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Harbour Town Yacht Club

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149 Lighthouse Rd

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

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Friends of ours are members and invited us to stop in for a drink or two & enjoy the sunset. The views were gorgeous, and the staff was very friendly and welcoming! We are definitely fans!

Gorgeous views and friendly service!

We attended a wedding Welcome Party/Rehearsal Dinner at the Harbour Town Yacht Club and it was an unforgettable experience! The food was phenomenal and the staff was so kind! There was an outdoor rooftop deck that overlooked the beautiful lighthouse and the harbor. It was picture perfect during sunset!

By far the best accommodations on the Island, in my opinion. It seems difficult to feel completely comfortable while away from home. This is the only place I've ever stayed which effectively combines the luxurious feel of a nice hotel, with the same (tangible and intangible) comforts of home. Many of the rooms have spectacular views of the harbor--quite possibly the best views on the Island. If you're interested in spending time in HHI, you would be well-advised to give them a call!

This is the best place I have ever stayed - so happy I am a member. The staff is friendlier and more attentive than any regular hotel. The food is fantastic, the room s are HUGE and the view from most of the rooms and certainly the rooftop deck cannot be beat - not just on HHI, but almost anywhere. Definitely worth a look if you are on the Island.

Nice view of the Harbour from the Club Room Deck

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Come Join US!!

The Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island provides activities to its members that are fun and enriching.  We are about community and fellowship, striving to make your Low Country dreams come true.

Whether exploring the waters around the island or its coastal and cultural sites, the Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island is the place where you can discover all that Low Country has to offer.  

We are a volunteer club.  Our members make the club the inviting and welcoming place that it is.  You will find your second home at the Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island. 

MEMBER BENEFITS

BOATING and ON-THE-WATER EXPERIENCES

•   Power boat and sailing opportunities
•   Lunch Cruises.  During boating season, our boating committee schedules lunch cruises.  We explore the local waterways and restaurants.  
• Member usage of the club's Flying Scots
• Boat Storage in the Boat Yard 

SOCIAL EVENTS and ACTIVITIES

• Dining every Friday evening
• Special Events and Tours
• Holiday Celebrations
• Float in the St. Patrick's Day Parage in Hilton Head Island

Steps to Membership

Complete the Membership Application

Download the Application

There is a $200 application fee.  

Attend a Friday night dinner if possible and meet the members

Once your application is received an individual from the Membership Committee will contact you

WELCOME ABOARD!!

The Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island  is a 501(c)7 non-profit organization. 

Location:  99 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head, SC 29928

Mailing Address:  Post Office Box 5063, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938

Harbour Town Yacht Club

149 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head Island, SC

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Resales $10,500 and up - Fractional Resales, Fractional Resort

The ultimate in island living is within your reach! For over 30 years, the Harbour Town Yacht Club has been the preferred Hilton Head destination for a gracious, luxurious, and relaxing island experience. With a choice of studios, suites, and private villas, the Harbour Town Yacht Club offers comfortable lodging for any size family.

Let the excellent Member Services staff help you to take advantage of the many activities the yacht club has to offer – golf, tennis, biking, and even horseback riding. Join the knowledgeable guides at Lawton Stables for a guided trail ride through Sea Pines Forest Preserve, or simply visit their animal farm for a day of fun. For an authentic taste of waterfront lifestyle, take a cruise on the club’s historic, 42’ mahogany yacht, the Mystique. If you prefer to take island life at a slower pace, the Sea Pines Beach Club awaits you with its pristine shoreline, perfect for a day of sunbathing. At Harbour Town Yacht Club, each day is filled with possibility.

Additional Details

• Annual Usage: 28 Days
• Annual Fees: $4,620

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SOUTH CAROLINA YACHT CLUB

Kim Kardashian’s mother married 1976 Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner. Two daughters were born to this marriage. In 2015, this marriage broke up under scandalous circumstances: Bruce changed his gender to female and began to call himself Caitlin kim kardashian nipples . Kim’s birth father passed away in 2003. Kim Kardashian has nine brothers and sisters. Two siblings are Kourtney and Khloe, as well as a sibling Rob. With the arrival of her new daddy, the girl has half-brothers Barton, Brandon and Broughty Jenner.

The South Carolina Yacht Club is a members only club. Boat slip owners and tenants must join the SCYC for access to the activities and amenities of the club, which include fine dining, wine cellar, tennis, pool and spa, and health club.

SALTY SISTERS & BRINY BROTHERS These groups meet monthly for lunch and a sail. The Salty Sisters welcome all female members who are interested in sailing and the Briny Brothers welcome all male members who are interested in sailing.

The JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAM has been in existence for many years and is known as the premier sailing program for Hilton Head Island junior sailors. There are three levels in the program – “Learn to Sail,” “Intermediate,” and “Racing.” In 2008, the “Guppy” class was inaugurated into the program, which introduces 6 and 7 years-olds into the program.

Harbor 20 Racing – SCYC members are invited to join the Hilton Head Harbor 20 Fleet every Wednesday afternoon. Meet on the docks and plan for a wonderful time on the water!

The Club hosts three major annual regattas each year:

• Harbor 20 Spring Regatta – held in May of each year.
• Spar Wars Regatta – held in August of each year.
• Ocean Challenge – held in October of each year.

The Club is a member of the prestigious SOUTH ATLANTIC YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION (SAYRA) . SCYC boats are always in attendance at the events.

CRUISES are organized monthly throughout the year for all boat owners. The Cruise Fleet meets monthly to discuss upcoming cruises and other items of interest.

CLUB DINING

The sports center, swimming and fitness.

For more information, please visit the South Carolina Yacht Club website.

Unveil the Magic of Your Wedding at Harbour Town Yacht Club

Imagine exchanging vows as the sun sets over the pristine waters of Hilton Head Island, where the gentle sound of waves meets the soft rustle of coastal breezes. At Harbour Town Yacht Club, your wedding is not just an event; it’s a bespoke experience set in one of the most iconic and breathtaking venues on Hilton Head Island. Nestled within the luxurious Sea Pines Resort, HTYC offers a unique blend of classic Southern charm and modern elegance, making it the perfect canvas for the wedding of your dreams.

Why Choose Harbour Town Yacht Club?

Harbour Town Yacht Club is more than just a venue—it’s a destination where every detail is meticulously curated to reflect your unique love story. From the intimate Harbour Room with panoramic views of the marina to the expansive outdoor terrace ideal for al fresco ceremonies, HTYC offers a variety of stunning spaces that can be tailored to your vision.

Key Features and Services:

• Exclusive Waterfront Location: Say “I do” with the Harbour Town Lighthouse as your backdrop, surrounded by the natural beauty of Hilton Head Island. Our premier location within Sea Pines Resort ensures your wedding will be as unforgettable as the views.
• Comprehensive Wedding Packages: We offer a range of packages that include everything from catering and bar services to event coordination and décor, ensuring a seamless planning process.
• Customizable Experiences: Whether you envision a grand celebration or an intimate gathering, our team will work closely with you to bring your vision to life, down to the last detail.
• Preferred Vendor Network: Access our curated list of trusted local vendors who are familiar with our venue and dedicated to delivering exceptional service.
• Convenient On-Site Amenities: With luxurious accommodations nearby, your guests can relax and enjoy the full Hilton Head experience, from world-class golf to rejuvenating spa services.

The Perfect Setting for Your Dream Wedding

Harbour Town Yacht Club offers an unparalleled combination of elegance, charm, and breathtaking views, making it the ideal venue for your special day. Nestled within the iconic Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, our facilities are designed to create unforgettable memories for you and your guests.

Third Floor: Harbour Town Room and Calibogue Room

For brides seeking a blend of sophistication and intimacy, the third floor of Harbour Town Yacht Club provides two stunning venues. The Harbour Town Room is perfect for medium-sized gatherings, accommodating up to 60 guests in a beautiful, light-filled space that can be arranged to suit your vision. Whether you envision a traditional seated dinner or a more relaxed cocktail reception, this versatile room offers the flexibility to make your wedding day exactly as you imagined.

The Calibogue Room is ideal for more intimate celebrations, such as bridal showers or rehearsal dinners. With its elegant décor and views of the surrounding marina, it provides a serene and private setting for your closest family and friends to share in your joy.

Fourth Floor: The Club Room

The Club Room on the fourth floor is the crown jewel of Harbour Town Yacht Club, offering unparalleled views of the Harbour Town Yacht Basin, Calibogue Sound, and the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse. Imagine saying your vows on the veranda as the sun sets over the water, creating a breathtaking backdrop for your ceremony. This exclusive space also offers indoor elegance with its refined interiors, perfect for a seamless transition from ceremony to reception.

Whether you choose the third floor’s intimate charm or the fourth floor’s grandeur, Harbour Town Yacht Club ensures that every detail is handled with care, allowing you to focus on celebrating your love in one of the most beautiful settings on Hilton Head Island.

What Brides-to-Be Are Looking For

In today’s wedding planning landscape, brides are seeking more than just a venue—they are looking for an experience that is both personal and memorable. At HTYC, we understand the need for:

• Flexibility: Whether it’s selecting from various catering options or choosing between indoor and outdoor settings, we provide the flexibility to create a wedding that is truly yours.
• Seamless Coordination: With our dedicated event staff and day-of coordinators, you can rest assured that every aspect of your wedding will be handled with the utmost care and professionalism.
• Modern Conveniences: From state-of-the-art AV systems for your ceremony and reception to high-speed Wi-Fi for your guests, we ensure that your wedding day is as technologically smooth as it is beautiful.

Your wedding day deserves nothing less than perfection, and at Harbour Town Yacht Club, we’re here to make that happen. Let us transform your dream into reality in one of the most unique and desirable wedding venues on Hilton Head Island. Discover the magic that awaits you at HTYC.

Ready to turn your dream wedding into reality? Our expert team at Harbour Town Yacht Club is here to assist you every step of the way. For personalized planning assistance, simply email or call us today, and we’ll send you our comprehensive bridal guide, filled with everything you need to know to make your special day unforgettable. Let us help you create the wedding you’ve always envisioned in one of Hilton Head Island’s most stunning locations. Your perfect day starts here—contact us now to get started!

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An Endless Summer in South Carolina’s Lowcountry—With a Guest Appearance by Stan Smith (the Man, Not the Shoe)

I’m usually doing a lot of coping around this time of year: As a massive tennis fan—both the watching and the playing—the season generally winds down after the (just-concluded) US Open . And as for my game? While it’s really just hitting its stride, I’ve already started planning out the indoor season. My wife and two kids, meanwhile, just want an escape—tennis or no tennis, just somewhere fun, active, un-boring… and warm.

Enter the South Carolina Lowcountry. I’d been hearing about it forever from friends, and one particular part of it—Hilton Head Island—has been imprinted on my psyche since my tender years. Growing up land-locked in the midwest, I was an avid reader of Tennis magazine, and each month I’d marvel at the ads in the back for various tennis camps, tennis vacations, tennis instruction—seemingly all of which (or so I remember it) were located in this mysterious place called Hilton Head. When I then had the chance to meet the former US Open and Wimbledon champion Stan Smith—yes, the guy with the shoe—out at the Open, and he invited me to come down to Hilton Head to hit with him, it seemed like destiny.

First things first, though: The flight from New York to Savannah, Georgia is quick—two hours and small change—and a brief car ride delivered us to the Montage Palmetto Bluff . Any remaining traces of the much-overrated “real world” disappeared almost instantly the moment the car turned onto long, lazy streets cascaded with trees hanging Spanish moss. Soon deposited into our sprawling three-story brick home (like most things here, a newish build that hearkens back to various Southern architecture tropes) in the middle of Wilson Village, we dropped our stuff and headed out to grab rental bikes and a golf cart (the main mode of transportation around the 20,000 acres—much of it a protected nature conservancy—which comprise the property, which also contains 32 miles of waterfront property).

The vibe of the entire place is, of course, an extension of all that: Laid-back (but not lazy) and superbly appointed Southern luxury, the tempo slow and low, all white picket fences, riverfront cottages, porches made for napping or sipping lemonade. And while I normally bristle a bit at attempts to create complete high-end utopian environments to escape into (as opposed to finding your own creative way amid a sea of high-low options), let’s be honest: Most dream-vacation faux-communities don’t work as seamlessly, or as effortlessly, as everything does here. There’s an impressively large Inn, replete with library, with smores-ready fire pits tucked in behind it; there’s a host of dining options, from grab-and-go casual to sit-down casual Buffalo’s—our go-to lunch spot, with freshly caught seafood and produce from the resort’s gardens—to the slightly higher-end Octagon, inside the Inn (the perfect place for, say, grownups to dine on a grilled-peach salad and shrimp and grits which keeping an eye on the kids making the aforementioned smores) to the River House (and the speakeasy hidden away below it, but more on that later).

Unlike some Southern-style rambles I’ve taken elsewhere, though, despite all of the great indulgences at our disposal, I didn’t simply revert to rich, food-coma indulgences or nap-filled afternoons. Whether this is a result of having kids to entertain or simply because of the vast amount of opportunities to have some chill but active fun, we spent our days at Montage Palmetto Bluff doing stuff —our first morning saw us meet the resort’s resident naturalist, Cassie Beato, on a small, quiet Hinckley yacht for an on-board breakfast charcuterie while we learned all about the area’s abundant bird (including an assortment of owls and a bald eagle) and animal life (wild turkeys and deer, for starters) amid the maritime forest of oak and pine. If you were to ask my children today what they most remember from our entire vacation in the Low Country, they would tell you instantly: the moment when, while looking down the May River at a dock about 100 feet ahead of us on the port side of the yacht, we saw a large alligator that seemingly clocked us approaching, stalked its way to the end of the dock, slithered in the river, and headed—seemingly!—directly toward us. I know, I know: What happened? Absolutely nothing—we never saw the gator again.

If the afternoons didn’t see us climbing into and exploring a world-class rustic-chic treehouse, you’d find us in one or another of its pools. But there’s also an amazing kind of scavenger-hunt game that kept ours busy. Basically, they check in at the Montage Merits desk in the Inn, where they’re given a lanyard and a list of things to find, or do: think “catch a fish”; “make a s’more”; or “spot an owl” (two out of three ain’t bad for starters). With each victory comes a special pin to add to the lanyard; complete the lanyard and you become a kind of Eagle Scout of the place or some such (and perhaps they throw a parade in your honor—we’ll never know, as our kids came up just short after three days). My wife, meanwhile, earned her merits button at the sprawling Spa Montage by bravely enduring a 90-minute HydraFacial, emerging in radiant bliss.

I’m leaving out, of course, my own selfish, not-so-secret reason for being there: To ready and steady my tennis game before hitting with Stan Smith. Every morning—and mornings here, particularly very early mornings, are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, the dappled warm light beyond beautiful—I hopped into our golf cart and spun over to on-site Wilson Lawn & Racquet Club, equally out of a dream, with eight Har-Tru courts, all overseen by the club’s director, Martin Aviles. Who, truly, should be knighted, or given a kind of American-style Légion d’honneur, or something. Over the course of mere hours, Aviles—aside from overseeing a kind of bucolic and supremely at-ease tennis club out of a dream (the perfect scale, the perfect pro shop, an idyllic setting; I’ll stop here but could go on)—broke down my problematic forehand into constituent parts, improved every one of those parts, and then helped me reassemble it, fixing a nasty case of the yips with common sense and penetrating intuition.

How else to celebrate on our final night—other than, of course, dropping the kids off at an inventive playspace-meets-childcare operation, Paintbox, located on the second floor of the Inn. I assumed they were going to make some art, maybe watch a movie; I didn’t know they’d be exploring the property in the dark with their chaperone, making yet more s’mores, identifying more birds (and a few bugs), and otherwise having the time of their lives.

My wife and I, meanwhile, were dining on caviar and potato chips, crab cakes, strawberries and burrata salad, and rainbow trout (did I say something earlier about a food coma?), finishing with a rhubarb cheesecake, at the resort’s flagship restaurant, River House, before sneaking down below to Hush, that speakeasy, for a nightcap.

The grace note, before departing the next day, began with all of us standup paddleboarding, back on the May River. I mean the paddleboarding was great, for sure: epic views of glassy waters and distant forest, perfect weather, perfect conditions. But that was when a handful of dolphins decided to surface just a few feet out in front of us, playing and rolling around forever as we stood back, utterly in awe.

And so, on to Stan Smith—or, as his operation in nearby Hilton Head is known, the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy which, since 2002, has been working with talented junior players from around the world every day while they pursue studies and are housed elsewhere on the island. But we weren’t being housed elsewhere on the island. We stayed just around the corner from Stan’s academy, within the massive (and historic) Sea Pines Resort , in a large three-story house (even grading on the curve that comes from New York-sized apartments, the sheer scale of this was hilarious—there were entire wings of the house that we barely ventured into) on the back nine of a golf course, mere feet away from the coast.

Sea Pines has its origins in the late 1950s, when a man named Charles Fraser—inspired by the harbor of Portofino, Italy—set about attracting a new kind of tourism that prioritized environmental concerns and focused on active recreation, both novel concepts at the time. (Fraser also encouraged his employees to picnic with their families and play tennis in the middle of the day, among many other forward-thinking qualities.) When Fraser caught the 1970s golf and tennis boom earlier than almost anyone else, Sea Pines quickly became known as a pioneer in development, influencing the design and management of resorts around the world.

Today, Sea Pines retains this laid-back, out-of-time ambiance—more Spanish moss, more glistening light between towering live oaks—while providing the resolutely of-the-moment comforts of luxury homes scattered across 5,000 acres (or a smorgasbord of room options at the Inn & Club at Harbourtown, more centrally located amidst dining and entertainment options). We showed up to find an array of bicycles—each sized perfectly for each member of the family—in a rack outside the house, and within minutes I was helping my son learn to ride his bike (and avoid those pesky alligators that he feared but that we, thankfully, never saw) on the paths winding around that golf course. In the late afternoon, we all jumped into the nearby pool, which—save one solitary figure—we had to ourselves.

Once dried off, we headed down to the local marina and climbed aboard an 80-foot motor yacht, Top Shelf , for a sunset dinner cruise around the local waters. Heading out of the estuary, we spotted scores and scores of dolphins behind us, jumping into the sun and disappearing again. Before dinner, with a vague kind of adult supervision and perhaps a blessing, I performed a ceremonial leap from atop the yacht’s roof into the sea far down below; emerging unscathed, I then declared it dinner time. (Steaks for me, sea bass for my wife, and the world’s greatest chicken nuggets for the kids.) Unsuprisingly, everybody slept very well that night.

The next morning, Hilton Head Social Bakery —a French bakery on a Southern resort island—delivered a basket full of croissants and tarts and brioche, the rest of the family headed off to the pool, and I walked over to see Stan Smith.

Smith, en route to winning Wimbledon in 1972.

There may never be a man better suited to his environs than Smith—upon early inspection one of the world’s most mellow, most affable, and most accomplished men—seemed to be suited to Sea Pines. “I just came down once and fell in love with the place, like everybody does,” Smith told me when I asked how he ended up here. “I signed as a touring pro at Sea Pines Resort, and I've been that ever since—and then we started this academy 20 years ago. Our goal is to get our kids to a college that’s appropriate for their tennis and their academics—we’ve had Ivy Leaguers; we’ve had players going to the very, very highest tennis-level schools.∏ (One of those players, Jessie Pegula, has been doing okay—she played in the US Open final this year and is one of the best women in the world.)

Aside from his Adidas-related fame (his acclaimed recent book, Some People Think I’m A Shoe , with a foreword by Pharrell Williams, is gorgeous and revelatory), Smith’s life as a tennis pro spans an incredible, historic period in the game: He’s played Don Budge, René Lacoste, and Fred Perry and Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, and John McEnroe.

Now, though, he’s about to play me—far removed from my boyhood life playing tennis 24/7, I’m now one of those once-a-week scramblers still madly in love with the game even if their strokes aren’t quite scaring anyone anymore. As we walk out to the courts at the academy, I ask him if there’s one big thing that he’s diagnosed after teaching kids for decades how to play better—some magic secret or inside information that he could pass on.

“The biggest problem,” he told me, with a straight face, “is that people aren’t playing every day. And if you're not playing a lot and not in great shape, after a while things are going to break down.”

I’ll spare you a retelling of what happened out on the court with Smith. Suffice to say that his easygoing nature—and his extreme expertise—were on regular display, saving both my ego and my vanity, and that I learned to tweak some fundamental aspects of my game from a former number-one-in-the-world champion, who seemed to never cease smiling. My son—he normally shies away from playing—even showed up from the nearby pool to hit with another teaching member of the Smith Stearns staff on an adjacent court. Soon my wife and daughter—neither of them tennis fans—showed up as well, and we all found ourselves on the court with Smith, chatting and swinging.

I mean, sure—my kids still think of him now as the shoe guy. But one day they’ll understand?

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How this Brunswick island once deemed 'inhospitable for colonization' became an exclusive resort

In the early 1980s, brothers Mark and Kent Mitchell visited Bald Head Island for the first time.

The men were living in Wrightsville Beach, and a friend from Southport offered to take them to the island on his boat.

“After dropping anchor near the cape, we paddled in and surfed along East Beach,” Mark recalled in an email.

Like most first-time visitors, Mark and Kent knew the island was special.

They explored what is now known as Captain Charlie’s, three lightkeepers’ cottages that were then in disrepair. They continued down Federal Road through the maritime forest until they could see Old Baldy on the horizon.

“We found the entire island amazing and were absolutely in awe,” Mark said.

That visit was the catalyst for making the island what it is today: a place where development and nature co-exist.

But the island’s journey to its modern-day status wasn’t without struggle. Once deemed too “inhospitable” for a settlement, it now boasts million-dollar-homes and an exclusive golf club. As exponential growth continues in Brunswick County, the island will soon enter a new chapter in its development. This has many asking, what’s the future of Bald Head Island?

TIMELINE: Bald Head Island's major milestones in ownership and development

‘Inhospitable’ for colonization, perfect for a fort

The barrier island at the confluence of the Cape Fear River and Atlantic Ocean has gone by many names over the years: Cape Island, Smith Island, Palmetto Island, and finally, Bald Head Island.

While little is known about its history before the Civil War, local historian Chris Fonvielle believes about 8,000 years ago, the Cape Fear Indians likely canoed to the island and established temporary “seafood camps. But he adds their stories are “long lost to the mists of time.”

“Bald Head was a wild, pristine, undeveloped paradise for many thousands of years,” Fonvielle said in an email.

One of the first known attempts to settle the area occurred when William Hilton led a Puritan expedition from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In both 1663 and 1664, he attempted to establish a settlement called Charles Town on the west bank of the Cape Fear River at the mouth of what is now Town Creek. Both ventures failed.

“When Hilton's Pilgrims abandoned Charles Town the first time in April 1663, they left a signpost on the ‘Cape Island,’ as Hilton called Bald Head, warning other explorers that the area was ‘inhospitable’ to colonization,” Fonvielle said.

In May 1713, the British Crown granted Bald Head Island to Landgrave Thomas Smith of South Carolina, making it the earliest known land grant in the Lower Cape Fear Region. The island then became known as “Smith Island,” but Fonvielle said there is no evidence Smith ever built structures or lived there.

In fall 1863, the Confederate Army took advantage of the island’s location and geography, constructing a massive earthen defense called Fort Holmes. Fonvielle noted the remains of the fort are still visible today.

From the early 19th century until World War II, the island was home only to lightkeepers and their families and a few farmers who grew vegetables and raised livestock. Among those who lived on the island were Captain Charles Norton Swan, better known as “Captain Charlie.” According to a video produced by the Old Baldy Foundation, he served as keeper of the Cape Fear Light Station from 1903 to 1933.

MyReporter: There is no Cape Fear, NC, on my map. Where exactly is it?

One of Swan’s children, Reese Swan, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and after his service, he would be hired as the caretaker of Bald Head Island, a position he held for many years. Reese passed away in 2016, but in his later years, he often recalled his times on Bald Head fondly. He even shared one his favorite treats as a child was a confection called “Turtle Egg Duff,” a cake made with a dozen sea turtle eggs, sugar, flour, salt, shortening, vanilla, and seedless raisins.

While such a concoction would be illegal today, it is just one example of how those few early island residents lived off the land and its resources.

There were a handful of brave property owners who lived on the island before electricity. The Bald Head Association website notes these people were referred to as “The Generator Society.”

“Due to its remoteness and sandy soil, the island simply didn't attract people to live there until the 1970s,” Fonvielle said. “Even then, growth and development has been slow and uneven.”

The whispers of a resort town

Somewhere around the mid-1900s, developers began to take notice of the island’s potential.

According to the Bald Head Association’s website, T.F. Boyd of Hamlet, N.C., purchased the island in 1916 and built a beach boardwalk, a pavilion, and an eight-room hotel. He sold 40 lots and cleared some streets before the property was lost in foreclosure.

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Frank Sherrill then purchased the island in 1938 with “big development plans,” kicking off a battle for conservation. As a result, Sherrill abandoned his plans. Cape Fear Corporation purchased the island in 1970 and honored the wish for conservation, deeding three-fourths of the island, including its marshes, the east beach, and Bluff, Battery, and Striking islands to the State of North Carolina.

The island changed hands again, and Walter Davis and Jim Harrington were the owners when Mark and Kent Mitchell made that first trip. Soon after that first visit, the Mitchell brothers returned to the island and met with a salesperson to discuss buying a few lots.

Upon learning of Mark and Kent’s interest, Davis — a contemporary of their father George P. Mitchell — invited them to dinner on his yacht docked in downtown Wilmington.

“Not long after the dinner meeting, our father called Davis,” Kent recalled. “The conversation quickly went from purchasing a few lots to our family buying all the unsold portions of the island.”

After an exhaustive title search, which included “chasing down handwritten deeds that dated back to 1713 when Thomas Smith owned the island, the Mitchells closed on all the remaining unsold lots and undeveloped acreage.

With their father George providing “a guiding hand and financial support,” Mark and Kent founded Bald Head Island Limited, which has served as the island’s development company from 1983 through the present.

Development with a vision

Mark and Kent’s development strategy was inspired by the master plan for The Woodlands, which their father’s company was developing near Houston, Texas. The community, which now has more than 120,000 people, will mark its 50 th anniversary as a township in October 2024.

“Through our dad’s connections, we were exposed to great thinkers like Ian McHarg, who wrote Design with Nature , and various other philosophers and designers who blazed the trail for environmentally sensitive land planning,” Kent said.

With that in mind, the men developed a vision statement for Bald Head Island Limited: “To create a viable premier island community where people may live in harmony with nature and each other.” The statement has since guided their decisions, leading them to donate land and funding to help establish the Bald Head Island Conservancy and the Old Baldy Foundation as “caretakers of the island’s ecology and history.”

“We also donated the creekfront site where the Bald Head Island Chapel sits,” Mark added. “Decades later, these organizations are the heart of the community.”

They also made strategic decisions to protect the environment, including not building a bridge to the mainland, which kept vehicle traffic off the island. Visitors must travel by the ferry system or private boat.

They decided electric golf carts would be the primary mode of transportation on the island, eliminating noise, pollution, traffic, and the need for large parking lots. The speed limit is capped at 18 miles per hour.

“Electric carts allow for an entirely different pace, atmosphere and scale,” Mark explained.

Kent credited Dan Costa and Chuck Dietsche, both planners and architects, with helping them establish the building design aesthetic for the island’s neighborhoods.

“Chuck used the term ‘eco-romanticism’ to describe what we were trying to accomplish—celebrating man’s place within nature and appreciating its ability to inspire and heal us,” Kent said.

When it came to planning “Cape Fear Station,” the island’s final development, they conducted in-depth research on the wildlife, topography, trees, vegetation, and drainage contours.

“It was essential to undertake everything this way because the land we were working with is unique and irreplaceable,” Mark recalled.

Enjoying the island

For those visiting Bald Head Island, the vacation begins as soon as the ferry departs the dock. While visitors lug suitcases, beach gear, golf clubs, and coolers, they no longer have to carry groceries with them; the island has a full-service grocery store, the Maritime Market and a number of restaurants, shops, and even a salon and spa.  

The island also has its own municipality, the Village of Bald Head Island, which was incorporated in 1985. While the number of full-time residents has increased dramatically over the last 50 years, the 2020 U.S. Census showed the Village only had population of 268, much less than the surrounding towns of Southport and Oak Island. But seasonal visitors can take that number into the thousands due to the presence of second-home-owners and vacationers.

Many believe the island’s quiet atmosphere has contributed to its popularity.

 “People truly feel like they have gotten away when they come here,” Mark said.

Both Mark and Kent had the opportunity to enjoy the island as young men, and that’s something they passed down to their own families.

“One of the best memories I have about the island is the freedom my kids had growing up here and, even now, the freedom my grandkids have when they visit,” Mark said. “My daughter Erica is in her 40s, but when she was a young teen, I felt comfortable that she and her friends could ride their bikes to the grocery store or go to the beach by themselves. I saw the same thing with my son Brandon and daughter Sophia, who are now in their 20s.”

Kent’s three sons return to the island and bring their children.

“It’s crazy how quickly the years have flown by,” Kent added. “During our time, we’ve seen three generations of islanders experience the island, coming up on four.”

The next chapter

George P. Mitchell, passed away in 2013, at 94 years old. As the family works to close out the elder Mitchell’s estate, Mark and Kent plan to sell the remaining commercial property left on the island. A years-long battle to transfer the island's ferry system is also underway, which leaves many asking about the island’s future.

Kent and Mark believe the answer lies with current property owners and residents.

“Our desire is for more property owners to get involved in entrepreneurial enterprises here and grow the number of independent businesses and services to help round out the community and offer employment opportunities to the local communities,” Kent said.

Kent notes they always intended for the island to be self-sustaining, and he believes “third-party entrepreneurs are key to ensuring a smooth transition as our family’s involvement continues to wind down.”

“We never intended to operate the many diverse businesses forever, but rather wanted to nurture the island businesses through the incubation phase, sell the businesses to local entrepreneurs, and allow the community to own, manage and grow those businesses,” Kent said.

“After 40 years as the primary developers of Bald Head Island, I hope the example we set as responsible stewards lives on, even as our family takes on a lower profile and passes the baton to the next generation of islanders,” Mark added.

Kent added the island’s strong sense of community is what keeps vacationers returning year after year.

“While you’re here, it’s easy to fall under the ether of the island’s relaxed pace and wildness, and to feel a part of it,” Kent said.