Well known to sailing and boating enthusiasts as the home of the Rockville Regatta, Wadmalaw Island is perhaps the most rural of the barrier islands within half an hour’s drive of downtown Charleston. The island is unincorporated and has the lowest density zoning of any area in Charleston County.
More than 70% of the island has a minimum 15 acre lot requirement for single family homes. Additionally almost 6000 acres of this beautiful island are covered by conservation easements restricting development in perpetuity. Historically the island supported a wealthy plantation economy based on cotton, rice and indigo. Today some of the finest vegetables found in the kitchens of Charleston’s most famous restaurants, as well as those found in the kitchens of good cooks all over the Lowcountry come from this rich agricultural area.
Today, Wadmalaw is home to Irvin Vineyards; The Charleston Tea Plantation, the only operating tea plantation remaining In the United States; and the Firefly Distillery, famous for its Firefly “Sweet Tea Vodka”.
