GRIFFIN AND NICOLE BELL
GREENVILLE, SC

Where are you from?

Nicole: We’re from Greenville, South Carolina. We both grew up there but we didn’t know each other until after college.

How did you meet?

Nicole: We met in downtown Greenville in 1999.

Griffin: We fell in love quickly—two weeks for me—and got married in 2000. Nicole put me through law school; we moved back to Greenville and I began practicing real estate law. The kids started arriving in 2003. We didn’t slow down on that front and ended up with five.

How did you find Kiawah?

Griffin: I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know Kiawah. My parents brought me and my two older sisters here in 1978 when I was just two years old, and I’ve been coming ever since. It was as beautiful then as it is now, but it was much more rustic—kind of wild. I remember seeing the wild horses on the Island and the white stag. I never caught a glimpse of the white puma, though, which was rumored to roam the “jungle” behind the second gate!

What are your memories from childhood?

Griffin: It was family time, plain and simple. And when you’re a little kid, there’s nothing better—the safety and freedom of the bike trails, the unparalleled expanse of the beach, the quiet serenity of the ocean, and the unique, abundant wildlife. As you get older, it changes in the sense that you get to share those experiences with your friends, your spouse, and your children. Nicole and I came down while we were dating, and later, after we were married, with kids. It’s cool to watch my children trace my same footsteps decades later.

Nicole, tell me about your first time on the Island.

Nicole: I came down with friends as a child. When I started distance running, I participated in the Kiawah [Island Golf Resort] Marathon. When Griffin and I started dating, we visited his family’s home on Green Winged Teal Road, and I grew to love the Island. After our last baby was born, we were fortunate to find a long-term rental that included access to Kiawah Island Club. When I walked through the entrance of The Beach Club in 2013, holding my newborn, and saw the pools, the big lawn, and the ocean beyond, I knew my children would create lasting summer memories. From that first summer, we made it a priority to come back, year after year. Kiawah is such an essential part of our family.

What do you like to do when you’re here?

Nicole: I love to walk the beach and run the trails, and we all love to hop on bikes and explore. Our children ride back and forth from The Beach Club to swim. And we look forward to kayaking every summer. Griffin and Griff Jr. play golf, and the kids love to bring friends down to the beach. Above all, my favorite part of Kiawah is watching my kids interact with one another—knowing they are happy makes me happy.

Why do you think the Club is so special?

Nicole: The people first and foremost. There is a welcoming tone the moment you walk into any facility. The level of quality and service is unmatched compared to other places. The Club’s locations are thoughtfully planned and allow Members to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of the Island. There’s no place quite like it.

You’re building your legacy here!

Nicole: I hope so! The goal is to create an opportunity for future generations of the family to experience Kiawah with the same sense of wonder and excitement that we feel now, that we’ve always felt here, and that we hope to experience for years to come.