Sea Turtle Patrol urges Hilton Head to repurpose former Wild Wings building as base

Volunteers from Sea Turtle Patrol urged Hilton Head Island officials on March 18 to repurpose the now-vacant Wild Wings building as a permanent base for the group’s conservation and beach-operations activities.

Brian Tiresi, representing Sea Turtle Patrol HHI, told the council the volunteer program grew from efforts to patrol holes and protect nesting areas and that the organization has lacked a permanent home. "We’re asking you to consider using the now, abandoned Wild Wings building to be a potential home for sea turtle patrol," Tiresi said, describing storage and vehicle needs for the program.

Amber (last name redacted), who also spoke for the group, said a family foundation had offered to provide what she described as "their half $1,000,000" toward refurbishment of the building. She told the council that the group would be willing to host the sharing shack, support beach-operations and provide a satellite office for Shore Beach Services and invited volunteers to staff beach-ambassador duties if facilities were available.

Both speakers argued that converting the building would better serve conservation and public-education goals than creating additional parking in an already crowded area. Tiresi recounted the program’s work educating visitors and enforcing ordinances that limit hole size and shore activity to protect nests.

Council did not take immediate action on the request during the meeting; the speakers asked the council to consider the site and potential next steps. No formal commitment, lease terms, or town-funded allocation for the building were discussed on the record.