the bluff
Spring/Summer 2025
At Palmetto Bluff, life begins with the land—a place where nature’s contrasts create harmony. Steadfast maritime forests rise tall with quiet strength while the Inland Waterway weaves a fl uid trail, connecting you to the community of this extraordinary place. Paths cross often, turning neighbors into friends and fl eeting moments into memories.
Glide along the waterways, relax by the pool, lose yourself in wellness pursuits, or golf with neighbors—Palmetto Bluff offers an ownership experience rich with opportunities, bringing you closer to nature and community every day.
FEATURETTES
18 | MEMBER PROFILE
110 | SOCIAL PAGES
118 | LOCAL CHARACTER
46
PEACH PERFECT
Peach season is upon us! Try these five recipes from Palmetto Bluff Club Executive Chef Beth Cosgrove.
78
LOYALTY DIVIDED
As the Revolutionary War gripped the nation, residents of Palmetto Bluff found themselves at odds with their neighbors.
20
FINDING FISH
Explore Lowcountry creeks and rivers with Palmetto Bluff resident Will Stephens.
30 A HOUSE MADE OF LIGHT
Lowcountry magic comes to life in a stunning riverside retreat, where every detail embraces beauty, function, and peaceful living.
56
MUSIC MOSAIC
Grammy Award-winning musician
Clay Ross visits Palmetto Bluff to talk songwriting.
68 WILD ISLAND
Just south of Palmetto Bluff, Cumberland Island is alive with ecological and historical wonders.
92
LOWCOUNTRY CANVAS
Land planner Mark Permar reflects on place-making and the evolution of Palmetto Bluff.
100
WELL LIVING
Experience the Lowcountry’s heart and soul with a year of heritage, conservation, and creativity at Montage.
UPCOMING EVENTS
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
JENNIFER YORK
March 12-15
SEWE AT THE BLUFF
March 28-29
EASTER EGG HUNT AND PARTY
April 19
OYSTER SHELL BAGGING AT THE FARM
April 22
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
KELLY BREWER
April 23-26
THE REVELRY MEMBER-MEMBER
May 7-10
FARMERS MARKET
May 28
FATHER'S DAY ON THE MAY
June 15
PALMETTO BLUFF CONSERVANCY
JUNIOR NATURALIST CAMP
June 17-20
TOMATO TASTING AT THE FARM
June 28
JULY 4TH PARADE STARS AND STRIPES
July 4
FIRECRACKER 5K AND FUN RUN
July 5
ROCK THE BLUFF
August 29
PONY CARNIVAL
August 30
Palmetto Bluff is a place of endless variety. The more time I spend here, the more I appreciate the diversity of its community. Mariners and fishermen are drawn to its creeks and rivers teeming with life. Artists and authors fall in love with the deep greens of the maritime forest and the gentle curves of the May River. History buffs delve into the Lowcountry’s rich past. The list goes on—fitness enthusiasts, gourmands, and golf lovers add even more character to this vibrant place. There truly is something for everyone.
In every issue of the bluff , I aim to capture the breadth and spirit of this remarkable community. In “Finding Fish” (pg. 20), we explore the Lowcountry waterways with club member Will Stephens. In “Peach Perfect” (pg. 46), we celebrate one of the quintessential cornerstones of Southern cooking. And in “Loyalty Divided” (pg. 78), Palmetto Bluff Archaeologist Katie Epps uncovers the lives and loyalties of the men and women who lived here during the Revolutionary War. This issue was an absolute joy to create—I hope you enjoy it!
Hailey Wist | Editor and Designer
Spring and summer are magical seasons at Palmetto Bluff, whether you're fishing the creeks, teeing off, or savoring fresh produce from The Farm. By this time next year, the new 18-hole course in Anson will be open, and the road to Anson will be underway. We look forward to sharing more about these exciting projects and seeing you around the Bluff soon!
PATRICK, JORDAN, AND CHRIS SOUTH STREET PARTNERS
Home Builder Serving the Lowcountry
Dillard-Jones Builders is more than a custom home builder—we’re a legacy in the making, rooted in decades of craftsmanship, innovation, and trusted relationships. As a family-owned company, we take pride in creating exceptional spaces that reflect the way our clients live.
To elevate this legacy, we’ve united our Custom Homes, Cottage portfolio, Renovations, and Services divisions under the Dillard-Jones name, offering a seamless experience for every stage of homeownership. From building new homes to re-imagining existing spaces and providing ongoing property care, we deliver expertise and attention to detail at every turn.
At Dillard-Jones, we’re crafting timeless homes and fostering connections that endure, creating a foundation for lives well-lived and legacies that last.
CONTRIBUTORS
ALEX MARVAR | WRITER
Alex Marvar is a freelance journalist and photographer who loves writing about the Southeast, from shrimp boats to spaceports. Look for her stories in The New York Times, National Geographic, Vanity Fair, The Bitter Southerner, and elsewhere.
KATHRYN ANN WALLER | PHOTOGRAPHER
Kathryn Ann Waller is a Savannahbased photographer specializing in artful imagery for design, travel, and lifestyle brands. When she isn’t behind the camera, you’ll find her traveling or on the boat enjoying the Southeastern coast.
BARRY KAUFMAN | WRITER
Barry Kaufman has been a Bluffton resident for eighteen years, writing for various publications around the South, hosting B-Town Trivia, and serving as a historical interpreter at the GarvinGarvey House. He lives with his wife, three kids, and several million animals.
SANDY LANG | WRITER
Writer Sandy Lang loves salt water and all it brings. Based on Wadmalaw Island, she’s often on the dock or boat, and she writes for a variety of commercial and editorial clients— about art and design, food and drink, and fascinating people and locales.
PATRICK O'BRIEN | PHOTOGRAPHER
For twenty-five years Patrick O’Brien has been honored to work among the very best creative teams in the world. He finds inspiration in the natural beauty of the Southern landscape and the opportunity to share that beauty with like-minded souls.
LAWSON BUILDER | PHOTOGRAPHER
Lawson Builder is a commercial photographer based in Charleston, South Carolina. His work focuses on the outdoors, tradecraft, and food. When he’s not clicking buttons, you can find him fly fishing, traveling, or making a mess in the kitchen.
“The Nationals” Silver Award • Pinnacle Award Finalist & Merit Winner
Beaufort Civitas Award • 432 Lighthouse & Finalist Awards • Numerous “Best Builder” awards
Small Business of the Year • NKBA Best Large Luxury Kitchen Award
Randy and Carole Anne Bradshaw
Where are you from?
Randy: We’re both from Manning, South Carolina. We met in high school. Carole Anne: We were high school sweethearts!
Randy: In 2013, we moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and were there for over seven years.
How did you make it back to South Carolina?
Randy: We moved back to South Carolina in 2020. We were living in Columbia, but Sage was taking golf lessons on Hilton Head so we were driving back and forth every six weeks. We were here one weekend and Sage said to me, Dad, if you can work from anywhere, why wouldn’t we live here? That’s really what sparked the conversation. That was July of 2021. We didn’t want to move the kids again; it felt so unfair. But they love it here. Somehow Hilton Head Christian Academy was able to fit them in for the 2021 school year, and a couple months later we were shopping for houses!
How did you find Palmetto Bluff?
Carole Anne: This was the first neighborhood we looked at and everyone loved it. Everywhere else we went, we kept comparing it to Palmetto Bluff.
Randy: The housing market was crazy at the time. We looked at
so many houses, but we knew we wanted to be in Bluffton. We ended up buying this house in February 2022, and then we did some small remodels so we actually didn’t move in until the last week of May.
Carole Anne: Sage sprained his ankle the day we moved in.
Sage: And the PGA Championship was that weekend, so it was perfect.
How serious are you about golf?
Sage: I’ve been playing golf as long as I can remember. My grandfather introduced me to the game. He lives on a golf course in Manning, which I still really love to play. I am thankful I get to practice and play at the May River course. Everything is topnotch and I practice every day. My dream is to play professionally, and you couldn’t ask for a better place to grow as a golfer.
Randy: He takes full advantage of the golf course. And the people are so great. He has great mentors. And the same for Tyson! She has a horse at Longfield Stables and is at the barn multiple times a week.
Tell me about that, Tyson!
Tyson: I actually started riding at a horse camp with PBGO. Wren Oliver was going and my mom signed me up. I loved it and I’ve been riding ever since. I got my horse, Ireland, in May, and I ride Monday, Wednesday,
Friday, and Sunday.
Carole Anne: And Wren Oliver has gotten really into PBGO.
Wren Oliver: I did an archaeology workshop and it was really fun. We got to make pottery and they showed us real artifacts. And they even told us about the ginormous sloths [that used to live here]. I want to be an archaeologist!
What is it like living here?
Randy: We’re at that age where our kids are dictating our schedules.
Carole Anne: We can expose them to so much here. And there are so many kind people who have taken an interest in our children. From the barn to the golf course to PBGO, we have just met so many wonderful and supportive people. All of those individuals have been such an encouragement to our family.
What a fun place to be a kid!
Randy: Our children love living here so much that when we go on vacation, they want to leave early and come home. I’m not making this up.
Carole Anne: Good places, too!
Randy: We were in the Bahamas, and Sage was ready to come home.
Carole Anne: It’s so beautiful here. When we first moved in, we would say, Please don’t let us become numb to this beauty. We feel so fortunate.
LEFT TO RIGHT: RANDY, CAROLE ANNE, WREN OLIVER (9), SAGE (17), AND TYSON (14)
Cruise the May River and reel one in. RIDE ALONG WITH CAPTAIN TOM:
FINDING FISH
PHOTOGRAPHS by LAWSON BUILDER
STORY by SANDY LANG
It
is a sunny morning in October, and the water is calm and glassy. The silence is punctuated by a gush of breath from a nearby dolphin and the sounds of a spinning reel, the plop of a lure.
“That should be in fish,” says Captain Brian Vaughn of Hilton Head Island, as he casts toward the bank and watches the line drop. He reels in, twitching the mullet-like lure on the top water, creating a “walking the dog” cadence to emulate a baitfish. These are Vaughn’s home waters—he grew up just a few miles away—and he’s fishing with a spinning rod, while at the other end of his twenty-four-foot Hell's Bay boat, Palmetto Bluff resident Will Stephens is casting a purple-and-black fly, made to look like a shrimp.
It’s been a peaceful morning exploring along the pluff mud banks topped with spartina grass. An osprey flies high overhead. Sounds of other boats are too far off to hear. In the serene scenery of creeks, rivers, and bays around Hilton Head Island, there’s action underwater. The fishermen have seen the salt water suddenly churn with mullet and the silver glint of what looks like redfish in the shallowest edges.
“Looks like some happy fish out there,” Vaughn says, scanning the water. “We’re in the zone.”
He’s positioned the boat in a more sheltered spot after motoring away from the chop of open water—the
ever-changing conditions of water depth, tides, and temperature are just some of his considerations when fishing. Vaughn thrives in his seaside life, "soaking in the sunshine and salt air."
The captain, now fifty-one, founded Off the Hook Fishing Charters in 2005, after growing up fishing here. He guides full-time, estimating that he’s on the water about three hundred days a year. He and his team lead inshore and offshore fishing charters yearround. Stephens is also an accomplished angler and boat captain, fishing part of the year in Belize.
The men met just before sunrise to board Vaughn’s boat and venture out into the sounds and estuaries around Hilton Head Island, an easy thirty minute boat ride from Palmetto Bluff. Stephens brought his own gear, fly rod, and case of flies. Along the way, the two watched for other boats (to steer clear of them), for herons stepping along the banks (a likely indicator of fish nearby), and for ripples in the water. “I look for wakes,” Vaughn says, “like there’s a miniature submarine that’s not surfacing.”
While watching and fishing, their conversation turns to the lore and superstitions of fishing—like the old adage “red sky at night, sailors delight; red sky in the morning, sailors take warning,” and the persistent idea that it’s bad luck to have a banana on a boat. (That one apparently began centuries ago with sailors storing bananas in holds with other fruit, causing everything to spoil faster.) Vaughn scoffs at the banana myth. “We bring bananas out all the time and still catch plenty of fish.”
The men talk of the inshore fish they may catch— seatrout, flounder, black drum, and redfish. The appeal of redfish is strong in South Carolina. Vaughn says it’s
DRUMS TO KNOW
Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), often referred to as “spottail bass” or “redfish,” is the most commonly targeted sport fish in South Carolina’s inshore waters. Catch-and-release is extremely popular with redfish. To conserve the fishery, anglers may only keep up to two redfish per person and six per boat per day—and each must measure between fifteen to twenty-three inches in length. Larger and smaller fish must be released.
Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), also known as “speckled trout,” is another of the most popular saltwater fish in South Carolina. Not a true trout, these are also in the drum family and can be found in saltwater creeks, rivers, and estuaries throughout the year. Anglers may keep up to ten seatrout per person per day, each with a minimum size of fourteen inches total length.
TIDE WATCHING
Especially when fishing in new areas, going out a couple of hours on either side of a low tide can make for a better, safer trip. Shallow areas, oyster beds, and sandbars will be above the waterline and more visible at low tide, so you can get to know the surroundings. Vaughn recommends checking the weather reports for wind, too. “Look for days when it’s blowing fifteen miles per hour or less,” he advises.
EDGES AND STRUCTURES
The best inshore fishing spots provide safety to the fish and what they feed on (shrimp, mullet and minnows, crabs). Vaughn says he’s always on the lookout for docks, submerged or fallen trees, oyster “rakes” (banks of oyster shells), flats, and creeks. To get to these spots, smaller boats with shallow drafts and without V-hulls are ideal, like skiffs and bay boats. Or you can fish from a kayak or directly from a dock. “To paddle up in the shallows is great—just be careful not to get stuck,” Vaughn says. “Or fish right from the dock and you can catch trout all spring.”
because whether a one-pounder or a twelve-pounder, you’re sure when you’ve hooked one because they give a sporting fight. “And you never know what they’re going to look like,” he explains, because each has a unique pattern of spots. The fish have a reputation for being hearty. The captain says they’re ideal for catchand-release. “But only if you net them, remove the hook quickly, and get them back in the water,” he advises. Vaughn is an advocate for protecting the fishery—not always fishing the same places (to avoid overfishing) and releasing fish whenever possible.
That brings them back to the trolling run they’ve just made, parallel to a pluff mud edge at low tide. Everything’s been lining up perfectly all morning. Temperatures around fifty degrees at daybreak warmed into the upper-sixties after sunrise—about the same temperature as the water, which Stephens and Vaughn note is remarkably clear that day. In the shallower depths, the clarity has been good enough to watch for shadows and mud clouds (when fish stir up the water).
Vaughn rigs up a top water lure that’s chartreuseyellow, intended to look like a finger-sized mullet, and his next cast drops in front of a school making its way along a bank edged by oyster beds. All of the knowledge, calculations, and luck have come to this. There’s a sudden pull on the line. Fish on! At almost exactly official low tide, a big, feisty redfish goes for it.
GEAR UP
For Lowcountry inshore fishing, guides suggest you’ll need a spinning reel (maybe a seven-foot rod with a 3000–4000 reel and braided fifteen- to twenty-pound line) or a fly rod with floating line (an eight-weight rod and eight-weight line can work well). Then you can start trying options for live bait, soft or hard lures, and flies. Having different colors and sizes on hand allows for a switch if fish aren’t biting. Guides and local tackle shops are the best bet for learning more about gear and what the fish are striking lately.
THE DOLPHIN EFFECT
Seeing dolphins can be a mixed blessing—if swimming in your direction, the predators may actually help to drive fish toward a fishing spot. But when Captain Vaughn approaches a creek or mudflat and sees dolphins swimming out, he says he’ll typically change course. “The dolphins have already worked up the fish.”
PURPLE & BLACK MAGIC
Lowcountry creeks and waterways are rife with organic matter and the water is often more tannic and murky than clear. Through the silt, a hungry fish looks for dark shadows made by shrimp, mullet, and minnows swimming past. That’s why many of the most popular soft lures and flies used here are in purples, blacks, and browns.
LICENSED TO FISH
Everyone sixteen or older needs a license for recreational saltwater fishing in South Carolina, except when on a licensed public fishing pier or when fishing from a licensed charter boat under hire. The South Carolina Saltwater Fishing License costs fifteen dollars a year for residents and seventyfive dollars a year for non-residents. For more information, visit saltwaterfishing.sc.gov.
husband says. They ended up buying their lot in 2019,
FURNISHINGS WITH SOFT CURVES ARE PLENTIFUL, INCLUDING A ROUND DINING TABLE, COMFORTABLE FABRICS, AND SWIVEL CHAIRS FOR OPTIMIZING VIEWS AND CONVERSATIONS.
with no immediate plans to build. But when friends of theirs who had a new home in Wilson Village were coming down for several weeks during the pandemic, they decided to follow suit. “We were getting stir crazy,” says the wife. “So, why not?”
At first they rented, then soon also bought a house in Wilson Village as an interim foothold while jumpstarting plans to build on their Trout Hole lot. “Our Northeast friends and neighbors were stuck inside during lockdown, and here we were enjoying this wonderful outdoor lifestyle,” says the husband. “The pandemic expedited our desire to have our own place.”
Working with architect Erik Puljung of Savannah-based Hansen Architects, the couple envisioned a home that was the opposite of a tall and narrow New England saltbox, and instead, unfolded organically amidst their four acres along the May River, melding into the natural environment while preserving specimen trees and taking advantage of the expansive views. “There’s something very private about the lot and how it flows toward the river, with minimally obstructed views,” says Puljung of the densely wooded property. “I remember being out there scouting, and dolphins were swimming at the river’s edge. It has all the elements of a classic South Carolina Lowcountry property.”
Inspired by the lot’s gentle contours, Puljung designed a series of connected living spaces and outbuildings, including a pool cabana, a greenhouse, and a two-bedroom guest house with a full kitchen. With two adult children and the husband’s six siblings
PULJUNG DESIGNED A SERIES OF CONNECTED LIVING SPACES AND OUTBUILDINGS, INCLUDING A POOL CABANA, A TWO-BEDROOM GUEST HOUSE WITH FULL KITCHEN, AND A GREENHOUSE, SHOWN RIGHT.
often visiting, they wanted to comfortably accommodate friends and family yet still retain a sense of cozy intimacy. “We’re not formal people. We wanted the spaces to feel casual and comfortable for family time, but to also work well for entertaining,” says the wife, who worked with interior designer Amy Porch of Hansen Architects to bring a serene neutral palette, rich in texture, to the spaces. “I love that we have this great room that is the wow factor of the house, but it doesn’t feel stiff. The fabulous tall ceilings give us all those windows, which really brings the live oaks, the river, into the space, so you’re not really focused on the furnishings, but drawn into the beauty of the surroundings.”
Puljung and Porch collaborated closely to hone the just-right natural finish for the white oak elements that are the home’s throughline, from the great room’s ceiling beams to the flooring throughout, to the kitchen and primary bathroom cabinetry. “The oak pops up in different recesses in the house, like the husband’s office and on the powder room vanity, to give that cohesion,” says Puljung. “The lighter color of the wood feels fresh and gives the paneling and trim a more modern, almost Scandinavian, look. Like these clients, it feels very inviting and down-to-earth,” adds Porch. Echoing that
down-to-earth, or rather, down-to-pluff mud flavor, a centerpiece oyster tabby fireplace anchors the living room. “There are a million different shades of neutral in that oyster tabby—warmer browns and creamy taupes—which give the room a lot of life and depth,” says Porch, who introduced brass finishes to lend warmth. Chandeliers by Visual Comfort were the right scale “to not look lost in that large volume,” she adds.
Furnishings with soft curves are plentiful, including a round dining table, comfortable fabrics, and swivel chairs for optimizing views and conversations. Variations of soft blues in bedrooms make for tranquil havens. In the primary bedroom, Porch designed an oversized upholstered linen headboard that morphs with the wall, so it fits “the scale of the room without having to introduce a large piece of wooden furniture,” she says, plus it helps soften acoustics.
WHITE OAK ELEMENTS ARE THE HOME’S THROUGHLINE, FROM THE GREAT ROOM’S CEILING BEAMS TO THE FLOORING THROUGHOUT.
The outdoor living spaces, including a screened porch with double-facing fireplace shared with the pool terrace, are similarly function-and-comfort first. “The landscaping is heavy on native plants with some ornamentals around the house and swimming pool,” says landscape designer J.R. Kramer of Charlestonbased Remark Studio. “We worked closely with the architects to find the ideal siting for the house, to optimize natural light and views while minimizing environmental impact,” says Kramer, who embraces what he calls an “aesthetic ecology” approach—using native plants to bolster ecosystems and reducing lawns and use of mulch, for example. “We created so many special little outdoor spots,” he adds. “It’s nice to sit on the pool deck and glimpse different elements—the river and citrus grove, the fire pit—and see how everything comes together.”
Thanks to their “dream team”, anchored by builder Josh Simpson of Simpson Construction, everything has come together in ways exceeding the homeowners’ expectations. Some dreams, like how they’ll put their glass-jewel of a greenhouse to use, are still on the horizon. “My mother was a gardener, so the greenhouse is a nod to her, but I’m going to need some help,” laughs the wife. She needs no horticultural guidance, however, to feel firmly planted here in Palmetto Bluff. “This house fits the bill and ticks all the boxes for me,” she says. “First and foremost, it’s an oasis of tranquility and privacy when we need that. It’s totally my happy place,” she adds. “I know it’s cliché but we say it all the time—we just can’t believe we get to live here.”
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Peach
Perfect
Is there anything more iconic than a Southern peach?
A symbol of summer and Southern heritage, the peach carries with it a sense of nostalgia and tradition. Its sunripened sweetness has inspired generations of cobblers and compotes, pies and puddings. Palmetto Bluff Club
Chefs Beth Cosgrove and Rhy Waddington celebrate the peach’s rich Southern roots with five recipes sure to bring a taste of sunshine to your summer table. Let’s get cooking!
PHOTOS by KATHRYN ANN WALLER
Brown Butter Cinnamon Peach Cobbler
PEACH FILLING
4 peeled and sliced peaches
6 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
BATTER
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
¾ cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan, heat the butter over high heat until it becomes browned. In another saucepan, combine the olive oil, peaches, brown sugar, and salt. Cook until the peaches are soft. Set aside. In a bowl, mix 7 tablespoons of browned butter with the 1 cup of brown sugar. Stir with a spatula until combined. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Add the flour, milk, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract, and cinnamon to the butter-sugar mixture. Whisk until the batter achieves a smooth consistency. Spray molds with nonstick cooking spray. Add the softened peaches to the molds, then pour the batter on top. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cobbler is golden brown and set. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Peach ThymeGalette
INGREDIENTS
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 ¹/³ cups cold butter, cubed
½ cup cold water
2 pounds peaches, sliced
DIRECTIONS
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon thyme, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 whole egg
¼ cup milk
½ pint blackberries
In a mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, salt, and butter on the lowest speed. Mix until the butter forms a sandy consistency with no large chunks remaining. Add the sugar and continue mixing on low speed. Gradually add the cold water and mix until the dough becomes flaky and crumbly. Be careful not to overmix. Wrap the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until firm. Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the chilled dough with a rolling pin into an irregular circle, approximately 14–16 inches in diameter. Preheat your oven to 360°F. Arrange a single layer of peach slices in a spiral pattern in the center of the dough, leaving a 1.5–2-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle a layer of brown sugar over the peaches. Repeat until you have three layers of peaches, adding brown sugar between each layer. Gently fold the edges of the dough over the peaches, pressing lightly to seal and prevent leaks during baking. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and ½ teaspoon of thyme. Brush a thin layer of the egg wash over the folded edges of the dough. Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar over the peaches and dough. Drizzle olive oil over the fruit, and sprinkle the remaining thyme on top. Place the galette on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20–25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown on the top and bottom. Allow the galette to cool for at least 10 minutes and garnish with blackberries. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Summer Peach and Tomato Salad
VINAIGRETTE
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
¼ cup pecans, toasted
6 tablespoons virgin olive oil
Salt and ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS
SALAD
2 peaches, sliced
½ cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup red cherry tomatoes, halved
1 green heirloom tomato, cut into wedges
2 cups stracciatella cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
3–4 basil leaves
3–4 mint leaves
To prepare the vinaigrette, place the sherry vinegar and toasted pecans in the base of a blender. Blend on medium speed until the pecans are broken up but not completely smooth. Reduce the blender to low speed and drizzle in the olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper. Keep cold until ready to use. Place the stracciatella cheese in a container and mix it with a spoon. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. Spread the seasoned stracciatella cheese across the bottom of a serving platter. In a mixing bowl, toss the peaches, cherry tomatoes, and heirloom tomato with a few tablespoons of the vinaigrette. Arrange them on top of the cheese in a single layer, ensuring the vibrant colors are visible. Garnish with freshly torn basil and mint leaves. Serve the salad chilled.
Bourbon Peach Smash
INGREDIENTS
1½ ounces bourbon
1½ ounces ginger beer
¾ ounce lemon juice
¾ ounce peach liqueur
½ ounce demerara syrup
1 bunch mint
1 peach wedge
DIRECTIONS
Shake all the ingredients, other than ginger beer, with ice. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice and add ginger beer. Garnish with fresh mint and enjoy.
Spiced Peach Compote
DIRECTIONS
Score an “X” on the bottom of the peaches. In a pot of boiling water, blanch the peaches for 2 minutes. Shock them in ice water and peel. Chop the peaches into medium-sized pieces and sauté them in the butter in a mediumsized saucepan. When the peaches begin to soften and break down, add the chopped raisins, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, star anise, coriander seeds, nutmeg, and sugar. Continue cooking the compote over very low heat until it thickens, becomes shiny, and the spices have fully infused the sauce. Cool the compote in a blast chiller. Once chilled, remove the cinnamon stick, star anise, and coriander seeds.
INGREDIENTS
8 ripe peaches
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons golden raisins, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
1 piece star anise
½ teaspoon coriander seeds
1 small pinch ground nutmeg
5 tablespoons sugar
Listen in on Clay’s October 2024 Artist in Residence visit. A CONVERSATION WITH CLAY
MUSIC
MOSAIC
IN OCTOBER 2024, GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING MUSICIAN CLAY ROSS VISITED PALMETTO BLUFF AS PART OF THE ARTS INITIATIVE’S ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM. THROUGH STORYTELLING AND SONG, HE EXPLORES IDENTITY, HERITAGE, AND THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF SOUND.
PHOTOGRAPHS by HAILEY WIST
STORY by BARRY KAUFMAN
When Clay Ross came to Charleston from the suburbs of Anderson, South Carolina, he arrived with a perspective forged by a white-picket fence upbringing.
He had come to the Holy City to pursue music, even though his tastes only ran as deep as basic cable allowed.
“I played a lot of Nirvana, Metallica, and Guns ‘N’ Roses,” he remembers. “All the hit songs I heard on MTV.”
That all changed when he walked into a Charleston café and heard the siren song of jazz, filtered through the spiritual-scented folk songs of the Lowcountry. Performing that night were Quentin E. Baxter and Kevin Hamilton, two musicians who would ultimately change the trajectory of Ross’ life.
“I bugged these guys relentlessly to play with me,” he says. “They were very kind, took me under their wing, and taught me everything I know about music.”
The lessons went far beyond minor chords and major scales. As native Gullah, Baxter and Hamilton taught Ross all about context—the roots and meaning of music.
“You listen to the Mississippi blues, and you can see how Gullah culture and influence migrated across the Southern states and became something a little
bit different,” he explains. “This music has inspired, influenced, and informed so many styles that we love— from jazz to hip-hop to rock and roll. I refer to myself as a disciple of Gullah music.”
This appreciation for how the music of the Lowcountry has changed the world changed everything for Ross. In 2016, he formed roots music group Ranky Tanky along with Baxter on drums, Hamilton on bass, Charlton Singleton on trumpet, and vocalist Quiana Parler. Their jazz-flavored take on Gullah spirituals, not to mention their authenticity (Baxter, Hamilton, Parler, and Singleton are all native Gullah), quickly set them apart in the industry. They won their first Grammy in 2019, followed by another win in 2022.
“The African diaspora has been such a huge part of the music that I love and American music in general,” Ross says. “If you follow that thread, you follow it to the source of this incredible music. I’m very lucky to have spent a lot of time traveling and making music.”
And travel he has. With the support of the U.S. State department, Ross has traveled the world as a sort of ambassador of American music, from Senegal and Ghana to Kosovo and China. His latest project is
RANKY TANKY IS A GRAMMY-WINNING BAND THAT CELEBRATES AND REINVENTS GULLAH MUSIC, BLENDING JAZZ, GOSPEL, AND RHYTHM AND BLUES TO HONOR THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY. || FROM LEFT: CHARLTON SINGLETON, CLAY ROSS, QUIANA PARLER, QUENTIN BAXTER, AND KEVIN HAMILTON | PHOTOGRAPH BY SULLY SULLIVAN
another roots-focused band, American Patchwork Quartet. If Ranky Tanky is a love letter to the Gullah influence in American music, American Patchwork Quartet showcases how immigrants have made their irrevocable mark on our soundscape.
In addition to Ross’ Southern influence is the Detroit church stylings of drummer Clarence Penn, Japanese-born bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and Indian vocalist Falguni Shah.
“We played the Grand Ole Opry last June, and we believe that we may have brought the first Indian vocalist to the Opry. They wouldn’t confirm or deny that, though. They just said, ‘Our records are incomplete,’” he told the crowd gathered to hear him play at Palmetto Bluff’s May River Chapel in Wilson Village. “Our goal is to bring diversity and representation to American roots music, and to be invited to the mother church of country music in Nashville was tremendous.”
The day after his performance, Ross led a songwriting workshop at Somerset Chapel to give further insight into his process. Several aspiring songwriters joined in an hours-long roundtable to discuss big-picture philosophy but also to dig into the practical, hands-on work of writing music.
“I like getting into music history and bringing some of those inspirations into contemporary times,” he told the group. “I’m always trying to find bits of timeless nuggets, things that have become so ubiquitous in American culture you take them for granted. When
THE ARTS INITIATIVE AT PALMETTO BLUFF
The Artist in Residence program, presented by The Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff, celebrates the arts, fosters creativity, and offers hands-on education for residents and guests of the Bluff. From March to December, a wide variety of engaging and immersive workshops, performances, demonstrations, and more unfold across Palmetto Bluff’s unspoiled natural canvas, creating a dialogue between art, the community, and the beauty of the Bluff itself. The Artist in Residence programs are available to Palmetto Bluff residents, the greater Lowcountry community, and anyone who wishes to contribute to our community’s abundant creative energy.
AMERICAN PATCHWORK QUARTET’S SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM WAS NOMINATED FOR BEST FOLK ALBUM AT THE 67TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS IN 2025 || FROM LEFT: FALGUNI SHAH, CLARENCE PENN, YASUSHI NAKAMURA, AND CLAY ROSS | PHOTOGRAPH BY SANDLIN GAITHER
you start to unpack where they came from and why they arrived in the first place, you can start asking how it’s relevant to your life and thinking about how to write from that perspective.”
To demonstrate, he pulled up the archives of Alan Lomax, a historian who traveled the world collecting songs from small isolated villages. Sifting through recordings, Ross deftly wove together two melodies into what he referred to as an “American Mongrel” of a song.
The first was a polyphonic ballad from somewhere in the Italian Alps called “Dona Lombarda.” The second was a nameless Irish folk song that hewed very close to the classic “Irish Washerwomen.”
“There are twelve notes in the musical scale, at least in Western music,” he said. “We have harmonies and we have these twelve notes. That’s the language we’re working with. And a lot of things connect with people because of ancestral memory.”
Over the next few hours, Ross challenged attendees to look at music the way he does. It’s a gift to be passed down; it’s a story that you never finish telling. It’s a melody that you can fall into at any moment, subconsciously harmonizing with the generations of Americans, immigrant and native-born, that came before you.
“I’m looking for songs that tell a universal truth,” he said. “Songs about love, songs about loss, songs
ART IN ACTION
Attend one of our upcoming workshops.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
JENNIFER YORK
HAND CUT PAPER AND MIXED MEDIA
March 12-15
KELLY BREWER
IMPRESSIONIST PAINTER
April 23-26
MARK “LEX” LEXTON MASTER GOLDSMITH
May 14-17
ANDRE BERG PHOTOGRAPHER
June 6
DAUFUSKIE BLUES INDIGO DYEING
July 3
SALLY LESESNE
OIL PAINTER
August 22
about nature… Am I any more American because my ancestors came to this country hundreds of years ago than Falguni who came here herself? Music is a safe space to ask those questions.”
These were the questions considered at the workshop, as he and a handful of aspiring songwriters came together over these ancestral songs to craft their own message of love, loss, and nature. Feeling both timeless and new, universal yet personal, the song they crafted was, appropriately enough, titled “American Mongrel.”
And it speaks to the spirit Clay Ross brings to his music. He is a disciple of an art form that existed long before him, and will continue to inform the musicians of tomorrow long after he’s gone. In the meantime, he remains its humble steward.
To learn more about The Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff and explore this year’s Artists in Residence, please visit pbartsinitiative.com
THIS GILDED AGE ENCLAVE AND NATIONAL SEASHORE OFF THE GEORGIA COAST IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A BEACHCOMBER’S DELIGHT.
PHOTOGRAPHS by PATRICK O’BRIEN STORY by ALEXANDRA MARVAR
“There’s one. Oh, and there’s one.” He bends down to pick up a shark tooth. Then another, and another.
The mound of fossilized denticles cupped in my husband’s palm is growing so large that it’s about to require two hands. Most of the shark teeth are ebony black. Some are stout and dulled, while others are skinny and, even after thousands or even millions of years, still menacingly sharp.
This little stretch of beach, with a primordial forest at our backs, is just one of many places to treasure hunt on Georgia’s Cumberland Island—and not just for these tiny specimens. One might find boar tusks, dolphin bones, sea oats, starfish. And, surprisingly often, visitors turn up megalodon teeth along the island’s single “main road”—the rutty north-south artery paved with paleolithic seafloor dredged from nearby Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. This thoroughfare is only lightly trafficked, by people on foot, horseback, or, rarely, one of the island’s few motorized vehicles.
The largest and southernmost of Georgia’s fourteen barrier islands, Cumberland is more than twice the size of Manhattan, yet it is among the least visited and most isolated of U.S. national seashores. Nearly a third of its
approximately thirty-six thousand acres are designated as protected wilderness, and only a maximum of three hundred visitors are permitted per day. Every visit requires a reservation, whether for a campsite with the National Park Service or for one of the fifteen rooms or two cottages at the Greyfield Inn.
About an hour ago, we set off down the road on bikes from the Greyfield. We might have another hour before the sun starts to set.
My travel companion is still at it with the tiny teeth. I, however, am lousy at spotting them. And anyway, I’m preoccupied not with what’s happening down in the surf, but in the sky above. Over the sound of the lapping wake, there’s a soft rustling overhead: nearly one hundred white ibis—big, elegant birds with bananashaped, coral-pink beaks and stark, black wingtips— glide over us, from the Cumberland Sound eastward, across the island, toward the wild Atlantic coast.
As a birder, I’m finding no shortage of distractions here. Bald eagles are scavenging the same stretch of sand that we are. A flash of vivid color in the distance:
The largest and southernmost of Georgia’s fourteen barrier islands, Cumberland is more than twice the size of Manhattan, yet it is among the least visited and most isolated of U.S. national seashores.
a painted bunting? This southern part of the island is cut through with miles of birding trails, elevated walkways, dunes, and beaches perfect for congregating black skimmers, red knots, oystercatchers, and plovers. Any admirer of nature will find something to absorb their attention here: The live oaks are draped in Spanish moss. Armadillos and wild boar amble about in the saw palmetto. Sea turtles nest along Cumberland’s nearly eighteen miles of coastline. Feral horses roam. And some of the planet’s fewer than four hundred remaining North Atlantic right whales calve just offshore.
Staring out at the waves, or walking deep in the woods, it’s easy to forget that not so long ago this seemingly pristine landscape was once dominated by agriculture, including plantations built and run by some of the Victorian era’s most powerful American families. But the remnants of their heyday are all around, including the looming ruins on the bluff above us. This is Dungeness, the thirty-five-thousandsquare-foot vacation home built by the Carnegie family just over 140 years ago. It was all but abandoned in the early 1900s. It caught fire and burned in 1959. But the four stories of skeletal ruins that remain are a great help in imagining the Gilded Age grandeur that once filled its nearly five dozen rooms.
The Greyfield has a similar origin story—with
a much happier outcome. The great house, with its grand columns, Victorian wallpaper, charming honor bar, and sprawling lawn dotted with centuries-old oaks, was built in the earliest years of the twentieth century as a private home for the daughter of matriarch Lucy Carnegie. Instead of falling to ruin, it opened to overnight guests in 1962. Ten years after that, the island became a U.S. national seashore.
Today, relatives of the original inhabitants still live on the estate and operate the inn, and like the island at large, this house feels unchanged by time. Its enchanting living room is still furnished with the original family’s portraits, chairs, and velvet couches. Its shelves are still lined with their books and artifacts. A true escape, there is no television nor Wi-Fi here. Instead, guests pass their time reading on the porch swings, indulging in their room’s lush private bathtub, or shucking oysters in the moonlight.
By day, guests may sign up for guided outings, including excursions to a number of historical sites: Gullah/Geechee settlements established by formerly enslaved families and Gilded Age mansions in various states of restoration or ruin. There is Plum Orchard —another former Carnegie family outpost—which was restored and is now maintained by the National Park Service. Many bumpy miles away on the island’s distant north end is the one-room First African Baptist
The four stories of skeletal ruins that remain are a great help in imagining the Gilded Age grandeur that once filled its nearly five dozen rooms.
This
southern part of the island is cut through with miles of birding trails, elevated walkways, dunes, and beaches perfect for congregating black skimmers, red knots, oystercatchers, and plovers.
Church, built by Gullah/Geechee residents in the 1890s. En route, you’ll pass the Chimneys, the only visible remains of the once sprawling Stafford Plantation: twenty-six freestanding sets of brick hearths and chimneys, marking what had been twenty-six singleroom homes of the enslaved families who once powered the plantation’s cotton harvest.
“It was good to be able to touch the very things that my ancestors touched,” the chieftess of the Gullah/ Geechee nation, Queen Quet, once told me of her own visit to Cumberland Island. “They were the ones that created those bricks. They were the ones that laid those bricks. So the chimneys themselves have a certain warmth, even though a fire is not lit in them. And I really hope that they light the fire of preservation, conservation, continuation of cultural heritage—that everybody gets an opportunity to go to Cumberland and see them.”
The best time for such an adventure is between October and June. (The Greyfield is typically closed in August.) And while it feels a world apart from the mainland, it’s only a few miles from shore. A National Park Service ferry runs twice daily from the sleepy village of St. Marys, Georgia, and the Greyfield operates its own private boat from Amelia Island, just across the Florida line.
Now it’s midwinter, and the sun is sinking fast. We mount our bikes in front of Dungeness and make our way back down the main road, through the tunnel of arching oak branches, mysterious animals rustling in the undergrowth. We’re back to the Greyfield in time to see strings of lights come on over a long, wooden table, set for the evening oyster roast. Tomorrow there’s more treasure hunting in store.
Explore Cumberland Island. PLAN YOUR VISIT
Learn more about History & Archaeology Initiatives at Palmetto Bluff. PRESERVING THE PAST
LOYALTY DIVIDED
STORY by KATIE EPPS
PALMETTO BLUFF ARCHAEOLOGIST
PREVIOUS PAGE: IMAGE LEFT FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY. PRINTS & POSTERS | U.S. CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY || H. CHARLES MCBARRON, JR. (1902-1992) || CONTINENTAL ARMY SOLDIERS 1782. IN THE RIGHT FOREGROUND IS AN ENLISTED ARTILLERYMAN IN THE BLUE COAT OF THAT CORPS. HIS COCKED HAT IS BOUND WITH YELLOW WORSTED BINDING AND CARRIES THE BLACK AND WHITE “UNION” COCKADE. IN THE LEFT AND CENTER FOREGROUND ARE SHOWN A CAPTAIN AND A LIEUTENANT. THE CAPTAIN WEARS AN EPAULETTE ON HIS RIGHT SHOULDER AND THE LIEUTENANT ONE ON HIS LEFT SHOULDER. BOTH OFFICERS ARE WEARING THE UNIFORM PRESCRIBED FOR THE TROOPS OF NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA. IN THE BACKGROUND IS SEEN A COLUMN OF SOUTHERN TROOPS WITH THEIR WAGONS ON THE MARCH. || IMAGE RIGHT FROM LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, GEOGRAPHY AND MAP DIVISION.
OPPOSITE: GENERAL FRANCIS MARION INVITING A BRITISH OFFICER TO SHARE HIS MEAL | JOHN BLAKE WHITE (1781-1859) || GENERAL FRANCIS MARION, KNOWN AS THE “SWAMP FOX,” WAS A SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIA LEADER DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR. HE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN DEFEATING BRITISH FORCES BY USING GUERRILLA WARFARE TACTICS, LEADING SWIFT AND STRATEGIC ATTACKS FROM THE LOWCOUNTRY SWAMPS, WHICH EARNED HIM A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE WAR’S MOST EFFECTIVE AND ELUSIVE COMMANDERS.
Standing on the bluff that rises above the May River, gaze across the vast expanse of marsh and sky. This is a landscape virtually untouched by time. Imagine this vista in the eighteenth century, in the throes of revolution. Small watercraft dot the tidal creeks, and the tall sails of schooners punctuate the horizon.
Like the rest of the South, the residents of May River Neck—now called Palmetto Bluff—were caught in the chaos of a divided nation. Neighbors, and sometimes even families, found themselves on opposing sides. Turmoil erupted among patriots, loyalists, and neutral parties who refused to take a side. Trust became an elusive notion, blurring boundaries and fueling tensions that rippled through the colonies. Palmetto Bluff became the setting for one such drama— an ideological clash turned bloody conflict.
The first tract of land sold on May River Neck was Tract One, a 650-acre parcel purchased in 1757 by Josiah Pendarvis. It was named Montpelier Plantation after the French town. When Josiah moved to the property, he brought his thirteen-year-old son, Richard, from his first marriage, his second wife, Mary Bedon, and their two young children, Josiah, Jr. and Elizabeth.
When Richard was thirty-four, his father gave him two hundred acres of Montpelier, and Richard built a home that overlooked the May River just north of Hope’s Neck Drive. Richard became a well-known Loyalist with the moniker “Tory Dick,” and he married Margaret Martinangele, the daughter of a Loyalist family from Daufuskie Island.
BURNING OF SAVANNAH | 1797 || COMPILED BY THOMAS ADDIS EMMET AS EXTRA-ILLUSTRATION FOR THE SIEGE OF SAVANNAH IN 1779 AS DESCRIBED BY TWO CONTEMPORANEOUS JOURNALS OF FRENCH OFFICERS IN THE FLEET OF COUNT D’ESTAING. ALBANY, N.Y.: JOEL MUNSELL, 1874
As battles and skirmishes erupted along the eastern seaboard, local clashes between Tories and Patriots pitted neighbors and friends against one another. In 1780, Pendarvis was part of a Tory militia that went to James Doherty’s (also spelled Doharty or Dougherty) plantation, Bear Island, located on the mainland near Pinckney Island. Pendarvis and Doherty had been close friends before the war. Accounts from opposing sides differ, but one thing is clear: By the end of the night, James Doherty was dead, and Richard Pendarvis had a hand in it.
An account in the Loyalist newspaper The Royal Georgia Gazette stated that Pendarvis, his lieutenant William Patterson, and several other Tories arrived at Doherty’s plantation. Doherty and his six or seven companions opened fire, killing one Tory and wounding another. The Tories returned fire, resulting in Doherty’s death.
In a contradictory account, the Patriots claimed that the Tories had threatened to kill Doherty, prompting them to plan an ambush. However, the Tories arrived early, and Doherty’s companions fled. When the Tories encountered Doherty, they opened fire, striking him, though the wound was not fatal. Doherty called for the Patriots to approach and shake his hand. Suspecting a trap, Pendarvis and his group opened fire again, killing Doherty.
Revenge came four months later. Doherty’s nephew, Captain James Leacraft, led members of the Patriot militia—dubbed the Bloody Legion—to Pendarvis’s plantation in May River Neck. They shot Pendarvis in the front yard of his home while his wife watched. Before leaving, they stole three of his horses and his gun.
And so, both James Doherty and Richard Pendarvis were slain—friends turned mortal enemies. Two men lost, not in formal battle, but to petty revenge and murder.
Differences were set aside after the war as communities in the region worked toward building a
SOUTH CAROLINA EXPERIENCED OVER FOUR HUNDRED BATTLES, SKIRMISHES, AND EVENTS DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, INCLUDING NOTABLE BATTLES AT SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, STONO FERRY, CAMDEN, KINGS MOUNTAIN, COWPENS, HOBKIRK’S HILL, AND EUTAW SPRINGS | ABOVE: THE SEIGE OF SAVANNAH || NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
ABOVE: A DEPICTION OF THE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON | 1780 | ALONZO CHAPPEL (1828-1887) || OPPOSITE: SPIRIT OF ‘76 | 1875 | ARCHIBALD WILLARD (1836-1918) | A PATRIOTIC SCENE FROM THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR. IT FEATURES THREE SOLDIERS—A FIFER AND TWO DRUMMERS—MARCHING FORWARD WITH DETERMINATION, SYMBOLIZING RESILIENCE AND THE FIGHT FOR AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.
united nation. Pendarvis’s widow, whose husband and brother were killed by the Bloody Legion, remarried two years later—not to a Loyalist, but to a neighboring plantation owner and Patriot, Captain William Mongin, whose brother and uncle were members of the Bloody Legion.
Pendarvis’s brother-in-law, John Screven, owned land northwest of Richard’s and was also an ardent supporter of the Patriot cause. Screven later owned Montpelier Plantation, which was subsequently owned by George Hipp.
The Screven-Hipp Cemetery is nestled behind a wall of greenery, across from the parking lot at the Palmetto Bluff Canoe Club pool. This cemetery contains burials from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The Emily Geiger Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected plaques on the cemetery gate to commemorate the burial of Revolutionary War soldier John Screven and Revolutionary War Patriots Elizabeth Screven and George Hipp. Richard “Tory Dick” Pendarvis and his father are possibly buried there, though no stones mark their graves.n
MORE RESOURCES
Discover South Carolina’s role in the Revolutionary war.
BLOODY POINT NAVAL ACTION
Beaufort District’s first significant engagement at the start of the Revolutionary War technically occurred in Georgia waters, off Cockspur Island, which is now the site of Fort Pulaski. The incident was termed the Bloody Point Naval Action, named after nearby Bloody Point on Daufuskie Island, where Patriot forces were gathered.
In the summer of 1775, the South Carolina Council of Safety received intelligence that the British and their Indigenous allies were about to receive a shipment of gunpowder from an incoming supply ship escorted by the armed schooner Phillippa.
On July 9, two South Carolina barges and a Georgia
schooner departed from Bloody Point to intercept the shipment. The boats surrounded the Phillippa and the supply ship, recovering 16,000 pounds of gunpowder along with “seven hundred-weight of leaden bullets, barlead, sheet-lead, Indigenous trading arms, and shot.” The recovered cargo was divided between the South Carolina and Georgia Patriots. The South Carolina Patriots sent 4,000 pounds to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
At that time, the Revolution could still be characterized as a series of skirmishes in the North, but it would soon dramatically impact all of Beaufort District, including Palmetto Bluff.
SESTERCENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS
In 2026, the United States will commemorate the sestercentennial anniversary of our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. The South Carolina 250 Anniversary activities will kick off in 2025 and continue through 2033, featuring numerous events planned in Beaufort County, South Carolina, and across the nation to honor this historic milestone.
As we celebrate the birth of our nation and the ideals of liberty and independence, it is equally important to reflect on all the people who lived on this land and how their lives, cultures, and communities were irrevocably altered by the war for liberty.
Several engaging events will take place throughout Beaufort County this summer, including a limited-ticket presentation and an insightful walking tour of the cemeteries near Wilson Village, led by Palmetto Bluff archaeologist Katie Epps. For more details and to discover additional local and statewide events planned for the SC250 Celebration, visit southcarolina250.com.
KATIE EPPS
PALMETTO BLUFF ARCHAEOLOGIST
Katie Epps earned her undergraduate degree in anthropology at the College of Charleston and her master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. She is now the Director of Cultural Resources and is responsible for managing the archaeological resources of Palmetto Bluff.
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LOWCOUNTRY CANVAS
VISIONARY LAND PLANNER MARK PERMAR REFLECTS ON PALMETTO BLUFF’S RICH HISTORY AND ITS ENDURING CONNECTION TO THE LAND. WITH ANSON ON THE HORIZON, THE LEGACY OF DESIGNING WITH NATURE LIVES ON.
STORY by HAILEY WIST
PREVIOUS SPREAD: EXCERPT OF EASTERN SHORE BY WEST FRASER | OIL ON LINEN, 20 X 24 || AERIAL OF PALMETTO BLUFF BY MARK PERMAR || THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WILSON RUINS, THE MAY RIVER, AND AERIAL OF THE MARSH BY MARK PERMAR ON ONE OF HIS FIRST VISITS TO PALMETTO BLUFF, CIRCA 2001
How did you first get involved with Palmetto Bluff?
I believe it was the fall of 2000. Crescent Resources purchased the holdings from Union Camp, and my wife, Diana, was involved in that transition. At the time, the Crescent team was led by Jim Mozley. He conducted a tour of Lowcountry communities, and when he came to Kiawah, we gave him the grand tour. After that visit, Jim reached out to me and asked if I would like to be part of the team that was evolving a new concept for Palmetto Bluff. And, of course, I said yes.
Tell me about your first visit.
I had heard a lot about the property, mostly from Diana, but seeing it with my own eyes—it took your breath away. It was quintessential Lowcountry land, the vastness of it and its relationship to the surrounding riverscape and marshland. It was fall and the Lowcountry is very unusual during the transition of the marsh grasses, from rich green to golden, almost like wheat. And so it was a powerfully visual day. The sun was right, the breeze was right, the temperature, the humidity. You’re first in a dense maritime forest laden with oaks and pines and magnolias with occasional open savannas, then you bump out to the marsh edge and look over the May River. The contrast in micro environments was compelling, but also the seamlessness of the natural environment—it was very stirring. I tried to capture the scene in a series of photographs. I also think it translates so beautifully in the paintings by West Fraser.
What was the vision for Palmetto Bluff?
Mozley assembled an internal team of experienced professionals and brought in Dave Howerton [of Hart Howerton]. We were charged with developing a comprehensive plan. From the beginning, the mantra was: This is a place, not a project. Jim consistently reminded us that it all begins with the land. At the outset, the highest priority was to assess the natural features of the land through a lot of intense analysis. Through that analysis the team identified the best areas
for “settlements.” Wilson Village was the first, and Moreland Village was second. Anson Village was to be the potential third. The choice to start with Wilson Village was logical because there was already evidence of settlement there—the ruins of the Wilson mansion.
What set the comprehensive plan apart during that era of development?
From the beginning, it was really important that future settlements within Palmetto Bluff be modest in scale and woven with the natural environment. The team conducted a lot of studies of coastal communities such as Beaufort, Bluffton, Rockville and the Old Village of Mt. Pleasant, as well as others in the Northeast. We wanted to look at how these settlements evolved over time. The scale, buildings, and roadway system of Wilson Village borrows from this history. And that was really different from what other developments were focused on in the eighties and nineties. At that time, there was a lot more intense development, more commercial and resort activity, and more density. But that wasn’t the kind of buyer Palmetto Bluff wanted to appeal to.
How did the look and feel of Wilson Village evolve?
The idea was to develop settlement areas that were appropriately scaled for the natural features, that retain as much of the natural setting as possible. We wanted the siting of homes to be such that it looked like they had been there for a lot longer than they had, woven into the tree canopy. We did three-dimensional surveys, with topography and tree forms, and those were used as the basis for how to shape a house to a site. The team was fortunate to work with skilled and experienced architects who found ways to snuggle the homes within the natural setting. It was challenging and fun at the same time. So, now Wilson Village looks like it’s been there a lot longer than it has. It appears that it has grown up with the trees. Then it became more intuitive. The team didn’t over-analyze it; we just tipped toward a subtle and elegant scale.
What is it like to be working on this project again after so many years?
I have had the luxury of being involved in community development projects continuously, like I am at Kiawah Island. But it’s been really interesting to reconnect to Palmetto Bluff and look at it with fresh eyes. I can see how each setting has matured and what lessons we can learn from their evolution. I feel very fortunate to re-engage with the Hart Howerton team and continue the community development work with South Street Partners. I can’t think of a better team to carry the vision forward.
How do you think that informs the development of this new settlement?
Now we are thinking about how to transfer the original philosophy to Anson, recognizing that the natural conditions are subtly different. It’s not on a bluff, and it’s closer to the natural elevations of the marshlands. So we’re looking at the prior studies of Anson from the early 2000s with the Hart Howerton team and making adjustments and refinements based upon experience. Site analysis and assessment is a continuous responsibility.
Tell me about the vision for Anson Village.
Anson will be scaled appropriately for its setting and will continue the concept of “Designing With Nature.”
Right now, the focus is how best to integrate the planned wet and dry marina operation on the New River and construction of the golf course. Walking the golf course site now, you can begin to clearly visualize the rhythm of play and how the course will connect to the natural framework. Coore and Crenshaw have such a respect and soft touch to the existing conditions. In a certain way they do not create the place, they reveal the place that exists. Within a short time the course will feel like it has been there much longer than its true age. It will be a beautiful complement to the May River and Crossroads courses and will provide members diversity in play.
How does the land at Anson feel different from Wilson or Moreland?
There are more opportunities to connect to the vast savanna and marshlands that surround that part of Palmetto Bluff. The vistas are greater—it’s a bigger American landscape, if that makes sense. And so the scale and magnitude of the open vistas, either from the golf course or certainly from the marina location, are going to be much broader. And it’s closer to the open coastline. It’s kind of intangible, but when you’re driving toward the coast, you start to feel the atmosphere change, the humidity creeps up a little higher, you smell the salt air, the breezes have more energy.
What about the built environment?
It is definitely a work in progress. The partners and team are currently assessing the aesthetic expression. But the scale and massing will be consistent with Wilson and Moreland Villages. The architects will continue to use the same tools to articulate form. And the natural framework—the topography, tree canopies, and wind patterns—will continue to lead.
Lastly, what is your favorite place at Palmetto Bluff?
It’s different places during different times of the year and different times of day, if that makes sense. I have a strong affinity for marshland areas. The site of the new Anson clubhouse has beautiful southern exposure with long-distance views. The other place that I find interesting is the collision of the high ground, marsh, and river where the marina is. I’m not a boater, but the idea of being pulled to the shoreline in this active riverine system is cool. And there are a collection of island hummocks down there—they all feel like members of a family. They’re all unique. And maybe that’s the best way for me to describe what Anson will become. Another member of the family.
RIGHT: EXCERPT OF BIG HOUSE MARSHES BY WEST FRASER | OIL ON LINEN, 24 X 36
Well Living at Montage
STORY BY MEGHAN LAMB
IMAGES COURTESY OF MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF
Nestled within the serene landscape of the Lowcountry, Montage Palmetto Bluff has long been a sanctuary for those seeking connection, relaxation, and experiences distinct to our coastal region. In 2025, the resort’s Well Living program launched a new format with its yearlong celebration of the Lowcountry. The revamped, seasonal program will honor four distinct pillars: Roots of the Lowcountry, Culture, Stewards of the Land, and Community. Together, these themes weave a narrative of heritage, conservation, and togetherness, inviting guests to immerse themselves in the stories and people that shape this remarkable region.
The year begins with a tribute to the enduring Roots of the Lowcountry. Guests are invited to uncover the region’s heritage through curated experiences, including interactive local art installations, storytelling sessions with sixth-generation Daufuskie Island native and Gullah historian Sallie Ann Robinson, and culinary classes exploring the origins of traditional Lowcountry cuisine. As winter’s quiet beauty envelops the Bluff, these experiences offer a chance to connect deeply with the land and its past.
As the world awakens in spring, the focus shifts to celebrating the vibrant Culture of the Lowcountry. Through partnerships with local artisans, musicians, and organizations, guests can participate in workshops, enjoy live entertainment, and experience the unique traditions
Montage Palmetto Bluff’s Well Living is more than a program; it’s a journey through the soul of the Lowcountry.
that bring the region to life. With the Bluff in bloom, this season is an invitation to revel in the creative and lively spirit of the Lowcountry.
Summer’s warmth brings a focus on being Stewards of the Land, honoring Palmetto Bluff’s natural beauty and conservation efforts. Activities include walk and talks, ecotours, and seminars led by our resident naturalist, kayaking excursions on the May River, and wildlife showcases. Through these experiences, we hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for our lands and waters, while raising awareness about the importance of preserving the Lowcountry’s delicate ecosystem for generations to come.
In autumn and moving into the holiday season, Well Living culminates in a celebration of Community. This season emphasizes the connections that unite the people of the Lowcountry. Join in communal feasts featuring locally sourced ingredients, participate in charitable initiatives that support local families, and enjoy gatherings that bring the Palmetto Bluff community together. These moments of togetherness highlight the heart of the Lowcountry’s identity—its people.
One of the highlights of the revamped Well Living program is Artistry in Octagon, a celebration of the
vibrant connection between local art and cuisine. Each season, a new artist will showcase their work in the lower dining section of Octagon, bringing to life the beauty of the Lowcountry’s fields, waters, and lifestyles. As guests dine on dishes inspired by our region, they can explore the artist’s creations, immersing themselves in the stories of this rich cultural landscape. Another exciting addition is the Cooking Unplugged series, led by Executive Chef Nathan Beriau. This complimentary, monthly series offers a chance to unplug from daily stresses, reconnecting with the simplicity of life while discovering the heart of Lowcountry cuisine.
Montage Palmetto Bluff’s Well Living is more than a program; it’s a journey through the soul of the Lowcountry. Each season’s theme is a gateway to discovery, offering guests an authentic connection to the people, traditions, and landscapes that define this unique region. By celebrating the diversity of life and the power of meaningful connections, the program embodies the spirit of the Lowcountry.
As 2025 unfolds, guests, members, and the local community are invited to join this yearlong celebration, exploring the rich tapestry that makes the Lowcountry a place like no other.
On location at Montage Palmetto Bluff
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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.
BECKWITH RESIDENCES
RESIDENCES AT SALAMANDER
KIAWAH ISLAND
AROUND
HAUNTED WINE DINNER
FALL AND WINTER AT
PALMETTO BLUFF
Throughout the seasons, Palmetto Bluff hosts dozens of soirées, outings, and workshops. It was a fantastic fall and winter!
TURKEY TROT PHOTOGRAPHS by JOE ARMENI, NICOLE WEINZIMMER, and SUMMER PAGATPATAN
MEMBER HOLIDAY PARTY
DECEMBER ARTIST IN RESIDENCE KARIN OLAH
AROUND
TABLE: HAUNTED WINE DINNER
MONSTER MASH
MEMBER
BURN DINNER
THE CANEBRAKE
THE CANEBRAKE
REAL ESTATE MIXER
MEMBER HOLIDAY PARTY
NOVEMBER ARTIST IN RESIDENCE BLANC CREATIVES
AROUND THE TABLE: HAUNTED WINE DINNER
BURN DINNER
Tell me about where you grew up.
I was born and raised on Broad Creek in Hilton Head, and I’ve been boating and fishing since I was a tiny kid. When I was eight, I got into the industry. I’d go down to Shelter Cove Marina and beg the charter captains to let me clean their boats. When I was twelve, I joined a crew full-time and worked on boats from then until college.
Where did you go to college?
I went to school at the University of South Carolina, and, believe it or not, I majored in biomedical engineering! When I was twenty-two, I joined the Coast Guard where I did six years specializing in counter narcotics and search-and-rescue operations. When I was in the Coast Guard, I traveled all over North, Central, and South America and told myself that if I found a place that was more beautiful than where I grew up, I’d move there. And well…here I am. When I got out of the military, I came straight to Palmetto Bluff. There was a dockhand position available. I was able to turn that dockhand position into a captain’s position and start the Wilson Landing Captain’s Program. It all came full circle.
LOCAL CHARACTER
Thomas Shanahan
Tell me about your first visit to Palmetto Bluff.
I was basically raised on this property. My dad was the commercial superintendent with Fraser Construction and built all of Wilson Village and the original inn. When I was a kid, I’d get dropped off at the guard gate after school, and dad would pick me up. I have old pictures of myself on the original ruins of the Wilson Mansion!
What is something that people don’t know about you?
In 2012, I was guiding fishing trips off the coast of Hilton Head. One day I got hit by a stingray on my wrist, severing ligaments, arteries, and tendons and rendering me completely incapacitated. The Coast Guard actually came out to get me, and their professionalism was so impressive. I was like, Wow, this is something I could see myself doing. It took a couple years after that for my wrist to fully heal and to clear medical waivers before I could join. That was the worst pain of my life. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemies!
What is your favorite place at Palmetto Bluff?
The top of the Moreland Treehouse, without a doubt. Maybe it’s the big kid in me, or maybe it’s the view, but I often make it a point to get off the boat and climb up to the top.
What’s your most marked characteristic?
I struggle talking about myself, but I think I’m driven. When I get a vision for something, I work really hard to make it happen. The Captain’s Program here at Palmetto Bluff is an example of that. I saw a need for our members to get more in touch with the outdoors, and over the course of four years, we have introduced hundreds of members and thousands of guests to our Lowcountry waterways.
LEAD WILSON LANDING MARINA CAPTAIN & GUIDE
PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB
WHERE LIFE TAKES
EXCLUSIVELY FOCUSED ON PALMETTO BLUFF REAL ESTATE FOR OVER TWO DECADES.
MORE THAN A ...IT’S A
We are proud to represent this beautiful community with our two on-property sales offices. As the official real estate company for Palmetto Bluff, we have exclusive access to show the Palmetto Bluff Club and provide in sider information on upcoming news and developments.
Let Us Introduce You to Ownership Opportunities as Diverse as the Land Itself.
INLAND WATERWAY HOMESITES • COUNTRY ESTATES VILLAGE COTTAGES • SEMI-CUSTOM RESIDENCES
