DeBordieu Colony blends natural beauty with a rich coastal history
DeBordieu Colony is a historically affluent community on the South Carolina coast surrounded by nature preserves, protecting its tidal marshes and old-growth oak forests. Local legend ties its naming to the late 1700s, when an inspired Marquis de Lafayette dubbed it “d’aborde dieu,” the borderland of God. “It’s beautiful there, like a mini Hilton Head,” says local Lauren Fournier, a Realtor with Peace Sotheby's International Realty. “It’s very popular for boaters.” The gated community is less than 10 miles east of Georgetown and features the prestigious DeBordieu Club.
Architecture spans decades in this gated beach community
The median sale price here is about $1.8 million. The community features single-family homes and villas – both free-standing and attached – built as early as the 1970s. Styles range from Colonial and Greek Revivals, featuring grand columns and eye-catching symmetry, to classic Cape Cods and contemporary New Traditional homes.
“You have some primary residents that live there full time, but the majority of [properties] are rentals or summer homes,” Fournier says. Homeowners are automatic members of the DeBordieu Colony Community Association, to which mandatory HOA fees are paid monthly. This is a coastal community, so flooding is a regular risk, especially during hurricane season, between early June and late November. Most properties here are within a special flood zone, so flood insurance is required to obtain a federally backed mortgage.
Georgetown schools offer strong academics and STEM programs
DeBordieu Colony is served by Georgetown County School District, graded B-minus on Niche. Waccamaw Elementary, ranked as the best public elementary school in the county, earns an A-minus. Waccamaw Middle and Waccamaw High have B-plus grades. The high school is the sixth-best in the Myrtle Beach area for STEM, thanks to Project Lead the Way (PLTW). It was recognized as a PLTW Distinguished School in 2025, offering biomedical science and engineering programs.
Club membership unlocks golf, dining and fitness amenities
According to Fournier, all DeBordieu Colony homeowners can access the community beach and a boat ramp on Debidue Creek; however, a DeBordieu Club membership is necessary to enjoy other amenities, ranging from a Pete and P.B. Dye championship golf course to an oceanfront beach clubhouse and swimming pool. The club also has a tennis and fitness center for members, as well as three on-site restaurants.
Everyday stores and waterfront restaurants in nearby Georgetown
Nearby Georgetown has commercial options for day-to-day shopping, such as Piggly Wiggly, Walmart Supercenter and Food Lion. It also features some fast-food chains, like Bojangles, Wendy’s and KFC. Front Street is the city’s main drag, anchoring its historic downtown with homey eateries like the dockside River Room Restaurant, a seafood spot with a Southern New American menu. Several restaurants, including River Room, are on the Harborwalk, which runs parallel to Front Street. While the boardwalk is often busy in the summer, it’s busiest during the annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show. This festival of maritime appreciation and craft involves races, displays, boat-building contests and more.
Quick access to Georgetown and Myrtle Beach via Route 17
DeBordieu Colony’s entrance is off U.S. Route 17, a straight shot to Myrtle Beach International Airport, 30 miles up the coast. It’s also a direct route to Georgetown, which has the nearest hospital, Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital, about 8 miles away.
Written By
Micaela Willoughby
