SEA PINES HAS MEANT SO many things to so many people over the years, and each new visitor has taken something new and special with them when they depart. However, a few of Sea Pines’ many landmarks have stood the test of time. In fact, they have become a sort of shorthand for outstanding family vacations, true icons of one of the Southeast’s premier destinations. For anyone who has been there on holiday or called Sea Pines home, these people and places are what make Sea Pines truly unique. “Fraser’s Folly” The Harbour Town Lighthouse may be the most enduring icon, not just Harbour Town or Sea Pines but of Hilton Head Island as a whole. And well it should be, as that was Charles Fraser’s intention when he built it. Charles knew that Sea Pines needed some sort of hook: a symbol. He wanted it to be pedestrian friendly for getting around. After consulting with his brother, Joseph B. Fraser, Jr., and some of his executives, Fraser stumbled on the idea of a lighthouse, striped in bright, vibrant red. He thought it was perfect, since the design and look of Harbour Town was based on many of the Mediterranean villages that Fraser visited with his wife, Mary. With the first Heritage Classic Golf Tournament bearing down on them, the early pioneers of Sea Pines began work on the lighthouse immediately, despite the fact that plans for the top had not been completed. Initially, some resort experts (and indeed, a few residents) resisted the idea. They thought that with so much to do before the Heritage putting resources into a lighthouse seemed silly. The lighthouse was given the name “Fraser’s Folly” by critics, but Charles continued building just the same. Today, the Lighthouse is one of the most photographed buildings on the entire island and has truly become an icon for the resort, the island and Fraser’s determination. As the logo for Sea Pines, it is also one of the most closely guarded and recognized corporate symbols in the world. ICONS Island SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 41 The Harbour Town Lighthouse is one of the most photographed structures on Hilton Head.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1