A private island resort in a stunning location has become one of the most expensive zip codes in America.
Homeowners pay a median price of $4.3 million on Sea Island, a long, narrow strip of land on Georgia’s southeast coast.
Located 60 miles from both Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida, the city contains 600 private homes so desirable that they often change hands without ever being put on the market.
Golf plays a central role in the city’s culture and economy, with its stunning Plantation and Seaside courses hosting the PGA Tour with the help of host and resident professional Davis Love III.
“It’s a simple community with civility and civility,” Scott Steilen, president and CEO of Sea Island, told the Wall Street Journal.
Homeowners pay a median price of $4.3 million on Sea Island, a long, narrow strip of land on Georgia’s southeast coast.
Located 60 miles from both Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida, the city contains 600 private homes that are so desirable that they often change hands without ever being put on the market
Golf plays a major role in the city’s culture and economy, with its stunning Plantation and Seaside courses hosting the PGA Tour with the help of host and resident professional Davis Love III
“Like a lot of resort communities, we went through a buying frenzy when the pandemic started,” Patrick Dunn, a sales representative with Sea Island Properties, told the Wall Street Journal.
“In 2018, we had about 90 of our 600 homes for sale. During the pandemic, we were down to four or five homes for sale.
As a result, most properties were taken off the market and reserved for people with the right connections.
There are currently only five real estate listings on Sea Island, the most expensive of which is a 40-acre parcel with 4,000 feet of beachfront that is selling for $42 million.
The Spanish-style condo at Ocean Forest Residences, which has four bedrooms and four bathrooms, is the most expensive property listed at $9.875 million.
The city’s origins can be traced back to 1911, when automobile magnate Howard Coffin and his wife Matilda purchased nearby Sapelo Island.
Coffin wrote at the time that he was fascinated by “the gloom of the live oaks, beautiful and braided and woven,” and 17 years later he expanded south to Sea Island.
Civilization on the island began with the opening of the Monastery at Sea Island Hotel in 1928, a luxurious Mediterranean-style building with five miles of private beach.
Its opening was marked by visits from a host of dignitaries, and the 30th US President, Calvin Coolidge, visited for the holidays and planted an oak sapling.
Presidents, kings and other notable figures have continued the tradition of planting oak trees on the island, and in 2004 it became the first American resort to host a G8 summit.
Located 60 miles from both Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida, the city contains 600 private homes that are so desirable that they often change hands without ever being put on the market
Golf plays a central role in the city’s culture and economy, with its stunning Plantation and Seaside courses hosting the PGA Tour with the help of host and resident professional Davis Love III (pictured)
Civilization on the island began with the opening in 1928 of the convent at the Sea Island Hotel, a luxurious Mediterranean-style building with five miles of private beach (pictured)
Its opening was marked by visits from dignitaries, and Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, visited for the holidays and planted an oak sapling.
A woman stands in front of the wooden sign for Sea Island and the Atlantic Ocean in Georgia circa 1949
The bridge connecting Sea Island, Georgia, to the mainland via St. Simons Island, Georgia, is on display on Friday, July 18, 2003.
The city is also known for its culinary scene, with local specialties including buttered corn fritters, golden brick ice cream, and fresh fruit cobbler.
In the 1950s, a culinary tradition known as the Rainbow Island Dinner began with the monastery hosting an outdoor seafood feast under the stars on Friday nights.
It also hosts a life-sized gingerbread house at Christmas, while the pets perform in a ‘Reindog Parade’ as part of the same festivities.
The city boasts The Lodge at Sea Island, an English country mansion that was named America’s Best Hotel in 2016.
With prices starting from $395 (£280) per night, the 40-room hotel offers an exclusive atmosphere with classic luxury, with guests returning every year for romantic getaways or world-class golf holidays.
Guest rooms feature rich wood furnishings, exposed-beam ceilings, upholstered chairs, hardwood floors, handcrafted oriental rugs and marble bathrooms.
A 24-hour butler service is available to attend to guests’ needs, and one special feature is the nightly bagpiper performance at sunset.
US News & World Report said it chose The Lodge because it is a consistent favorite among experts and travelers thanks to its amenities and high standards.
