Ocean-front lots started at $5,300 but quickly jumped to $7,500 as the development took shape. Charles built himself a house on the second row of Green Heron Road and, by 1960, was using it as both an example of his idea of what a Sea Pines house and landscape should look like and as a place to entertain clients. Some of them were turned down as buyers if they didn’t meet the high criteria set by Charles and his executives. There were three primary builders of the early houses on Hilton Head – Robert Graves, Bobby Woods and Faris Highsmith. Initially, Fraser, who wasn’t a golfer himself, thought it would be difficult to sell any inland homes, but an innovative T-road design, along with the idea of building homes along golf courses, helped sales along. Fraser wanted to make sure the community and environment would withstand the years and came up with a rock-solid set of covenants that are attached to each private property, dedicated open space (common areas), commercial property and forest preserve. Fraser wanted to ensure that these covenants could not be breached. One of the “clicker” clauses included in the covenants stated that when Sea Pines reached a certain percentage of build-out (which occurred in the mid-70s), the property owners through an association would take over the common elements of the community, including landscaping, forests, roads, easements and waterways. Each owner would be assessed an annual fee to generate funding to manage these elements. Today, those fees add up to nearly $7 million a year for the upkeep and maintenance of common elements. The association is run by an elected board of directors who serve two- or three-year terms and is comprised of commercial and residential representatives. In creating a community and all that it entails, Fraser also saw to it that educational facilities and churches would locate at Sea Pines by donating large sums to such entities, many of which are now located on prime property along Pope Avenue and South Forest Beach Drive. The first private school on the island, which was underwritten by Fraser and Sea Pines, was located where the Holiday Inn near Coligny Circle now stands. The first Montessori school was established by his wife, Mary Wyman Stone Fraser. Recreation for all ages was to be The concept of building homes along the golf courses greatly aided the sales of interior lots during the early years. SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 11 South Forest Beach, Point Comfort and what is now Wexford and Shipyard plantations were all part of the 5,250 acres that comprised Sea Pines, which today stands at 4,450 acres. The Fraser and Hack families had owned the land, and, when differences on how to develop it arose, the families decided to divvy it up, with the Frasers getting the southern-most portion. The price: $800 an acre, a pretty penny at the time. To convert the swampy, mosquito-infested area of the island required much forethought, something Fraser was well known for. Although there have been subsequent edited and added-to master plans for Sea Pines, Fraser’s intent was to do it right and do it right the first time. His concept was a planned unit development with strict land-use and land-preservation covenants. Part of his research prior to development also involved air conditioning and a mosquito control program, two innovations that radically improved yearround living. Based on principles he had learned at law school, particularly under the direction of Myres S. McDougal, Fraser and others crafted a master plan for the resort, incorporating the use of private-deed covenants to implement comprehensive land-use development. It was in 1956, under the Fraser Land Holding Company, that a master plan for Sea Pines came about, followed by the construction of the resort’s roads and other infrastructure. Sea Pines Company didn’t start out as such. It has had many names over the course of the years, including Fraser Land Holding Company and Sea Pines Plantation Company. In the 1970s, “plantation” was dropped from the name because of its negative connotations associated with slavery. Today three companies operate within the flagship -- Sea Pines Resort, Sea Pines Real Estate (which also encompasses residential and commercial properties outside of Sea Pines) and Community Services Associates. Fragile and faded development plans still exist with architects’ names at the bottom including Sasaki, Walker & Associates in 1956, John Wade in 1962, Corkern & Wiggins Architects in 1964, and George Cobb, who designed the first golf course (Ocean Golf Course) in 1961. On June 20, 1957, the Sea Pines Plantation Company was incorporated. Charles, who was 28 years old then, became president and Joseph became senior vice president. Their father served as chairman of the board. The 1961 executive staff at Sea Pines Plantation. Left to right: standing: John McGrath, Wallace Butler, John McGowan and Ted Armstrong. Seated (left to right) are David Pearson, Charles Fraser and Larry Orr Construction begins at Sea Pines 10 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
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