Editing Seabrook Island, South Carolina (section)

==History==
In 1666, British subject Lt. Col. Robert Sanford arrived on Seabrook as an explorer in royal service to King Charles II. By 1684, the local Stono Indians were persuaded to cede their lands to the proprietary government, which in turn sold the property to English settlers.

During the [[American Revolution]]ary years, the island was used as a staging area for [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian]] and British troops during the [[Siege of Charleston]].<ref name=John/> In 1816, the island was sold to William Seabrook of nearby [[Edisto Island]], hence the present name. Under Seabrook's ownership, the island was used for growing cotton. At the height of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Seabrook sold the island to [[William Gregg (industrialist)|William Gregg]], who rented the land to Charles Andell.

[[File:Kiawato Clubhouse (Seabrook Island) (c. 1917).jpg|thumb|Kiawato Clubhouse (Seabrook Island) (c. 1918)]]

In 1917, the island was sold to sportsmen for hunting, fishing, and recreation; their club was known as the Kiawato Club, a portmanteau of Kiawah and Edisto, the two neighboring islands.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seabrook Island a Pleasure Place |work=News and Courier |date=August 18, 1917 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=8 |language=English}}</ref> Membership closed when the group had 50 members in 1918. The group's clubhouse at the mouth of the Edisto River, directly across from Rockville, was completed in 1918 on plans of architect David Hyer.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Kiawato Club Is Building House |work=News and Courier |date=September 9, 1917 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=10 |language=English}}</ref> The clubhouse was a {{frac|1|1|2}}-story, wooden building with six bedrooms on the first floor and a dormitory with many bunkbeds on the second floor.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kiawato Club |work=Evening Post |date=November 2, 1918 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=2 |language=English}}</ref>

Victor Morawetz, the owner of Fenwick Hall (a nearby plantation), bought the club's holdings in 1936. He did not intend to make it his personal residence but to resell it to a friend who would use the clubhouse as a winter retreat.<ref>{{cite news |title=Victor Morawetz Buys Clubs Lands |work=News and Courier |date=November 6, 1936 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=6A |language=English}}</ref> He acquired another 560 acres from the Andell family adjacent to the old Kiawato Club in 1938.<ref>{{cite news |title=Morawetz Buys Land on Seabrook's Beach |work=News and Courier |date=January 16, 1938 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=13 |language=English}}</ref>

In 1939, the [[Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina (before 2012)|Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina]] rented land on Seabrook to establish a summer camp for underprivileged children. In 1951, about {{convert|1408|acre|km2}} of land, including the old Kiaweto Clubhouse, were given to the church by Mrs. Morawetz.<ref>{{cite news |title=State Considers Purchase of Church Island Retreat |work=Evening Post |date=November 23, 1968 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=B1 |language=English}}</ref>

In 1970, the diocese sold about {{convert|1100|acre|km2}} to private developers who planned the private, residential community that Seabrook Island is today. Seventeen years later, the town of Seabrook was incorporated, and it celebrated a decade of private ownership and self-government in 1997.

In 2005 Seabrook Island Club membership became a requirement for new purchasers of property on Seabrook.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club Life |url=https://www.seabrookisland.com/club-life/#:~:text=Effective%20January%201,%202005,%20all%20new%20Property,Seabrook%20Island%20Property%20Owner%20Association%20(SIPOA)%20covenants. |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Seabrook Island {{!}} South Carolina |language=en-US}}</ref> The switch to mandatory membership has been controversial with some owners contending that the requirement has depressed real estate sales and prices.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

In 2010 the Horizon Plan, a complete reconstruction of island amenities, was completed, providing property owners and guests with a new fitness/community center, racquet club, full-service clubhouse, beach club and renovated equestrian center, pools and golf practice facility.

Seabrook Island amenities include two championship golf courses, nationally recognized racquet club with 15 Har Tru tennis courts and two [[pickleball]] courts, equestrian center offering trail and beach rides, ocean-front dining venues, swimming pools, fitness center and expansive banquet/private dining venues.