The Dunlin: A New Luxury Resort on South Carolina's Johns Island

Luxury hotels in the American South tend to fly under the radar. Blackberry Farm in Tennessee proved the model could work, and now a new property on Johns Island, South Carolina, is making a case for the Lowcountry as a serious luxury destination. The Dunlin, operated by Auberge Resorts, sits on the marshlands overlooking the Kiawah River, about 20 minutes from downtown Charleston.

The property leans into its setting. Aerial footage shows cottage-style buildings spread across green marshland, with water on multiple sides and a wide-open coastal landscape behind them. The architecture is traditional Southern in style -- white clapboard structures with covered porches -- but the scale and finish are clearly upmarket. Riverside pool cabanas, on-site fly fishing, and bird watching round out the outdoor offerings.

Interior design comes from Amanda Lindroth, known for her work in Palm Beach. The aesthetic is relaxed island-style rather than stiff formality. The reviewer describes rooms built around a simple pleasure: sitting on a wooden porch in a wicker rocking chair with a good book. Rocking chairs appear throughout the property.

The food program centers on farm-fresh Southern cooking. Think hush puppies and pimento cheese made with local ingredients, not imported fine-dining concepts grafted onto a Southern setting.

Key Takeaways

• Property: The Dunlin by Auberge Resorts, Johns Island, South Carolina
• Location: Overlooking the Kiawah River marshlands, 20 minutes from Charleston
• Design: Cottage-style guest rooms designed by Amanda Lindroth, with a laid-back island aesthetic
• Activities: Riverside pool cabanas, fly fishing, bird watching
• Dining: Farm-fresh Southern cuisine using local ingredients
• Price: Rooms start at $500 per night
• Comparison: Positioned as a Southern luxury peer to Blackberry Farm in Tennessee