Hilton Head Plantation, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

With a sun-soaked ambiance of understated privilege, Hilton Head Island has long been a resort destination. It sits on a barrier island of the same name off the southern South Carolina coast and is the location of beautiful Hilton Head Plantation, an all ages community that appeals to baby boomers, empty nesters, pre-retirees and retirees. Construction of the development began in the early-1970s and is ongoing.

Hilton Head Island is wooded, and so is Hilton Head Plantation. It spreads across more than 4,000 acres and is peppered with tall pine trees, live oaks and lagoons, giving it a classic Southern feeling. Skull Creek, which leads to the Intracoastal Waterway, is to one side, and Port Royal Sound is to the other.

Eventually, the community will have 4,500 estate homes, single family homes, town homes and condominiums. Single family home styles range from attractive ranch ramblers and stately antebellums to elegant Mediterraneans, Nearly all residences are tucked behind trees.

Many properties have views of the water or a golf course. Architectural integrity is ensured via an architectural review board that oversees all renovations and new home building.

Prices start in the high-$400,000s and reach into the millions. The annual HOA fee is $1,286. There is also a capital improvement, one-time transfer fee of 1/4 of 1% of a home’s sale price. Please check with a Realtor to verify these prices as they may change.

Community amenities are some of the best on the island. Residents enjoy four 18-hole golf courses, Bear Creek, Oyster Reef Golf Club, Dolphin
Head and Country Club of Hilton Head. The full service, 158-slip Skull Creek Marina can accommodate boats up to 22 feet long and has slips for sale and lease.

Two nature conservancies are quiet places for contemplation, and seven miles of nature trails help keep homeowners in shape. Three recreation centers/clubhouses are where homeowners gather for events and activities. There are also tennis courts and a zero-entry pool. The two mile beach on Port Royal Sound may be the best Hilton Head Plantation amenity of all.

The Cypress is an award-winning continuing care retirement community (CCRC) inside Hilton Head Plantation and is open to people age 62 or
better. It boasts cottages, custom homes, villas and apartments, all
in a lush setting.

The community has three gates (two for residents and one for guests), as well as 20 full-time security officers.

Hilton Head Island is a hard to resist. Its Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and its Choral Society have strong regional reputations. The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is a showcase for professionals, a venue for festivals and offers workshops in theater and visual arts.

Island festivals are many and include the WineFest, which is one of the largest such festivals on the East coast, and the annual Gullah Celebration,
which remembers a part of the Island’s rich culture and long history.

Hilton Head Island is bicycle-friendly and has 20 world-class golf courses, seven marinas and 20 parks. Many of these parks have observation decks, boardwalks, and trails. The bordering Pinckney National Wildlife Refuge is a bird watchers’ oasis.

Hilton Head Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission.

This area has summer high temperatures in the 80s and 90s, and winter temperatures in the 30s, 40s and 50s. On average, the area receives 49 inches of rain each year