Hutchinson Island is the piece of Savannah most buyers see without ever setting foot on. It is the land across the river from River Street, the one with the convention center and the golf resort, and until recently it was not somewhere you bought a house. That has changed, and the questions it raises are different from anywhere else in the market.
Key Takeaways
– New construction on the island starts at $799,000 and comes in three formats: estate homes, rowhomes and duets.
– A free ferry runs every 10 minutes, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
– Championship golf and the marina are near the community rather than inside it.
– One ferry landing is currently closed for repairs, so check the operator’s page before relying on a specific dock.
What is actually being built there?
A master-planned neighborhood, and the developer describes it as “A master-planned waterfront neighborhood of new construction estate homes, rowhomes, and duets on Hutchinson Island” (The Isling at Savannah Harbor). It sits at “405 Reserve Way, Savannah, GA 31421.”
Pricing starts higher than most of the metro: “Available homes start at $799,000.” Three formats means a wide spread above that number, and an estate home on the water is a different purchase from a rowhome, so treat the starting figure as a floor rather than a guide.
The developer positions it as “Set between the Savannah River and tidal lowcountry marshes … in a master-planned neighborhood inspired by Savannah’s historic district.” Read that last phrase as design intent rather than a regulatory status. If the review rules that govern Savannah’s mapped historic districts matter to your plans, confirm what applies to the specific parcel rather than inferring it from the name.
What amenities are actually included?
Fewer than the marketing around the island implies, and the developer is reasonably clear about the split: “A private clubhouse, resort-style pool, and walking paths sit within the community, with pickleball courts on the way.” Golf and boating are described differently, as “championship golf and the marina at Savannah Harbor just moments away.”
That distinction matters financially. Amenities inside a community are usually covered by what you pay the association. Amenities nearby are usually a separate membership or fee. Before you buy, get in writing which of the two each item is, what the association dues cover today, and what the pickleball courts will cost when they arrive.
How do you actually get downtown?
By ferry, and it is genuinely good. Chatham Area Transit runs the Savannah Belles Ferry, which “offers free, scenic transportation across the Savannah River, connecting downtown Savannah’s Riverwalk with Hutchinson Island, home to the Savannah Convention Center and Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa” (Chatham Area Transit).
The frequency is the part people underestimate. “Ferries run every 10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day).” You can “Cross the river at no cost, every day of the week,” and the boats “accommodate bicycles, luggage, and are pet-friendly (dogs must be on a leash or in a carrier).”
There are three landings: “City Hall: Savannah Riverwalk at City Hall,” “Waving Girl: Savannah Riverwalk in Morrell Park near the Savannah Marriott Riverfront,” and “The Westin: Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island, next to the Westin.”
One current caveat. The operator reports that “City Hall Landing, which serves the Savannah Belles Ferry by the Hyatt on River Street, has been closed for repairs until further notice,” with riders boarding “at the Waving Girl Landing by the Marriott” instead, and the ferry running “its posted schedule” during repairs (Chatham Area Transit). That notice is not dated, so check the current position before you plan a commute around a particular dock.
Note also what the ferry is not. The City of Savannah lists it as the “Savannah Belles Passenger Ferry,” noting that “These boats depart from Rousakis Plaza on River St. and provide ferry service between River Street and Hutchinson Island” and that “Bicycles and strollers are welcome on board” (City of Savannah). Anything involving a car uses the bridge, and that is a different journey from the ten-minute crossing.
What should you check that you would not check elsewhere?
Four things specific to buying on a river island.
Flood. This is an island in the Savannah River. Flood zone, base flood elevation and whether an elevation certificate exists are address-level questions, and they drive the insurance quote more than anything else in the file. Ask for the certificate before you are under contract, not during the inspection period.
What the association covers. On a new master-planned community, dues and the reserve study are still being shaped. Ask what the dues are today, what they are projected to be at full build-out, and what the developer still controls.
Build-out timeline. Buying into phase one of a multi-phase community means living beside construction for a while. Ask which phase your lot is in and what is planned next to it.
The ferry as infrastructure, not amenity. If the crossing is part of why the location works for you, understand that it is a transit service whose landings and schedule can change, as the current closure shows.
Our guide to new construction versus resale in coastal Georgia covers the general trade-offs, and for anything with water access see waterfront and deep-water homes in coastal Georgia. The Savannah and Hunter Army Airfield community page collects the wider area links.
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes on Hutchinson Island cost?
The developer of The Isling at Savannah Harbor lists available homes starting at $799,000, across estate homes, rowhomes and duets. That is a starting figure for the community rather than a typical price, and waterfront lots sit well above it. Price any specific home from recent comparable sales.
Is the ferry to Hutchinson Island free?
Yes. Chatham Area Transit operates the Savannah Belles Ferry at no cost, every day of the week, running every 10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. It carries bicycles and luggage, is fully ADA-compliant, and allows dogs on a leash or in a carrier.
Does the ferry carry cars?
The City of Savannah lists it as the “Savannah Belles Passenger Ferry” and says bicycles and strollers are welcome on board. It runs between River Street and Hutchinson Island, departing from Rousakis Plaza. Plan on using the bridge for anything involving a car, which is a longer trip than the river crossing suggests.
Is golf included when you buy on Hutchinson Island?
Not automatically. The developer describes the clubhouse, pool and walking paths as within the community, and describes championship golf and the Savannah Harbor marina as nearby rather than inside it. Ask in writing which amenities the association dues cover and which require a separate membership.
Before you commit
Hutchinson Island is a genuinely unusual proposition in this market: new construction, minutes from downtown by water, on an island whose other main tenants are a convention center and a resort. The upside is obvious. The diligence is the part people skip.
Get the flood picture, the association documents and the build-out plan in front of you before the inspection period, and ride the ferry at the hour you would actually use it.
To walk through a specific Hutchinson Island home and what its dues, phase and flood position look like, get in touch.