existing owners and guests with new amenities, and adding value across the board for all. “To be a part of the evolution of a community is a truly life-altering moment. To see things go from the ground up—the people, the places, the relationships nurtured, like the landscaping—to maturity…is incredibly special,” notes Permar.
Special indeed. And so, a half-century after the story of West Beach began, this next chapter carries on with renewed focus and energy. It’s a story of community. A story of continuing responsibility. A story with a bright future. — K.V.
Scan the QR code to learn more about the new luxury residences at Ocean Pines.
STICKING TO THE DESIGNING WITH NATURE PLAYBOOK AND APPLYING LESSONS LEARNED OVER THE COURSE OF
FIFTY YEARS MEANS THE FABRIC OF THIS ORIGINAL
ISLAND COMMUNITY REMAINS INTACT.
POLLINATOR PARADISE
NATIVE PLANTS ARE VITAL TO THE HEALTH OF OUR ISLAND ECOSYSTEM. CO-EVOLVED WITH REGIONAL WILDLIFE OVER CENTURIES, NATIVES ARE ADAPTED TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTER TO POLLINATORS, BIRDS, AND OTHER SPECIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM FOR SURVIVAL. UNLIKE NON-NATIVE SPECIES, THEY THRIVE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE WATER, FERTILIZER, OR PESTICIDES. NATIVES ALSO STABILIZE SOIL, PREVENT EROSION, AND SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY, CREATING A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT STRENGTHENS THE ENTIRE WEB OF LIFE.
STORY by HAILEY WIST
SEASIDE GOLDENROD
SOLIDAGO SEMPERVIRENS
Solidago sempervirens, or seaside goldenrod, thrives in salt-tolerant environments, playing a key role in stabilizing dunes and preventing soil erosion. Its bright yellow flowers attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other insects but also provides important much-needed late-season seeds for birds during the fall and winter months.
PLANTING TIPS:
Full Sun || Well-drained, Sandy or Loamy Soil || Moderate to High Moisture FOR BUMBLEBEES, HONEY BEES, AND BUTTERFLIES
HELIANTHUS DEBILIS
Helianthus debilis, commonly known as beach sunflower, is a salt-tolerant, low-growing native that thrives in coastal and sandy environments, helping to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion. Its bright yellow flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and seed-eating birds.
PLANTING TIPS:
Full Sun || Sandy, Well-drained Soil || Low to Moderate Moisture FOR HONEY BEES, BUMBLEBEES, AND NATIVE BEES
BEACH SUNFLOWER
BUTTERFLY WEED
ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA
Asclepias tuberosa , commonly known as butterfly weed, is a vibrant, native milkweed species that plays a critical role in supporting pollinators, particularly monarch butterflies, whose caterpillars rely exclusively on milkweed as their host plant. Its bright orange flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, providing essential nectar throughout the growing season.
PLANTING TIPS:
Full Sun || Well-drained, Sandy or Loamy Soil || Dry to Moderate Moisture
FOR MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, SKIPPERS, AND ALL BEES
WHITE WILD INDIGO
BAPTISIA ALBA
Baptisia alba, or white wild indigo, is a perennial that fixes nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility for surrounding plants. Its striking white flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while its foliage provides food for various caterpillar species.
PLANTING TIPS:
Full Sun || Well-drained, Sandy or Loamy Soil || Dry to Moderate Moisture
FOR BUMBLEBEES, HONEY BEES, AND SOLITARY BEES
SMOOTH ASTER
Symphyotrichum laeve, or smooth aster, is a native wildflower that provides crucial nectar and pollen at a time when many other flowers have finished blooming and are an important food source for pollinators into the fall.
PLANTING TIPS:
Full Sun to Partial Shade || Well-drained, Moist, Loamy or Sandy Soil || Moderate to High Moisture
FOR HONEY BEES, BUMBLEBEES, AND BUTTERFLIES
CLUSTERED MOUNTAIN MINT
PYCNANTHEMUM MUTICUM
Pycnanthemum muticum, or clustered mountain mint, is a fragrant, drought-tolerant pollinator magnet. It attracts a wide range of bees, butterflies, and moths with its dense clusters of small, white-to-pink flowers. Its aromatic foliage also serves as a natural deterrent to deer, while providing habitat and food for beneficial insects.
PLANTING TIPS:
Full Sun to Partial Shade || Well-drained, Dry to Moderately Moist Soil || Low to Moderate Moisture FOR BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS, AND ALL BEES
SYMPHYOTRICHUM LAEVE
PENSTEMON DIGITALIS
Penstemon digitalis, or foxglove beardtongue, is an early blooming native that supports pollinators, particularly hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Its tubular white flowers are an important nectar source for these crucial pollinators in spring when many natives are not yet available.
PLANTING TIPS:
Full Sun || Well-drained, Loamy Soil || Moderate Moisture FOR BUMBLEBEES, CARPENTER BEES, AND HUMMINGBIRDS
SCARLET SAGE
COCCINEA
Salvia coccinea, commonly known as red sage or tropical sage, attracts a variety of pollinators, particularly hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, with its tubular red flowers. In addition to its role in pollination, red sage’s drought tolerance and deep root system help stabilize soil and conserve water, making it an important component of sustainable ecosystems. It is also deer resistant!
PLANTING TIPS:
Full Sun || Well-drained, Dry to Moderately Moist Soil || Low to Moderate Moisture FOR HUMMINGBIRDS, BUTTERFLIES, AND ALL BEES
SALVIA
FOXGLOVE BEARDTONGUE
TIPS FOR PLANTING
IS THE DEER POPULATION HIGH IN YOUR AREA?
Embrace the inevitable. Plant large swaths of deerfriendly natives and plan to share. And while your new native plants are getting established, consider spraying organic deer-repellent fragrance. Shield deer favorites with something they don’t like (mountain mint, for example). Plants are most attractive and vulnerable when they are tender and new. Be vigilant early on.
FOUNDATION PLANTING
Shrubs and understory plants play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystem. They provide shelter, food, and nesting sites for a wide range of animals, including birds, insects, amphibians, and small mammals. Shrubs also help regulate the microclimate by moderating temperature, retaining moisture, and reducing wind. Dense vegetation prevents soil erosion, improves nutrient cycling, and supports forest regeneration by nurturing young trees and plants.
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
The top three host plants for insects are goldenrod, sunflowers, and asters. Like the Southern live oak, these species sustain multiple insect populations and can make a big impact. Other native plants play an equally crucial role but support fewer species.
WET UNDERFOOT?
Consider a rain garden! A rain garden is a shallow, landscaped depression designed to capture, absorb, and filter rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, streets, and other impervious surfaces. Filled with water-tolerant native plants, rain gardens slow down and soak up runoff, allowing water to percolate into the ground rather than rushing into storm drains. Some of the best natives to plant in a rain garden are swamp milkweed, blue flag iris, sweetspire, and joepye weed. Happy planting!
SOURCING NATIVES
Native plants can be hard to source. The Kiawah Conservancy offers an assortment of options at their fall and spring native plant sales. Visit kiawahconservancy.org for a full list of native plants.
FORCES OF NATURE
THE KIAWAH HOME OF MEMBERS GREG AND KARA OLSEN BRINGS THE OUTDOORS IN, STANDING APART AS A MASTERPIECE OF DESIGNING WITH NATURE.
STORY by BARRY KAUFMAN
PHOTOGRAPHS by BLAKE SHORTER
The beauty of these Lowcountry Sea Islands was forged by forces that have been in play for millennia.
The tranquil curve of the shoreline has been a dance between tide and sand for generations. The waters of our rivers flow in the same dips and troughs that the first glaciers followed as the ice age loosened its grip on Earth. It is a masterpiece of complexity, the Island’s beauty carved over time, defined by the forces that created it.
Designing with Nature has been the guiding principle of Kiawah Island since its inception. Environmentally sensitive design that considers climate, native vegetation, and natural topography requires a magnified respect for these natural processes. Because nature—like art and design—is always evolving.
The home you see here, like the subtle arc of our shoreline, stands singular amidst the maritime canopy. And considering the forces that shaped it, and the philosophies from which its form and function sprang, yield a greater appreciation for the craftsmanship.
Built for Greg and Kara Olsen, the home began with the simple premise of creating a place that would blur the lines between indoors and out. As the couple’s beach getaway from their home in Charlotte, North Carolina, it had to embrace the Kiawah aesthetic, while providing comfort and effortless entertaining for their extended family. Each of these forces exerted their influence on the process, and the results speak for themselves.
“A lot of times with design, we start with what we know,” said Ken Pursley of Pursley Dixon Architecture. “In this case we had some incredible live oaks to work around,
so we started there. But the other drivers of the house, the other pieces of the puzzle, like code requirements and nearby wetlands, led us to elevate the house off the ground.”
With this change in elevation, the home’s treehouse aesthetic began to take shape. Pursley began by going back to the South’s roots. “We looked at a kind of French Creole architecture that you see in Louisiana or Mississippi, because those homes are built up on stilts,” said Pursley. “Those types of homes have big porches that wrap around to protect you from the sun, as well. There’s almost a pragmatism to the aesthetic, where you’re letting the architecture respond to the conditions that nature is giving.”
Landscape architect Paul Freeman was tasked with making sure natural conditions set a perfect stage for the house. “They wanted privacy, but not a jungle,” he said. “As with every project on Kiawah, I coached the clients to leave as much native plant life as possible. We can always subtract.”
Between the canopy of twisting live oak branches, towering palmettos, and the underbrush of windmill palms, Freeman sprinkled in a subdued blend of native plants, from yaupon holly to magnolias.
“There’s a precision to that approach so that the landscape looks man-made,” said Freeman. “I have no desire to recreate mother nature. You’re never going to do a better job than her. But you can use those plants in a designed way to get the same effect. We used a lot of native material, but there was a very rhythmic-specific approach to the way they were installed.”
Inside the home, Pursley flipped the script on the usual beach house entrance, creating a beautiful and functional ground floor lobby set in nickel-gap shiplap. “It seems like a pretty mundane thing, but I think it actually makes a big difference in the way the house lives,” he said. “For us, a big driver of the house was that you actually enter the front door into this really beautiful finished space.” The entry also allowed for one of the most stunning statement pieces in the entire home—the beautifully open living space, which basks in forested scenery in every sightline.
“From a design perspective, it gave us a much more open, elegant plan,” he said. “The kitchen and living space has these huge sliding windows that you can close and have a full view to the back or open them to make that whole section open air. Then we went a step further. You can hit a button and screen the entire back porch, in essence turning the entire living space into a huge screened porch.”
For Pursley, this was truly the key to capturing that balance of indoor and outdoor that the Olsens were looking for. “We’re trying to blur that line not just visually but also audibly and physically,” he said. “You can hear the sounds and smell the air, so you really are fully connected with nature by having these walls that are kinetic and can fold out of the way.”
This home serves as a mirror to the world beyond it, reflecting both the beauty and artistry just outside the folding walls. Capturing that balance in the furnishings, drapery, and décor fell to Layton Campbell of JLayton Interiors. Campbell has worked with the Olsens on previous projects in Charlotte and had an understanding of their tastes and an eye toward the Kiawah aesthetic.
“It’s set in such a lush location, so I really wanted to use a lot of organic material in creative, layered ways,” said Campbell. To that end, Campbell filled the home with
The home began with the simple premise of creating a place that would blur the lines between indoors and out.
bespoke pieces that carry forward the natural motif. The fourteen-foot live edge dining table on the patio is custom crafted to handle the humidity and moisture that comes from a home with optional walls. The hanging beds in the bunk room are configured to enhance the views from triple windows. And—as Greg Olsen is a former NFL tight end for the Carolina Panthers—the living spaces are replete with extra roomy seating.
Creating a home like this requires an eye for detail, but then everything you see in nature is defined by infinite detail. The acidity of the soil, the average temperature, the dew point—these unseen forces help shape the beauty around us. In this home, the unseen forces of conscientious design, balanced aesthetics, and Lowcountry livability have shaped a home into something that inspires. — B.K.
Scan the QR code to explore Designing with Nature and its role in preserving Kiawah Island’s natural beauty.
This home serves as a mirror to the world beyond it, reflecting both the beauty and artistry just outside the folding walls.
Experience the pinnacle of Lowcountry living at Seafields by Bishop Gadsden— Kiawah Island’s premier 62+ Life Plan Community. Revel in sun-soaked days on pristine beaches, savor relaxing rounds of golf with friends, or unwind with a serene sunset cruise along the creek. Enjoy the convenience of Freshfields Village’s charming shops and exceptional dining, all complemented by 24/7 access to worldclass healthcare. Residents have access to Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s renowned courses and amenities, while Kiawah Island Club Members can seamlessly retain their Membership upon joining the Seafields community.
Veranda
Freshfields Village
SEAFIELDS AT KIAWAH ISLAND
BY BISHOP GADSDEN
Seafields at Kiawah Island by Bishop Gadsden will be the first and only Life Plan Community for adults aged sixty-two and older in the Kiawah and Seabrook Island area. Executive Director Kimberly Borts talks luxury and lifestyle for incoming and prospective residents.
What do you think makes Seafields so unique?
Seafields for independent living will feature stunning design and exceptional amenities, including a pool, state-of-theart theater, yoga studio, fitness facilities, and four culinary venues. The assisted living residences will offer incredibly spacious rooms with tall ceilings and beautifully appointed interiors. Seafields is steps from Freshfields Village, with more than fifty shops, restaurants, and services. And the MUSC Health Kiawah Partners Pavilion will be just down the street. Kiawah Island Club Members can retain their Membership, ensuring a seamless continuation of their Club lifestyle.
What is the setting like?
Kudos to the developer for designing a site that seamlessly connects to the natural beauty already present at Freshfields. The stunning lake is a prime example—when you walk into the independent living area of Seafields, large windows offer breathtaking views of the lake. A resort-style pool for Seafields residents will also be located there, enhancing the connection to the Lowcountry lifestyle and its natural surroundings.
Walk me through the space.
We like to say it embodies a “coastal elegance.” The interior design is inspired by the natural colors of the Lowcountry— soft blues, greens, and the gentle hues of sunrise and sunset. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a beautifully designed space that leads to stunning views of the lake and pool. A European-inspired bistro offers pastries, coffee, and sandwiches. Adjacent to the bistro, a bar and pub open onto an outdoor patio, providing a perfect gathering space overlooking the water.
The community features a state-of-the-art theater, a formal dining room with a private space for celebrations, and wellness amenities, including a yoga studio and gym, both with serene lake views. An art studio and a multi-purpose room for lectures and programs neighbor the wellness area. A cozy library on the second floor offers a warm retreat
with Lowcountry-inspired decor, and residents can visit the technology bar for assistance with devices, hardware, and software questions. Niches throughout the community provide spaces for bridge games, card groups, and small group activities. We want to foster social connections as the community grows.
What will it be like to live there?
If residents want to stay within Seafields, they can choose from a very full activity schedule, from lectures to clubs to classes. But if they just want to walk out their door, they can stroll along the lake or pop into the various cute shops around Freshfields. They can get an eye exam at Village Optical. They can grab a favorite gin for the evening at Kiawah Spirits. And Freshfields Village hosts events throughout the year, from concerts on the green to holiday festivities.
For mariners, the proximity to Bohicket Marina is a key feature. Whether residents want to keep their boat or dock slip nearby, bring their boat for occasional use, or share a family boat, the marina provides easy access to the water.
Can you tell me a little bit more about programming?
By combining the Island’s exceptional programming opportunities with the expertise of our dedicated team, Seafields will provide residents with an array of engaging programs and events. Whether connecting with neighbors through social clubs and interest groups or participating in classes, demonstrations, or workshops led by visiting artists, photographers, and chefs, residents will enjoy countless opportunities to connect and grow. Thought-provoking discussions and lectures will keep residents informed about local, national, and global issues.
We have been fortunate to have met many of our future Seafields residents and look forward to welcoming even more. Their feedback will be invaluable as we work together to shape a vibrant, inclusive, and exceptional community for everyone who will call Seafields home.
Renderings by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects
Samantha Siegel, Lowcountry Land Trust || Photo by Joel Caldwell
Just off Maybank Highway on Johns Island, there is a sandy track through the maritime forest to a gravel parking lot. From there, through an old chain-link fence, lies one of the great wonders of the Southeast.
The Angel Oak stands over six stories high and shades an area of over seventeen thousand feet. This great tree transcends time. It is simultaneously a relic of the Old World—far predating European arrival—while also very much in the prime of its life.
The South Carolina Sea Islands are rich in historical significance, but the Angel Oak is unique because of its enduring vitality. Estimated to be somewhere between four hundred and fourteen hundred years old (arborists cannot determine its exact age without damaging the tree), this iconic Southern live oak has been sacred to all the cultures that have inhabited the Sea Islands for generations upon generations.
In 2008, the forest surrounding and buffering the venerable Angel Oak was slated for development into hundreds of homes and mixed-use buildings. Samantha Siegel, then a college student, learned of the proposed development from a small blurb in the back pages of the Post & Courier. She sprang into action, creating a “Save the Angel Oak” website with a section for public comments.
Samantha watched in awe as thousands of entries poured in over the subsequent days, a persistent phenomenon that has since been dubbed the “Angel Oak Effect.” “People just started coming out of the woodwork,” Samantha says. “It was such a unique group of individuals who wouldn’t typically work together—business leaders, environmentalists, and elected officials.”
The City of Charleston, under Mayor Riley, initially supported the development. However, once Samantha and her growing team of “angels” discovered that the developer
planned to fill five acres of federally recognized wetlands— omitted from their approved plan—a protracted legal battle ensued. The developer eventually filed for bankruptcy, and the City shifted its support to Samantha’s coalition.
“I never set out to be an environmental activist,” Samantha says. “I just couldn’t let anything happen to this tree.”
By 2013, the Charleston-based nonprofit Lowcountry Land Trust (LLT)—now Samantha’s employer—had raised the necessary seven million dollars to purchase and permanently protect the Angel Oak. They also ensured the protection of the thirty-five acres of maritime forest and freshwater wetlands surrounding the tree. With the Angel Oak and its surrounding land finally safeguarded, LLT—along with the City of Charleston—turned their attention to creating a park to celebrate the Angel Oak and its incredible history.
In 2021, Samantha cold-called the offices of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBWLA) in Charlottesville, Virginia. Specializing in the design of public spaces, NBWLA has an impressive résumé, to say the least. They are currently redesigning the interface between the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park in New York City while also implementing a master plan for Houston’s Memorial Park— the largest urban park project in a generation.
Samantha’s call was answered by NBWLA’s head of communications, Tim Popa. Immediately recognizing the merit of the project, Tim texted his boss: You are going to want to take this call. Within the month, renowned landscape architect Thomas Woltz was standing in the shade of the Angel Oak.
The Angel Oak was a sacred site long before European contact, and the forest around it was clearly tended in a way that allowed the tree to grow to its enormous size.
The condition of a public site, whether a park or part of the built environment, speaks volumes about the values of a society. While the Angel Oak attracts over 400,000 visitors annually, this icon of the Lowcountry is surrounded by an unsightly chain-link fence, making it appear more imprisoned than venerated. There is virtually no designated parking, forcing tour buses and cars to park along Angel Oak Road—far too close to the tree and its sensitive root structure.
In 2024, NBWLA delivered a comprehensive plan for the Angel Oak Preserve. The design and detail are as thoughtful and richly complex as the chain-link fence is jarring and dismal. Woltz is celebrated for his cultural landscape approach, which explores the interactions between humans and the natural environment over time. His firm is unique, employing both conservation biologists and cultural landscape historians to investigate the human and nonhuman histories that began a millennium ago.
“If we approach land with the lens that it is filled with cultural and ecological stories, then we are much more mindful when we make a design intervention or place a building or parking lot—any of the necessities of public space,” Woltz explains. “We think of the land as full, not empty.”
Great trees have always served as landmarks and gathering places for communities. The Angel Oak was a sacred site long before European contact, and the forest around it was clearly tended in a way that allowed the tree to grow to its enormous size. Before the arrival of the British, Johns Island was occupied by the Coosaw (or Cussoe) people. Pottery, pipes, and arrowheads have been discovered near the tree.
During colonial times, the Angel Oak was part of Angel Plantation. Enslaved people cleared trees, grew corn and cotton, and tended livestock. The location of the slave quarters has been identified and will be included in the
preserve. Despite the prohibition on assembling in groups, enslaved individuals, freedmen, and the larger African American community used the tree for meetings. The Angel Oak was also part of the secret network of routes and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad, which enslaved African Americans used to escape to freedom.
NBWLA’s comprehensive plan is rooted in extensive community input and engagement from diverse stakeholders. The result is a 44-acre preserve that will honor the tree, its unique ecology, and the centuries-old history of Johns Island. Woltz envisions the Angel Oak Preserve as an opportunity to tell the layered history of the tree alongside the diverse cultural narratives of the island, including Indigenous peoples, Europeans, enslaved African Americans, and the Gullah Geechee community.
While there is much to share, Woltz emphasizes that it’s essential for each visitor to find what they need on any given day. “We want to deliver a lot of meaningful content, but we intentionally design signage and information panels in subtle ways,” he says. For example, if you’re on a boardwalk, information will be presented on the low rail, rather than directly in your line of sight. “The hope is that if you’re coming to connect with the tree, you can simply take a beautiful walk through the forest.”
The Preserve is designed to evoke a range of emotions— from awe and reverence near the Angel Oak to exploration and playfulness along a wetlands boardwalk and in designated play areas. Empathy and acknowledgment are deeply woven into the experience as guests encounter the plantation history and stories of Indigenous lifeways.
“A tree this ancient is a reminder of how much a living organism can witness,” says Woltz. “It places us, in a very poetic and powerful way, into a continuum of ecology and culture.” — J.C.
In 2013, South Street Partners and the Town of Kiawah Island matched employee contributions to donate to the Lowcountry Land Trust’s Angel Oak Project. This donation helped preserve seventeen contiguous acres that will soon be part of the Angel Oak Preserve.
Join us in safeguarding the Angel Oak’s legacy for generations to come. Your contribution will support the creation of a welcome center, trails, interpretive signage, and educational programs that connect visitors to the beauty and history of this extraordinary place. By protecting the Angel Oak, we celebrate its rich past, enhance its present, and inspire future generations. Visit give.lowcountrylandtrust.org for more information.
We bring rigor, imagination, and a commitment to designing with nature to every endeavor. From progressive architecture to intuitive service, we nurture the profound communion between people and place. Find your home — and transcend time — by reconnecting to nature, friends, and family in one of our celebrated residential communities. southstreetcollection.com
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RESIDENCES AT SALAMANDER
KIAWAH ISLAND
WILD HAVEN
EXPERIENCE KIAWAH’S WILD SIDE THROUGH GUIDED EXCURSIONS AND RICH CONSERVATION EFFORTS. STORY by BRYAN HUNTER
Annie, a full-time naturalist with Kiawah Island Golf Resort, points out a small flock of birds swooping like daredevils just above the surface of the Kiawah River. The group of kayakers she is leading looks in the direction she indicates, marveling at the birds, mostly black on top with white markings on their breasts and cheeks.
“Black skimmers,” Annie explains. “Their lower beaks are much longer than their upper beaks, allowing them to scoop up small baitfish while still in full flight.”
The main attraction of a leisurely paddle on the Kiawah River may be the population of bottlenose dolphins that inhabit the river year-round, but there is no shortage of other flora and fauna—ranging from the mundane to the majestic— to keep the group thoroughly engaged.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort has offered a diverse array of nature programming for guests and residents since its opening in 1976. While the offerings have evolved over the years—at one point, Jeep safaris traversed the far end of the Island now home to The Ocean Course—one thing has remained constant: the Resort’s deep commitment to stewardship of this barrier island.
Kiawah Island is located less than thirty miles from historic Charleston, yet once you arrive, it feels a world away. Despite its proximity to the Holy City, the Island never overflows with day-trippers. Nestled within a gated community, the Resort shares the 10,000-acre Island with just 2,000 full-time residents.
The Resort’s 1976 master plan enshrined a commitment to comprehensive environmental stewardship, which has become inextricably woven into the Island’s ethos. Several entities work to preserve vast areas of greenspace, including ten miles of beach, undisturbed tidal marshes, creeks, lagoons, and a flourishing maritime forest.
Night Heron Park occupies a central location on the long, narrow Island. For nearly five decades, the Heron Park Nature Center has served as the basecamp for the Resort’s nature programs. Inside the center, a taxidermy bobcat and turkey share space with dolphin and whale bones, as well as a massive alligator skull. Adding to the intrigue, a small collection of live specimens captures visitors’ attention.
A yellow-bellied slider resides in a tank near some juvenile alligators, while a bank of terrariums houses various snakes. A large enclosure is home to Tammy, a friendly opossum rescued at such a young age that she imprinted on the naturalists, making her unlikely to survive in the wild. Tammy doesn’t seem to mind her circumstances—she thrives on the attention from visitors.
The nature center is staffed with knowledgeable, degreed naturalists who are eager to share their expertise about the Island’s wild side. They’re just as enthusiastic about organizing field excursions, giving visitors the chance to experience and observe the Island firsthand. Popular excursions include the Dolphin Encounter on the Kiawah River, Back Island Birding, and the Alligator Adventure, which offers a closer look at this fascinating apex predator in its natural habitat.
This past fall, the Resort broke ground on a new Heron Park Nature Center to replace the original facility. The updated center will allow the resort to expand its programming and exhibits while also offering indoor entertainment, including an eight-lane bowling alley, an arcade, golf simulators, and a family-friendly pub.
Water excursions—whether by boat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard (SUP)—all begin at Mingo Point, a picturesque, shaded spit of land nestled along a bend in the Kiawah River. The Resort operates a dock there for launching trips. For
more than forty years, this location has also been home to one of the Resort’s most time-honored traditions: an authentic Lowcountry oyster roast. Recently, the Resort has begun donating leftover shells to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for recycling, where they are used to restore healthy oyster beds.
Last fall, with the help of many community volunteers, the Resort partnered with other Island entities, including the Kiawah Conservancy, to build artificial oyster reefs. These reefs were created using environmentally-friendly wire baskets filled with oyster shells recycled from Mingo Point. The completed reefs were then installed along the low-tide line on the banks of the Kiawah River, right at Mingo Point. Over time, these reefs will develop into thriving oyster beds, helping to prevent erosion, filter water, and provide a habitat that attracts food for numerous species.
Next time you visit the Island, be sure to book a nature excursion through the Resort. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for what makes this Sea Island so incredibly special. If you join a paddle trip from Mingo Point, don’t forget to ask your guide to point out the new reefs and share updates on their progress. After the exertion of a paddle, you’ll have no trouble falling asleep, lulled by the chanting of cicadas and the chorus of whippoorwills. — B.H.
Constructing Artificial Oyster Reef at Mingo Point
Kiawah Island Golf Resort recently broke ground on an activity center that will include the new Heron Park Nature Center, an eight-lane bowling alley, an arcade, a golf simulator, and a family-friendly pub. Illustration Courtesy of Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Make space for soaking up the moment.
Whether it’s an everyday routine or a special gesture, life is enhanced by the moments we share. And inspired spaces with abundant natural light can make those moments even better. That’s why we partner with Marvin to bring you quality windows and doors that are as functional and flexible as they are beautiful, so you can make space for what matters most to you.
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Throughout the year, Kiawah hosts dozens of soirées, outings, and activities. It was a fantastic 2024!
PHOTOGRAPHS by CHARLOTTE ZACHARKIW and ABBY MURPHY
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A NOTE ON HOSPITALITY
from River Course Clubhouse Manager Jonathan Spence
“ For me, hospitality isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life. As a husband, father, friend, and Club steward, hospitality means more to me than service. It’s about making people feel valued, cared for, and connected. I try to lead with empathy and inspire my team to create a culture of service excellence—where every interaction is meaningful, and every moment is memorable.”
