Debordieu Colony

Local Opinion

Verdict: pricy and distant, but very desirable if you’re the gated community type

First and foremost: in Pawleys Island, Debordieu is pronounced “debbie-do”. Don’t make the mistake of busting out your French 101 skills here!

Debordieu is among the wealthiest, most exclusive neighborhoods in Pawleys Island. Large estate lots on a beautiful property with private beach and creek access make for amazing surroundings. A strong homeowners association and architecture review board guide the styles and maintenance of the homes. The Debordieu Club, available only to residents, offers numerous amenities.

Which brings me to a downside: relative to other options, Debordieu is fairly remote. The resources of the Debordieu Club include restaurants and even a coffee shop, presumably to offer residents an option that doesn’t involve driving for ten to fifteen minutes. Because that’s what it is, a ten or fifteen minute drive to get to either Pawleys or Georgetown proper.

Another downside in my opinion is the way Debordieu runs the gate, though this may be an upside for many folks. The gate is notoriously difficult to get through, even for contractors and visitors. If you don’t expect (or want!) folks popping in on you, not such a big deal.

The wildlife and natural beauty of Debordieu is undeniable; the property is sandwiched between wildlife refuges to the north and south, the creek and ocean to the east, and the highway (with a large buffer) to the west. This does result in a lot of deer activity, something to be aware of if gardening and landscaping are on your list of hobbies.

While there is no such thing as a private beach in South Carolina, Debordieu has the closest thing to it in Pawleys Island: with no public roads to access the beach, it is for all intents and purposes private. The same can be said for the creek access within the community, which offers fantastic fishing and from what I’ve heard even hunting, though I’m not sure it’s strictly allowed.