A little history
Wilmington Island was largely undeveloped marsh and farmland until the 1920s, when the General Oglethorpe Hotel opened as a resort destination and the causeway made the island reachable by car. Suburban development followed in the 1950s and 60s, and the island absorbed steady growth as Savannah pushed east toward Tybee.
The market today
The island holds the county's widest spread of housing: interior 1960s ranches and condos from the $250Ks, marsh-front homes in the $700Ks to low seven figures, and deep-water estates on the Wilmington River with private docks and lifts past $5M. Flood zone and elevation certificate drive insurance cost more than square footage does.
What to know before you buy
- Deep-water dock parcels on the Wilmington and Bull Rivers
- Wilmington Island Club, marinas, and boat ramps
- Pull the elevation certificate before quoting insurance
Neighborhood descriptions cover architecture, history, price bands, and physical characteristics only. All properties are offered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Verify school attendance zones with the district and flood zones with FEMA before making an offer.