This Private Georgia Community Feels Like a Big Exhale
With Live Oaks Draped in Spanish Moss, Sea Island has long felt like Atlanta’s most cherished second home
Generations of Atlantans know the “exhale moment” that comes while crossing the causeway to Sea Island, over marsh and tidal creeks, with live oaks draped in Spanish moss framing the approach. Beyond the gates, the Atlantic opens wide at the Beach Club, golf fairways roll toward the river, and extraordinary yet understated homes (known simply as “cottages” on the island) settle naturally into the landscape. Despite its global reputation, Sea Island has long felt like Atlanta’s most cherished second home, and a place where folks return year after year to relive the same traditions.
History
Tucked among Georgia’s Golden Isles just beyond St. Simons Island, Sea Island was purchased in 1926 by automotive pioneer Howard Coffin, who envisioned a private winter retreat for industrial leaders and their families. He hired architect Addison Mizner (of Boca Raton and Palm Beach fame) to design The Cloister, a Spanish Mediterranean-style hotel and club that established the island’s tone of quiet prestige. Throughout the 20th century, presidents, business magnates, and cultural leaders vacationed here, drawn by discretion and exclusivity. Unlike many resort communities that chased expansion, Sea Island grew intentionally. The Sea Island Club evolved to include golf, tennis, yachting, equestrian facilities, and one of the country’s most respected hospitality programs, while the residential core remained tightly controlled. Ownership patterns reflect that legacy, with many properties passed quietly through families rather than traded publicly.
Future
Sea Island’s future is defined by preservation rather than expansion. Development is naturally limited by geography and reinforced by rigorous design standards that prioritize architectural integrity and environmental stewardship. Continued investment in the Club and hospitality offerings strengthens long-term value without altering the island’s character. Sea Island Club membership provides access to the island’s private ecosystem: the Beach Club and 5 miles of private beach, three championship golf courses, spa and fitness center, tennis and pickleball facilities, yacht and boating programs, shooting school, equestrian center, and a robust calendar of member-only dining and social events. Traditional full membership is tied to qualifying real estate ownership, with Invitational and Junior categories also available. Sponsorship by an existing member reinforces the culture of discretion and continuity that defines the community.
“Sea Island is deeply personal to me; my family has been coming here for five generations. It’s one of those rare places that never loses its magic, no matter how many times you return.” —Bonneau Ansley, Founder of Ansley Real Estate Christie’s International Real Estate & Sea Island Resident
IYKYK
Long-time residents know the marsh side holds some true magic, and that sunsets on the River Bar terrace at The Cloister are the island’s most beautiful trick.
Big Brag
Sea Island has hosted presidents and heads of state since the 1920s. In 2004, President George W. Bush selected the island as the site of the 30th G8 Summit, welcoming global leaders from the world’s largest industrialized nations to coastal Georgia. Few American destinations combine private resort culture with that level of political history.
Golf
Golf is woven into the island’s identity. The Sea Island Golf Club includes three championship courses: the Seaside Course, home to the PGA TOUR’s RSM Classic; the Plantation Course, winding through marsh and forest; and the Retreat Course, designed by Joe Lee and renovated by Davis Love III and Mark Love. The Golf Performance Center anchors a nationally respected training program, and The Lodge offers the most direct access to the club’s links-style coastal experience (and a nightly serenade from a bagpiper).
Mascot
The loggerhead sea turtle, the most common of five U.S. turtle species found along Georgia’s coast. Walking with the island’s naturalist to spot the turtles and their hatchlings is a beloved Sea Island summer tradition.
