1 of 4
Welcoming committee
Wick Scurry, owner of Freeport Marina, and his dog, River, welcome visitors who come to explore Daufuskie Island.
Photo by Ruta Smith
2 of 4
Let’s roll
Self-guided golf cart tours are one of the best ways to explore the island’s cultural treasures
Photo by Ruta Smith
3 of 4
Turning point
To get around on the island just look to the trees. Handmade signs nailed to tree trunks point the way to top attractions.
Photo by Ruta Smith
4 of 4
See you soon
All journeys to Daufuskie Island begin and end with a ferry ride from Hilton Head.
Photo by Ruta Smith
Buried treasure—there’s lots of it on Daufuskie Island. Leave your shovels at home, though. The best way to dig up island gold is with a map and a golf cart. Woven throughout the riot of loblolly pines, palmetto thickets and live oaks is a network of rumbly lanes and roadways. Some are dirt, a few are paved and most all of them lead to bucolic shorelines and prized landmarks that reveal Daufuskie’s legendary past.
South Carolina’s southernmost sea island is esteemed by historians and those with an interest in preserving what remains of its natural landscape and folkways. While there are plenty of options for guided tours, the do-it-yourself method significantly ups the sense of adventure.
But first things first. You’ve got to get to Daufuskie. The only things bridging the island to the mainland are water taxis and ferries that cross from Hilton Head. The trip across the Calibogue Sound to the island’s Freeport Marina takes approximately an hour. Most all transit services require a reservation and will get you and yours there and back for a modest fee.
One such operation is Enjoy Daufuskie. It offers round-trip ferry service from Broad Creek Marina to Freeport Marina, where you’ll find the Freeport General Store. Should you forget sunscreen, bug spray, snacks or drinks, you can pick them up here. The store is also where you’ll secure a golf cart. Head to the counter and the staff will have you on your way in no time. Public restrooms are few and far between on the island, so use the facilities at the marina before you go.
You’ll be supplied with a map of 13 suggested stops: a mix of historic sites, art studios and other points of interest. Freeport Marina proprietor and Daufuskie Island Tours operator, Wick Scurry, recommends a backward route.
“Start from the furthermost point—the water,” he says. “The map outlines the shortest route to the beach, so go there first, then work your way back, stopping at the various sites before ending where you began—at the General Store. It will take you about four hours from start to finish if you stop and explore a little along the way.”
Begin at the beach at Bloody Point, where you’ll park your cart and explore on foot. Soak in the serenity, but do take a few minutes to ponder its dark history. This is the site of a 1715 skirmish between the Yemassee Indians and settlers, the carnage of which literally turned the beach blood red.
Other sites on the tour include:
- Bloody Point Lighthouse, a modest, two-story house where the dormer window once held the front light that guided those sailing the Savannah port. The house has been transformed into a museum where you can learn all about 1880s Daufuskie. You can also grab a cold drink and use the restroom. The grounds feature heirloom gardens, a bald eagle viewing station and its own resident alligator named “Papy.”
- Silver Dew Winery: One of two rustic buildings at the end of the museum drive, this tiny structure was used as storage for lighthouse supplies before becoming the first licensed winery in South Carolina in the 1950s.
- Iron Fish Gallery: This eclectic metal art studio is the home base of metal sculptor Chase Allen. If you’re looking for a special Daufuskie souvenir, this is your place.
- Mary Fields School House: The clapboard house is where the late author, Pat Conroy, taught island children in the 1960s—an experience that inspired his popular novel, “The Water is Wide.” Inside is a classroom, the School Grounds Coffee Shop, restrooms, and Daufuskie Blues, a studio where artisans create gorgeous scarves and other goods using indigo dye.
- First Union Baptist Church: This historic church, established by slaves on land bought for $82 in 1881, is still active. Notable is the replica of the original “praise house” from Mary Fields Plantation, where the slaves once worshipped.
- Daufuskie Island Rum Company: For a modest fee, get a tasting and a tour of this small, but dynamic family-run rum distillery.
- Cooper River Cemetery: This graveyard was built on the river bank—a nod to the Gullah tradition of burying their dead near the water so their souls could swim across the water back to Africa.
Keep in mind that cell phone service is spotty on certain parts of the island. Once you’re off and running, though, you’ll likely forget all about modern technology. And if all that exploring works up a big appetite, there are two restaurants on Daufuskie: Old Daufuskie Crab Company at Freeport Marina, and Lucy Bell’s on Benjies Point Road. Both offer the local specialty, Gullah-style deviled crab as well as other fresh seafood, sandwiches and salads. Cold beverages, adult and otherwise, abound.
To get to either—or just about any place on Daufuskie – just look to the trees. Handmade signs nailed to tree trunks point the way to wherever you want the roads to take you.
___
Get There
Enjoy Daufuskie offers river boat ferry service to the island, departing from Broad Creek Marina, 18 Simmons Road, Hilton Head. Cost is $33 for adults and $16.50 for children 10 and younger, and includes sightseeing narration during transit. For reservations, call (843) 342-8687 or visit enjoydaufuskie.com.
You can also reserve transit through Daufuskie Island Ferry Service by calling (843) 940-7704 or visiting daufuskieislandferry.com/make-reservations. Cost is $35 round trip; children 5 and younger are free. It departs from Buckingham Landing, located at 35 Fording Island Road Ext. in Hilton Head.
To secure a golf cart for your self-guided tour, visit the Freeport General Store at Freeport Marina. Cost is $65 for four hours. Call (843) 342-8687 or visit daufuskiedifference.com to learn more.
Tour Daufuskie also offers self-guided golf cart tours. Cost is $75 for four hours for a four-seater. Six-seaters are sometimes available for an additional cost. Call (843) 842-9449 or visit tourdaufuskie.com to make arrangements. Note: You must have a valid driver’s license to rent and drive golf carts on Daufuskie Island.
For more information on the island, including guided tours featuring the island’s Gullah culture, the thriving arts community or abundant wildlife, visit southcarolinalowcountry.com/daufuskie-island-tours and hiltonheadisland.org/daufuskie.