Paradise Found:
Reflections from the Chairman
O
ur son-in-law, Todd, tells stories of childhood
trips to Kiawah, sleeping on the long drive from Ohio
and waking as the rumble of the tires on the old wooden
bridge spanning the Kiawah River telegraphed the start of
vacation.
My own memories go back to the jeep safaris, the
glory days of the old inn and the wrath of Hurricane Hugo.
The wooden bridge and the jeep safaris disappeared in
the 80s. The old inn closed in 2003. Kiawah is a different
island today.
And yet, happily, much is the same. Kiawah’s
beautiful natural setting and abundant wildlife are still
the number one reason given for visiting, buying and
living here. Links Magazine* recently named Kiawah
#1 in its Top 10 Golf and Beach Combos. Their initial
sentence proclaiming, “… but the island is first and
foremost a wildlife habitat and sanctuary.” The Kiawah
Conservancy’s commitment to preserving property in
order to protect that wildlife habitat, remains strong.
In the past year, the Conservancy has preserved
five significant properties, representing diverse habitat
zones. Together they add up to 15.4 acres and bring the
total number of acres we hold and manage to 345. In
aggregate, these represent a cross section of critical habitat
located across the Island. One of these, Marsh Island
Park, offers unique educational opportunities, which we
are beginning to explore. Our partners in preserving these
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properties are many. The most recent three come to us
from Kiawah Partners, with the cooperation of the Kiawah
Island Community