Located 19 miles east of Beaufort, South Carolina, Fripp is a private, 3000 acre nature preserve, which boasts two spectacular golf courses; a Racquet club with eight Fast-Dry clay courts and six pickleball courts; 7 pools; a full-service Marina; land and water rentals including golf carts, bicycles, mopeds, Carolina Skiffs and kayaks; and guided trips on the “Fripper II”, the Island pontoon cruiser. There is now an arcade featuring state-of-the-art games located in the Beach Club Circle and for the equestrians, Camelot Farms offers a variety of services including trail rides. There are several restaurants on the island, serving everything from fine dining to burgers and chicken fingers. There are also several fun “watering holes” for the adults to enjoy! Fripp Island is just a short distance from the historic towns of Beaufort and Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia. One can easily visit any or all three of these fabulous and charming locations to enjoy antiquing, historic tours, retail shopping, and elegant dining. Many blockbuster movies such as “The Big Chill”, “The Prince of Tides”, “Forest Gump”, and “The Jungle Book” have been filmed in the area because it provides the perfect combination of natural beauty, historic significance, and innate Southern charm.
One will certainly enjoy a lovely beach vacation at Fripp relaxing on our spacious beach, playing in the sand and surf, hiking, biking, fishing, and visiting with family and friends in a relaxing and beautiful atmosphere. One can take day trips to nearby Hunting Island State Park, the quaint shops and restaurants of Frogmore, Historic Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah, and Charleston. The Captain John Fripp Villa complex has a private pool for the use of our guests. Also, our full kitchen makes cooking complete meals for the family in the villa easy and convenient.
The golf courses, tennis courts, island restaurants, and several island pools are owned and operated by the Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort. Other resort amenities include the Fripp Children’s camp, boat tours and rentals, recreational equipment rentals, golf cart rentals(which do not require a guest card to reserve), and various club-sponsored activities. In order to access the resort amenities, each individual aged thirteen and older must present a guest card. Anyone under thirteen must be accompanied by an adult with a club guest card. The cost for a weekly club guest card (5-8 days) is $50.00 each during the Summer - typically Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend - and $35.00 for a four-day card (1-4 days). During the rest of the year, the cost for weekly cards is $35.00 and the cost for four-day cards is $25.00. Guest cards are purchased through property owners, and we can certainly order those for our guests who would like to have them. As of February 24, 2023, the new Fripp Island Resort owners have implemented a resort fee of 12.8% of the rental rate (before cleaning fees and taxes) for the use of club amenities. The resort fee is in addition to the club card costs. If you do not wish to order Club guest cards, and do not wish to use club amenities, this resort fee will not apply to your rental!
There are several resort pools on the island. Sometimes folks don't take advantage of all of them, so don't forget (if you have guest cards) that you do have quite a few options for freshwater swimming, in addition to the villa pool. A favorite pastime, for adults and kids alike, is crabbing. There are several spots on the island where this can be done. One just needs a bucket, a net, some strong twine and some bait! Of course, there are miles of bike/walking paths throughout the island, as well as a couple of playgrounds.
There is a large chalk board posted in front of the Fripp Island Club, on which they post activities for kids, families, etc., weekly. There are boat excursions, deep sea fishing tours, etc. available through the marina. Of course, there are two superb golf courses and plenty of tennis courts available for sports lovers. The Cabana Club has three pools, including a fun “kiddie pool”. There is also an adult beverage bar and a grille, which serves various lunch items. This is a very popular spot on the island. The Beach Club, located at the center of the island, has an adult only pool, the "SandBar" for adult beverages, an Olympic pool, which is surrounded by a number of shops, the Fitness Center, a childrens' pool, a "sit down" restaurant for dinner, and “Island Bites”, which offers all kinds of kid/family friendly food, as well as soft serve ice cream, Starbucks coffee, sandwiches, smoothies, etc. The Raquet Club is right across from the Beach Club, and the golf courses are very close by.
You will want to stop at Publix on Lady's Island (about eighteen miles outside of Fripp) to purchase any perishable items you might want to bring, such as bread, milk, cereal, sandwich fixin's, chips, pickles, nuts, condiments, soft drinks, fruit etc. A Harris Teeter is located across the street from Publix. Also, there is a Walmart Superstore just a short distance past Publix, on the left, as one heads towards Fripp. There are a couple of "mini-marts" on the island, but they tend to be quite pricey. We like to take our own breakfast, lunch and snack foods to save money. However, there is a food court and also a nice restaurant for dinner at the Beach Club (right next door to the John Fripp Villas), and there are several other places where one can eat out on the island (with guest cards).
As for provisions once one is on the island, The SpringTide Market is a full-line grocery store offering the locals and Fripp Island visitors a great selection of groceries and goodies, though the prices are a bit higher than on the "mainland". They offer fresh gourmet coffee and teas, fountain drinks, ice, fresh produce, sandwiches, ice cream, beach items and accessories. They offer domestic and imported beer, wine, and spirits. Beer and wine sales are also available on Sundays! Springtide Market is located beside the Island Real Estate Offices just after passing through the front gate to the island. The SpringTide Market is open 7 days a week and club guest cards are not required.
There are several places, such as the Shrimp Shack, Johnson's Creek Tavern (one of our family’s favorites), Another Slice Pizza, Beach Bum’s Barbeque, and Seaside Bar and Grill just off the island where one can dine. Lady’s Island has some unique and eclectic restaurants, and there are quite a few casual dining restaurants (such as Outback Steak House) in Beaufort. There are also several "fine dining" establishments in Beaufort, and it's really not a bad drive for an evening out.
There is a pretty cool lighthouse on Hunting Island, which is the island right before you get to Fripp. There is a beach area there, and it’s very nice. Because it is part of a state park, there is no commercial development, buildings, etc. However, spending time on the beach there would entail hauling chairs, coolers, towels, umbrella, etc. along on your car ride to the park. The view from the top of the lighthouse is spectacular! The kids love climbing the stairs to the top, and it's really not a bad trip up, as long as one stops and reads the very interesting information placards along the way! There are some other little outbuildings, which also provide lots of interesting history about the local islands and lighthouses around the country. Because the attraction is a National Park, there is a small entry fee. Also, there is a $2.00 per person fee for the lighthouse (I think it's free for kids under 13), but we think it was well worth the money. I'd plan on going either early in the day, or later in the evening, so the heat won't be so oppressive.
On the way back to Fripp, there is a long boardwalk (on the right hand side of the road), which extends out into the marsh. We did the lighthouse excursion in the later afternoon, so by the time we got to the boardwalk the sun was setting. It was a really beautiful walk (skip or run if you're a kid), and helps to get the last bit of energy out of the kids before bedtime.
For the golf and tennis enthusiasts!
Ocean Point
George Cobb, famed golf course designer and consultant to Augusta National, designed Ocean Point Golf Links, a true seaside links course. Ocean Point has been boldly renovated to take advantage of the sweeping vistas throughout the course. It now boasts dramatic views of the ocean or inlet on 10 of the 18 holes with the front and back nine both finishing against a backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. Golf Digest gives Ocean Point a 4 STAR rating and it is a recipient of the Golden Links Award by Corporate Meetings & Incentives Magazine.
Ocean Creek
On the south end of the island is Ocean Creek, Davis Love III’s first signature course. Ocean Creek offers magnificent panoramic views of the Great Salt Marsh and freshwater lakes amid four ancient rolling dune lines that come into play. Wildlife is abundant throughout this picturesque sanctuary. Deer, Snowy White Egrets, Great Blue Herons and Ospreys present a pleasant distraction in their natural habitat. Golf Magazine named Ocean Creek “one of the top 10 new courses you can play” and Golf Digest awarded it a 4.5 STAR rating.
Get all the golf extras when you book direct at 843-838-1576
Golf Carts
Island Excursions at Fripp Island is 843-838-1518.
Sutcliffe Golf Cars (www.SutcliffeGolfCars.com) also rents them and delivers them. Telephone: 843-524-6502
Sea Island Carts (seaislandcarts.net) also rents and delivers to the island. Telephone: 843-525-2278
The Racquet Club
Centrally located on the island – and just a few steps away from one of South Carolina’s most beautiful beaches – the Racquet Club has eight Fast-Dry clay courts and two hard courts. Our staff invites you to join a full schedule of seasonal activities, round-robin tournaments. We have a wide range of instructional programs that include private and semi-private lessons that provide you the opportunity to have plenty of fun and improve your tennis game!
The Racquet Club staff invites you to join all the Racquet Club fun during your stay. In addition to scheduled clinics, Racquet Club staff offers private and semi-private lessons. Our instructional programs provide an opportunity to have plenty of fun and improve your tennis game!
Call 843-838-1504 or 888-741-8974 for a value-packed rate.
Sunspot villa
A Sweet Spot at the Beach! Amazing Sunrises, Cool Atlantic Breezes, Oceanfront!
Welcome to “Sunspot”, a completely renovated (May 2022), tastefully furnished beachfront condominium on beautiful Fripp Island. Sunspot is in the Captain John Fripp Villas, centrally located on the Island, with the very best stretch of beach – whether at high tide or low! Unlike public beaches, such as Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, Fripp Island is secluded and serene. Even during the high season, the beach is not too crowded to spread out a family’s worth of towels, chairs, coolers and umbrellas, and still have room to build a sandcastle! The condo has two bedrooms and two full bathrooms upstairs. Wake to expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean. The master bedroom (which has the ocean view) has a stunning queen bed and a lovely, sophistocated en suite bath. The guest room has a queen bed and super cool built-in bunkbeds. The second full bath, which is cute as can be, is just off the hallway. Each bedroom has a flat screen television, and the guest room television has a DVD player built in! There is ample closet space and plenty of storage for clothes in chests of drawers in each room.
The first floor includes a laundry room with full-sized washer and dryer. We do provide a small supply of washing detergent upon your arrival. The kitchen is fully equipped, with plates, glasses, flatware, cookware and utensils, and a full sized dishwasher for your convenience. It includes a five burner smooth top electric stove with oven and microwave, a combo coffee machine for automatic drip or single cup brewing, toaster, blender and full sized refrigerator with an automatic icemaker. All appliances are brand new as of May 2022! There is a half bath on the first floor (not available in many of the two bedroom condos); a dining area which can seat up to eight; and a comfortable den with a large, stylish sofa and a 60” flat screen television for your viewing pleasure. A DVD player and a large array of movies are available for your use. Right outside the sliding glass door is a patio with wrought iron table and comfy chairs for relaxing. There is also a large Webber charcoal grill for your use. Parents can sip coffee in the morning, or cocktails in the evening, and enjoy the ocean vista while small children cavort on the grassy yard directly behind the villa. The newly constructed boardwalk to the white sand beach is just steps away. The John Fripp Villas complex has a private pool for residents and guests, if one wants to take a fresh water dip or just relax in the sun without the sand!
We are a large family, with five children, two sons-in-law, and three beautiful grandchildren! My husband and I both grew up in Augusta, GA, where we still reside. We purchased property after coming to Fripp for many years to visit relatives who own a home on the island. We wanted to have a place of our own, so that we, our children and grandchildren could enjoy the fun and excitement of having a 'place at the beach'. We really love the feeling of comfort and privacy that comes with being in a gated community, where security and safety are of utmost priority. We love the abundant wildlife that roams the island, the friendliness of both residents and visitors, and the quiet, laid-back atmosphere that comes with a smaller, more intimate island setting.
For more information about our properties, or to speak directly about making a reservation, please call: 706-339-8107