Tucked away on more than four acres of coastal land, a historic estate once home to two celebrated American authors has come to market on St. Simons Island in Georgia. Known as The Dodge, the residence is represented by Cindy Jacobs of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate, and offers buyers a rare opportunity to own a property that blends literary legacy, architectural authenticity, and sweeping coastal views in one of Georgia’s most treasured seaside communities.

“The Dodge is not simply a luxury listing,” said Jacobs, “It is a home with a biography that runs from a royal colonial land grant through one of American literature’s most beloved careers to a restoration that returned it to the light. It comes to market for only the third time in nearly 300 years of documented history.” From 1967 until their deaths, The Dodge served as the private residence of bestselling novelist Eugenia Price and fellow writer Joyce Blackburn. Price, whose novels sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and were translated into 18 languages, discovered the Golden Isles of Georgia almost by accident in the early 1960s. Captivated by the beauty and history of the area, she and Blackburn decided to settle permanently on St. Simons Island.

Price famously rejected the white-columned antebellum style often associated with Hollywood depictions of the South. Instead, she wanted a home that reflected the island’s authentic architectural heritage. The result was a two-story coastal residence designed to feel grounded in the surrounding landscape. The first level was constructed with tabby, a traditional coastal material made from lime, sand, and oyster shells, while the second story features classic board-and-batten siding stained to resemble the bark of live oak trees. The design was intentionally simple and sturdy, reflecting the practical building traditions of early coastal homes on the island.

“It’s hard to say what the most favored feature of the home might be,” Jacobs noted, “but it's probably the stunning bricks which are featured throughout.” Used for the first floor, patio, kitchen fireplace, and walkways, the bricks were salvaged from the legendary Savannah DeSoto Hotel, originally completed in 1890 before being demolished in the mid-1960s. More than a century old, the bricks carry a patina that adds a quiet sense of permanence to the property.

Equally thoughtful was the positioning of the home itself. Price carefully oriented the structure to capture both sunrise and sunset across the surrounding marshes. The rear of the home faces east, welcoming the morning light over the waterways, while the living room’s bay window was deliberately placed to frame glowing evening sunsets over the coastal marshlands. From the writers’ offices, each author enjoyed a preferred view—Blackburn gazing across wide marshes while Price looked out toward the wooded entrance and winding drive.

Within these walls, some of Price’s most influential work came to life. While her first St. Simons novel was completed elsewhere, The Dodge became the creative setting for several major works, including New Moon Rising and Lighthouse. These books formed part of the beloved St. Simons Trilogy, which vividly brought the island’s early history to life for readers around the world. Through Price’s storytelling, the Golden Isles gained national recognition, drawing visitors eager to experience the landscapes she described in such rich detail. Even today, travelers continue to seek out connections to the writers’ lives on the island. Their graves at nearby Christ Church Cemetery remain among the most visited in the historic burial ground.

In recent years, The Dodge has undergone an extensive transformation that preserved its history while introducing modern comfort. The current owners purchased the estate in 2011 after it had fallen into foreclosure and required significant restoration. The work included new plumbing, electrical systems, and HVAC units, along with a fully renovated kitchen and updated windows designed to match the home’s historic character. While much of the infrastructure was modernized, the owners made careful efforts to preserve the home’s spirit. Eugenia Price’s office, for example, remains largely intact, now updated with Georgia heart pine flooring while maintaining its connection to the author’s creative life.

Today, the residence spans more than 6,100 square feet and features four bedrooms, four full baths, and two half baths. Multiple living spaces, a bar, and the preserved study create a home that feels both intimate and expansive. Later additions included the conversion of attic space into an additional bedroom and bath, a family room, and a new four-car garage.

The property’s outdoor spaces are just as remarkable as the home itself. Extensive gardens surround the residence, including a 5,000-square-foot fenced hobby garden along with herb and Mediterranean plantings. A dramatic infinity-edge pool anchors the backyard, overlooking views of Dunbar Creek and the Frederica River, where marshlands stretch toward the horizon.

“Rarely do homes of this quality and stature come on the market,” Jacobs emphasized, “Its story is unlike almost anything currently listed in American real estate. The land itself predates the nation… The current sellers are only its third—one of the most remarkable ownership histories of any private residence in coastal Georgia.” To learn more about this extraordinary coastal property, contact Cindy Jacobs of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate.