Premier Golf, Yachting, and Tennis Community in the Heart of Hilton Head Island PO Box 4100, SC 29938.       111 Wexford Club Drive, SC 29928.       Tel: (843) 686-8810.       Fax: (843) 686-6210.

The Birth of Wexford Plantation Part 1

The "Planner's" Perspective by Ken Skodacek

Marathon, Byrd, and the Hilton Head Company

Marathon Contemplating the Purchase

In what now seems like "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away", many diverse and otherwise unconnected elements came together to form what was to become Wexford Plantation. In 1980, my then employer Willard C. Byrd and Associates in Atlanta, Georgia, was retained by Marathon Oil Company of Findlay, Ohio, to research the current state of the various existing developments, as well as to analyze the development potential of the undeveloped properties of The Hilton Head Company. Marathon was contemplating the purchase of The Hilton Head Company from Oxford First Corporation of Philadelphia.

Willard C. Byrd and Associates – the Planners

I was initially tasked with looking at the two existing developments controlled by Oxford First (Shipyard Plantation and Port Royal Plantation) and what it would take to bring them back to "world class" standards. Both golf clubhouses had recently been destroyed by mysterious fires, street light fixtures were leaning over at various angles, signage was in a sad state of repair and the gate houses were only being manned part-time. Marathon used our report in their final negotiations with Oxford First in the purchase of The Hilton Head Company, and Willard C. Byrd and Associates became the unofficial planners and golf course architects for the various developments owned by The Hilton Head Company, both existing and proposed.

Meeting with Hilton Head Company staff

Fast forward with me almost two years. Mr. Byrd was getting ready to leave our Atlanta office for an important meeting the following day with key members of The Hilton Head Company staff on Hilton Head to discuss the development of what was to eventually become Wexford Plantation. He and I had reviewed the base map of the property, which showed the property boundaries, the access from U.S. 278, the existing powerline easement, the marsh front along Broad Creek and the two existing drainage ways (the main drainage outfall from Shipyard Plantation and a smaller one coming from the Outdoor Resorts development). We discussed the possibility of an internal harbour as part of a gated community with an 18 hole golf course. Willard said he would call me when the meeting broke for lunch and go over the details of what was discussed at the upcoming meeting so I could begin the master planning process and have some basic ideas ready to go over with him upon his return to Atlanta.

Information & services on these pages apply only to members of the Wexford Plantation Homeowners' Association.

Updated: Feb/1/08 Copyright 2008