The Best Room At... The Dunlin
“When we first started this project, in our very first meeting, I said, ‘What we’re trying to do here is the eternal American summer house,’” says Kemper Hyers, chief creative officer for Auberge Resorts Collection. “That’s what I wanted this to feel like.”
That mission was accomplished. The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection opened in 2024 on John Island, SC, just outside of Charleston, and offers 72 guest rooms and suites with interiors by Amanda Lindroth, as well as three dining options, and a long list of activities that all pay homage to a kind of relaxed, waterfront Americana. The property is only about 30 minutes away from the bustle of Charleston, but feels worlds away—and moves at its own gracious pace.
“It's the kind of place where you take off your shoes and settle in for the weekend; it isn't fussy and it isn't formal,” Hyers explains. ‘You do things that are about whiling the day away as opposed to programming yourself to death. We always try to build soulful hotels that have an authentic kind of sense of place, like it happened over time, and it really belongs there.”
Here, we Hyers tells T&C about the property’s best room and how to best enjoy the singular surroundings.
What do you consider to be the best room at the property and why?
I love the Seabrook Suite with a Tub. All the rooms share a certain subtlety, but when you're in that suite, it could be 1920 or it could be 2025. Part of it is that sense of not over crafting it, not over building it. You enter in a little vestibule that's got kooky, very Amanda hooks on the wall, and the bathrooms all have glass in the doors, which feels a little bit English in the way that inspired early Charleston design. The room is 740 square feet, with a soaking tub in the bedroom, a dining nook, and a porch. There are also views out over the Kiawah River and a wonderful fireplace.
How much does it cost per night?
The starting rate is $1,949 per night.
How would you describe the guests and vibe at the hotel?
The Dunlin has got a lot of style. It's very approachable and has an easy, summary kind of vibe, and there are some style hound guests who want to come out here just to see that. We’ve also got Charleston locals coming for the weekend, and folks coming to explore this part of the world. To me, the Dunlin offers the feeling of another time at another speed—less texting, less phone calls. The feeling here is very much of an unstructured getaway; it feels like you’re really leaving it all behind.
What feeling about Johns Island do you hope to impart to guests?
Staying at the Dunlin, you really do get a sense of place. There’s a block-printed quilt at the foot of the bed, there’s shiplap paneling everywhere, even the shows have a modern take on wainscoting. It’s simple but there’s a light, Southern formality to it all—a little European influence, some Caribbean influence—and a lot of clues in the design as to where you are.
What’s a local attraction that you always recommend?
There are so many cool things out there to experience, from visiting St. Andrew’s, this beautiful little country church nearby, to just getting on a boat, which is one of the best things you can do. There’s serious fishing or just jumping from place to place; the water is as much a part of being in this part of the world as the land is.
You Might Also Like
