In 1663, Lord Craven, along with seven other lords proprietors, was rewarded a massive charter of land in return for his loyalty and fealty to England’s King Charles II. Craven’s grant, which stretched along the coast from North Carolina to Georgia, included a 140-acre plot that hugged the Southern banks of the Sampit River opposite from the port city of Georgetown, which was founded decades later, in 1729.
In the mid-2000s, Maryville Partners planned and developed that parcel of land into 292 lots within an aptly-named neighborhood called Craven’s Grant. They then built roads and curbs, entitled the land, planted oak trees, installed water and sewer pipes and erected gates.
In 2024, they met with president and CEO of ERA Wilder Realty, Eddie Wilder, who brokered a partnership between Maryville Partners and his dream team, which includes Kevin O’Neill of Palm Development; Jay Brown, custom home builder, remodeler and developer; Cooter Ramsey, architect; and Wilder’s son, Bradham Wilder, president of Wilder Land Development.
Wilder, a resident of neighboring Pawleys Island, said, “The first time we drove onto the property, I was blown away by the pristine beauty of the land and its views. It was instant magic, a canvas upon which we could create something really special.”
From the start, Wilder envisioned a high-end Charleston-style architectural design for Craven’s Grant, meant to capture the spirit of the Lowcountry and to maximize the neighborhood’s picturesque array of bayfront, lakefront and nature views. He explained that at the entrance, there is an automated gate with several surveillance cameras. While off-water homes start at $550,000, there will be a higher investment for houses with water views. Further, the HOA includes membership to pickleball courts, the pool and the clubhouse, which can be rented out for private events.
An added bonus, he said, is a protected marina with 200 slips that will give boating enthusiasts access to Georgetown’s five rivers: the Little and Great Pee Dee, Black, Waccamaw and Sampit. Those waterways converge in Winyah Bay, a part of the Intracoastal Waterway, and spill into the Atlantic Ocean.
Brown, who collaborated with O’Neill on The Beach Company’s Kiawah River Development, added that the best components of that project will be replicated at Craven’s Grant.
Wilder estimated that one-third of buyers will come from Mount Pleasant. “Families can sell their homes there and invest in just as high-end of a product here with pricing that is agreeable to the market,” he said. “Currently the cost of living is still more affordable in Georgetown because the dollar goes farther.”
Local ERA Wilder Realty realtor Christy Whitlock pointed out that, “In general, Georgetown invites a slower pace of life with access to so many conveniences that make it so much easier to live here and work in Mount Pleasant. For example, shops such as Monkee’s and Get Carried Away have expanded up this way and are open on historic Front Street in Georgetown just over the Maryville Bridge. Then there’s the lack of traffic on the reverse commute.”
“Overall, Craven’s Grant is a lifestyle choice,” added Whitlock. “Imagine the opportunity for nautical travel from your neighborhood to the downtown restaurants and shops, along with access to fresh and brackish waters, as well as the ocean. Whether touring our five museums on Front Street, heading to the beach on Pawleys Island, strolling through Brookgreen Gardens or enjoying a dining experience on the MarshWalk in Murrells Inlet, there is always so much to explore in Georgetown and along the Hammock Coast.”
She continued, “Plus, one of Georgetown’s crown jewels is our private airport. The 6,000-foot runway allows planes to land in any kind of wind. And the proximity to Craven’s Grant allows for a unique ‘fly-in, fish-out’ experience. Within minutes of landing, homeowners can be sportfishing from their boat docked at the Craven’s Grant Marina. Our other crown jewel is The George Hotel, which can be reached by boat. Pull up to the dock and enjoy a cocktail at the Eliza Bar (Eliza’s) overlooking the water and dinner at the posh Independent.”
By Sarah Rose
Curious about the history of this project. Heard stories. Why did it sit for so long? Does the infrastructure still meet code?