Daufuskie Island is located just south of Hilton Head in South Carolina. Daufuskie is only accessible by boat and once you get to the Island, the main form of transportation is Golf Carts. We visited the Island for the first time in September of 2020 and absolutely fell in love with Daufuskie. All the people we have met have been amazing, there are a lot of talented locals and history abounds!
Late Spring 2020, Jason Ball stumbled upon the Melrose Resort Ponzi scheme on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, and shared it with his wife Kolette. They started researching more and found the Founders Cottage, known now as Sea Oak Manor and it was a must-see. Being Innkeepers, their dream started of owning a second bed and breakfast, a sister one to their family-owned, operated and Christian Inn of 34 years they have now in Sevierville, Tennessee known as Blue Mountain Mist Country Inn, Cottages and Spa. Though Jason grew up in the business, he and Kolette have been managing the business together for 10 years. Jason is more on the business side of running the business and Kolette is more of guest relations and managing employees, she makes sure everything is up to par when it comes to being ready for guests to check-in. Together, they are the perfect pair! When they visited Daufuskie in September 2020, the Island became a piece of their heart, loved every aspect of it, and visit as much as they can. A local real estate agent showed and toured them around Sea Oak Manor and their dream began to grow. Learning the history of the Founders Cottage and how it came to be, seeing all of the weddings online that it has hosted in the past, it has become their dream to restore it and make it thrive like it once did, bringing guests back, creating memories that last a lifetime as they do now for their guests and locals in Tennessee.
The Founders Cottage is the perfect structure and location for a bed and breakfast. It boasts with history and already consists of 8 bedrooms all with their own private baths, a large dining room filled with floor-length windows of the ocean view and fireplaces on both sides of the room, a billiard room, a sitting area/library, porches to sit on to enjoy the oceanfront, a large back yard patio for events, a gazebo to host weddings, and the kitchen inside to help make the guests and locals day start off right! On the Island, there are no options for breakfast. Of course, being a bed and breakfast, breakfast would be included in our guests stay though we would also open it up to the public and locals, just like we do at home in Sevierville. We would treat it as a sister bed and breakfast, offering a lot of the same as Blue Mountain Mist does. Romantic couple getaways, weddings, family reunions, business retreats, and most important, true southern hospitality, and a restful and relaxing getaway for just anyone!
There is lots to do on the Island for everyone! After riding the ferry or private boat over, your transportation awaits, either being a golf cart or the transportation team to take you to your lodging. Whether you’re enjoying the secluded beaches, checking out the local artists like The Iron Fish, metal art made by Chase Allen, sipping a coffee drink from Schoolhouse Coffee Grounds, learning history by taking a Gullah tour led by Sallie Ann – a sixth generation native Islander, exploring the community farm, visiting the winery and woodworks, touring the Island Rum Company, or sight-seeing at the lighthouse, historic church, the old school house, learning about the indigo dying at Daufuskie Blues, wildlife watching, taking a tour of the Island with Tour Daufuskie, and so much more, this Island has everything for everybody! And the best part of the Island? The locals!! Getting to know them, their story and their kindness will make anyone fall in love and dream of moving to the Island just like we all do!
With your help, this dream can come true for Jason, Kolette, the Islanders and future guests! Would you like to invest or perhaps you know someone that can? If interested or have any questions, please reach out to Jason.
Jason.ball@bluemountainmist.com
865-654-4101