Granite Countertops in Wild Dunes, SC

Wild Dunes, Charleston’s island resort located on Isle of Palms, has developed their popular destination location to provide locals and tourists a new experience that is both luxurious and memorable. A new hotel, meeting and event space and shopping center have recently been added to their coastal haven.

The new Sweetgrass Inn hotel, part of the Destination by Hyatt brand, opened to the public on March 26, 2021. “We believe Sweetgrass Inn resonates with today’s traveler seeking a warm sense of belonging through connections to our unique Lowcountry culture,” said Robb Walker, managing director at Wild Dunes Resort. “When families visit Wild Dunes Resort, they have the opportunity to create a tradition. We are fortunate to welcome generations of families that have been coming year after year and have fallen in love with the history and beauty of the Lowcountry.”

“The growth of our resort experience continues this tradition, and the opening and addition of Sweetgrass Inn as a distinct, true-to-place resort is certain to serve as the backdrop for countless family memories,” he added.

Offering 153 rooms decorated in a coastal contemporary style — many featuring spectacular views — the Sweetgrass Inn is “rooted in culture and inherently tied to Wild Dunes Resort’s island setting (and) inspired by the native sweetgrass that peppers the Lowcountry’s barrier islands,” explained Ashley Irving, marketing director at Wild Dunes. Currently under construction but open and taking reservations, the Sweetgrass Inn encompasses four acres and features state-of-the-art amenities, including a lobby lounge, pools, jacuzzis, a kids’ splash pad, poolside restaurant and bar, rooftop bar, a 10,000-square-foot luxurious spa and salon with 14-treatment rooms, a top-notch 2,750-square-foot fitness center, retail spaces and more.

The hotel also includes 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, including the 8,000-square-foot Osprey Ballroom & Terrace, Avocet Boardroom, and the stunning Indigo Room & Rooftop, located on the top floor and featuring panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Isle of Palms.

Locals and guests are also welcomed to experience the Shoppes at Sweetgrass, located on the Sweetgrass Plaza, which connects the new Sweetgrass Inn Hotel to the Residences at Sweetgrass. This unique collection of shops promises to offer an array of apparel, accessories, keepsakes and so much more. With a focus on locally sourced goods and Lowcountry-inspired styles, The Shoppes at Sweetgrass is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. The Gallery at Sweetgrass, curated by Sarah Miller of Miller Gallery in Downtown Charleston, features local and regional artists in an array of styles and mediums. The Gallery hosts an Artist in Residence program with a featured artist, who will be on site working on select days. This chance to speak with the artist while viewing their work is a unique opportunity that the team at Wild Dunes is excited to provide at the resort.

Considered by many locals to be a beach resort like no other, Wild Dunes has been a destination for couples, families, corporate teams and honeymooners for decades. These exciting new additions are sure to offer a bevy of reasons for Lowcountry lovers to head to Isle of Palms’ most coveted retreat.

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Want a quick getaway practically in your own backyard? While Mount Pleasant and the surrounding beaches serve almost daily in that capacity, something else you might not have tried before, the brand-new Nest Rooftop Bar, is already proving hard to beat.

Opened April 1 atop the Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort on the far east end of Isle of Palms, The Nest, as patrons call it, offers up an array of colorful island drinks and an atmosphere that will make you want to stay forever on the South Carolina coast— even if you already live here.

“There is no hotel in our area that has a space truly like this nestled six floors above the beach,” said Nico Scherman, general manager of Wild Dunes Resort. “The new hotel opened with ample rooftop space…and we imagined a casual rooftop bar that mimics our Lowcountry lifestyle.”

Even if you don’t drink alcoholic beverages, the rooftop view alone is worth the effort, thanks to the surrounding dunes, hotel and pools, harbor golf course, and of course, everyone’s favorite, the Atlantic Ocean and shoreline.

“We focused on developing a space that feels tropical, from the colorful uniforms to the space that is engulfed in tropical plants,” Scherman said. “And The Nest is a mix of bohemian style, complemented by a curated beachside cocktail list.”

For a drink or two, Nest bartenders are ready to serve up lots of intriguing goodies, such as the Cucumber Mule Cocktail, the Passion Fruit Margarita, Tall Skinny Houses Pilsner, and Poke the Bear APA – all from Charleston breweries.

“We only serve local beer of the Southeast,” Scherman said. “You won’t find mainstream light beers here.”

But you will find bartenders who get to showcase their talents, providing a sort of unplanned-for entertainment to go with your drinks.

“My favorite part of the job is the on-the-fly cocktail creation and the creative freedom our leadership gives us,” said Veteran Bartender Mike Sweatte. “And having a bar overlooking the beach is not a bad day at the office.”

Interesting dishes also pair well with the signature drinks and one-of-a-kind view. This is where Chef Austin Blake will step in to offer you his favorite dish of Mason Jar Pickled Shrimp.

“It’s our most popular patron dish,” Blake said. “It’s a classic Lowcountry item, but we put our own creative twist on it— and use local shrimp to represent a staple of the South.”

After a day poolside or on the beach, when you’re not quite ready for dinner but you don’t want to hang it up just yet, a stop at The Nest will do the trick. Don’t forget to check out the custom mural, which serves as a great backdrop along with the full ocean views. You may never leave.

To learn more, visit destinationhotels.com/wild-dunes/dining/the-nest, or call 843-886-6000.

By L. C. Leach III

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