Shortly after Del Masters sold his company, MaxStrat, to Sun Microsystems in 1999, he was celebrating with his family at one of their favorite vacation spots: The Cloister, a world-class luxury resort on Sea Island, Georgia.
"Life was good," Masters recalled. The resort's owners happened to be raising money for renovations by selling nearby land, so a feeling-grand Masters bought a 3-acre private island just a few minutes away.
Over the next six years, he built a bridge and a Mediterranean-style estate on Little Hawkins Island.
"It's magical," Masters said. "You feel like Robinson Crusoe until 7 o'clock rolls around, then you go have bourbon at the golf lodge."
He's listed the island for $17.8 million.
"You're smack dab in the middle of nature," said Masters, who on any given visit is likely to see dolphins, deer, alligators, osprey or manatees.
Besides a 6,000-square-foot main residence, the estate encompasses two 1,500-square-foot guest cottages with two suites each, plus "The Little Hawkins Club," which has a workout facility, men's and women's locker rooms and a club room complete with a bar, fireplace and pool table.
Inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture, the home also has California Mission touches -- along with five fireplaces and flooring made from terra cotta tiles and reclaimed antique pine.
The palm tree-covered island boasts courtyards, a fountain and a deepwater dock on 700 feet fronting the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
The listing agent for the island is Nancy Bishop Pandolfi of Sea Island Properties.
Photos by Harlan Hambright
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