This is my entry for the October, 2025 Challenge with Debe Maxwell, CRS and Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Historical Facts and Stories About Myrtle Beach, SC
Every community has a story to tell, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has one that’s as colorful as a beach towel in July. Today, it’s known for its bright lights, golf carts, and endless sunshine, but long before mini-golf and boardwalk fries, this spot was little more than pine forests, sand dunes, and a few dreamers with shovels.
From Withers to Myrtle Beach
Back in the late 1800s, this stretch of coast was known as Withers, named after the Withers family who owned a plantation near what’s now Withers Swash. Getting here required either a sturdy horse or serious commitment, there were no highways, just trails and a lot of mosquitoes with ambition.
Then the Burroughs & Collins Company, a timber and turpentine firm from Conway, decided to build a railroad to haul lumber to the coast. In 1901, they ran a picnic train to the beach for employees. Folks fell in love with the ocean breeze, and the company realized they might be onto something.
So they built the Seaside Inn, charging $2 a night, and renamed the area Myrtle Beach: after the wax myrtle bushes that grew wild in the dunes. That was the start of a transformation that would put this little town on the map.
Becoming the Riviera of the South
As the years rolled on, Myrtle Beach started developing a certain style. The 1930 opening of the Ocean Forest Hotel was a game changer. This wasn’t just a hotel, it was elegance wrapped in Southern hospitality, complete with marble floors, chandeliers, and golf courses for the well-heeled traveler.
It didn’t take long for travel writers to catch on. Brochures and postcards began calling Myrtle Beach “The Riviera of the South.” And it fit: we had the ocean views, the charm, and the glamour (without needing a passport or speaking French). During the 1940s through the 1960s, Myrtle Beach truly lived up to that nickname, offering a touch of coastal sophistication right here in the Carolinas.
From Airfields to Amusements
World War II brought the Myrtle Beach Army Air Field, later the Air Force Base, which fueled population growth and business. When it closed in 1993, the area reinvented itself once again — this time as The Market Common, a trendy hub of restaurants, parks, and boutique shops. It’s proof that Myrtle Beach never sits still for long, we just keep finding new ways to shine.
Life in Carolina Forest
I live in an area called Carolina Forest, though honestly, there’s not much “forest” left. The trees have given way to neighborhoods, coffee shops, and enough traffic circles to make a GPS nervous. Still, it’s a quaint stretch of quiet - peaceful enough for evening walks, but close enough that when friends visit, we can reach anything touristy in about ten minutes flat. It’s like living next door to a theme park you don’t have to clean up after.
Traditions and Timeless Charm
From the Sun Fun Festival to shag dancing (the official state dance of South Carolina, a smooth, easy-going partner dance done to beach music with fancy footwork and a lot of soul), Myrtle Beach still celebrates its roots in its own quirky way. Sure, the Pavilion rides are gone, but the spirit remains playful, proud, and just a little bit sandy.
The modern skyline may sparkle brighter, but the heart of the “Riviera of the South” still beats strong: a blend of Southern hospitality, seaside nostalgia, and a little bit of salt air magic.
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