A Legacy Carried Forward

Protecting more than a scenic view

“We know now that it will be here forever. The property will maintain its graciousness through the years to be enjoyed by family and friends.” – Palmer Simmons

On Hilton Head Island, the Simmons name is woven into the history of the Spanish Wells community. Long before a bridge connected the island to the mainland, Charlie Simmons Sr., known as “Mr. Transportation,” operated boats and trucks that carried residents, farm goods, schoolchildren, workers, and supplies between Hilton Head, Daufuskie and Savannah. His work helped sustain the community and created an important connection to the world beyond the island.

That spirit of connection remains rooted in the Simmons family today.

Along Spanish Wells Road, Palmer Simmons and his sister, Charlesetta Aiken, have protected 8.64 acres of family land through a conservation easement with the Open Land Trust funded by the Town of Hilton Head and the Beaufort County Green Space Program. Stretching from the roadway to the marshes of Old House Creek, the property holds mature live oaks, open land, and a family cemetery.

In a place where undeveloped land has disappeared at a record rate, this protection keeps more than a scenic view intact. It preserves a tangible connection between Hilton Head’s natural landscape, its Gullah history, and a family whose service helped shape the island.

This is what conservation makes possible: land remaining with family, history remaining visible, and a legacy carried forward for generations.