The Landings on Skidaway Island

The Landings on Skidaway Island is one of the Southeast's most celebrated private communities — a 4,200-acre gated enclave on a barrier island 12 miles south of historic Savannah, connected to the mainland by causeway. Developed starting in 1972 by the Union Camp Corporation, The Landings has grown into a community of roughly 8,500 residents across 4,422 planned home sites (about 4,000 built), making it one of the largest gated communities in the country. The landscape was planned by legendary designer Hideo Sasaki, and the result is a community where moss-draped live oaks, tidal marshes, 151 lagoons, and 40+ miles of trails define daily life as much as the architecture does. The community is organized into eight distinct neighborhoods — Marshwood, Plantation, Franklin Creek, Midpoint, Oakridge, Deer Creek, Marshview, and Moon River — each with its own architectural character. Marshwood features island-style homes, Oakridge has two-story stucco residences, and estate neighborhoods offer custom homes on marsh-front, riverfront, and golf course lots. Housing stock spans condos and townhomes starting around $500K up through estate homes reaching $4.5M, with the median sale price around $800K in 2025. Homes range from ~1,700 sq ft attached residences to custom-built estates exceeding 4,000 sq ft. A small number of buildable lots remain for custom new construction. Importantly, The Landings is NOT age-restricted. It's a private residential community that attracts a mix of retirees, active adults, and families — a distinction that matters for buyers considering their lifestyle fit. That said, the overwhelming majority of residents are 55+ and the social fabric is heavily retirement-oriented, with 800+ members in the New Neighbors club alone and more than 100 active social clubs covering everything from sailing and kayaking to bridge, book groups, and the Landings Women's Golf Association (the largest club-based amateur women's golf organization in the U.S.). The Landings Club is the heart of the amenity experience — optional but essential for most residents. Membership unlocks six championship 18-hole golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer (Magnolia, Marshwood), Tom Fazio (Deer Creek, Plantation), Arthur Hills (Oakridge), and Willard Byrd (Palmetto), all Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certified and interconnected by cart paths. The Club also includes 31 Har-Tru tennis courts, pickleball and bocce courts, five pools (two indoor), a 52,000 sq ft Fitness & Wellness Center with spa services, and four to five clubhouses housing seven to nine dining venues ranging from casual to fine dining. Deer Creek hosts the PGA Korn Ferry Tour's annual Club Car Championship. Water is a defining feature. The community operates two full-service deep-water marinas — Landings Harbor and Delegal Creek — both with direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic. The Landings Association owns a fleet of Rhodes 19 sailboats for the Sailing Club, and Delegal offers kayak storage and rentals. The HOA, The Landings Association, is debt-free and uniquely resident-governed — owners vote on any dues increases rather than the board setting rates unilaterally. Annual dues run around $2,200+ per lot as of recent assessments. Club membership is separate and optional, with initiation fees starting around $55,000+ for golf-level membership and tiered options for house and athletic levels. The Village, a small commercial center just outside the main gate, provides a grocery store, pharmacy, bank, gas station, restaurants, library, and medical services — all reachable by golf cart on paved community trails. Downtown Savannah is a 20-minute drive via the Truman Parkway, and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is roughly 25-29 miles away.