• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SC Picture Project

The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

  • FIND A LANDMARK
    • BY CITY
    • BY COUNTY
    • BY CATEGORY
    • BYGONE LANDMARKS
  • ADD IMAGES
  • VOLUNTEER
  • SPONSORS
  • DONATE
  • Black History

St Phillips Island

SC PICTURE PROJECT 25 Comments

SC Picture Project / Beaufort County / St Phillips Island

St. Phillips is an undeveloped island off the coast of Beaufort, near Hilton Head. It previously belonged to billionaire Ted Turner, who sold it to the State of South Carolina in 2018 for $4.9 million. It first went on the market in 2014 for $24 million.

St. Phillip's Island

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

There is no bridge to St. Phillips, nor does the island have water or electricity. The 4,682-acre property has just two homes at present, a caretaker’s cottage and Turner’s four-bedroom, four-bathroom vacation residence (seen below). The latter, set four miles inland, features wood paneling and a porch that faces the Atlantic Ocean. The island is protected by a conservation easement, held by the Nature Conservancy, which allows only ten additional structures.

St. Phillip's Island

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Bo Peterson of Charleston‘s Post and Courier explains what makes the island so unique:

It’s a series of dunes that are thousands of years old, rolling like waves interspersed with canal-like inlets.

Viewed from the air, it looks like a series of long ribs.

St. Phillips is an interior sea island in the process of being washed into a barrier island, its dunes gradually migrating as the seas push in. It’s a living example of the future of the eroding coast, complete with deer, alligators, gray and black fox squirrels, tabby (concrete oyster shell ruins), in among pines and hardwood blanketed with resurrection ferns.

St. Phillip's Island Retaining Wall

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

One of South Carolina’s few existing “boneyard beaches” can be found on St. Phillips, which is located five miles from Hunting Island State Park, by boat. It is also near St Helena Island, which is known for its vibrant Gullah culture. The Penn Center, a National Historical Landmark, is located on the site of one of the nation’s first schools for freed slaves.

St. Phillip's Island

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

More Pictures of St. Phillip’s Island


St. Phillips Island

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Phillip's Island Beach

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Phillip's Island

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Phillips Island

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Phillips Island

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Phillips Island

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Phillips Island Guest Cabin

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Phillips Island Main House Porch

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Phillips Island Water Tower

Chip Hall of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip:

Where is located?
SC
GPS Coordinates: 32.276452,-80.596944
What else should I see?
Fort Fremont 5.4 miles
St. James Baptist Church 10 miles
St. Helena Chapel of Ease 11.2 miles
Fripp Island 12 miles
Show me more like this!
  • Beaufort Historic Sites
    Map

    Please Help Us Stay Online

    We’d like thank everyone who generously supports the South Carolina Picture Project. You provide us with the inspiration and financial support we need to keep doing what we do. Every reader’s contribution, larger or small, is valuable. If you have enjoyed this website or found it helpful, please pitch in. Each donation helps – and it only takes a minute. Thank you!

    Support the SC Picture Project!

    $3,160 of $12,500
    105 Donations
    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    You may also like

    You may also like

    Beaufort Waterfront Park SunsetHenry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Beaufort Arsenal EntranceBeaufort Arsenal Haig Point LighthouseHaig Point USC BeaufortUSC Beaufort Tabby ManseTabby Manse

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vivian J. Parrish says

      February 6, 2021 at 4:44 PM

      Can you camp overnight on the beach on St. Phillips Island?

      Reply
    2. Miles Sanders says

      April 19, 2019 at 4:29 PM

      So I looked in the archives and I located the “Kings Grant” definition. We are allowed to the high water mark on the island. This is good news for all the fishermen and photojournalists such as myself. I am excited to spend time up on the beach at high tide taking time lapse solar photos. There is also a loophole in the Kings Grant which says vessels under “distress” are allowed one week access to the island. Hope this clears everything up!

      Reply
    3. Greg Bradley says

      February 15, 2018 at 9:35 PM

      Is there any history regarding Saint Phillips Island in Beaufort County to be found? Was it ever used in the Civil War? I see it was sold to SC recently, thanks.

      Reply
    4. Kevin Williamson says

      February 8, 2018 at 5:20 PM

      Has St Phillips been sold to the State of South Carolina?

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        February 8, 2018 at 11:59 PM

        It was slated to be, we have not heard yet if the deal has finalized.

        Reply
    5. Sandra Litchfield says

      May 6, 2015 at 11:50 PM

      I am interested in Bay Point Island. Was this Bay Point Island (Ft. Beauregard) during the Civil War? I have an ancestor who was the lighthouse keeper from 1863-1865. His name was E.M Converse and his wife was Margaret. Is it possible to visit? Do you know of any information that would help?
      Thank You,
      Sandra Litchfield

      Reply
    6. Curtis McDaniel says

      January 8, 2013 at 4:13 PM

      That would be correect.

      Reply
    7. Tony Stuart says

      November 23, 2012 at 11:29 PM

      My understanding of Submerged lands jursidiction in
      South Carolina is that all tidelands below the mean high water mark are owned by the state in public trust. This includes King’s Grants. So unless I am missing something, it is perfectly legal to land a boat on the beach below the high water mark on St. Phillips Island. Am I mistaken?

      Reply
      • Jack W Davenport says

        September 16, 2019 at 7:08 PM

        You are correct sir.

        Reply
        • Ray says

          September 25, 2019 at 3:11 PM

          The mean high water mark is not the high tide mark. The mean high water mark is much lower, about a half tide.

          Reply
    8. Curtis McDaniel says

      September 26, 2012 at 2:30 PM

      Just pulling your leg.

      Reply
    9. Ray Tudor says

      September 14, 2012 at 10:17 AM

      Glad you injoyed your stay on whatever Island you were on but I assure you it was not St. Phillips ! Cheers

      Reply
    10. Curtis McDaniel says

      September 13, 2012 at 1:41 PM

      Sorry I did not get your response in time We spent the first week of September on the southeastern shore. It was just fantastic. Thanks so much for your kind southern hospitality. Tell Brother Ted, we took only what we needed and needed only what we took. We will let you know next time we can stop in for a week or so.
      Cheers.

      Reply
    11. Ray Tudor says

      August 29, 2012 at 11:43 AM

      The island is private and off-limits.

      Reply
    12. Curtis McDaniel says

      August 28, 2012 at 8:10 AM

      I would like to visit by sailboat and spend the a weekend there with my wife and daughter. Any problem with this. or do you know if it is off limits? Thank you in advance for your reply.

      Reply
    13. Tom says

      February 15, 2012 at 3:37 AM

      Ray

      The archives is set up in such a way that I am unable to locate the land grant for St. Phillips, island. Perhaps you could ask the current land owners for help identifying, and/or, locating the correct archival document. Perhaps they have a photo copy with that information on it. The archives is asking for a specific date or the specific name of the grantee; information I cannot yet provide.

      Thanks again. I hope I’m not being to much of a bother.

      Tom

      Reply
    14. Tom says

      February 7, 2012 at 4:02 PM

      Thanks Ray. I’ve ask the archives for assistance.

      Reply
    15. Ray says

      February 7, 2012 at 9:21 AM

      The grant is located in the State Archives in Columbia. Hope this helps!

      Reply
    16. Tom says

      February 5, 2012 at 3:13 AM

      Ray Tudor

      My mothers family came from Scotland. The family owned a British land grant which included St. Phillips island. The family name has been bastardized over the past 300 years and now has at least 3 spelling variations; Eddings being one spelling. I’m wondering if it might be possible to view the original British land deeds? How could something like this be arranged? Please answer using this email address: oso1569@gmail.com

      Thank you.

      Tom

      Reply
    17. Ray Tudor says

      January 31, 2011 at 9:56 AM

      The family that owns the Island comes down for the beauty of the Island and the private nature of the Island. I suggest you consider Hilton Head.

      Reply
    18. Lisa says

      January 25, 2011 at 12:29 PM

      If you had the opportunity to visit and stay on the island what is there to do during the day. Are there places you would recommend going to see off the island?

      Reply
    19. Ray Tudor says

      November 30, 2010 at 12:56 PM

      I am the manager of St. Phillips Island and have been for the past 30+ years . The Island is privately owned by RE Turner III and has not changed hands in any way. The property that was donated was a parcel on the mainland .The Island holds a Kings Grant and is private . Hopes this clears things up . Ray

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        December 2, 2010 at 9:56 AM

        Thank you so much for clarifying for all us Ray! – SCIWAY

        Reply
    20. Larry Gordon says

      August 27, 2010 at 8:58 PM

      Tonite (8/27/10) my wife and I met the man who manages St.Phillips Island. He and his wife live near us in Beaufort, SC. He said that Ted Turner owns the island.

      Reply
    21. Carol Weaver Hicks says

      August 9, 2010 at 9:15 AM

      Does Ted Turner own St. Phillips Island??

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    FIND A LANDMARK

    Why This Site Matters

    Help Keep This Site Online

    We depend on the support of today’s readers to document South Carolina’s landmarks for future readers. Please help us continue this important work by making a donation below.

    $3,160 of $12,500
    105 Donations
    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    Recent Posts

    • H.L. Hunley
    • Strand Theater
    • Camden Depot
    • Charleston City Marina
    • Secession Hill

    Footer

    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    CONTACT US

    We’d love to hear from you! Send us a quick email at share@scpictureproject.org.

    If you are looking for permission to use a photo, please reach out directly to the photographer listed in the image’s credit.

    JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

    The South Carolina Picture Project has two Facebook groups. One is dedicated to SC Historic Landmarks and Iconic Landscapes, and the other is dedicated to SC Nature and Wildlife.

    South Carolina Picture Project © 2022 · All Rights Reserved