History of Wild Dunes, South Carolina

Wild Dunes is a resort area located on the Isle of Palms, a barrier island outside Charleston, South Carolina. By car, it is about a twenty mile drive to downtown Charleston. The area holds a long history, as the Isle of Palms is over 25,000 years old. Initially inhabited by the Seewee Indians, after they were driven out, the island was without permanent residents until the 19th century. It was the location of Revolutionary War and Civil War activity, such as preventing British Troops from crossing over to the populated Sullivans Island and the sinking of the Union submarine, the CSS Hunley. Throughout the 19th century, people came from Charleston to escape the intense heat of the city. After the island became a popular destination, Wild Dunes Resort development began in 1972 by the Sea Pines Company that developed Hilton Head Island. It was initially called Isle of Palms Beach and Racquet Club, but with the popularity of the Wild Dunes Links Course, the whole resort took on that name. Wild Dunes would go on to be acclaimed one of the top 500 hotels in the world by Travel and Leisure and Magazine, and one of the US's cleanest beaches by Clean Beaches Council.