History

Shipyard Plantation is one of only two Hilton Head Island communities to retain its antebellum name — a distinction tied to its centuries of continuous use. The land was first recorded under ownership of Henry Talbot-Talbird, a Dublin-born bricklayer, in the early 1700s; bricks manufactured on the property were used in the construction of the third Tybee Island Lighthouse. After the Revolutionary War, the Fickling family — shipbuilders — took ownership, giving the estate its two successive names: Fickling Plantation and then Shipyard Plantation. The modern resort community was established in the 1970s, developed around the existing maritime forest of towering Carolina pines, flowering magnolias, and moss-draped live oaks. The Crowne Plaza Oceanfront Resort and nationally recognized Hilton Head Health wellness spa operate within the gates today.

Architecture & Housing Stock

Shipyard Plantation occupies approximately 800 acres on the south end of Hilton Head Island, bordered by Palmetto Dunes to the north and Sea Pines to the south. The community abuts Forest Beach and sits near Coligny Beach — among the island's most accessible public shores. Housing is a mix of resort condominium complexes and single-family detached homes on wooded lots, with magnolias, live oaks, and towering Carolina pines providing canopy cover. The Crowne Plaza Oceanfront Resort and Hilton Head Health (a nationally recognized weight-loss and wellness spa) operate within the gates. Twenty-seven holes of golf traverse the property across three nine-hole courses (Clipper, Galleon, Brigantine), offering 25 water-hazard encounters.

Active and recently sold homes in Shipyard Plantation range from $250,000 to $2,500,000, with floor plans spanning 600–4,500 square feet. View current listings →

• Resort Villa Complex Multi-unit condo buildings from 1970s–1990s, many participating in resort rental programs, with swimming pools, tennis courts, and lagoon access.
• Coastal Single-Family Detached homes on wooded lots with screened porches, typically 2,000–3,500 sq ft, sited among Carolina pines and flowering magnolias.
• Oceanfront Estate Larger homes and villas with direct oceanfront or lagoon-front access, many with private pools.

Median value sourced from primary data provider.