A half century ago, Kiawah was accessible only by boat, and few people took the trouble to visit the near deserted island. Today, the exclusive retreat, located only 21 miles from Charleston, is home to property owners from 46 states and 21 foreign countries. Houses are set back 200 feet from the high tide line, and where each residence merges tastefully with the environment. Residents are drawn to its temperate climate, beautiful natural surroundings and 10 miles of private pristine beach. Kiawah Island is also a golfer's paradise with five competitively designed master golf courses. In fact, Kiawah Island Golf Resort is the only resort in the country that has three courses ranked on Golf Digest's list of "America's Top 75 Resort Courses”.