Pre-Colonial Period to the 1700s

Among the first known inhabitants were the peaceful Cusabo Indians as evidenced by archeological findings. The Cusabos were replaced in the early 1600s by the more aggressive Yemassee Indians, who had migrated north from the coastal regions of Florida. Spanish explorers had already identified this section of the Carolina coast as early as 1525 - a full forty years prior to establishing their first settlement on the North American continent at Saint Augustine, Florida. In 1664, English sea captain William Hilton sailed into the waters of the South Carolina coast, writing in his log:
 "My Voyage to Carolina Coast 1644, - The air is clear and sweet, the country very pleasant and delightful; we wish that all they wanting a happy settlement were well transported here."  English traders soon followed and settled in the area.

During the 1700s, land was divided on Daufuskie among the English and other European families. The first known British Land Grant of Daufuskie Island was turned over to Thomas Cowte on November 15, 1707. The Spanish, who had focused their settlements in north Florida were angered, however by having the English so close to their territory and they began rewarding the Yemassees and other regional tribes for raiding English settlements. During one such raid on Daufuskie, a band of English scouts surprised an Indian party near the island's southern tip. A deadly skirmish, with scores of Indians killed, thereby earning the site the name it holds today - Bloody Point.

1750-1970

Many loyalists to Great Britain lived on Daufuskie during the 1700s, and when the American Revolution broke out in 1776 there was considerable strife between residents of Daufuskie Island and nearby Hilton Head Island which was a bastion of American patriots. In 1781, Daufuskie Tory Loyalists staged an attack on Hilton Head's Skull Creek Plantation. In retaliation, Revolutionary War patriots of Hilton Head formed the 'Bloody Legion' and ambushed numerous homes on Daufuskie Island. Throughout the late 1700s and early 1800s, twelve farming plantations were created here. Residents realized that Daufuskie Island was blessed with special nutrient soil and climate ideal for growing a silky, rare type of cotton that became known as "Sea Island Cotton". This unique strand of cotton prospers in only a few areas of the world, including the sea islands of the southeastern United States and Barbados.

The fiber is white and lustrous and the longest of any cotton. It is perfect for weaving an ultra-soft cloth. England's Queen Victoria was said to have her handkerchiefs only made from Sea Island Cotton. The Sea Island Cotton industry was the most profitable crop in the United States at that time (even more than tobacco). It was also the most significant crop requiring slave labor, thus prompting the slave trade with thousands arriving on Daufuskie and nearby islands from the west coast of Africa. Slavery continued to exist on Daufuskie Island until the end of the Civil War.

In 1836, John Stoddard married Mary Mongin, granddaughter of a wealthy Daufuskie planter. In 1848, they completed construction of their home, the Melrose Mansion, located on the site of the current resort and named for the enchanting Melrose Abby in Melrose, Scotland where the couple had honeymooned. In 1862, Union forces occupied Daufuskie Island. These northern troops chopped down 10,000 trees on Daufuskie Island, which they used to build the "corduroy roads" across the wetlands to Savannah. They tore down all of the plantation homes, except for the Melrose Mansion, which was spared by Captain John Monroe.

The early 1900s saw Daufuskie Island at the height of its prosperity, but also saw the loss of the Melrose Mansion, which was destroyed by fire in 1912. The local economy flourished with the sale of Sea Island cotton, indigo, lumber, farm goods and oysters. However, in 1916, the boll weevil struck and by the year 1920, the cotton crops were completely wiped out. Fortunately, Daufuskie still kept its oyster industry going.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s many residents were forced to leave the island to find jobs, but approximately 300 residents remained to work the Island's oyster canneries. Oystering was the only means, other than cotton and vegetable farming, for the people of Daufuskie Island to earn a living from the 1880s to 1959. Daufuskie oysters were known for their high quality and were shipped all over the world during this time. However, due to pollution in the nearby Savannah River many of the best oyster beds were lost and the industry never fully recovered.In 1971, the Stoddard brothers, Dan and Henry III, sold 700 acres of land on Daufuskie, thus ending the Stoddard's reign on the Island. In 1974 the famous motion picture "Conrack" was filmed on Daufuskie Island, based on the award-winning autobiographical book, "The Water is Wide"  by Pat Conroy and his early days of teaching African American children at the island's one-room schoolhouse.

Modern History

When developers came to Daufuskie in the early 1980s, there were only 52 permanent residents. In 1984, International Paper purchased land at the north end of Daufuskie Island and named it Haig Point, a private residential community. Also in 1984, the central and southeastern portions of the Island, known as Melrose and Bloody Point, were purchased by three developers and businessmen from Hilton Head who formed the Melrose Company. This area of the island was developed as a private club and resort, including 190 rooms in the Inn and in 2 and 4 - bedroom beach cottages, two championship golf courses, tennis facilities, an equestrian center and other amenities.

In 1997, the Melrose Company holdings were purchased by ClubCorp of Dallas, TX, a leading international resort management firm. ClubCorp renamed the combined properties of Melrose and Bloody Point to Daufuskie Island Club & Resort. Resort operations and club memberships continued for the next four years until 2001, at which time ClubCorp divested itself of the property. In May 2002, Daufuskie Island Properties, LLC purchased the property and has since set forth to aggressively position this historic, sea island resort as one of the most desirable getaways on American soil. In doing so, they employed the skill and expertise of Tiburon Hospitality Management, an award winning hospitality and meetings management company based in Carefree, Arizona to oversee resort and club operations.

In May 2003, the property was renamed Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa, reflecting the added spa services of Breathe SpaTM., a signature day and destination spa, which has been branded nationally and celebrated its debut on Daufuskie in March 2003.