Backed by experience and a disciplined approach to building, businessman and entrepreneur Paul Roberge is the vision behind a growing portfolio of coastal rental properties on Tybee Island.
With this being his fourth property on Tybee - following two successful sales - Paul continues to refine his approach, designing not just for peak summer weeks, but for year-round use, balancing practical needs with the elevated, escapist feel guests seek in a true vacation home. What sets his work apart isn’t just the investment—it’s a studied understanding of how people actually experience time away, and how a home can quietly shape those moments.
That perspective is rooted in something more personal. Tybee Island has long held meaning for Paul and his family—where early memories were formed, and where accessibility from Atlanta makes it a realistic, repeat destination. Its scale is part of the appeal: a place where you can trade the car for a bike or golf cart, move easily between quieter stretches of beach and more active social areas, and experience something different each time you return. That balance of familiarity and variety ultimately made Tybee the natural place to continue building.
For Paul, that connection began years earlier while he was stationed at Fort Stewart, just outside of Savannah, while his wife attended what is now Georgia Southern University. Some of their earliest time together was spent on Tybee’s shoreline, a place that already held significance for her family as a long-standing summer tradition. Today, that same sense of familiarity—paired with the island’s proximity, roughly a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Atlanta—makes it an easy escape for long weekends, seasonal breaks, and holidays alike.
Beyond its accessibility, Tybee offers a layered experience that continues to draw visitors back. The island’s compact footprint allows guests to settle in quickly, often leaving the car behind in favor of bikes or golf carts. From the lively energy of the South Beach and pier to the quieter stretches of North Beach, where Paul’s homes are located, each area offers a distinct pace. Days can begin with a walk along the shoreline, shift to kayaking excursions toward Little Tybee Island, or unfold along the back river where dolphins move through the water and cargo ships pass into the Savannah Harbor.
There’s a rhythm to the island that extends beyond the beach itself. Landmarks like the Tybee Island Light Station and the Tybee Island Marine Science Center offer moments of history and exploration, while a mix of casual, well-loved dining spots—from The Deck Beach Bar and Kitchen to North Beach Bar and Grill—add to the island’s character. With parks, playgrounds, and open spaces woven throughout, Tybee remains as accessible for families as it is for couples or small groups, offering something unique with each visit, no matter the season. “We love the island,” says Paul. “There are things to do year-round and we can have a different experience each time we visit!”
His latest project, Palmwood Haven, a fully renovated coastal home, reflects a level of planning that goes well beyond surface design. The construction itself took roughly four and a half months, but what’s less visible—and more telling—is the three months spent beforehand sourcing materials, aligning labor, and mapping out every phase to ensure the home would be ready for the 2026 season. It’s a process that speaks to discipline as much as vision.
At approximately 2,000 square feet, the home has been reworked to maximize both efficiency and experience, with a strong emphasis on well-appointed bedrooms, fully renovated bathrooms, and an expanded kitchen designed to comfortably support up to ten guests. Every decision reflects an understanding of flow—how groups move through a space, where they gather, and where they retreat.
A defining feature is the addition of a 400-square-foot screened-in porch, conceived as a true extension of the home. Functioning as a second living room, it includes an outdoor fireplace and a pass-through window from the kitchen—allowing cooking, dining, and conversation to happen without interruption. It’s a detail that feels effortless to the guest, but is the result of deliberate planning.
Beyond aesthetics, the home is built for longevity. Just yards away from the beach, from upgraded systems to carefully selected, coastal-resilient materials, the goal is consistency over time—so the experience holds up season after season, guest after guest.
More than a renovation, the project reflects an evolving expertise. Paul approaches each property as both a business and a study—refining what works, eliminating what doesn’t, and building with a level of foresight that only comes from repetition and attention to detail.
Paul shares he would be remiss not to mention Suite Beach Tybee - an exquisite new ocean-front property. "The home is amazing and was a labor of love to design and build. Featuring a state-of-the-art kitchen, private pool, elevator, 4 screened-in-porches, outdoor kitchen with bar and grill, this 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath offers every amenity you could think of."
In the end, this isn’t just a story about a renovated home or thoughtful new construction. It’s about the connection between places and experiences. How, when done right, a home becomes part of the memory itself. On Tybee Island, that’s exactly the point.
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