Over the Intra-coastal waterway, then under a canopy of Spanish moss-draped grand oaks you have arrived in an extraordinary place, a timeless haven for all God’s creatures, a hidden fountain of youth called Edisto Island. This tiny paradise with pristine beaches has been untouched by commercialization and is one of the last undeveloped Atlantic coast islands. Edistonians cherish their cultural heritage which dates back to circa 1570 when Spanish missionaries attempted to convert the Edistow Indians. A golden era began circa 1790 and lasted until the 1860's with the start of the Civil War. Antebellum plantation owners had amassed huge fortunes from the highly prized, long staple cotton. The name "Sea Cloud" is derived from the 19th century marriage between- and contraction of- the Seabrook and Mc Cloud family names. The newlyweds chose this name for their mansion sited upon a cotton plantation here on the Island. Your Sea Cloud was built in 1995 by Karin and Al Gleaton (Columbia, SC) and R.H. Belser, III (Charleston, SC). We are, as you can imagine, proud owners. We appreciate your patronage, are pleased to be your hosts and desire your vacation to be memorable.
Sea Cloud displays a signature Charleston architectural feature with a traditional double staircase ascending to the huge veranda facing the ocean and rising morning sun. Entering the house through double French doors to the main salon you will find four equally sized bedrooms on each corner, designed to afford maximum privacy. The colorful (Lime, Aqua, Navy, Yellow) bedrooms have queen-sized beds, ceiling fans, ample closets and are connected to adjoining bathrooms via a short hallway connecting the bedrooms. Each bedroom has a separate wash basin and mirrored vanity. Both bathrooms were totally remodeled in 2023 with ceramic (LVP) tile and we added a rainbird/wand shower systems. The driftwood ceramic tile design and new glass shower enclosures with stainless fittings are gorgeous !
A carpeted stairwell off the kitchen leads to a spacious upstairs loft with four more beds (2 queen and 2 twins), a sunny children's play area, and a bathroom with a twin sink vanity, a skylight, full bathtub & shower enclosure. The loft has been commented on by many patrons as the perfect design to let kids have their own space and parents, some downstairs privacy.
The vaulted-ceiling main salon combines living room, dining room and an astonishingly well-equipped kitchen with white marble counters and a large,movable island with bar stools. A carpeted,fully screened porch out the kitchen door features cushioned seating, a picnic table, and a second refrigerator. A smaller deck off one bedroom was designed to capture the huge ancient live oak tree rising through the deckboards. There's an enclosed outdoor shower stall (with hot and cold water !) on ground level and profession, barrel-style charcoal BBQ grill with cast iron grates. Sea Cloud was built 10 feet off the ground which helps to capture ocean breezes and importantly, provides covered parking under the house for six SUV's or trucks. A spacious cargo lift was added and has become a really popular feature and valuable time-saver for moving your things from the driveway into the house. See the info sheet in the house on how to operate it.
Sea Cloud is on Myrtle Street; one street over from/parallel to Palmetto Boulevard, the main drag along the ocean. Being on Myrtle and not Palmetto is advantageous for two reasons: 1) it's significantly quieter on Myrtle St. than Palmetto Boulevard
2) it's safer for children to play in the front or back yard.
Whaley's Restaurant, a locals hangout and tourist dive bar, is located 10 blocks down the street- a 10 minute walk. Whaley's has a great seafood menu,cold beer, and the best hamburgers on Edisto Island !
Rental week is Saturday to Saturday during the summer months. Weekly rentals ONLY in the high season. Please note that we do not provide linens, but Edisto Essentials does as described in our electronic welcome letter. They're not expensive and highly recommended.
PLEASE no early check-ins, no exceptions. 4 pm is the magic hour for check-ins.This has been a big deal every summer because Sea Cloud is booked back to back and we need the 5 hours between check-outs //check-ins for our contracted housecleaning service and Hugh to maintain the home, and make repairs in- between renters. Weekly rates have necessarily been increased due our own costs. This (2025) summer demand has meant near 100% bookings and our metrics demonstrate we are competitively priced with a measurably better "product". Please be kind and sign the guest book and give us a VRBO review (# 462779). Your review is really important and sincerely appreciated.
Remember if y’all enjoyed your visit, tell your friends. If you didn’t, tell us.
Karin & Hugh