the bluff SS 2024

the bluff

Nestled in the heart of the Lowcountry, Palmetto Blu s’ 20,000 acres and 32 miles of coastline are yours to explore. Roam through centuries-old live oaks canopied over Mother Nature’s inspired creations and historical landmarks. Here, the land pulls you towards something familiar and inviting – the discovery that home isn’t just a place to live; it’s a place that makes you feel alive.

Discover Ownership: 843.380.6856 | palmettoblu .com/blu mag

92 | WELL LIVING AT MONTAGE

110 | LOCAL CHARACTER

18

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Photographer Cacky Rivers reveals the unseen world of Palmetto Bluff’s birds during her December Artist in Residence stay.

28 SLOW BOAT TO BEAUFORT

Climb aboard Miranda, Wilson Landing Boat Club’s thirty-sevenfoot Hinckley, for a pleasure cruise through the Lowcountry.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

38 STRIKING GOLD

Rollen and Frances Chalmers have helped revive Carolina Gold, the heritage rice that shaped the history of South Carolina.

46 DOGS OF PALMETTO

BLUFF

A portrait series showcases some of our favorite furry friends in the places they love the most.

56

RESURRECTING STONES

Palmetto Bluff archaeologist Katie Epps details the fascinating restoration and preservation of Palmetto Bluff’s historic cemeteries.

68

A SHOTMAKER’S PLAYGROUND

Course designer Rob Collins offers a first look at Crossroads, Palmetto Bluff’s reversible nine-hole golf course.

74

GROWING OUTDOORS

CampGo, Palmetto Bluff’s new summer camp, encourages growth, exploration, and a meaningful connection to the great outdoors.

86

OH MY STARS AND STRIPES!

Traditions run deep for the Truslow family on the Fourth of July. Follow along with the festivities!

Amy Anderson

Joe Armeni

Patti Berner

Ashlyn Blankenship

Frances Chalmers

Rollen Chalmers

Lucinda Detrich

Darcy Gulbin

Hailey

Sunny

Madeline Cox

Joel Caldwell

Rob Collins

Katie Epps

Patrick O’Brien

Summer Pagatpatan

Cacky Rivers

Cameron Wilder

Gately Williams

Charlotte Zacharkiw

Sonya Haire

Pat Henry

Patti Henry

Stacey Hinman

Meghan Lamb

Donna Litton

Marie McConnell

Dashae Middleton

Aaron Palmieri

Tom Shanahan

Dr. Mary Socci

Sophie Timm

Lauren Truslow

Neal Truslow

Carol West

Lexi Yager

UPCOMING EVENTS

PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB

ANSON CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT

March 25-27

PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB LAWN CHAIR & LYRICS

March 29

PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB

EASTER PARTY AT LONGFIELD STABLES

March 31

PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB

AROUND THE TABLE: SPRING DINNER

April 10

PALMETTO BLUFF CONSERVANCY CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

April 17

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

KURTIS SCHUMM, INK PAINTER

April 24-27

PALMETTO BLUFF CONSERVANCY BREAKING IT DOWN: OYSTERS

May 8

FLOW FEST

May 19

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

KATIE WHITE, WATERCOLOR

June 19-22

PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB STARS AND STRIPES

July 4

PALMETTO BLUFF CONSERVANCY

SHARKS OF SOUTH CAROLINA

July 31

What is it about Palmetto Bluff that so captures the imagination?

Perhaps it is the natural beauty, the graceful contours of the May River and ancient live oak trees draped with Spanish moss. Perhaps it is the history, its artifacts and stories, the collective narrative of the people who once called this place home. Or perhaps it is the community, the rich tapestry of families, neighbors, and friends who have built their lives and legacies here.

In this issue of the bluff , we try to catch hold of this enigmatic something that makes Palmetto Bluff so extraordinary. We explore Lowcountry waterways in “Slow Boat to Beaufort” (pg. 28), walk through Palmetto Bluff’s cemeteries in “Resurrecting Stones” (pg. 56), and meet some of our favorite canine friends in “The Dogs of Palmetto Bluff” (pg. 46). In the making of this issue, I spent time with so many kind and passionate people. It is no wonder this place feels like magic. Enjoy!

Hailey Wist | Editor and Designer

PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB

ROCK THE BLUFF

August 30

We have been hard at work enhancing life for our members and are so excited about recent projects at the Bluff. There is so much to look forward to in 2024. Thank you for your readership. We hope you enjoy this issue!

PATRICK, WILL, JORDAN, AND CHRIS SOUTH STREET PARTNERS

CONTRIBUTORS

CHARLOTTE

Charlotte is a photographer based out of Charleston, South Carolina. Her latest project, WEREAWAY, is a website about traveling the world with young children. When she is not working for clients, she is capturing moments with her own family.

GATELY WILLIAMS | PHOTOGRAPHER

Gately Williams is an editorial and landscape photographer. His work appears in Legends, Coastal Living, Garden & Gun, and National Geographic magazines. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife and daughter.

PATRICK O’BRIEN | PHOTOGRAPHER

For twenty-five years Patrick O’Brien has created memorable photography for clients across the globe. He has been honored to collaborate with art directors, designers, and clients who share his passion for creating images that inspire and surprise.

KATIE EPPS | WRITER

Katie Epps worked at Palmetto Bluff as a contract archaeologist from 2004–2008 and returned full time in 2021. Katie completed her undergraduate studies at the College of Charleston and earned her master’s degree from the University of South Carolina.

SUMMER PAGATPATAN | PHOTOGRAPHER

Summer is a portrait photographer based out of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. She loves capturing both the mundane and monumental moments in people’s lives. She’s inspired by nature, travel, and the things that make folks feel alive.

JOEL CALDWELL | WRITER

Joel is a writer and photographer. His work focuses on conservation and environmental justice stories from around the world. His photos have appeared in Patagonia’s The Cleanest Line, The New York Times, and National Geographic.

ZACHARKIW | PHOTOGRAPHER

“The Nationals” Silver Award • Pinnacle Award Finalist & Merit Winner

Beaufort Civitas Award • 432 Lighthouse & Finalist Awards • Numerous “Best Builder” awards

Small Business of the Year • NKBA Best Large Luxury Kitchen Award

Pat and Patti Henry

LEARN MORE

CLUB MEMBERS

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Learn more about best selling author Patti Callahan Henry and her newest novel.

How did you two meet?

Patti: We actually met in college but never dated. We went to Auburn University and both moved to Atlanta after graduation. He was in graduate school at Emory, and I worked as a nurse at Emory’s Children’s Hospital.

Pat: Our friend groups were intertwined, and we bumped into each other at a bar.

Tell me about your kids.

Patti: We have three kids. Megan is thirty-one and lives in Hawaii with her husband and two daughters. Our son Thomas just got engaged here at Palmetto Bluff. He lives in Birmingham, about three miles from us. Our son Rusk is twenty-five. He lives in Washington DC, and is a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate.

How did you find Palmetto Bluff?

Pat: My parents lived on Daufuskie Island for thirty years, and we had a place there for a short time as well. The guys who started developing Palmetto Bluff were business partners of mine and good friends— Art Fields and Jim Mozley.

Patti: We would bring the boat over from Daufuskie and dream of one day having a place here. We saw it from the beginning, saw the roads getting cut. We’ve had a place here for fifteen years.

What do you think makes Palmetto Bluff so special?

Pat: The low density required in this community by the county and the

city was such a blessing. So much of this place is protected by perpetual conservation easements.

Patti: When we purchased our house here, the boys were thirteen and eight. They’ve always loved the outdoors. They know the waterways better than they know the roads. They’re golfers. They’re hunters, and they love fishing, boating. Pat and the boys are friends with Jay [Walea, director of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy]. They hunt and fish with him. We are so grateful for the Conservancy.

How often are you here?

Patti: We spend every holiday here—every Thanksgiving, every Christmas, every Fourth of July. If we even suggest a family vacation somewhere else, the boys are like, I want to hunt! I want to fish! And our daughter went to Savannah College of Art and Design. So she loves this place and this land. And Pat’s mom still lives on Hilton Head Island.

Do you write about this area, Patti?

Patti: When I first decided I wanted to write a novel, it was because of Anne Rivers Siddons and Pat Conroy. My first twelve novels were contemporary and set in the South, some on the Alabama coastline, but mostly in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Surviving Savannah was inspired by Palmetto Bluff. Boo Harrell, our mariner here, told me about a shipwreck in 1838, and I started diving into the research.

Even though it was a historical novel, it was inspired by my love of this place. And I write a lot here. It’s a place of solitude and contemplation. I feel like the minute I come over that bridge into Palmetto Bluff my heart rate slows down a bit.

Will you retire here?

Pat: It’s unfolding. Our kids certainly love it here.

Patti: We talk about it all the time. Right now, we’re both full-on in our careers. But Palmetto Bluff is always in our future. I want to buy a lot on the river and build a compound for the family.

Pat: She talks about building a house on the river every day.

Patti: That’s true. If only there were more lots on the river!

What does life look like when you’re here?

Patti: I love kayaking. We all have bikes and can ride for miles and miles. We rest. We have great friends here. Pat and I both love to cook. But really, when we’re here, our family comes like a magnet—my family, Pat’s family—which is what we want. Our sons have made loads of friends. The minute they get here, they’re calling people. I love that they don’t leave. They meet at Cole’s, or they go out on the boat or play golf. They want to be here, which is the most important thing, that your family wants to be with you.

BIRDS OF

A Pair of Pileated Woodpeckers

Photograph by Cacky Rivers

A FEATHER

PHOTOGRAPHS by CACKY RIVERS AND CAMERON WILDER

STORY by HAILEY WIST

It is a sunny, cold December morning when we meet in the Conservancy classroom in Moreland Village. Everyone is well-equipped with binoculars and all manner of cameras and giant lenses. Cacky arrives last, in a rush of cold air and excitement. She has just been scouting this morning’s path and has come across a pair of pileated woodpeckers. Her enthusiasm is infectious. We gather our things and head out, falling into step and easy conversation as Cacky leads us to the River Road Preserve.

BE INSPIRED

View the 2024 Artist in Residence lineup and upcoming workshops.

Top Left: Cacky takes aim | Top Right: Exploring River Road Preserve | Bottom Left: Photographing two red-tailed hawks from Davies Road in Moreland |

Bottom Right: A red-tailed hawk in flight

Everywhere there is the rustle of leaves, of robins, wrens, and chickadees chirping and trilling as they forage in the understory.

Cacky Rivers never meant to be a birder. This was the life love of her late father, Dr. Tommy Rivers. An OB-GYN and beloved pillar of the community, Dr. Rivers had been an avid birder since childhood. He found immense joy in walking the woods with his binoculars. When he became sick in 2017, Cacky headed out on his beat. She was his boots on the ground, so to speak, and brought the birds home to him in stories and photos. Over time, she got better at taking photos and bought a more serious camera. “He’d watched birds fly his whole life,” she says. “But suddenly I was stopping them in motion for him. He thought that was brilliant.” Their text exchanges during these excursions laid the groundwork for Cacky’s first book. And after his death in 2020, Cacky kept going. It was part of her DNA, a way to commune with her dad.

Cacky stops the group at the trailhead. “Let’s listen and see who is here,” she says quietly. “But do your own thing, find your own groove.” And as we turn into the path, the group falls silent, watchful. Many have their phones out, using the Cornell University Merlin Bird ID app to record and identify bird calls. The low December sun throws deep shadows in the maritime forest. Everywhere there is the rustle of leaves, of robins, wrens, and chickadees chirping and trilling as they forage in the understory.

Top: Robin |

Bottom Left: Osprey |

Bottom Right: Great blue heron

Photographs by Cacky Rivers

We flush a pair of northern harriers, spot a bald eagle and a red-tailed hawk. Walking on the sandy roads that crisscross through Anson, someone spots the perfect tracks of a female bobcat.

In 2021 Cacky published her first book, Grounded in Flight. The book was a culmination of those first years in the field, an homage to her late father. This past fall, she published her second book, Born & Raised, an “egg to fledge” chronicle of her favorite birds, from ospreys to oystercatchers. Her passion and commitment has grown immensely in recent years. What started as an ode to her father and an accidental hobby has become her life’s work. This transformation is evident in her most recent book. “I dove deeper. I researched, I studied, I did my homework,” she explains. “I sat for months and watched the same birds. So Born & Raised is richer, more educational.” In the last year, Cacky has been pulled in by local conservationists and bird enthusiasts working for a larger vision. She is now in constant conversation with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and organizations like Audubon South Carolina and Charleston’s Center for Birds of Prey. She has a voice in the birding and conservation community now. “I’m on a journey of discovery,” Cacky says thoughtfully. “All the windows and doors are open now.”

We take a left onto the Flatwoods loop. The forest is a dense mix of loblolly pine, oak, sweet gum, and wax myrtle. The path narrows, the pine needles soft underfoot. We stop and fall silent, listening to a whiteeyed vireo in a small, scrubby oak just off the trail. We

walk in pairs and talk in low tones as the trail turns right along the inland waterway. The group gathers to watch a cormorant on a snag just a few yards away. “Cormorants catch a fish, throw it in the air, and eat it,” she whispers. “It’s such a tough action shot to get.”

All around us little kinglets and chickadees rustle in dense wax myrtle. “You hear that? These bushes are full of birds.” Through Cacky’s eyes, the forest around us feels so alive

Cacky’s runaway success led her here, to The Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff’s Artist in Residence. During her four-day stay, Cacky hosted a book talk and lead several excursions into the wilds of the Lowcountry. “This Artist in Residence program at Palmetto Bluff is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done,” she says. “I love what I do so much that I forget it’s my work. It is so fun to be here and share it with people.” And Cacky has taken full advantage of her time. She has been on long bike rides, meandered in the woods, and already photographed a loggerhead shrike, which was a “lifer.” “I didn’t want to just sit in the gallery and sign books; I wanted to go on an adventure!” she says.

After lunch at the Canteen in Moreland Village, the group piles into the back of the Conservancy truck. Aaron Palmieri, Palmetto Bluff Conservancy educator and proclaimed bird nerd, takes us behind the gates and along dirt roads to the very southern end of the

These moments are, for her, life-affirming, a point of connection to the mysteries of nature. Birds are an everlasting link to her beloved father.

property. We pile in and out of the truck bed several times; Cacky and Aaron lead on practiced intuition. We flush a pair of northern harriers, spot a bald eagle and a red-tailed hawk. Walking on the sandy roads that crisscross through Anson, someone spots the perfect tracks of a female bobcat. By the time we reach the southern end of the property, the air has warmed in the afternoon sun and there is a light breeze off the May River. Standing against the marsh in the slanted December sun, we can see all the way to Savannah’s skyline.

We are headed back to Moreland and chatting in the back of the truck when Cacky shouts, Stop! Someone bangs on the cab and Aaron screeches to a halt. A pair of red-tailed hawks are perched just off the road in plain view. One of them has a squirrel in its talons and is hunched over it, wings hanging. Small tufts of sandcolored fur drift slowly to the ground. Each member of the group quietly adjusts, attunes, and sets up. The only sound for a long while is the occasional click of our shutters. The hawks are magnificent, massive, and powerful. Through the binoculars, the details of the birds’ beaks, their eyes, and the rich plumage are a sight to behold.

There is a sparkle in Cacky’s eyes as we load back into the truck. These moments are life-affirming for her, a point of connection to the mysteries of nature. Birds are an everlasting link to her beloved father.

“My dad said over and over: Always look up.” Cacky smiles. “I’m just getting started.”

Hooded Merganser

| Photograph by Cacky Rivers

SLOW

BOAT

TO BEAUFORT

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GATELY WILLIAMS

CRUISE CONTROL

PALMETTO BLUFF LIES AT THE HEART OF THE VAST NETWORK OF RIVERS AND CREEKS THAT CONNECT THE SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY’S BARRIER ISLANDS. A STONE’S THROW FROM THE NOTABLE CULTURAL AND HISTORIC HUBS OF SAVANNAH, BEAUFORT, AND HILTON HEAD ISLAND,

PALMETTO BLUFF IS THE PERFECT JUMPING-OFF POINT FOR EXPLORING THE NATURAL, CULTURAL, AND HISTORICAL RICHES OF THE AREA. BUT WHILE DAY TRIPS BY CAR ARE EASY AND SCENIC, WHY DRIVE WHEN YOU CAN BOAT?

THIS THIRTY-SEVEN-FOOT HINCKLEY IS THE PRIDE AND JOY OF THE WILSON LANDING BOAT CLUB. DESIGNED FOR LUXURY, MIRANDA HAS ALL THE AMENITIES FOR A COMFORTABLE RIDE.

GETTING THERE

WHILE THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITE IS A SLOW SOJOURN TO THE HISTORIC TOWN OF BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, WITH A COUPLE OF MUST-SEE STOPS. THE RIDE FROM PALMETTO BLUFF TAKES YOU SOUTH ALONG THE MAY RIVER AND INTO THE CALIBOGUE SOUND, ACROSS THE VAST PORT ROYAL SOUND, AND INTO THE BEAUFORT RIVER. AS A STRAIGHT SHOT, THIS IS ABOUT AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF TRIP, THOUGH WE RECOMMEND A FEW SCENIC STOPOVERS.

BANANA ISLAND

WITH WHITE SAND BEACHES DOTTED WITH PALM AND COCONUT TREES, BANANA ISLAND IS REMINISCENT OF THE WILD SCENERY OF ROBINSON

CRUSOE. SITUATED IN THE VAST PORT ROYAL SOUND, THIS WILD BARRIER

ISLAND IS HOME TO VARIOUS BIRD AND TURTLE SPECIES, ALIVE WITH A CACOPHONY OF ANIMAL LIFE. ANCHOR ALONG ITS STUNNING SANDBAR

FOR A PICNIC, OR ANCHOR AND WADE ASHORE TO EXPLORE.

ARRIVING

MOTOR UP TO THE DAY DOCK AT HENRY C. CHAMBERS WATERFRONT PARK IN BEAUFORT, A DOCK OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 6 AM TO 1 AM. FROM THERE, IT IS AN EASY ONE-BLOCK STROLL INTO THE HEART OF BEAUFORT FOR A QUICK BITE, SHOPPING, AND SIGHTSEEING.

BITES ALONG THE WAY

NESTLED IN THE QUAINT TOWN OF PORT ROYAL, FISHCAMP ON 11TH STREET IS A SEAFOOD LOVER’S PARADISE. FROM PEEL-AND-EAT SHRIMP TO PERFECTLY GRILLED FISH, EACH DISH REFLECTS THE REGION’S RICH MARITIME HERITAGE. WITH A LAID-BACK ATMOSPHERE AND OUTDOOR SEATING OVERLOOKING THE WATER, FISHCAMP ON 11TH STREET OFFERS A DELIGHTFUL BLEND OF DELICIOUS SEAFOOD, WATERFRONT VIEWS, AND THE RELAXED CHARM THAT DEFINES THE COASTAL DINING EXPERIENCE IN PORT ROYAL.

BLACKSTONE’S CAFE IS A CORNERSTONE OF BEAUFORT. HOUSED IN A HISTORIC BUILDING, THIS CHARMING CAFE IS AN INSTITUTION OF LOWCOUNTRY WARMTH AND CLASSIC BREAKFAST FARE. LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE LOVE BLACKSTONE’S FOR ITS SIGNATURE SHRIMP AND GRITS AND OTHER SOUTHERN STAPLES.

A FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD, HERBAN MARKET AND CAFE BLENDS HEALTHY DINING WITH LOCAL CHARM. THIS CASUAL CAFE SOURCES ORGANIC INGREDIENTS FOR AN ECLECTIC MENU OF SALADS, WRAPS, AND INVENTIVE DISHES. AN OUTDOOR PATIO IS JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE WATERFRONT. TRY THE SNICKERDOODLE WHOOPIE PIE!

LEARN MORE

Learn more about Rollen Chalmers and Rollen’s Raw Grains.

goldstriking

ROLLEN CHALMERS AND THE REVIVAL OF CAROLINA GOLD, THE GRAIN THAT HELPED DEFINE THE HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA PHOTOGRAPHY and STORY by

JOEL CALDWELL

Marion “Rollen” Chalmers has been garnering a lot of welldeserved attention of late. Garden & Gun, the Blue Zones project, and even the TODAY show have made the trip to Rollen’s native Hardeeville, South Carolina, to spend time with the man credited with playing an instrumental role in the rebirth of Carolina Gold rice, the grain that put the South Carolina Lowcountry on the map and generated massive amounts of wealth for plantation owners in the colonial period. An African variety cultivated by enslaved people, Carolina Gold was a cash crop until the Civil War, subsequently declining in popularity until the final commercial crop was harvested in 1927. In the 1980s, Dr. Richard Schulze Sr. became interested in the grain, discovered that a USDA rice research center in Texas still retained seeds, and hired Rollen to restore rice ponds on their vacation property in Hardeeville. The rest is history.

Rollen, along with his wife and business partner of forty years, Frances, operate Rollen’s RAW Grains, just a few miles south of where he was raised. Both at the store and online, you can buy the fruits of their labor—rice, grains, peas, and corn. Rollen and Frances also sell their goods at the Palmetto Bluff and Port Royal farmers markets and supply their grains to chefs at Palmetto Bluff and nearby Savannah and Hilton Head.

Unknown to Rollen until recently, rice cultivation is deeply embedded in his family history. His role in resurrecting Carolina Gold set him on a path to uncover his ancestry, which is intertwined with the grain and its enduring popularity.

Still rural, Hardeeville has “grown up some,” in Rollen’s estimation, from the backwoods highway town of his youth. As a kid, there were two fast food outfits. Hardee World, “a restaurant, gas station, gift shop, fireworks-selling, travel-center bonanza,” was central to his childhood. From a young age, all the Chalmers children took a turn working there, either in the restaurant or manning the gas pumps. Rollen’s father was employed in a lumber plant in nearby Savannah, while his

Top Photo: Rollen adjusts a ‘rice trunk’, the wooden sluice that controls the flow of water onto the fields. | Bottom Photo: Rice fields are separated by dikes and can be flooded and drained throughout the season.

mother worked as a maid. They weren’t professional farmers, but the Chalmers always had crops growing, maybe five or ten acres of the same vegetables the family had grown for generations: sugarcane, peanuts, watermelon, okra, and corn.

An artistic kid who won awards in school for drawing and painting, Rollen was encouraged to go to college. But Rollen, making money at Hardee World, had other ideas—including buying and drag racing motorcycles. He never pursued his education and instead joined his dad at the plant in Georgia. Developing a wide variety of skills over a decade and a half spent working a series of uninspiring jobs, Rollen purchased heavy equipment and struck out on his own in his early thirties as an earth mover. Clearing land, digging ponds, and building driveways, you name it. If you had a job that needed doing, Rollen was the man to call.

Back before everything went “grocery store bought,” Rollen’s parents and grandparents had cultivated rice for family consumption. “My mother would always tell me about rice growing and what they had to do—planting it, harvesting it, milling it themselves—just to have food to eat.” Despite this family history of food self-sufficiency, his introduction into the rice world actually came by way of managing wealthy people’s land for hunting purposes: digging rice impoundments, setting up controlled flooding, and growing rice to attract ducks, deer, and turkey. Rice is temperamental and easily spoils, and impoundments must be perfectly level to ensure even distribution of water and require endless maintenance.

Eventually, Rollen met and began working for Dr. Richard Schulze Sr. and his wife, Patricia, who had an interest in reviving a specific grain for human consumption, Carolina Gold, on their Turnbridge property. After Rollen built roads, repaired

impoundments, and put in new rice trunks to flood the fields, Dr. Richard Schulze Jr., known as “little Richard,” told him he had a friend interested in growing rice for research and wanted Rollen to be involved.

That friend turned out to be Glenn Roberts, known today as an heirloom grain expert and owner of Anson Mills in Columbia. Glenn made the drive to Hardeeville, took Rollen and Frances to dinner, and pitched them on the idea of growing Carolina Gold rice for research. “Glenn tells me that he’s starting up Anson Mills and needs someone like me in research to get this thing going,” Rollen says. The Chalmers agreed and Glenn got them the seeds and fish for fertilizer, everything they needed to start growing at Turnbridge.

“People want Carolina Gold because of the flavor,” Rollen says. “I love growing it because of the history.” But he had no idea how closely linked his family was to that history. In 2023, Dr. Mary Socci, a Palmetto Bluff archaeologist, invited Rollen to the property to discuss putting in a rice field. Over lunch, Mary told Rollen she had something to show him. “Mary takes me to a small cemetery on the bluff with a little iron fence around it. A beautiful setting.” They walked through the gate and approached a headstone that read, “Maria Chalmers, wife of William Chalmers.” “I was blown away,” Rollen says. “That was my great-grandmother buried there, and it was the first my family knew about it.”

Palmetto Bluff was a large producer of rice in the seventeenth century. William and Maria Chalmers were enslaved cultivators of Carolina Gold until they moved to Bluffton after emancipation. Shortly thereafter, William Chalmers leased land in Palmetto Bluff and started growing rice. “Next season [2024] I’ll be growing rice on the same land that my great-grandfather did five generations earlier. I can’t believe it.”

Cultivation Throughout the Seasons

FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, ROLLEN HAS STEWARDED THE LAND AND PERFORMED RESEARCH AT TURNBRIDGE. HE MAINTAINS EMBANKMENTS AND COVER CROPS IN THE WINTER TO ENRICH AND PROTECT THE SOIL. AT THE END OF FEBRUARY AND INTO MARCH, HE TURNS OVER THE FIELDS AND CONTROLS WEEDS BY PULLING A CULTIVATOR BEHIND HIS TRACTOR. IN MID-TO-LATE APRIL, HE PLANTS AFTER THE LAST FROST. “THE CLIMATE HAS CHANGED SO MUCH THAT WE HARDLY HAVE WINTER WHERE THE GROUND IS FROZEN LIKE IT USED TO BE AROUND HERE. MAYBE ONLY ONCE A YEAR NOW.”

THE FIELDS ARE FLOODED AND THE RICE GROWS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS. ROLLEN HARVESTS IN MID-SEPTEMBER. THE WATER IS PULLED OFF THE FIELD, AND ROLLEN SETS OFF ON THE COMBINE, CUTTING UNTIL THE DEW FALLS IN THE EVENING. HE LOADS THE RICE ONTO A TRUCK AFTER DARK AND HEADS BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR DINNER AND A SHOWER. AT FOUR O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING, HE IS BACK IN THE TRUCK, GONE AGAIN. HE DELIVERS THE CROP TO ANSON MILLS, WHERE IT WILL BE CLEANED AND MILLED BY SEVEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING. BY THE TIME ROLLEN RETURNS FROM COLUMBIA, A SIX-HOUR ROUND TRIP, THE RICE FIELDS ARE DRY AND IT’S TIME TO GET BACK ON THE COMBINE. THIS MARATHON CONTINUES FOR FIVE DAYS AND IS THE CULMINATION OF THE GROWING SEASON.

Dogs of Palmetto Bluff

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUMMER PAGATPATAN

Bentley

Bentley || Chocolate Labrador || Male || 9 Years Old

Bentley is always happy to see anyone. He’s the fan favorite in our neighborhood and might bust down the door to see you! Bentley loves to go on a treat walk in Wilson Village. He knows where all the treat jars are—the coffee shop, post office, the outfitters, and boat house.

Lucca & Finley

Lucca

Finley is big, strong, and always hungry! He loves Snyder’s pretzels and enjoys

Finley Spinley Fireball || Bernedoodle || Male || 2 Years Old

an armpit rub.

Lucca Bucca Champagne || Mini Goldendoodle || Male || 4 Years Old

is a refined gentleman. He loves walks to Moreland Landing, golf cart rides, and ice cream from Melt.

Bucky

Bucky || Mini Schnauzer || Male || 7 Years Old

Bucky is a sweet, loving little guy. He loves to go on golf cart rides in the afternoons and to look for deer and squirrels. His favorite place to visit is the green space in the Village beside the May River Chapel. Bucky always makes new friends whenever he goes for walks in Calder Park.

Maple

Maple || French Bulldog || Female || 4 Years Old

Maple is animated, friendly, and very playful. She loves to ride on the Honda Ruckus (with helmet & goggles of course!) or in her bike wagon around the Bluff. Maple also enjoys visiting her friends in the Club membership office, Canteen, post office, real estate office, Melt, and Buzz.

Kona Blue

Kona has a crazy amount of energy! She is a great listener and is very smart. Kona loves to get ice cream at Melt and to run on the extensive trail system at Palmetto Bluff. Right before bed, she loves to have a chewy treat to end the day.

Kona Blue || Blue Weimaraner || Female || 7 Years Old

King, Cassie & Cessna

King || Brittany Spaniel || Male || 7 Years Old

King is extremely independent and happy. He loves patrolling the property for squirrels, rats, and moles. He looks forward to his Gator rides every day at 5 pm. He loves to curl up in front of the fire on our screened porch.

Cassie || Brittany Spaniel || Female || 12 Years Old

Cassie’s passion is hunting! She is amazing at catching squirrels and digging up moles, when not running the fields for quail. She is very loving and has birthed eleven puppies with grace. She enjoys sunbathing on the front lawn, and her favorite time of day is riding the neighborhood in our Gator.

Cessna || Brittany Spaniel || Female || 7 Years Old

Cessna is a firecracker. She has endless energy for patrolling the yard and chasing whatever runs by. On our evening Gator rides, Cessna insists on sitting in the front seat with her head hanging out the window. Her ears in the wind make her look like The Flying Nun.

Material:

Builder: Randy

UNCOVER THE PAST

Learn more about the history of Palmetto Bluff.

RESURRECTING STONES

PHOTOGRAPHS by JOEL CALDWELL

STORY by KATIE EPPS

A GRAVEYARD IS AFFILIATED WITH A CHURCH AND IS TYPICALLY LOCATED ON CHURCH GROUNDS, WHEREAS A CEMETERY IS NEITHER.

OPPOSITE: PALMETTO BLUFF ARCHAEOLOGIST

DR. MARY SOCCI BRUSHES A FINE SAND ONTO THE SURFACE OF A HEADSTONE TO HELP THE INSCRIPTION STAND OUT. BOX TOMBS ARE HOLLOW, RECTANGULAR FOUNDATIONS THAT SUPPORT HORIZONTAL HEADSTONES AND MARK THE LOCATION OF A BODY, WHICH IS BURIED APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET BELOW THE GROUND SURFACE.

Beneath Palmetto Bluff’s sprawling oaks lie twelve cemeteries that serve as the final resting places for hundreds of people and nine dogs. Five of these cemeteries were started as burial grounds for enslaved people and later used by freedmen and their descendants into the early twentieth century; one of these is still active. Six cemeteries were for plantation owners and their families, and the remaining one was for the Wilson family’s dogs. (Richard T. Wilson Jr. gave Palmetto Bluff its name.)

When you walk through a cemetery, history comes to life. And Palmetto Bluff’s archaeologists want to keep this history alive. In 2016, the archaeology team began restoring these cemeteries, in part to honor every person buried (marked or unmarked).

Archaeologists Dr. Mary Socci and Katie Epps manage the care and maintenance of these dozen cemeteries. And although the team completes the physical work in each cemetery, they spend more time researching and mapping in order to understand the connection between the land and the people buried at Palmetto Bluff. They maintain a map of each cemetery with a list of the headstones and footstones and the inscriptions for each stone. In the future, the archaeology team plans to use magnetometry to identify unmarked graves in the cemeteries. This noninvasive remote sensing technique detects differences in the magnetic properties of the soil. This critical work ensures current and future generations can honor those buried on Palmetto Bluff grounds.

LEARN MORE

Learn how the Conservancy works every day to maximize our natural resources.

Each cemetery has a different challenge to tackle–some are on private land, some are overgrown, all have headstones that need attention. Palmetto Bluff Conservancy Land and Wildlife Manager Brian Byrne maintains right-of-way access to the cemeteries on private land for maintenance and restoration work. Initially, he removes dense or unsafe vegetation and then erects a cast-iron fence around the perimeter to outline the cemetery’s boundaries. Byrne maintains the monthly landscaping so the team can make additional restorations, such as attending to the headstones.

Socci and Epps work with cemetery restoration professionals to repair and reset headstones, repair box tombs, and even create new foundations for some monuments. Over time, the heavy stones often settle in the loose Lowcountry sand, bricks crack, and the original lime mortar erodes. A leaning monument is more likely to break, so resetting prevents future damage. Constructing foundations for horizontal headstones protects them from being covered or damaged. And they treat discolored stone with a safe, non-abrasive cleaner.

As the archeaology team completes the restoration process in one cemetery, they focus on restoring another. Six cemeteries are complete, two are in progress, and four will be restored in the coming years. Some particularly interesting repairs can be found in the Octagon Cemetery in the cottage area, the Screven-Hipp Cemetery by the Canoe Club pool, and the Landings Cemetery off Old Moreland Road.

Octagon Cemetery contains the graves of at least ten people. In January 2021, Frank Genello, a cemetery conservationist and owner of American Building Restoration Company, helped repair the almost 200-year-old box tomb of Dr. Samuel Fairchild, the owner of Octagon Plantation laid to rest in 1826. Genello and Palmetto Bluff’s archaeologists also constructed a three-course-high brick foundation for the horizontal headstone of Dr. Fairchild’s daughter Theresa Halsey Parkman’s children: Catherine Halsey Parkman (died 1829) and Samuel Fairchild Parkman (died 1819). It had been flush with the ground and was in danger of being stepped on or damaged from landscaping. The new unmortared brick foundation is easy to deconstruct if additional work is needed.

Montpelier Plantation’s Screven-Hipp Cemetery has two complete monuments and at least seven burials surrounded by the remains of a tabby wall. There are likely at least ten burials. One-time owner of the plantation, George Hipp’s stone is in excellent condition; however, until 2016, the monument for John and Elizabeth Screven and their four infant children was held together by wire. (The Screvens owned Montpelier prior to Hipp.) A cemetery restorer repaired the stone and set it on a new foundation. Paperwork detailing the work was left in a time capsule within the monument to ensure that future restorers know the methods and materials used.

At Landings Cemetery, the various headstones and monuments commemorate seven people (three

LEFT: THE ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM WORKS WITH CEMETERY CONSERVATIONIST FRANK GENELLO OF AMERICAN BUILDING RESTORATION COMPANY. HERE, GENELLO READIES THE HOIST TO LIFT THE HEADSTONE ONTO THE NEW BRICK FOUNDATION.

formerly enslaved people and four born after slavery). Often, the marked graves denote only a fraction of the people buried in the cemetery. Depressions mark the burials of those without permanent markers. The team cleaned and reset leaning headstones and footstones. In 2022, a prominent local businessman, Rollen Chalmers (see page 38), visited Palmetto Bluff to discuss rice production and his new business, Rollen’s RAW Grains. Chalmers, who grew up in Hardeeville, discovered that he had a connection to the land at Palmetto Bluff. His great-grandmother Maria Chalmers was buried at the Landings Cemetery.

Chalmers recalls, “When I visited the cemetery with Mary, Katie, and their team and saw the headstone of my great-grandmother, I was in disbelief! I’ve lived in Hardeeville all my life and did not know my great-grandparents were buried in Palmetto Bluff. After gathering myself and thinking about them being buried in this special cemetery, I felt that despite their circumstances, they were honored in their final resting place. Upon further research, Mary and her team discovered my great-grandfather, William Chalmers, leased land from Palmetto Bluff and grew and sold rice.

I guess growing rice is in my blood.”

By conserving these cemeteries and researching those buried here, Palmetto Bluff’s archaeology team maintains a connection to the people who once called the Bluff home.

LEFT TO RIGHT: GENELLO LOWERS THE HEADSTONE WHILE DR. MARY SOCCI AND SAM HOLST ALIGN THE STONE WITH THE FOUNDATION || DR. MARY SOCCI || THE HEADSTONE OF MARIA CHALMERS, THE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF LOCAL FARMER MARION “ROLLEN” CHALMERS.

PALMETTO BLUFF’S PET CEMETERY

IN FRONT OF THE RIVER HOUSE ALONG THE BANK OF THE MAY RIVER LIES THE WILSON FAMILY’S DOG CEMETERY. THERE ARE STONES FOR PIXIE, WINCHESTER, BESS, NIP, SAM, LADY, LEO, LUKE, AND TOMMY. ALL THE DOGS HAD CONCRETE HEADSTONES EXCEPT TOMMY, WHOSE MARBLE HEADSTONE STANDS OUT. TOMMY, A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD FOX TERRIER, WAS MARION WILSON’S COMPANION EVEN BEFORE SHE MARRIED RICHARD T. WILSON.

PHOTOGRAPH

A SHOTMAKER’S PLAYGROUND CROSSRO ADS

DESIGNER ROB COLLINS OF KING-COLLINS OFFERS

A FIRST LOOK AT CROSSROADS, PALMETTO BLUFF’S NEW NINE-HOLE REVERSIBLE GOLF COURSE. IT IS A FEAT OF DESIGN. ONE ROUTING, THE HAMMER, IS A WHIRLWIND OF ANGLES AND UNDULATIONS.

THE REVERSE, DUBBED THE PRESS, FEELS LIKE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT GAME, A NEW SET OF CHALLENGES AND FEATURES. IT’S A LOT OF GOLF PACKED INTO FIFTY-FOUR ACRES, A SLEIGHT OF HAND THAT MAKES THE COURSE PLAY MUCH BIGGER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK

O’BRIEN

WORDS BY

ROB COLLINS

THE GREENS ARE A DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC.

There are about three and a half acres of greens on the actual golf course, which is about 150,000 square feet, then another 34,000 square feet of putting greens. Most 18-hole golf courses have less than 100,000 square feet. So, we have a wide variety of options for pin placement.

THE DESIGN IS SUPERFLUID.

We had a lot of dirt to play with, so we built sand dunes. One feature bleeds into the next, with no beginning and no end. If you look at it from above, it’s like an amoeba that winds around as one thing turns into another.

THE COURSE ENCOURAGES PLAY ALONG THE GROUND.

You have to think about contours, about angles. The corridors are extremely wide, and there are hundreds of yards of width in some places. But even though you’ll almost always play off of the fairway, you might not like your angle. We played a lot with sight lines and visibility. So, if you get off track a bit, you might not see the pin or all of the green, which adds to the challenge. Whereas if you really hit in the right spot, you probably have more visibility and an easier shot. But to get to those good spots, you have a hazard to contend with. There’s a lot to discover.

ROUTING

1: The Press routing is a touch more quirky and sporty. You might think it’s kind of a pushover but it’s got some teeth to it, with a lot of heavily contoured greens and dramatic shots. And there’s a bit more blindness that comes into play.

The Rules of Press: The press, at its most basic, is a second bet that begins during the course of a round, joining and running concurrently with the original bet.

ROUTING 2: For a non-traditional golf course, The Hammer is a little more down the middle, more straightforward than the reverse. Though it’s visually intimidating, the routing is much more forgiving than it appears. There is a lot of visual trickery!

The Rules of Hammer: Each hole starts with an established bet. At any point, any player can“hammer” the other player/team, which doubles the bet on the hole.

Above: A group plays The Hammer routing on opening day.

Right Top: The celebration brought over four hundred members and guests. Right Bottom: Director of Golf Operations Chris Apple, Crossroads Assistant Golf Professional Spencer Collins, course designer Rob Collins with his dog Winnie, Director of Marketing Maggie Hackett, and Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Company Sales Executive Jim Staton.

Palmetto Bluff residents celebrated the grand opening of Crossroads on January 20, 2024.

IT WAS A TALENTED TEAM.

I was out there pretty much every week throughout construction and there was a really good energy. It was just a very cohesive project from start to finish. This is the best agronomic team we’ve ever worked with. And everybody just adopted this very enthusiastic, collaborative mindset.

OPENING DAY WAS SPECIAL.

I am over the moon happy with it. I am so thrilled with what our guys put down and how it’s being presented by the Palmetto Bluff team. The course is finally there for people to enjoy and study.

PALMETTO BLUFF

PALMETTO BLUFF IS A WILDERNESS PLAYGROUND FOR FAMILIES, A GATEWAY TO THE OUTDOORS, TO LIVING LIFE CLOSE TO NATURE. PALMETTO BLUFF GROWING OUTDOORS, OR PBGO, ENCOMPASSES THE ETHOS OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY PLACE.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SUMMER PAGATPATAN

CampGO is PBGO’s summer program and caters to Palmetto Bluff Club members from five to fourteen years old. To address the varying age groups, the camp has meticulously curated age-specific activities, ensuring each child enjoys a program tailored to their developmental stage. By organizing children into appropriate age brackets, CampGO aims to optimize the camp experience, offering activities that resonate with campers of all ages.

The camp follows a Monday-to-Thursday schedule with an optional field trip every Friday. Last summer, CampGO offered eight themed weeks. Each week brought a unique experience—a Mission Impossible week, PB’s Got Talent!, and Christmas in July, to name a few. First and foremost, this revamped camp programming encourages kids to get outside and explore beyond their usual likes and dislikes. Unlike traditional camps that focus on a single activity, this approach surprises campers with undisclosed weekly activities. This element of surprise encourages kids to try new things without preconceptions. As a result, many discover interests they hadn’t explored before, like trying archery for the first time! Or horseback riding!

THEMES

EACH WEEK, CAMPGO IS ORGANIZED AROUND AN EXCITING THEME. A CAMPER FAVORITE WAS PB’S GOT TALENT! CAMPERS HONED THEIR SKILLS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TO PREPARE FOR A SHOWCASE TALENT SHOW. THERE WAS SINGING, ACTING, AND DANCING. ONE CAMPER SHOWED OFF ON A RUBIK’S CUBE; ANOTHER TOLD A SERIES OF COP JOKES WHILE EATING A DONUT.

The kids are really the reason we go to Palmetto Bluff every summer. And a lot of that is the camp. They love it. The talent show was the highlight of the summer. I couldn’t be more complimentary about what they’re doing with PBGO—the communication, the staff—it’s a really great experience. -

MILLS GOODLOE | CLUB MEMBER

ACTIVITIES

CAMPGO UTILIZES PALMETTO BLUFF’S IMPRESSIVE AMENITIES. EACH WEEK, SKILLED INSTRUCTORS TEACH CAMPERS NEW SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES. THE KIDS PLAYED TENNIS, PICKLEBALL, AND GOLF. THEY VISITED THE SHOOTING CLUB AND LEARNED HOW TO USE A BOW AND ARROW. THEY RODE HORSES AT THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER. THESE WEEKLY ACTIVITIES PROVIDED NEW WAYS FOR CAMPERS TO CONNECT TO THE OUTDOORS AND TO THE PALMETTO BLUFF COMMUNITY.

COLOR WEEK

COLOR WEEK IS A SUMMER HIGHLIGHT. FOR FOUR DAYS, CAMP IS ORGANIZED AROUND COLOR ACTIVITIES. THE KIDS TIE-DYE T-SHIRTS, PLAY ON A COLORFUL PAINT SLIP AND SLIDE, AND THROW A FOAM PARTY. THE WEEK CULMINATES IN A FINAL, EPIC COLOR BATTLE ON THE FIELD.

The idea of growing outdoors is important to our family. We are so fortunate to live in an area that is beautiful and rich with opportunity, to explore and connect with the outdoors. It is also important to us that we foster a sense of respect for the world around us. We noticed early on that our son had a deep interest in all things nature, and Palmetto Bluff is the perfect place for him to learn and explore. During his time at camp, he harvested at the farm, rode horses, and swam. It was amazing to hear him talk about blue herons, snake birds, and the many other creatures that call the Bluff their home. -

CHRISTINE FOX | CLUB MEMBER

SPORTS AND GAMES

OUTDOOR GAMES ARE CENTRAL TO THE CAMPGO EXPERIENCE. THE CAMPGO TEAM ORGANIZES GAMES OF KICKBALL, CAPTURE THE FLAG, AND GAGA BALL, BUT ALWAYS WITH A TWIST! FOR INSTANCE, KICKBALL BECOMES SLIP-AND-SLIDE KICKBALL FOR ADDED DIFFICULTY AND A LITTLE EXTRA FUN.

My husband and I were never indoors when we were kids. We played outside from dusk to dawn. I want my kids to have a similar experience, and Palmetto Bluff is the best place for that. It is one giant playground for the kids. - LAUREN JARMAN | CLUB MEMBER

VENDORS

EACH WEEK, CAMPGO HOSTS A DIFFERENT VENDOR OR OUTSIDE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES A SPECIALIZED ACTIVITY FOR CAMPERS. ONE WEEK, IT WAS A SILENT DISCO; ANOTHER WEEK, IT WAS LASER TAG. ON A HAWAIIAN-THEMED DAY, CAMPERS ENJOYED SHAVED ICE. ANOTHER VENDOR BROUGHT A SMALL VILLAGE OF INFLATABLE BOUNCE CASTLES.

SUNDAE SLIP AND SLIDE

CAMPGO PAUSES FOR THE WEEK OF THE FOURTH OF JULY. THIS YEAR, THE PBGO TEAM ORGANIZED A SUNDAE SLIP AND SLIDE, AND KIDS SLID THROUGH ICE CREAM, WHIPPED CREAM, CHOCOLATE SAUCE, AND CHERRIES. THERE WAS A SUNDAE EATING CONTEST, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP TO HOSE EVERYONE OFF.

It reminds me of the way we grew up—playing outside all day until the sun sets! Camp gives the children a way to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature. From discovering turtles in the marsh to swimming in the May River, PBGO offers them the opportunity to explore the beauty of the Bluff in a fun and meaningful way. -

TANYA O’REILLY

| CLUB MEMBER

CAMPGO FALLS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF PBGO, THE PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB’S FAMILY PROGRAMMING ARM. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PBGO DIRECTOR LEXI YAGER AND HER TEAM ORGANIZE AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS. OFTENTIMES, THESE EVENTS ARE ORGANIZED AROUND MAJOR HOLIDAYS, WHEN KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL, AND FAMILIES COME TO PALMETTO BLUFF TO CELEBRATE. LEXI AND THE PBGO TEAM HAVE CREATED A FAMILY FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE THAT EVENTS ARE AGE-APPROPRIATE AND THAT THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. PROGRAMMING IS ORGANIZED INTO FIVE CATEGORIES: PB ROOT, PB SPROUT, PB TIDE, PB INDIGO, AND PB EVERGREEN.

We feel that Growing Outdoors really encompasses our ethos. What makes Palmetto Bluff so amazing is this outdoor playground available to children and their families.

LEXI YAGER

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM DIRECTOR

PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB

PB ROOT

JUST AS A PLANT'S ROOTS SUPPLY WATER AND NOURISHMENT, OUR PARENTS SERVE AS THE BEDROCK OF SUPPORT FOR THE PALMETTO BLUFF COMMUNITY. PB ROOT STANDS AS A DEDICATED SUPPORT GROUP FOR THESE PARENTS, ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR PIVOTAL ROLE AS THE CORNERSTONE OF CHILDREN'S LIVES.

PB SPROUT

OUR FIVE- TO EIGHT-YEAR-OLD MEMBERS ARE EAGER AND CURIOUS TO EXPLORE LIFE AND UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES FROM A FRESH PERSPECTIVE. THIS STAGE MARKS THEIR BUDDING JOURNEY TO DISCOVER THEIR IDENTITIES AND UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

PB TIDE

MUCH LIKE THE EVER-CHANGING TIDE, WHICH NAVIGATES AND ADAPTS TO OBSTACLES, PB TIDE ENCAPSULATES THE DYNAMISM, EVOLUTION, AND IMAGINATIVE SPIRIT OF OUR NINE- TO TWELVE-YEAR-OLD MEMBERS.

PB INDIGO

JUST AS THE INDIGO PLANT FLOURISHES UNDER THE SUN AND NEEDS ROOM TO GROW, PALMETTO BLUFF’S THIRTEEN- TO SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD MEMBERS DESERVE A NURTURING COMMUNITY. THIS DEDICATED GROUP ENSURES THEY HAVE THE IDEAL SPACE TO THRIVE.

PB EVERGREEN

THE EVERGREEN PLANT STANDS STEADFAST, RESILIENT, AND VIBRANT. THIS IS A DEDICATED COMMUNITY FOR OUR MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES. THE PBGO TEAM TAILORS ITS EVERGREEN APPROACH TO CATER TO EACH MEMBER'S SPECIALIZED NEEDS, FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY, ADAPTATION, AND A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

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4

Eric Magnin

PLAY VIDEO

Celebrate this enchanting summer day and pinnacle event of the season, Independence Day!

THE FOURTH OF JULY IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE PALMETTO BLUFF CALENDAR.

FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE TRUSLOW FAMILY ON THIS MAGICAL SUMMER DAY.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHARLOTTE ZACHARKIW

NEAL AND LAUREN TRUSLOW COME TO PALMETTO BLUFF AS OFTEN AS THEY CAN. THEIR KIDS, PEYTON, EMMA, HARPER, AND GUNNER, PRACTICALLY LIVE OUTSIDE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. THEY GO FOR DAILY BIKE RIDES, SWIM IN THE RIVER ROAD POOL, AND GO FOR LONG EVENING GOLF CART RIDES LOOKING FOR FOX AND DEER.

“WE LIKE TO BE OUTSIDE NO MATTER WHAT. WE HAVE A SLIP AND SLIDE FOR THE SUMMER AND AN INFLATABLE TV SCREEN FOR FOOTBALL GAMES IN THE FALL. WE LIKE TO GO DOWN TO MORELAND SO THE KIDS CAN CLIMB TREES, PICK OUT SHELLS, AND PLAY GAMES. IT’S WONDERFUL FOR THEM.”

THE FOURTH OF JULY IS PARTICULARLY SPECIAL FOR THE TRUSLOW FAMILY. NEAL HAS SERVED IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AS A MILITARY LAWYER FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS.

“WE ARE VERY PATRIOTIC. WE HAVE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE EVERYTHING—FROM HOUSE DECORATIONS TO OUTFITS. WE REALLY LOVE TO AMP IT UP ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.”

“WE LIKE TO GO BIG! WE ARE DRESSED UP FROM START TO FINISH. WE ALWAYS LIKE TO ENTER THE GOLF CART PARADE CONTEST, SO EVERYONE GETS ALL DECKED OUT FOR THAT. AND WE ALWAYS GO TO THE FOURTH OF JULY BARBECUE. IN THE EVENING WE LIGHT SPARKLERS AND MAKE S’MORES AROUND THE FIRE PIT.”

NATURE UNVEILED

AT MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF STORY BY MEGHAN LAMB

Nestled amidst the verdant landscapes of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Montage Palmetto Bluff beckons both avid nature enthusiasts and inquisitive travelers to embark on an array of unforgettable experiences. At the core of the resort’s commitment to eco-conscious offerings is the Naturalist Program, a beacon of environmental stewardship led by the dynamic Cassie Beato. As the resort’s on-property professional environmentalist, Cassie orchestrates diverse guided tours, immersive talks, and interactive workshops that illuminate the region’s abundant wildlife and storied history.

“I have the best job on property, hands down!” Cassie says. With a passion for both education and direct impact on the local ecosystem, she shares her wealth of knowledge with those eager to understand the intricacies of the Lowcountry’s natural wonders. Her expertise extends across all areas of the indigenous fauna and flora, and as she guides visitors through water and land tours, she offers profound insights into the region’s natural environment.

For those seeking an aquatic adventure, Cassie captains the Inland Waterway Ecotour on an electric Duffy boat—a serene way to explore the resort grounds while absorbing local history. Cruising through tranquil waters and reedy banks, guests encounter feathered residents like the osprey, spoonbill, and great blue heron. Cassie emphasizes the advantage of boat tours, which provide access to secluded areas via waterways and offer a broader variety of wildlife sightings and a more extensive exploration of Palmetto Bluff.

The Naturalist Program adopts a hands-on approach, providing guests with opportunities to engage in interactive cultural programming, fishing tournaments, and more. One notable highlight is the beekeeping program, where guests learn about honeybees and sustainable beekeeping practices. Honey harvested from on-property hives will soon find its way into the resort’s restaurants, adding a touch of local sweetness.

What sets the Naturalist Program apart is the depth of learning offered. Cassie, with her exceptional ability to forge personal connections, approaches every tour and activity with real-world appreciation, ensuring that visitors depart with a genuine understanding of the intricacies of the Lowcountry’s ecosystems.

Cassie collaborates directly with the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, an organization founded in 2003 with a mission to protect the lush forests and winding tidal creeks defining the land. As the keeper of the natural and historical world of Palmetto Bluff, the Conservancy maintains the ecological and environmental integrity of the region and preserves the ancient maritime forest to ensure it remains exactly as William Hilton saw it four hundred years ago. Cassie also works with Palmetto Bluff’s archaeologists, which adds a historical dimension to her programming, weaving in a deeper appreciation of the Bluff past and present.

The Naturalist Program at Montage Palmetto Bluff provides travelers with an intimate understanding of the area’s ecosystem. Dedicated to responsible stewardship of the Lowcountry’s natural heritage, Cassie strives to make each tour an unforgettable experience. Whether searching for dolphins on the May River or exploring wetlands on an inspired walking tour, visitors will leave with an indelible connection to the wonders of the Lowcountry.

When you think back, college was probably pretty great. Discovering new things, enjoying friendships, and having a whole lot of fun. It probably included being outdoors, a few refreshments, and some music. Let us welcome you to the post-graduate program.

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FALL AND

AT PALMETTO BLUFF

Throughout the season, Palmetto Bluff hosts dozens of soirées, outings, and workshops. It was a fantastic fall and winter!

PHOTOGRAPHS by JOE ARMENI, SUMMER PAGATPATAN, SOPHIE TIMM, and DASHAE MIDDLETON

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Where are you from and how did you get here?

I am from Buffalo, New York—born and raised. Go Bills! My husband and I got married at Sea Pines in Hilton Head in 2012 and fell in love with the area. We decided that if we ever had the opportunity to move down here, we would figure out how to do that. So, my husband got a job in Savannah in 2019. I worked at Berkeley Hall Club in Bluffton and then started working here in 2022.

Tell me about your first trip to Palmetto Bluff.

I had heard of Palmetto Bluff and always wanted to check it out. My mom was in town, and we brought the kids and sat outside at Buffalos. It just felt magical. You feel like you’re in this dream world, looking out at the May River through the trees. I thought, Man, how do I end up here?

What goes through your mind as you drive into Palmetto Bluff?

I drop off my three boys at school and have some time to listen to a podcast and enjoy my coffee. The drive in is definitely calming. I always think about how lucky I am to be here, how lucky I am that I get to work with my team and be surrounded by awesome people. For me, that’s what it’s all about.

DIRECTOR OF MEMBER RELATIONS

What’s your most marked characteristic?

Everyone always says that I’m very chill. Nothing phases me. Maybe because I have three kids and two dogs. Well, three dogs now. We just got a puppy. It’s a full boat! I think the other thing people say is that I am honest. I am direct with people, and I like to be myself.

What is something that people don’t know about you?

I am a registered yoga teacher. I took my two-hundredhour training during the pandemic. That’s something I am passionate about. I never thought I’d teach, but I wanted to learn about it more in-depth.

What is your favorite spot at Palmetto Bluff?

I like to head down to Moreland Landing along the water during my lunch hour. I love being on that dock and just looking out at the water. It’s quiet there, especially during the day. And I encourage my team to do the same: get out for a twenty-minute walk. We’re surrounded by all of this beauty, and it is so important to take a moment and get some fresh air.

What inspires your work?

My main goal is to enhance the member experience. Whether it’s specific services or just a smiling face when members come in with their dog—we are focused on making sure that everyone who encounters us has the best experience possible. And I really care about my team. I love coming to work, and I think they would say the same thing, that it’s easy for them to be in good spirits and create good energy in our office.

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