The Vanderhorst Estate
An Island estate filled with so much history, it took 16 acres to contain it all.
THE ONLY REMAINING HISTORIC PROPERTY ON KIAWAH ISLAND, 99 Governor’s Drive, known as The Vanderhorst Estate, is an homage to more than 200 years of the Island’s evolution. Tall and stately, the manor claims an ancient dune ridge in the heart of the Island. The regal home served as a residence, a customs house, a crop storage unit, an office, a civic center, and the undeniable hub of Island life. In recent years, a George II silver shilling and multiple shards of 18th and 19th century pottery were found within its sweeping 16 acres.
Vanderhorst’s past belongs to history books. Vanderhorst’s future belongs to you.
BUILT IN 1803, the Vanderhorst mansion was one of two original estates on Kiawah. Created by General Arnoldus Vanderhorst (shown right), the estate was initially a working homestead. As both the Mayor of Charleston and two-term Governor of South Carolina, Vanderhorst regularly welcomed local luminaries to his home. And for more than two centuries, each window framed the wild, untamed beauty of the property’s blanketing marshlands and ancient live oak trees.
The landscapes surrounding the residence pay tribute to Kiawah’s signature appeal.
Across a golden expanse of acreage, the Island’s essence is revealed through honey-hued marshes, maritime forests, and shimmering waterways. The emerald hues of Lowcountry flora quilt the terrain, and grand live oak trees dot the lawn. And two buildable parcels of land on either side of the home allow for the creation of a family compound—a magnificent getaway for multiple generations to come together throughout the year. “The view is a living work of art that changes with the seasons. The marshes are first green then turn the color of a wheat field. Just as Arnoldus Vanderhorst must have seen them. Wild and seemingly endless.” — ARCHITECT CHRIS SCHMITT
THE GRAND APPROACH TO THE RESIDENCE IS A MAGNIFICENT ALLÉE OF WEATHER-SCULPTED LIVE OAKS. At the allée’s end, the four-story home reveals itself: an ideal archetype of a bygone era. The two-story piazza with its arched brick base reflects the classic Lowcountry aesthetic of the times, as do the prominent attic dormers and broad secondstory porch. Equally at ease in city and country, General Vanderhorst utilized fine brick, imported slate, and stunning marble to accessorize the exterior – mirroring design trends popular in Charleston at the time.
WHILE THIS FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE RESIDENCE IS SUITABLY IMPOSING, IT WAS NOT, IN FACT, THE HOME’S ORIGINAL FRONT ENTRANCE. That was found, instead, on the opposite side of the house as, prior to Kiawah’s roadways and infrastructure taking shape, The Vanderhorst Estate was accessible only by waterway. Residents and guests in the early 19th century would have arrived by boat, via a tributary of the Kiawah River now known as Vanderhorst Creek. Today, the grand portico on this river-facing side of the house frames a gorgeous view of the pool, rear garden, and the great marsh beyond.
A Restoration Celebration
VACANT FOR MOST OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THE VANDERHORST MANSION RECEIVED A SERIES OF UPDATES IN 1995. The current sellers, intent on utilizing the estate for large, extended family gatherings, enlisted renowned Charleston architects Chris Schmitt and Glenn Keys to restore the home’s interior for comfort and efficiency while maintaining its historic heritage. The existing structure encompassed only six rooms and two attic dormers and included no kitchen or bath. To modernize the building and capitalize on its endless marsh views, two bold, glass pavilions were constructed on the rear of the home. The striking vertical columns sit well below the home’s roofline and accessorize only three of its four stories. In addition, six full baths and a half bath were constructed, the roof received a slate roof upgrade, and geothermal heating and air was installed at last.
The end result is a seamless marriage of old southern grandeur and distinctly modern comfort.
“Just entering the front door, the historical presence of the house is palpable. You can feel it. We wanted to recognize its historical significance but give it an update to honor the easy, unfussy lifestyle of Kiawah. I call the aesthetic elegant casual.” — INTERIOR DESIGNER SHANNON BOGAN
Inside the fully furnished residence, the home’s rich history asserts itself in fresh, surprising ways. Along with soaring ceiling heights, mid 19-century flourishes including the beadboard, elegant wainscoting, and carved moldings along the stairway and living room remain intact. The original floors, constructed from great stretches of 12-to-16-foot heart-pine runs, have been sanded only once. And the cypress siding found in the sitting room, dining porch, and the second floor’s expansive master baths dates back to 1803 as well.
THE MAIN LIVING SPACE UNFOLDS ACROSS THE FIRST FLOOR. Here, an elegantly appointed dining room beside the kitchen boasts a stately fireplace and a gracious table built for entertaining. The fully appointed kitchen opens up into a glass pavilion that serves as a dining porch overlooking the marshlands. Across the entry foyer, the living room’s sophisticated, plush furnishings encourage gathering with family and friends. And General Vanderhorst, himself, oversees the proceedings from an austere portrait on the wall. The room’s capacity is extended by the second pavilion’s large, glassed-in sitting area, featuring 180-degree views of the marsh and long views of the surrounding waterways. A classic, southern veranda stretching the width of the home is accessible from the first story foyer. Modeled after the architecture of the West Indies, the structure was fashioned to fully capture the prevailing breezes.
The ground floor comprises two beautifully furnished en suite bedrooms, each with its own fireplace. In the interest of symmetry and equity among guests, the bedrooms here and on the third and fourth floors are identical in size and layout, mirror images separated only by the home’s central foyer and staircase set between them. The second floor offers two master suites, each furnished for maximum comfort. Both feature fireplaces and radiantly sunlit
master baths encased in floor-to-ceiling glass. Panoramic views of marsh, pool, riverways, and oak clusters attend luxurious bathing in the large soaking tub or freestanding walk-in shower. On the third floor, a duet of dormer-style en suite bedrooms provide ideal accommodations for kids and teens. One features iron-framed twin beds, the other a double, and both showcase a slightly whimsical design aesthetic suitable for the young—or simply young at heart.
The riches of The Vanderhorst Estate extend far beyond the doors of the home.
Along with a shimmering swimming pool and basketball court built for fun and fitness, the property’s Creekhouse stakes its claim as a family-favorite gathering space. Tucked just beyond a strand of trees and accessible by footpath, the huge screened-in kitchen was constructed in 2008. The indoor-outdoor venue features multiple bars, a circular firepit, and a hot tub on the deck. Inspired touches include tightly grained cypress paneling and rough sawn cypress beams, a trough-sized copper bathroom sink, and live oak bar counters. The kitchen is fully equipped with Viking appliances and primed for effortless entertaining while the boating dock just beyond the building invites waterway adventures for family (and very fortunate guests). Overlooking a grand expanse of marsh, meandering creeks, and towering oaks, the Creekhouse promises that spectacular views come standard with every spirited, social event.
The Vanderhorst Estate SQUARE FEET: 6,592
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Screened Porch 19'0" x 9'1"
Bath 7'2" x 9'5"
BEDROOMS: 6
99 Governor's Drive |
BATHROOMS: 6 FULL, 1 HALF
Screened Porch 18'9" x 8'7"
Ground Floor
Hall 4'8" x 7'11"
Hall 4'8" x 9'7"
Hall 7'3" x 12'2" Bedroom 19'8" x 17'7"
Bath 7'3" x 9'7"
Bedroom 19'8" x 17'7" Foyer 12'4" x 8'7"
Piazza
Second Floor
Breakfast Room 20'7" x 9'4"
Portico
Hall
Sunroom 20'6" x 21'0"
Bath
Kitchen 12'10" x 11'5" Dining Room 19'8" x 17'7"
Living Room 19'8" x 17'7"
Piazza
Floor plans indicate approximate square footage and may vary from actual design specifications. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Master Bath 20'8" x 22'2"
Master Bath 20'6" x 23'5"
Third Floor Closet
Mech.
Master Bedroom 21'4" x 19'3"
Hall 12'1" x 3'9"
Closet
Mech.
Master Bedroom 21'2" x 19'3"
Hall 12'1" x 12'3"
Fourth Floor
Storage
Storage
Bath Bedroom 12'11" x 19'7"
Bath Bedroom 12'11" x 19'7"
Hall
Hall
Sitting Area 12'1" x 11'3" Closet
Closet
Creekhouse
Bath 6'3" x 9'
Wet Bar 10'5" x 16'7" Game Room 12'1" x 16'7"
Sitting Room 20' x 17'1"
Deck Bar Eat-In-Kitchen 16'8" x 20'7"
Sunset Deck Deck
LOCATED BEYOND THE SECOND GATE IN THE VANDERHORST COMMUNITY, THIS EXCEPTIONALLY PRIVATE ADDRESS CLAIMS 16 ACRES OF PREMIER ISLAND REAL ESTATE.
A Kiawah Island Club Membership is available with this property, which is mere moments from our 10-mile beach, numerous Club amenities, and Pete Dye’s famed Ocean Course, host of the 2021 PGA Championship.
Welcome to Vanderhorst: Your future begins in 1803.
k i a w a h i s l a n d . c o m
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