History

Brays Island has a colorful past, from its discovery in 1663 by William Hilton, to the death of Indian trader William Bray and his family at the hands of Yemassee Indians in 1715, to Revolutionary battles and Sherman's march to the sea.

For many years and throughout a succession of owners, Brays Island remained a working plantation, producing cotton, indigo and rice. In the late 1980s, then-owner Sumner Pingree decided to convert the acreage into a residential community. Working with nationally known land planner Robert Marvin, they selected a non-traditional approach to its development and created 325 circular homesites, none touching any others. This incredible design has insured that an abundance of property here remains in its natural state.

Currently, Brays Island Plantation is a sporting community where the amenities and land are owned by the homeowners, and the facilities are accessible only to owners and their guests. As a result, today's Brays Island is a haven for those who appreciate both the majesties of nature and outdoor sporting pursuits. Even now, life here is remarkably unchanged from its earlier days.