About a 12-mile drive from downtown Charleston, Isle of Palms is a seven mile long, one mile wide Atlantic barrier island dedicated to being a family beach destination.   Nearly 5,000 residents (including Wild Dunes Resort) call the island home year-round, and another 20,000 to 50,000 investment owners and visitors coming and going. 

The island was originally named Hunting Island and then renamed Long Island before becoming Isle of Palms in 1899.  IOP is thought to be at least 25,000 years old and first inhabited by the indigenous Sewee Indians. During the Civil War, the island served as the departure site for the CSS Hunley.  The city was the first in the State of South Carolina to achieve (2002) the Blue Wave Designation from the Clean Beaches Council who recognizes environmentally well-managed beaches. 

The front beach area running along Ocean Boulevard between 10^th and 14^th Avenues is lined with oceanfront restaurants, bars and shops.   Many local bands play in the various establishments.  There is a full service marina site with launch services, dockage and fuel just off the Intracoastal Waterway.  The IOP recreation center is located between 27^th and 29^th Avenues and features playgrounds, fields, a dog park, and indoor and outdoor basketball courts.  The rec center also organizes sports programs such as soccer, football, basketball, softball, and baseball.  The city is also home to an oceanfront county park, numerous pubic beach accesses and public parking sites.

      There is a wide range of real estate on the Isle of Palms from beachfront condos and single family homes, to homes in more residential areas, to properties off the Intracoastal Waterway.  Rentals are available on a nightly and weekly basis. For more on the island, please visit www.isle-of-palms.sc.us. 

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There is a wide range of properties available within Wild Dunes, from beachfront homes and condos, to properties with water and golf course views, to properties with direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway.  The resort shares a marina located on Morgan Creek just off the Intracoastal Waterway with the city of Isle of Palms with slips available for purchase and for rent.  

Development began in the 1970s and the resort was originally called The Isle of Palms Beach and Racquet Club.   Currently, about 2,500 permanent residents call the resort home.

What a special place.  Sullivan’s Island is a unique oceanfront community, often referred to as “Mayberry by the Sea” and compared to The Hamptons.  This “small town” has over three miles of beach and is about a 20 minute drive to downtown Charleston. 

There is a quaint commercial district located along Middle Street with family restaurants, bars, and fine dining establishments.  Sullivan’s has its own elementary school, post office, fire and police departments, the quaint commercial district, and the island’s park and public areas, that lend to the island’s small town personality.  There are no hotels ore high-rises on the island.  Sullivan’s is often regarded as one of the top places in the country to raise a family.

The town was incorporated in 1817 as “Moultrieville,” and currently a little less than 2,000 residents call the island home.  Sullivan’s as a long military history; much of that history is still preserved today.   Fort Moultrie is now a national monument open to the public.  One of the fort’s most distinguished residents was Edgar Allen Poe, who wrote “The Gold Bug” while stationed here.  Some old military fortifications are now single family residences, and there are several structures and homes currently designated as historical structures.

Ordinances are in place to protect Sullivan’s character and neighborhood feel.  There are very few short-term rentals.  Short-term vacation rental licenses are no longer granted on the island and must be grandfathered down when a property exchanges hands.  All proposed construction and renovation plans must be presented to and approved by the Sullivan’s Island Design Review Board. 

Charley and his family are Sullivan’s Island residents and have worked with the Design Review Board.  If you are looking for property on Sullivan’s, take comfort in knowing that Charley has first-hand knowledge of the community.  For a complete list of town ordinances and other information, please visit the town’s web site www.sullivansisland-sc.com. 

Mt. Pleasant, located east of the Cooper River from downtown, is a vibrant town and an excellent blend of history and growth.  The state of the art Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge was finished in 2005, replacing the Grace and Pearlman Bridges, and links Mt. Pleasant to the downtown peninsula. 

As one of the south’s fastest growing towns, you don’t have to go far to find great shopping, restaurants, and amenities.  Mt. Pleasant’s Shem Creek is home to Charleston’s shrimp fleet and the creek is lined with restaurants and boats.  Residents take full advantage of the fresh off-the-boat seafood available on the docks.  The Ben Sawyer Causeway and Isle of Palms Connector link Mt. Pleasant with the eastern barrier islands.  Boone Hall Plantation is located up Highway 17 North past the shops of Towne Center. 

Because of its history and recent progress, you will find just about any type of property you desire in Mt. Pleasant.  The historic homes and oak-lined streets in the town’s Old Village area draw thousands of tourists every year. There are new and older homes along the many creeks and rivers, marsh front properties, golf course and tennis country club communities, as well as established and newer residential traditional neighborhoods.  If you want it, you can probably find it.  If you are a boater, you don’t have to go far in Mt. Pleasant either to find water.

Mt. Pleasant’s 60-thousand plus residents make it South Carolina’s fourth largest town.  Its proximity to downtown Charleston and to the beaches, its top-rated schools, wide range of real estate and prices, and overall quality of life will continue to make Mt. Pleasant an attractive place.  For more information, please visit www.townofmtpleasant.com.