Roofing company in Pawley's Island, SC

FILE - Rainbow in Pawleys Island after Hurricane Ian Sept. 30, 2022 (Credit: Emily Mayes)

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Pawleys Island has been named the "Best Beach in South Carolina" for the second time, according to the venerable USA Today/10Best Readers' Choice poll.

Furthermore, Litchfield Beach placed number three and Huntington Beach was placed at number four.

There were 17 South Carolina nominees in the running.

Local officials spoke on how beneficial this ranking is for the tourism industry, with state officials estimating a $300 million economic impact for Georgetown County.

I couldn’t be more excited about this news,” said Mark A. Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce. “Pawleys Island topping the list for the Best Beach in South Carolina once again is wonderful, but it’s made even more sweet with Litchfield Beach and Huntington Beach State Park also finishing in the Top 4. Clearly the Hammock Coast’s beaches are beloved by residents and vacationers. Our beaches are adored for their pristine shores and mild crowds, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Beth Stedman, the Chamber’s president and CEO, emphasized how you "don't have to be the biggest to be the best."

We love to say we are comfortably nestled between two of the biggest tourism meccas in South Carolina – Myrtle Beach to the north and Charleston to the south, but we love being our own unique brand," he said. “The natural beauty of our area and its history bring visitors here throughout the year and they return again and again. The majesty of our area, with tens of thousands of acres preserved and protected, sets it apart from many other coastal regions.

The judges for USA Today who selected the 17 beaches to compete for "Best Beach in South Carolina" were Jamie Davis Smith, Marla Cimini and Catherine Smith.

They all have shared interests in travelling, writing and adventures.

Locations on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast have been featured in other USA Today/10Best contests such as Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens, Georgetown and Caledonia Golf and Fish Club.

Plenty of folks hit the road for a visit to the tidelands of Georgetown County. Pawleys Island, in particular, has a centuries-long tradition of being one of America’s oldest seaside resorts, going back to the days of the indigo and rice planters who packed up their households to get away from the fields and enjoy the salt air by the beaches.

That being said, you might not know that the first European settlement in what is today the United States dates back 500 years. In fact, Spanish ship captains from the Caribbean island of Hispaniola first came to Pawleys Island in 1520-1521.

One ship was sent out by his sponsor to find land. He came upon another ship’s captain who was a friend and they journeyed together.

After landing at Pawleys Island, they reported back to the first ship’s sponsor, Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón, that the land would be fertile. It took several years and a trip back to Spain, but de Ayllón put together an expedition with about 600 people and close to 100 horses. They returned to what is today Pawleys Island and then Winyah Bay and established the settlement of San Miguel de Gualdape.

While that Spanish settlement only lasted a few months, in many ways it was a precursor to the many people who’ve come to the coast of Georgetown County to visit, and some have decided to stay.

Pawleys' rich history

There’s a lot to enjoy in this little slice of heaven on earth.

George Pawley inherited the barrier island that carries his name. He sold parcels of the land on the small island to other planters in the early 1700s. Many rice planters brought their families and some enslaved Africans to the island in the summer months in order to escape the heat and malaria of their riverfront plantations.

But it's important to distinguish the Pawleys Island community from the Town of Pawleys Island when discussing the area's history as a travel destination.

While visitors to Pawleys Island were first recorded in the 1790s, it's difficult to pin down an exact date. Research shows that no one vacationed on the barrier island home to the Town of Pawleys Island until after 1822. When plantation owners traveled to the “seashore” in the 1700s, they were actually staying in the Pawleys Island area on the mainland by the salt marshes, according to historian Lee G. Brockington, who has written several books about the town.

Even though most of the beach houses and cottages are much more modern now, still Pawleys Island and Litchfield have plenty to offer for a break from the routine with salt water, fresh air, many attractions, shops and restaurants.

You may not be able to stay from May to November like the folks did back then, but you can still enjoy the beauty, the atmosphere and the laid-back lifestyle of the tidelands.

The town encompasses all the island. Within the incorporated community there are approximately 130 full-time residents. There are about 450 rental properties available through various realty companies.

The town and the county have three boat landings on the island and about a dozen beach public access points. The largest and most popular beach area is at the south end of Pawleys Island.

At that location there is parking, beach access as well as Pawleys Creek access and there are portable toilets available. The other beach public access points each have some limited parking available. All the beach access points are open to the public.

Pawleys Island has even been recognized at the state level for its attractive qualities. It was named “Best Beach in South Carolina” by USA Today's 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in May 2024.

These awards highlight “top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations,” according to a news release, and the list was part of a series to name the best beaches in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, California, New Jersey and Michigan.

Three Georgetown County destinations — Huntington Beach State Park, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island — were among the beaches in the contest, and while Pawleys came out on top, Litchfield Beach placed No. 4 and Huntington placed No. 5.

Others in the running included Daufuskie Island, Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove Beach in North Myrtle Beach, Coligny Beach Park, Edisto Beach State Park, Folly Beach, Folly Field Beach Park, Hunting Island State Park, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Beachwalker Park, Myrtle Beach State Park, North Myrtle Beach, Sullivan’s Island and Surfside Beach.

Surf and sand

Catching some rays from the sun, swimming in the ocean, surfing and surf fishing, fishing in the creek or crabbing or gathering oysters are all activities that people enjoy.

One of the fun things on the beaches that a lot of children — and moms and dads — enjoy is building sandcastles. Beachgoers should have fun but be aware that a county ordinance requires that if a hole is dug on the beach to build a sandcastle, they must return the sand to the hole so it doesn’t present a hazard to other visitors.

Turtles also frequent the beaches. Speaking of turtles, all the beaches in Georgetown County have varying numbers of sea turtles that come ashore each year to lay their eggs.

There’s a volunteer group called South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts. Member volunteers patrol the beaches on a daily basis during turtle nesting times to make sure that the nests are undisturbed by man or by any predators. You may visit the S.C.U.T.E. Facebook page for more information about this group.

Along with the incorporated town of Pawleys Island, the general area is also called Pawleys Island and is served by a post office that takes in a large part of the Waccamaw Neck.

Nearby Litchfield Beach also includes public beach accesses maintained by Georgetown County. Litchfield Beach has residential homes and neighborhoods.

There is plenty of shopping and a wide selection of restaurants available for people to enjoy in Pawleys Island and Litchfield. There are several supermarkets that provide groceries and other necessary items for residents and visitors alike.

Golfing and biking are nearby

Within the Pawleys Island/Litchfield area there are about a dozen golf courses that are open to the public. Many of them receive high rankings by the various golfing organizations.

As with some of the golf courses in the Murrells Inlet area, most are built on lands that were at one time part of the indigo or rice plantations in the area.

Running from Murrells Inlet down to the Pawleys Island area, the Bike the Neck group has spearheaded efforts to develop and then maintain bike paths that provide designated areas for people to get their exercise and enjoy the area’s scenery and various attractions.

A target of the Bike the Neck group is to help to develop the local portions of the East Coast Greenway. The ultimate goal for that Greenway is to have a bike path along most of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.

As with other parts of Georgetown County, the Parks and Recreation Department maintains a number of neighborhood parks. There are four regional parks within the county and various ball fields and tennis courts.

Throughout the year, there are seasonal sports programs for children and some for adults as well. Many of the regional recreation centers have scheduled programs and teams that are open for people to enjoy.

Boating, fishing and enjoying oysters

Throughout the Waccamaw Neck there are local oyster beds where during designated times people may harvest oysters. There are several seafood outlets and fish houses that have oysters for sale.

In partnership with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, there are several oyster shell recycling locations where people are encouraged to take the oyster shells after enjoying them.

Periodically, SCDNR will gather the oyster shells and take them to a quarantine area where they may be treated and ultimately used to help establish and maintain oyster beds in the coastal waters of Georgetown County and along the South Carolina coast.

Along with oceanside boating opportunities, there are several boat landings and marinas. Some are operated by Georgetown County. There are also several commercial operations that are open to the public.

For many years, Georgetown County in general has had among the highest per capita numbers of boats in South Carolina. With the Atlantic Ocean, five rivers and numerous creeks, there are plenty of opportunities to get out on the water. People enjoy boating, personal watercraft, paddle-boarding and waterskiing. There’s also, of course, plenty of fishing.

The fishing pier at Pawleys Village is for owners and guests. People also fish along some of the bridges and causeways. If you head south to Georgetown, there are two Winyah Bay fishing and observation piers at the city limits. They are remnants of the old Lafayette Bridge.

When you’re out and about enjoying the beaches, the rivers and creeks, be sure to use sunscreen regularly and drink liquids.

Most of all — enjoy yourselves.

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — (Update) The short-term swim ban affecting sections of Pawley's Island and Debordieu Beach has been lifted as of Monday morning, according to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

(Original story) The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has issued a short-term swimming advisory.

Officials said this advisory is for water at Pawleys Island near the access point at Hazard St (station WAC-045A) in Georgetown County. They added that it's not a beach closing and this doesn't affect the entire beach.

In a release, the SCDES said:

Bacteria levels that are above state and federal standards have been detected in this area of water, and swimming is not advised in the area until bacteria levels return to normal. It’s safe to wade, collect shells and fish within this swimming advisory area. However, it’s advised that people entering the water in this area refrain from swallowing it, and that people with open wounds or compromised immune systems avoid contact with the water.

The SCDES tests water quality along ocean fronts in compliance with federal and state laws.

They said the water is tested for the enterococci bacteria, which are naturally found in warm-blooded animals, including humans. They added that high levels of this bacteria can cause illnesses such as gastrointestinal problems or skin infections.

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They said that short-term swimming advisories typically last for a few days and are lifted once more sampling shows normal bacteria levels.

Go here for more information on recent water sampling.

GEORGETOWN — A speakeasy, rooftop bar and micro distillery are coming to Front Street.

It’s all part of a new Tidal Creek Brewhouse location set to open across three buildings in historic downtown.

Charleston resident Adrian Sawczuk co-owns Tidal Creek with his wife, Dara. He said Georgetown's rich history, scenic waterfront and antebellum-style homes make it an attractive place for expansion.

"There's not a lot of locations like that," he said. "You can't make them."

Tidal Creek opened in the Market Common area of Myrtle Beach in 2021. It’s part brewhouse, part coffeehouse and features a beer garden, full bar and in-house coffee roaster. It will also be expanding to include 10 pickleball courts on nearby open land.

Sawczuk said the Georgetown location will have a more urban feel, replacing the outdoor beer garden with a rooftop terrace and a second-floor speakeasy that will have an exclusive and intimate atmosphere.

It won’t have a coffee roaster, but it will include a small distillery serving up spirits inspired by the Lowcountry and Georgetown’s history, he said. Four apartments will be added to the back of the property to be used for short-term rentals, Airbnbs or long-term housing.

Many others have also started looking to Georgetown as a place to expand their businesses.

The George Hotel opened on Front Street in 2024. It was developed by Winyah Hospitality LLC, composed of Charleston’s Joe Keenan, Pawleys Island’s Christy Whitlock and Florence’s Ben Zeigler.

Shortly after The George opened, the Charleston-based Indigo Road Hospitality Group opened The Independent, a seafood restaurant, inside the hotel. It’s the group’s first restaurant in Georgetown.

Indigo Road Hospitality Group has a strong presence in Charleston, along with Atlanta, Washington D.C., Raleigh and Charlotte.

Main Street Director Al Joseph said there's been a trend of business owners expanding into Georgetown. Five Pawleys Island businesses have opened second locations there over the past two years, he noted.

“It’s very significant,” he said.

Deanna Benston is the owner of Sea Gypsy Boutique in Pawleys. Her husband Scott owns Surf the Earth, a surf shop that offers camps, kayak tours and surf lessons.

Benston recently opened a second boutique on Front Street called Revival. The boutique offers a similar style of clothing to Sea Gypsy, with some additional brands. Benston said she has a focus on items made from natural materials such as cashmere, linen and cotton.

At first, she was unsure about the vision for the boutique. Then, as she began revitalizing the building that would hold her business, the idea for Revival bloomed.

She said she’s drawn to Georgetown — which has been undergoing its own kind of revival — because of its hometown feel and the ability to walk Front Street and duck in and out of mom-and-pop shops.

“I feel like we need more of that in society. We need to be supporting our friends and our neighbors that have been able to establish small businesses over the big box stores,” Benston said.

She said Georgetown also offers a tight-knit community feel, which appeals to her as a business owner. In the future, she said she'd like to partner with local organizations and host events to bring people together.

Sawczuk said operating a Georgetown location will likely be different than running a business in the bustling Market Common area.

He said he expects fewer tourists, and with a smaller population, it could be more difficult to secure employees.

But ultimately, he’s optimistic about the new location. Construction is set to begin in the next few months and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027.

He said he’s also optimistic about the city's future, despite an affordable housing shortage and uncertainty about its future in heavy industry.

"We’ll continue to have development in Georgetown," he said.

PAWLEYS ISLAND — Michael Van Arsdel hasn’t given up hope that his father, who disappeared while sailing on the Waccamaw River last week, is safe.

Kerry Van Arsdel, a 66-year-old Indiana resident, was last seen May 19. He departed from The Reserve Marina, but his boat was found unmanned near Butler Island on May 22, miles from the docks.

His phone, wallet, ID cards, tablet and medication were found inside the boat. There was no sign of a struggle, according to a report from the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office.

“The situation is very, very unusual for him. I mean, it's not like him to be out like that,” Michael Van Arsdel said. “But we're just hoping for the best right now that he did swim ashore or jumped on a different boat.”

The sheriff’s office and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources are continuing to search the river, according to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office.

Since Kerry Van Arsdel's disappearance, Midway Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard and the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) assisted in the search with boats, drones, airplanes and a helicopter.

Michael Van Arsdel said his father often sailed on the Waccamaw, typically anchoring for a couple of nights before returning to the marina.

Although he’s trying to remain optimistic, he said he can’t help but feel something went wrong.

"I don't know. I really don't know what happened," he said. "It’s odd, and it's hard to wait. You just don't — you just don't know. And it's frustrating."

Michael Van Arsdel lives in Hawaii and is trying to coordinate a trip to Pawleys Island to aid in the search effort. He said his sister is planning a trip to the area as well.

He described Kerry Van Arsdel as a loving father and grandfather who enjoys bowling and is fun to be around.

“Dad’s just a very loving person,” he said. “A very caring person.”