History

Back in the days when Elvis the Skinny was king and “gay” was synonymous with merry, there lived on the Isle of Palms a couple of big time New York gangsters. The gangsters’ sojourn on the Isle of Palms is a tantalizing tale of fact and hearsay sprinkled with the obligatory lineup of colorful outlaw nicknames. The facts of the story are as follows: In April of 1955 one Thomas … [Read more...] about Gangsters Who Called IOP Home

Legend still lingers on a tiny barrier island only 200 yards off the Isle of Palms. In the early 1930s, a man and his wife lived in self-exile on Goat Island, without electricity or water, choosing to turn their backs on civilization forever. The island remains a place of rustic solitude – a precious, slender slice of land beyond the reach of streetlights and bus stops. The … [Read more...] about The Lingering Legend of Goat Island

The original inhabitants of the Isle of Palms, which was first known as Hunting Island, were the Sewee Indians. The island was later named Long Island because of its elongated shape. The first man to own Long Island was an early settler from Barbados, Thomas Holton, who was granted title in 1696. Throughout the mid-18th century, Long Island remained virtually unknown, except … [Read more...] about Nostalgic Timeline of the Isle of Palms

Nestled on the northern tip of Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes has become South Carolina’s premier oceanfront resort. But it wasn’t long ago that the 1600 acre tract of land enjoyed today by residents and guests alike was home to Indians who roamed the island to hunt and fish, and pirates who, legend has it, buried vast treasures here under ancient oak trees. Wild Dunes has quite a … [Read more...] about The Creation of Wild Dunes

First Inhabitants Sewee Indians First Name of Island Hunting Island First Title Owner of Island Thomas Holton of Barbados - 1696 First Home Built on Island Summer Residence of the Nicholas Sottile family - 1898 First Called Isle of Palms Named by Dr. Joseph S. Lawrence to attract tourists - 1898 First Official Transportation to IOP Charleston and Seashore Railroad Company … [Read more...] about Isle of Palms Firsts