Hilton head island trivia: 5 unique facts

THE SECRET OF HARBOUR TOWN LIGHTHOUSE

If you’re familiar with Hilton Head Island, you’ve likely admired the Harbour Town Lighthouse. A pillar of our community’s culture, this red and white, candy-striped structure is a landmark for visitors and locals alike. However—this lighthouse has a secret.

The Harbour Town Lighthouse is a replica. Completed in 1970 by developer Charles Fraser, the lighthouse was meant to establish the island’s identity as a coastal community, and has become an icon recognized by islanders and visitors from all over the world.

The first privately-financed lighthouse built since the early 1800s, it’s lovingly nicknamed “Fraser’s Folly” to honor the man with the vision. With 114 steps leading you to the top of the lighthouse—and the museum existing along the way—you’ll get a history lesson as you climb to that world-class, panoramic view. Civil War-era photographs, artifacts dating back to 3000 BC, and more live in the Harbour Town Lighthouse. Once you reach the top, you’ll want to pop into the giftshop, “Shop at the Top”. Offering Hilton Head’s finest collection of handcrafted crystal keepsakes, you can pick up a prize to prove you made it to the peak of Hilton Head Island.

LIGHTS-OUT ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND

On your evening beach stroll, you may notice there’s little artificial light visible. This is intentional.

On Hilton Head Island, sea turtles are a part of our DNA. We’re lucky enough to be the place loggerhead sea turtles come to lay their eggs—the least we can do is keep these endangered reptiles comfortable, safe, and protected.

Between May and October—hatching season for loggerhead sea turtles—we require all light structures visible from the beach to be covered or turned off between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Hatchlings are attracted to light, migrating toward any landward lights they see. To protect the hatchlings from moving inland (where they’ll be in harm’s way), we turn out the lights. Giving the hatchlings a safe place to grow ensures they’ll be ready for their journey to the ocean, and that we’ll see many of them back on Hilton Head Island to lay their own eggs down the road.

SAY “NO” TO NEON SIGNS

Speaking of lights—you won’t find brightly lit neon signs on Hilton Head Island. Rejecting the temptation to become a commercialized, glitzy tourist town with bright lights and neon signs, the town of Hilton Head Island has bylaws in place to avoid neon-lit signage.

There’s a time and a place for everything—and your time on the Island is meant for easy, serene scenes. Designed to be in harmony with the natural world, you’ll notice neutral colors, greenery, and other time-honored details donning Hilton Head Island’s streets, making it a relaxing place to vacation. 

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