An Okatie, South Carolina, community driven by its member-owners, Callawassie Island provides residents with gated-living in a pristine low-country environment. Preserving the community’s natural vistas is such a priority for the island’s residents that over 200 of them made the individual effort to have their backyards certified officially as Backyard Habitats. Beyond individual residents, Callawassie Island’s golf course was designed to attract such native wildlife as wood storks and red-tailed hawks.

For prospective homeowners, Callawassie Island has a variety of homes for sale ranging in price from $170,000 to about $1 million. Before purchasing a residence, people can visit the island through its Discovery Visit program. It lasts three days, during which visitors stay in comfortable island accommodations, have access to facilities like the pools and gym, and undertake a comprehensive real estate tour.

A community active in charitable giving, the Friends of Callawassie Island have, over the past 15 years, committed more than a half-million dollars to local causes. Moreover, the organization hosts yearly breast cancer walks and other fundraising events.