Written by As we celebrate Barefoot Resort & Golf’s 25th anniversary, many residents are learning more about our community’s rich history. A recent article titled “Barefoot History Part 1: The Vision” shared many important milestones—but it missed a key element of the original plan.
🏙️ A Resort Built on a Mixed-Use Vision
When Barefoot Resort was first envisioned in the late 1990s, it was planned as a mixed-use development, combining residential living with vibrant commercial, office, and hospitality areas. The 1998 Environmental Assessment and the March 2000 Development Agreement outlined this ambitious $812 million project across 2,343 acres. It included:
- Four premier golf courses
- Two hotels
- A marina
- Over 6,500 housing units
- Extensive commercial and office space
- A retail center and conference facilities
- Fire station and full infrastructure
While some of the commercial components were never fully realized, they remain part of the original legal and planning framework.
đź“ś The Master Deeds Tell the Full Story
On April 13, 2000, the Master Deed for Barefoot Resort was filed—not just to create a residential HOA, but to establish a governance framework that included both residential and non-residential components. Two distinct but parallel associations were formed:
- The Barefoot Resort Residential Owners Association (BRRA)
- The Barefoot Resort Non-Residential Owners Association
Both associations are members of the Barefoot Resort Joint Committee, Inc., a South Carolina nonprofit corporation that serves as a unifying governance body for the entire resort—residential and commercial alike. This fact is explicitly stated in both governing documents.
🔍 Why This Matters
Understanding Barefoot’s full vision helps clarify how responsibilities and representation are shared within our governance structure. Even if the commercial development didn’t grow as expected, the legal framework continues to recognize both sides of the community.
Let’s move forward with a shared understanding of our history—rooted in transparency, unity, and respect for the full scope of the original vision.