Dewees Island is a stunning, private, relaxed community within 1,200 acres of
oceanfront. It’s just north of historic Charleston, making it a convenient location to live.
Plus, it sits within a protected conservation. That means that Dewees Island won’t
become a busy vacation town or city-like environment anytime soon.
Life on Dewees Island includes:
- Private beaches
- Marsh
- Wildlife
- Palmettos
- Natural beauty
You’ll need to be ready for a slower way of life because it is a 20-minute ferry ride from
Isle of Palms. You won’t find restaurants or stores.
What You Need to Know About Dewees Island Real Estate
Life on Dewees Island is incredibly peaceful. One reason for that is that most gas-
powered vehicles are prohibited, with some rare exceptions. It is one of the most highly
sought-after communities near Charleston, South Carolina.
A unique feature with purchasing property on Dewees Island is that there aren’t many
homes. Only 150 homesites exist.
While there are some pieces of property available, you’ll invest more for a beachfront
home to be built there because of the accessibility challenges your construction
company will face. All construction materials must be ferried to the island and your
construction crew will need to ferry back and forth each day.
If you don’t want the time and headache of building a home, you’ll need to be patient
and work closely with your real estate agent to find a home that is right for you on the
2.5 miles of private, stunning beachfront the island offers.
What to Expect on the Island
While life is certainly slower, you’ll still find plenty to do. Some amenities and ideas for
activities include the following.
- Beach and intracoastal access
- A community swimming pool
- Docks for your personal boat
- Central mail and package delivery
- Convenient golf cart parking and charging stations near public amenities
- Nature Center
- Education Center
- Nature library
Families considering relocating to Dewees Island should note that the island does not
have a school but local families utilize the ferry to transport their children to local
schools on a daily basis.
Nature on the Island
Because gas-powered vehicles are limited and the area is protected, nature reigns
supreme on the island. You’ll discover stunning flora and fauna alongside the
marshland, white sand beaches and meandering rivers.
It’s rare to find places where you can be truly alone thanks to the commercialization of
waterfront areas. But on Dewees Island, you can find true solitude and relax in a way
that you’ll struggle to find in the modern world.
When you do away with asphalt roadways and massive shopping plazas, you find how
simple it can be to connect with nature in a deep and meaningful way.
The goal for the 150 homesites is to live in harmony with nature. As such, you’ll need to
follow the island architectural review board rules about avoiding interference with
nature.
Only property owners and their guests can access the island. As such, it isn’t a massive
tourist trap where everyone visiting Charleston is stopping to gawk and see what the
island offers.
Keep nature wild by allowing them to live in their natural habitat and only observe at a
distance. Do not try to invade their space to capture the perfect photo. Life on the island
includes sharing your home with:
- Ducks
- Heron
- Shorebirds
- Wading birds
- Willets
- Woodpeckers
- Alligators
- Coyotes
- Raccoons
- Sea turtles
- Whitetail deer
Traveling to and from the Island by Ferry
Since the island is private only owners and their guests on the island are permitted on
the ferry, which makes the ferry private. To be permitted to ride the ferry, you’ll need an
owner or staff member to enter you into the ferry system. You’ll need to call the ferry at
least 45 minutes before your planned departure time.
The ferry leaves Isle of Palms at the top of every hour between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday. And it returns from Dewees Island on the half-hour from
6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. For a full ferry schedule, view the
Dewees Island Property
Owners Association website.
Pets and golf carts are welcome on the ferry, though pets must remain on a leash or
stay in a carrier for the duration of the ferry trip. All patrons must wear a shirt and shoes
to ride the ferry.
The ferry costs $10 for each ride, or $20 roundtrip. No passenger will be permitted on
the ferry unless an owner has registered their guest in advance.
Dewees Island Real Estate
Interested in purchasing real estate on Dewees Island?
Contact The Robertson Team.
We offer skilled real estate agents throughout the greater Charleston area to help home
buyers and sellers achieve favorable real estate transactions.
