Consider this stately, shake-style home situated in the Fort Walker neighborhood of private Port Royal Plantation! Boasting long and wide views over Port Royal Sound, the Atlantic Ocean, and Fish Haul Creek, this spectacular property is located in one of Hilton Head Island’s most coveted locations steeped in Civil War history.
Constructed in 1978, this home sits on the site of the 1806 Squire Pope House, one of the earliest plantation homes built on Hilton Head Island. The property was significantly renovated in 2004, integrating high-end modern finishes throughout for the ultimate in luxury living. This phenomenal home is uniquely positioned at the northern tip of Port Royal Plantation to enjoy the best of all worlds in this unique waterfront environment, capitalizing on one of the most private and secluded locations on the Island. Positioned along a quiet cul-de-sac street in this residential beach-oriented community, 131 Fort Walker Drive offers convenient access to the pristine private-access beach located just across the street with stately oak trees, magnolias, and palm trees, highlighting this desirable Lowcountry setting.
Upon approach, this striking residence draws you in with its undeniable appeal, proudly displaying superb architectural components across the full exterior of the home, including cedar shake siding, integrated gutters with downspouts, wrought-iron railings, a handsome brick foundation, designer lanterns, standing-seam metal roofs, and operable shutters.
The property is accessed from the cul-de-sac by a pair of shell-finished driveways accented with brick aprons and expansion seams, connecting to form a semi-circular configuration. Surrounded by lush, mature, manicured landscaping, the approach to the home offers convenient access to the 3-car carriage house/garage, while also providing generous owner and guest parking. A matching shell and brick walkway with integrated brick steps leads to the home’s inviting entry, appointed with a boxwood planter bed, sweeping brick staircase, and an elevated covered front porch boasting a handsome glass and wood entry door with twin sidelights.
The foyer entry warmly greets you as its quality finishes of antique heart pine flooring, recessed lighting, and 8’ solid-core doors set the tone for quality throughout this remarkable residence. The heart pine flooring flows from the foyer into the light-filled formal living room, complete with beamed ceiling, built-in bookcases and entertainment center, brick-surround gas fireplace, and an inviting separate conversation area complimented with built-in bookcases, built-in window seats, and spectacular views from the Atlantic Ocean wrapping around to the marshes of Fish Haul Creek.
Situated just off the living room, the home enjoys a game parlor complete with heart pine flooring, a total of 9 windows to frame the waterfront view, built-in audio speakers, recessed lighting, twin skylights, and an overhead ceiling fan.
The first of two main-level guest suites is located off the foyer entry, finished with antique heart pine flooring, crown molding, multiple windows, built-in bookcase, generous closet space, and a private bathroom. The fully-renovated bath is finished with a clever pocket door entry, crown molding, stone flooring, a stone-surround walk–in shower with glass entry, custom granite vanity with undermount sink, and designer fixtures. The second main–level guest suite also features heart pine flooring, twin clothes closets, crown molding, overhead fan, built-in audio speakers…and a private bathroom finished with stone flooring, custom stone-surround combination shower/tub, and a furniture–style vanity with marble top, undermount sink, and built-in framed mirror.
The home’s center hallway passes a beautiful floating staircase leading to the second floor plus a convenient powder room with a pedestal sink as it leads into the centrally-located dining room. This handsome space features a continuation of heart pine flooring, a brick-surround gas fireplace with custom wood mantel, warmly-painted wainscoting, coffered ceiling, and a bay window with picture perfect views.
The heart of the home is its phenomenal gourmet kitchen, centered around an expanded island complete with granite -topped breakfast bar accentuated by pendant lighting as well as natural light from twin skylights above. This robust chef’s kitchen is outfitted with an enviable list of appliances, including a DCS 8-burner gas stove with double ovens and integrated vent-hood with task lighting, a stainless steel Sub Zero fridge/freezer with in–door ice and water service, a DCS warming drawer, a DCS stainless-steel microwave, dishwasher and a stainless–steel Sub Zero wine fridge. Other special features of the kitchen include a custom tile backsplash, handy pot–filler faucet, custom wood cabinetry, granite countertops, and antiqued wood walls. The kitchen is paired with a sizable breakfast room, appointed with wood panel ceiling and antique iron chandelier, a dramatic oversized brick–surround fireplace with antique pine mantle, and three sets of French doors that lead out to the spectacular adjacent Carolina Room.
Boasting some of the most phenomenal views from the home, the Carolina Room is complemented with three walls of floor –to- ceiling windows, scored & acid-stained concrete flooring, cathedral ceiling with exposed stained-beams, twin skylights, overhead paddle fans, recessed lighting, built-in audio speakers, and a striking raised-hearth brick fireplace with integrated firewood storage niche.
A convenient glass patio door leads from the Carolina Room out to the elevated veranda porch. This stunning outdoor living space is made complete with its handsome stained-concrete flooring, shell–finished wet bar with U-Line beverage fridge, DCS stainless steel integrated barbecue grill, exposed–beam ceiling with Infratec heater, invisible screening system, task lighting, integrated audio speakers, and brick stairs that lead down to the back patio, the home’s private dock, the secluded hot tub patio, and the adjacent pool desk. These wonderful outdoor attractions are further enhanced by a custom gas fire-pit as well as an Oasis mosquito system.
The rich limestone pool deck is thoughtfully paired with elevated brick planter-boxes as the brick accented swimming pool features an in-floor cleaning system, multiple built-in benches, and a heat pump for year round enjoyment. The nearby tiled outdoor shower features hot and cold water and is made private by a handsome cedar-shake enclosure with louvered gate.
The home’s private dock is finished with long-lasting composite decking as it leads to a gangway down to a floating dock. This is an ideal location for launching a kayak/canoe onto Fish Haul Creek for excursions out toward the Port Royal Sound.
A back hallway located off the kitchen provides access to the owner’s private “service” areas. This tile-finished hallway enjoys soaring ceiling with recessed lighting, as it flows into an open-design butler’s pantry complete with GE Profile stainless steel dishwasher, Kenmore fridge/freezer, pantry/storage cabinetry, and a solid-surface task counter with integrated stainless steel sink. Further down the hall, twin swinging doors open into the adjacent laundry room, complete with Whirlpool Duet front-loading washer and dryer, solid-surface folding counters, extensive cabinetry, storage closet, and Kohler utility sink. Additionally, there is a convenient pool bath finished with a continuation of tile flooring, as well as a large storage closet with integrated wood shelving. On either end of the hall, there are patio doors, one of which leads to the side veranda, while the other leads to a covered walkway out to the Carriage House.
The home’s detached 3-car Carriage House is conveniently accessed by a covered walkway from the back hall of the main house. A divided-light glass door opens into a tile -finished entry hall, where paneled walls are paired with carpeted stairs that lead to the media/bonus room above. The second-floor multi-purpose suite is finished with carpeted theater-style flooring, architectural ceilings with beaded-board paneling, dormer windows, overhead ceiling fan, a walk–out water–view balcony, and multiple storage closets with custom wood shelving. Topping this off as an outstanding room for entertaining, the suite includes a ceiling-mounted Sony theater projection system, a 6’ Vutec projection screen, and a granite-topped refreshment counter complete with U-Line beverage fridge, GE microwave, and a stainless-steel sink. Rounding out this flexible-use space that could also serve as a bedroom, the suite features a private stone-finished bathroom with walk-in glass-enclosed shower. Additionally, there is a sizable closet currently housing A/V equipment, as well as scuttle- hole access to the attic above. On the ground level, the oversized 3- car garage features triple overhead doors, custom concrete flooring, Premier Garage utility and storage cabinetry, a handy utility sink, finished panel walls, and even a dehumidifier!
Three separate walkways lead from the Carriage House to the driveway, the front of the home, and the pool area/side yard respectively, all passing by mature manicured landscaping and thoughtful accents including a garden bench, a custom wrought iron gate, and a handsome garden fountain.
The second floor of the main house is accessed by a rich heart pine finished staircase with open spindles as it rises to the private owner’s level. The upper hallway is adorned with custom moldings, recessed lighting, heart pine flooring and great natural lighting as it leads to the owner’s suite and the adjacent private office/4th bedroom.
Positioned to enjoy commanding views over the Atlantic Ocean, the Port Royal Sound, and Fish Haul Creek, the oversized master bedroom features two walls of windows, heart pine flooring, a smooth–finish ceiling with integrated audio speakers and ceiling fan, and an ornate raised-hearth glass–front fireplace. The master bedroom flows directly into the lavish master bath, which is finished with rich stone flooring, custom moldings, a private water closet, twin limestone vanities, a cast-iron claw–foot tub, and a walk–thru custom–tile shower complete with twin adjustable shower heads, overhead rain head, and an integrated bench. Generously sized twin walk–in closets have been appointed with custom built–in wood shelving, shoe racks, clothes organizers, and dressers. The master bath also features beaded-board wall paneling, recessed lighting, integrated audio speakers, and cleverly-positioned display-cabinets and shelving.
Located just across the hall from the master suite, the second floor plays host to a wonderful office/4th bedroom featuring a divided–light entry door, built-in granite–topped desk with custom cabinetry-base, a matching granite–topped sidebar with display cabinetry, and a built-in entertainment center with granite counter and U- line beverage fridge. This handsome space also enjoys a private bathroom, complete with custom tile flooring, slate-lined glass–enclosed shower, and contemporary stainless-steel sink.
The heartpine staircase ascends to a third level where the home features a one-of-a-kind crow’s nest with commanding 360° views. This unparalleled vantage point features spectacular water and marsh views as far as the eye can see. This quiet getaway space features a built-in granite desk with custom cabinetry, integrated audio controls, as well as a built-in bench-seat with convenient hidden storage. Additionally, there is convenient access to the adjacent attic space.
