Marsh or the ocean? That’s the most significant decision that buyers need to make before purchasing a vacation home at Amelia Island Plantation. The 1,350-acre development off the northeast Florida coast is surrounded by the sparkling Atlantic Ocean to the east and lush salt marshlands to the west. Those seeking more privacy and a location that’s close to golf, choose the marsh. Those longing to hear the crashing waves and to have quick access to the beach, choose the ocean.

As simple as it may seem, Amelia Island Plantation is a complex community carefully crafted to combine real estate, recreational activities such as golf and tennis, and a hotel within the confines of a sensitive ecosystem of tidal marshes, oceanfront dunes, grassland, and savannahs.

The History of Amelia Island Plantation

The development was created in 1974 by Charles Fraser, a real estate developer who also created Sea Pines at Hilton Head and the Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina. Fraser collaborated with Ian McHarg of the firm Wallace, McHarg, Roberts and Todd to create a destination that balances a resort community with the existing natural environment of the barrier island.

The original master plan permitted more than 6,000 units, or 4.7 units to an acre, yet the development resulted with a density of about 2,200 properties, about 1.6 residential units to an acre. About 50 percent of the land was placed in conservation.

To weave together nature and resort living, which in addition to real estate, included a hotel, three golf courses, tennis facilities, and a village with restaurants and shops, deeds and covenants were put in place to protect tidal marshes, oceanfront dunes, grassland, and savannahs.

Also preserved was a 40-foot-wide strip of forest that serves as a buffer to waterways, allowing them to remain wildlife refuges, travel corridors, and food sources.

Amelia Island Plantation Today

Fresh off a $85 million renovation, Omni Amelia Island Plantation is now anchored by a new Omni Hotel. The renovation incorporated and completely renovated the existing hotel and added on a new wing, bringing the hotel's capacity to 627 rooms and suites, all overlooking the Atlantic. New restaurants and an outdoor area with the largest pool deck in Northeast Florida incorporates fire pits, tiered seating, and two pools areas, one for adults only and the other for families.

The new hotel has boosted awareness for the destination. The hotel also took over the management of a collection of 350 villas, allowing guests and residents access to the amenities of the hotel.

Living at Amelia Island Plantation

Amelia Island Plantation offers a variety of single family homes and condominiums, accessible to many price points. "The beauty for homeowners looking to buy at Amelia Island Plantation is that they can purchase anything from entry level to high end," says Debbie Gericke, Director of Real Estate Sales and Marketing for Amelia Island Plantation Real Estate. "It’s not so exclusive that you can’t get in.”

Entry-level Market

Those looking at the entry level will find a variety of condominiums close to the resort in developments such as Sandcastles, two condominium towers with a pool overlooking the ocean and connected to the Omni Hotel via a pathway of shaded by large trees covered in Spanish Moss. Beach Wood, located across the street from Sandcastles, offer town homes set in four-story buildings lining the seventh and eighth holes of the Ocean Links golf course. Along the fairways of the Oak Marsh course, the Fairwway Oaks Villas offer a collection of two-bedroom, two-bath town homes, ideal for buyers looking for rental income properties.

Mid-market

Buyers looking in the mid-range of the market will find a selection of luxury condominiums and single-family homes averaging about 2,500 square feet with four bedrooms. Communities such as Sea and Turtle Dunes offer two- and three-bedroom residences ranging in size from 1,100 to 1,900 square feet in a seven-story building overlooking the ocean. Those searching for single-family homes venture to communities such as Oak Point which offers a quiet cul-de-sac location with views of the lake, golf course, marsh, and woods. Marsh Creek, and Sea Marsh are also desirable single-family communities. Single-family homes in these areas are often rented for longer term (one month or longer) than the condominium properties managed by the hotel, explains Gericke.

High-end Market

Buyers looking for luxury will find what they desire in gated communities such as Long Point, home to the Amelia Island Club on the south end of Amelia Island. Homes in this neighborhood showcase a variety of architectural styles and spectacular views of lakes, fairways, marshes, or Nassau Sound, considered one of the best fishing areas in northeast Florida.