Wild Dunes (gated resort community, north end of Isle of Palms)

A roughly 1,600-acre private gated resort community occupying the north end of Isle of Palms, beginning past 41st Avenue and running to the island's tip. There are two gates: the Wild Dunes Community Association operates the first residential gate, and Wild Dunes Resort operates the second gate at the end of Palm Boulevard. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ACCESS: the general public cannot drive in. Entry requires being a homeowner, a registered hotel or vacation-rental guest, or holding an advance reservation for a service that is open to the public — golf, spa or dining. South Carolina beaches remain public below the high-water mark, so the sand itself is public, but there is no public vehicle entry and no public parking behind the gates. Practically, the last public parking and public beach accesses are on the right-of-way along Palm Boulevard below the gate — the free right-of-way stretch runs to 53rd Avenue on the ParkIOP locations page (57th on its rules page), with only a small number of access paths between 53rd Avenue and the gate. Gate structure and access conditions are drawn from the resort and association descriptions plus secondary sources; the resort does not publish a public-access policy page.