Did you know that Isle of Hope wasn’t always an island? High tide surrounds it now. Early maps called it L’Isle Desperance the Island of Hope in French. Pirates supposedly hid treasure there. Generations of children have searched for it. Legend also says French Huguenots sought refuge on Isle of Hope fleeing persecution.
Isle of Hope is a fascinating place. It’s more than just a pretty coastal community near Savannah. It’s a place where history whispers from the tabby ruins and moss-draped oaks. It holds stories of refuge and resilience. It’s a unique blend of natural beauty and rich past.
In 1733 General James Oglethorpe founded Georgia. A surveyor Noble Jones received land on Isle of Hope. He named his property Wormsloe. It might be named after an English estate. It could also be named for the mulberry trees grown there. People hoped to create a silk industry using the worms. A colonial fortified tabby home stands at Jones Narrows. You can still visit it today at Wormsloe Historic Site.
Jones James Fallowfield and Henry Parker settled on Isle of Hope. During Savannah’s yellow fever epidemics people escaped to the island. It became a safer place away from the city’s fevers. As more people came the plantation lands were divided and sold. The island turned into a fashionable summer retreat. Several antebellum homes still stand. One is the 1820 caretaker’s cottage of Carsten Hall plantation. The plantation burned in the early 20th century. The family moved into the caretaker’s cottage. It overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway.
The early 20th century brought better transport options. The island became a year-round home for many. Barbee’s Pavilion’s terrapin farm became world famous. It exported terrapins for stew. They were sent to New York City restaurants and even to the Czar of Russia. The island also hosted international Grand Prix races attracting racers worldwide.
Isle of Hope United Methodist Church is historic. Built before the Civil War the Confederates used it. They used the church as a hospital. Soldiers carved their initials into the pews. They used them as beds. The old church burned down in 1984 during renovations. The pews were saved. Thirty-three Confederate soldiers are buried in the churchyard. The church added transepts to the sanctuary in 2000.
The island’s beauty and history attracted many filmmakers. Movies like Glory Cape Fear The Last of the Belles Forrest Gump and The Last Song were filmed there. Isle of Hope’s story is one of survival adaptation and enduring charm. It’s a place where the past and present intertwine. It’s a place that will capture your heart.