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A Historic Landmark Among Hilton Head South Carolina Resorts
Enjoy a southern vacation like no other at Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe
Spa, set on a magnificent island with an intriguing history. Daufuskie is
designated a "sea island" - one of several dozen large islands fronting the
Atlantic Ocean, between the Santee River north of Charleston and the southern
coast of Georgia. Daufuskie Island's inhabited history has been traced by
archeologists as far back as 9,000 years -- and pottery remnants have been
found dating back to 7,000 BC. These first inhabitants are said to have
lived comfortably on Daufuskie's high ground. The island was flush
with wildlife, shellfish, and marine life that thrived in the nutrient-rich
marshes of the area near our spectacular hotel in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Below
is a summary of the inhabited history of the eight-square-mile Daufuskie
Island and what is now Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa - and its
evolution from a peaceful Indian settlement into a dynamic Hilton Head hotel
resort destination that has achieved worldwide recognition.
Pre-Colonial Period to the 1700s
Among the first known inhabitants were the peaceful Cusabo Indians, as evidenced
by archeological findings. The Cusabos were replaced in the early 1600s by the
more aggressive Yemassee Indians, who had migrated north from the coastal regions
of Florida. Spanish explorers had already identified this section of the Carolina
coast as early as 1525 - a full 40 years before establishing their first settlement
on the North American continent at Saint Augustine, Florida. In 1664, English sea
captain William Hilton sailed into the waters of the South Carolina coast, writing
in his log, "My Voyage to Carolina Coast 1644, The air is clear and sweet, the
country very pleasant and delightful; we wish that all they wanting a happy
settlement were well transported here." English traders soon followed and settled
in the area.
During the 1700s, land on Daufuskie was divided among the English and other
European families. The first known British Land Grant of Daufuskie Island was
turned over to Thomas Cowte on November 15, 1707. However, the Spanish, who had
focused on their settlements in north Florida, were angered at having the English
so close to their territory. So they began rewarding the Yemassees and other
regional tribes for raiding English settlements. During one such raid on Daufuskie, a band of English scouts surprised an Indian party near the island's southern tip. A
deadly skirmish ensued, with scores of Indians killed, earning the site the name
it holds today - Bloody Point.
1750-1970
Many loyalists to Great Britain lived on Daufuskie during the 1700s. So when the
American Revolution broke out in 1776, there was considerable strife between
residents of Daufuskie Island and nearby Hilton Head Island, which was a bastion
of American patriots. In 1781, Daufuskie Tory Loyalists staged an attack on Hilton
Head's Skull Creek Plantation. In retaliation, the Revolutionary War patriots of
Hilton Head formed the "Bloody Legion" and ambushed numerous homes on Daufuskie
Island. Throughout the late 1700s and early 1800s, 12 farming plantations were
created here. Residents realized that Daufuskie Island was blessed with special
nutrient soil and climate, ideal for growing a silky, rare type of cotton that
became known as "Sea Island Cotton". This unique strand of cotton prospers in
only a few areas of the world, including the sea islands of the southeastern
United States and Barbados.
The fiber is white, lustrous, and the longest of any cotton. It's perfect for
weaving an ultra-soft cloth. England's Queen Victoria was said to have her
handkerchiefs only made from Sea Island Cotton. The Sea Island Cotton industry
was the most profitable crop in the United States at that time (even more than
tobacco). It was also the most significant crop requiring slave labor, thus
prompting the slave trade, with thousands arriving on Daufuskie and nearby
islands from the west coast of Africa. Slavery continued to exist on Daufuskie
Island until the end of the Civil War.
In 1836, John Stoddard married Mary Mongin, granddaughter of a wealthy Daufuskie
planter. In 1848, they completed construction of their home, the Melrose Mansion
- located on the site of the current resort and named for the enchanting Melrose
Abby in Melrose, Scotland, where the couple had honeymooned. In 1862, Union forces
occupied Daufuskie Island. These northern troops chopped down 10,000 trees, which
they used to build the "corduroy roads" across the wetlands to Savannah. They
also tore down all of the plantation homes, except for the Melrose Mansion, which
was spared by Captain John Monroe.
The early 1900s saw Daufuskie Island at the height of its prosperity, but also
realized the loss of the Melrose Mansion, which was destroyed by fire in 1912. The
local economy flourished with the sale of Sea Island Cotton, indigo, lumber, farm
goods and oysters. However, in 1916, the boll weevil struck and by 1920, the cotton
crops were completely wiped out. Fortunately, Daufuskie still kept its oyster
industry going.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, many residents were forced to leave the
island to find jobs, but approximately 300 residents remained to work the Island's
oyster canneries. Oystering was the only means, other than cotton and vegetable
farming, for the people of Daufuskie Island to earn a living from the 1880s to
1959. Daufuskie oysters were known for their high quality and were shipped all
over the world during this time. However, due to pollution in the nearby Savannah
River, many of the best oyster beds were lost and the industry never fully
recovered. In 1971, the Stoddard brothers, Dan and Henry III, sold 700 acres of
land on Daufuskie, thus ending the Stoddard's reign on the Island. In 1974, the
famous motion picture "Conrack" was filmed on Daufuskie Island, based on the
award-winning autobiographical book "The Water is Wide" by Pat Conroy, which
recounted his early days of teaching African American children at the island's
one-room schoolhouse.
Modern History
When developers came to Daufuskie in the early 1980s, there were only 52
permanent residents. In 1984, International Paper purchased land at the
north end of the island and named it Haig Point, a private residential
community. Also in 1984, the central and southeastern portions of the
island, known as Melrose and Bloody Point, were purchased by three
developers and businessmen from Hilton Head, forming the Melrose
Company. This area was developed as a private Hilton Head South Carolina
hotel resort, including 170 rooms in the Inn and two- and four-
bedroom beach cottages, two championship
golf courses, tennis facilities, an equestrian center, and other amenities.
In 1997, the Melrose Company holdings were purchased by ClubCorp of
Dallas, Texas, a leading international resort management firm. ClubCorp
renamed the combined properties of Melrose and Bloody Point to Daufuskie
Island Club & Resort. Resort operations and club memberships continued
for the next four years until 2001, at which time ClubCorp divested
itself of the property. In May 2002, Daufuskie Island Properties, LLC
purchased the property and has since set forth to aggressively position
this historic, sea island resort as one of the most desirable getaways
on American soil.
In May 2003, the property was renamed Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe
Spa, reflecting the added spa services of Breathe Spa, a
signature day and destination spa, which has been branded nationally and
celebrated its debut on Daufuskie in March 2003.
Today, West Paces Hotel Group manages this 170-room Hilton Head hotel - as well as the
465-room Carefree Resort & Villas in Carefree, Arizona. Other properties include the 254-room
Ocean Place Resort & Spa on the New Jersey shore; 156-room The Partridge Inn in Augusta, Georgia;
and 92-room The Parkhotel in Euskirchen, Germany.
Click here for more about our Hilton Head Resort.
Escape to Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa, a luxurious golf and spa retreat
on an unspoiled stretch of pristine beach. Discover why this family- and pet-friendly
resort – nestled between Hilton Head Island and historic Savannah, Georgia – is the
preferred destination for vacationers and business travelers.
Book your reservations online today at our elegant Hilton Head resort for our preferred rates.
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