If you sit in traffic for hours dreaming of a vacation where you don’t have to spend any time in a car, Haig Point is the destination for you. Haig Point sits on the north end of Daufuskie Island, a car-free (and carefree) South Carolina island located near the more well-known Hilton Head. After arriving by ferry (which takes about 30 minutes from Savannah and runs every hour), you get around the island on foot, by bike or on an electric golf cart — the latter of which is provided to overnight Haig Point guests.
Without the traffic lights or car horns or exhaust, stepping on Daufuskie Island is an immediate and intentional slowdown. Electricity didn’t arrive on Daufuskie until the 1950s, and telephones didn’t come until the 1970s. Rest assured, both are available now — as is high-speed internet. Nevertheless, you can’t help but live on vacation time when you’re here.
Haig Point is a residential community and country club offering a limited number of rooms for vacation guests in either the 1873 Lighthouse or the Strachan Mansion. In 2001, all the common properties and amenities at Haig Point were transferred to members, and today the private club is member-owned. Overnight guests have access to the club’s amenities: the golf course, dining room, clubhouse, fitness center, beach club and pool — not to mention, the scenic beach walks. Haig Point offers reciprocity with a number of other clubs and club networks, too.
In addition to soaking up all the vacation-style, island-time goodness the club offers, Haig Point is a great starting point for exploring the rest of Daufuskie Island, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was an indigenous hunting ground circa the 1500s. In the 1600s and 1700s, bloody battles erupted as colonizers sought to claim the land. In the 1700s and 1800s, it was the site of 11 plantations growing sea cotton, built on the backs of enslaved people. Some remains of the quarters where enslaved people lived are still standing at Haig Point.
After the Civil War, some emancipated people purchased land on the island and worked to protect Gullah culture and language. They lived there until the boll weevil wiped out their crops. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the oyster industry thrived on Daufuskie Island. In the 1980s, development began — but much of the island and Gullah culture has been preserved and remains undeveloped.
Learn more about this rich and complex history by taking your golf cart to the Daufuskie Island History Museum. You can also visit the Daufuskie Island Conservancy, which works to protect salt marsh wildlife, like sea turtles and snowy egrets. No matter your interests, you’ll be able to dive in and explore on Daufuskie Island. Just remember to take it slow.
What’s Nearby
The island’s rich history is worth exploring. Stop at Daufuskie Blues, which makes hand-dyed indigo fabrics. Iron Fish Gallery is focused on marine-themed pieces, and is often unattended (with directions on how to pay if there’s no one around). Guided history tours help you explore the entire 9-square-mile island.
What to Do
Daufuskie is an island, so do all the beach activities that interest you, whether that’s shelling, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, or taking sunrise beach walks on an unspoiled coast.
Haig Point recently added full-time wellness programs to its club offers, with yoga, group fitness classes and sound baths now available. Many (most?) people come to golf on Haig Point’s two courses, and horseback riding is available to all overnight guests.
Where to Eat
As you’d expect from a club community with a concierge mindset, you can feast on low-country specialties and other seasonal dishes in excellent restaurants, like the Calibogue Club and the 30th Hole Grill Room in the clubhouse. The resort recently upgraded its culinary program by hiring executive chef Justin Smith and pastry chef Savanna Brodar, so wine pairing dinners and other events are often on the schedule. (Mark the calendar for next year’s Bateau, an October food and wine festival that is likely to become an annual event.)
Brodar’s sweets are available in the Strachan Mansion at breakfast. You can also get in your golf cart and scoot over to Old Daufuskie Crab Company for some classic seaside fare. Remember, the ferry ride is just 30 minutes, so it’s possible to have groceries delivered if you’d rather eat in.
How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
There are two primary accommodation options for Haig Point guests: the 1873 Lighthouse and the Strachan Mansion.
The Strachan Mansion was originally built on St. Simons Island and moved to Daufuskie by barge in 1986. It has four guest rooms packed with antiques. Grab pastries or read a book in the sun-filled rooms on the first floor. The lighthouse was built to help boats navigate around the sound. It was restored in the 1980s and now includes two bedrooms available for vacationers.
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