Marriott Ownership Resorts Incorporated...aka Marriott Vacation Club immediately legitimized timeshare with their successful entry into this segment in 1984
With Marriott Hotels HQ’d nearby in Washington DC, it makes sense that Mr. Marriott
With Marriott Hotels HQ’d nearby in Washington DC, it makes sense that Mr. Marriott would become a timeshare developer in Hilton Head Island with the acquisition of American Resorts, who at that time had sold out Swallowtail and Spicebush and were in the midst of selling Monarch at Sea Pines.
Marriott’s Monarch at Sea Pines is home to the most unique piece of timeshare real estate that I know of. The crown suite atop the Azalea building, with commanding 5th floor views of the oceanfront. The crown suite has the 5th floor portion of the Azalea building all to itself. No neighbors on any of the walls. Hot tub. 3 bedrooms
The crown suite was rumored to have been created at the direction of Mr. Marriott who often used the crown suite when he was on the island supervising various developments.
It was in the crown suite where Mr. Marriott likely conducted significant decision making meetings with his team regarding what would become known as Marriott’s Grande Ocean, Marriott’s Barony Beach, and Marriott’s SurfWatch.
Surfwatch is the only beachside resort in HHI with 3/3’s. The crown suite doesn’t count, it is one of a kind, and the only 3/3 unit not found at SurfWatch.
Monarch was being built and sold by American Resorts in 1984 when Marriott acquired them. Marriott inherited the master deed that American Resorts recorded and that Master Deed did not have any provisions for a ROFR (Right of First Refusal). As a result, Marriott’s Monarch is one of only two or three resorts that do not have a ROFR requirement about resales.
The COA or Condo Owners Associations of Spicebush and Swallowtail did not want to pay more in maintenance fees to keep their resorts up to Marriott’s standards and were have a budget that would ensure that those resorts
Interesting Deeds in HHI ~ Land Purchase for Grande Ocean (Burkes)
Paula Deen
Julius Erving
Most popular Marriott on HHI is Grande Ocean, then Barony Beach, SurfWatch then Monarch at Sea Pines.
My personal favorite is Marriott’s Monarch at Sea Pines. I believe that the Monarch owners I have met are the happiest group of timeshare owners on Hilton Head Island. All but 15 units are Fixed week, fixed units. Each owner has an emotional stake in each of their units. These are the same units that generations of families spent together at the beach. Many original owners from the 1980’s still own and use this resort to this day.
In the winter/spring of 2021, Marriott has added parking spaces to Monarch. Monarch sits right next to The Beach Club which is a real perk being right next door. The trails and biking are superb in Sea Pines.
Marriott’s Grande Ocean is less than a mile from popular Coligny Beach Park.
