Vanderhorst Mansion

Three and a half storied Vanderhorst House was built ca. 1803 by Arnoldus Vanderhorst, a two-term mayor of Charleston and governor of South Carolina. This House replaced the original house burned in 1780 during the Revolutionary War and is the only historic structure on Kiawah Island listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There were once many structures on the approximately 16 acre property but only the 6,816 square foot main house remains plus recent additions. Sited on an ancient sand dune, Vanderhorst House features two entrances-the original main entrance facing the Kiawah River and the other that would have been reached from Johns Island by land and ferry, and which you entered today via the live oak allee and circular drive.

In the 19th century Vanderhorst land was used for producing indigo, cotton, vegetables, and livestock. The House sat vacant and in a deteriorated state for much of the 20th century until 1995 when it was sensitively restored and expanded with two "pavilions" to accommodate modern amenities and a kitchen. A modern pool on the Kiawah River side commands a magnificent view of the river and marsh. The "Creek House," to the left of the main House facing the river, overlooks the dock and was built in 2008 for family gatherings.

Open Days 2024: Saturday, May 25
Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.