Population of Horry County?
Approximately 217,608 Population of Myrtle Beach?
Approximately 25,400 Population of the Grand Strand?
Approximately 227,000 Square miles in Horry County?
1,134 (largest in South Carolina)
Over the years Horry Countys population has grown at a steady pace, and the countys housing industry has developed rapidly,
surpassing reported national trends in housing growth.
The Myrtle Beach area and Horry County were named an Outstanding Community for 2000 by The Searchers Inc., a St. Louis-based data research/information company.
Quality of life, taxes, crime rate and affordability of housing are among the 70 sets of criteria used by The Searchers in its determination.
During 2003, an explosive combination of low mortgage rates, retirement and investment strategies drove the housing market growth.
In the first nine months of the year, Horry County had a 31.3 percent increase in new single-familyhome closings.
The number of new single-family residential permits increased by 38 percent from 2002.
MYRTLE BEACH AREA HISTORY
Kings Highway, a major thoroughfare through the Myrtle Beach area, began as an Indian trail long before Europeans settled along the Grand Strand.
Later, this trail became the route from the northern states to Charleston and Savannah.
The area's first inhabitants were the Waccamaw and Winyah Indians,
who named the region Chicora, meaning "the land."
Early attempts by European explorers to settle the Grand Strand were disastrous.
Spaniard Lucas Vasques de Allyon
founded the first colony in North America here in 1526, but the settlement was ravaged by disease, and the inhabitants perished within a year.
English colonists formed Prince George Parish and laid out plans for Georgetown, the state's third oldest city, in 1730.
Surrounded by rivers and marshlands, Georgetown became the center of America's colonial rice empire.
Before the Civil War, plantation owners turned Pawleys Island into one of the first summer resorts on the Atlantic coast.
Historic beach cottages and other landmarks still stand, and while the legendary Pawleys Pavilion
is just a memory, an annual reunion
keeps the spirit alive. Speaking of spirits, the Gray Man ghost
still patrols Pawleys Island when hurricanes loom. A few miles north is Murrells Inlet, a fishing and seafood village where another apparition roams:
Alice, Ghost of the Hermitage.
According to legend, Alice Belin Flagg (1833-1849) died broken-hearted and now combs the creekside for her lost ring.
Until the 1900s, the beaches of Horry County were virtually uninhabited due to the county's geographical inaccessibility and poor economy.
Near the turn of the century, the Burroughs & Collins Company,
a timber/turpentine firm with extensive beachfront holdings, began developing the Myrtle Beach area as a resort.
In 1901, the company built the beach's first hotel, the Seaside Inn.
At that time, oceanfront lots sold for $25, and buyers received an extra lot if they built a house valued at $500 or more.
The beach community was called New Town (and, previously, Long Bay, Withers, or Withers Big Swamp) until the Horry Herald sponsored a contest to officially name the area.
Mrs. F.E. Burroughs, wife of the founder of Burroughs & Collins, won with the name Myrtle Beach, which she chose for the many wax myrtle trees growing wild along the shore.
In the 1920s, a group of businessmen began building an upscale resort called Arcady at the north end of the community.
Arcady featured the present Pine Lakes International Country Club,
home of the Strand's first golf club and birthplace of the magazine Sports Illustrated, as well as the legendary Ocean Forest Hotel.
Several major developments took place along the Strand during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1936, the Intracoastal Waterway
was opened to pleasure boats and commercial shipping. During the 1940s, the Air Force Base was established and used for training and coastal patrols during World War II.
The base was closed in 1993. The Myrtle Beach Pavilion was built in 1949, and the historic band organ and carousel were installed in 1954.
Myrtle Beach was incorporated in 1938 and became a city in 1957.
Hurricane Hazel demolished buildings and trees along the Strand in 1954, clearing the way for new hotels and homes.
During the rebuilding phase of the 1960s, a golf boom began, with new courses being built each year.
The number of golf courses along the Grand Strand now totals around 120.
The Myrtle Beach Convention Center, which houses the official South Carolina Hall of Fame,
opened in 1970 (the adjoining Radisson Plaza Hotel opened in January 2003). During the '70s, new construction in the area topped $75 million, and the permanent population tripled.
In the 1970s and '80s, construction of attractions, homes, retail shops, and other amenities increased steadily, paving the way for another boom in the early '90s.
The Grand Strand currently attracts millions of visitors and thousands of new residents to the area each year.
The Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area was listed as the 13th fastest growing area in the nation, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics released in April 2001.
The area has grown 36.5 percent over the past decade.
MYRTLE BEACH AREA UP & COMING
The Myrtle Beach area is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. Here's a look at new developments and projects that are in the works.
On the Horizon
Airport ImprovementsMyrtle Beach International Airport
(MYR) is in the midst of a $200-million expansion that will include a new commercial airline terminal complex.
The 390,000-square-foot, three-level complex is being built on the western side of the airfield (the existing terminal is on the eastern side).
The terminal will have 14 gates and will accommodate aircraft ranging from commuter jets to wide-body aircraft such as a B747.
Other additions and enhancements include new parking lots and rental-car facilities, and improvements to fueling facilities and infrastructure.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2008. In February, a food court and deli opened at the airport, with tenants including Pizza Hut,
Subway, Java Coast, Samuel Adams Bar and JJ Sports Grill. The airport also has a high-speed wireless network available to passengers waiting on flights.
Airlines now serving the Myrtle Beach area are AirTran, ASA/Delta/ComAir, Continental, Hooters Air, Northwest, Spirit, United and US Airways .
In 2004, Spirit Airlines added daily, nonstop service to Washington, D.C. Hooters added service to Rockford, Ill., Pittsburgh and Las Vegas.
United Airlines in February began daily flights from Myrtle Beach to Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Hard Rock Park The Myrtle Beach area was chosen as the site for the worlds first Hard Rock Park,
a 142-acre, music-themed amusement park affiliated with Hard Rock Cafe. The proposed $200-million project will have an outdoor amphitheater for up to 15,000 people,
a high-speed, steel roller coaster and other rides and amusements. The park, to be located off U.S. 501 in Fantasy Harbour,
will be developed by Fantasy Harbour Theme Park LLC in conjunction with Hard Rock Cafe International Inc., a subsidiary of the London-based Rank Group.
Construction dates have not been announced.
The Market Common Developer McCaffery Interests will break ground this fall on
The Market Common, the Grand Strands largest urban village.
Located on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, this mixed-use residential and retail development will boast five to six restaurants and approximately 50 retail stores.
Apartments and condos will be built above these in a pedestrian-friendly design modeled after an old city. Among the first commercial tenants:
P.F. Changs China Bistro (South Carolinas first), Claddagh Irish Pub, a 16-screen movie theater and an upscale grocery store.
The first phase of The Market Common was scheduled for completion in late spring 2007.
Communities of town homes and single-family homes will be developed near the village.
The Ripken Experience
The summer of 2006 will open a window on the world of baseball when this 50-acre baseball complex opens.
It will have four regulation baseball fields and eight junior fields, plus batting cages, pitching mounds and lodging. (
The first phase will feature three regulation fields, six junior fields and two practice fields.)
The Ripken Experience is modeled after the Aberdeen Project and Ripken Youth Baseball Academy in Aberdeen, Md., home to baseball all-star Cal Ripken Jr. and his family.
The $24 million facility will be home to several tournaments, coaching clinics and youth camps for ages 7-18. The Ripken Company Inc. is in partnership with the Burroughs & Chapin Co.
What's New
Barefoot Landing additionsBarefoot Landing, one of the Myrtle Beach areas most popular shopping, dining and entertainment sites, recently opened 16 new stores, including Chicos, White House/Black Market,
Birkenstock, Vanity, Crazy Shirts, Somewhere in Time Studio & Gallery and Carolina Vineyards Winery. A new restaurant, Fire Island Grille, will open in late summer 2005. Barefoot Landing now boasts more than 100 shops, 13 outlet stores, restaurants, theaters and other attractions.
Barefoot Resort & Golf This 2,300-acre development is unfolding beautifully along the Intracoastal Waterway adjacent to Barefoot Landing. Connected by a restored swing bridge crossing the waterway, the resort features a 40,000-square-foot Resort Clubhouse and four 18-hole championship courses designed by Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Tom Fazio and Davis Love III. Barefoot Resort offers a diverse mix of neighborhood settings, including single-family homes, golf and resort villas, waterfront properties and a 431-unit luxury condominium tower, The North Tower. Construction is under way on a 142-slip marina, conference center and 350 condominium units.
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World At Colonial Mall, a 97,707-square-foot Bass Pro Shops OutdoorWorld opened September 2004. The store carries boats, campers, outdoor clothing, fishing gear and other outdoor-related merchandise. The design features a wraparound lake and bridge, a 19,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and an 11,000-square-foot Islamorada Fish Company restaurant. The stores opening coincided with that of Books-A-Million and major renovations throughout the mall.
Coastal Grand Mall The Myrtle Beach areas newest mall and South Carolinas largest opened in March 2004. The 1.5-million-square-foot, fully enclosed complex is on U.S. 17 Bypass near Myrtle Beach International Airport. The mall now features three anchor stores (Belk, Dillards and Sears), restaurants, a 14-screen cinema with stadium seating and more than 100 other shops. Numerous restaurants, retails stores and other establishments have opened on mall outparcels.
Grande Dunes Resort Development continues at Grande Dunes, an exclusive mixed-use community encompassing 2,200 acres of coastal real estate from the Atlantic Ocean to the western side of the Intracoastal Waterway. The resort offers condominium villas, patio homes, golf fairway homes and oceanfront homes; swimming and tennis clubs; and leisure and bike pathways. The resorts focal point is the 25,000-square-foot Grande Dunes Ocean Club, with multiple pools, spas, beachside cabanas and restaurant. A private bridge across the waterway leads to the Grande Dunes Golf Village and Grande Dunes Golf Course, designed by Roger Rulewich. The Members Club Golf Course, a private course designed by Nick Price and Craig Schreiner, opened in 2005. East of the waterway, the Marina at Grande Dunes also opened this year, offering 126 wet slips, 400 feet of T-dock space and 1,200 feet of lay-along dockage. Marina amenities include telephone and wireless Internet access and premium cable. A ships store, laundry room and private showers are available for guests. The Marina Inn and Villas, to be completed in 2006, will be on the northern edge of the marina. A planned Marina Village will offer upscale shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville Restaurant Buffets new 14,000-square-foot restaurant, featuring indoor and outdoor seating, opened in July 2004 at Broadway at the Beach. The centerpiece of a new area called Heroes Harbor, Margaritaville is flanked by a lighthouse, merchant stands, a sailboat and pier, a sunken merchant clipper and 50,000 square feet of shops. Musicians, strolling performers and artists make frequent appearances. Another Buffet enterprise, Cheeseburger in Paradise, also opened in 2004.
MagiQuest Broadway at the Beach unveiled an exciting, interactive family attraction in June of 2005. MagiQuest utilizes patented technology to create a magical experience for participants. After selecting a magic wand (which they may personalize, take home, and use each time they come back), participants are quickly trained as Magi, allowing them to set off lightning bolts, control music, open treasure chests and perform heroic deeds. MagiQuest is a joint venture of Burroughs & Chapin Company and Creative Kingdoms, who formed a new company called New Kingdoms.
Murrells Inlet Marshwalk and Veterans Pier The first 300-plus feet of the new Murrells Inlet Veterans Pier is now open to the public, with the remaining 400 feet scheduled to be complete by Aug. 1. The pier adjoins Murrells Inlets popular waterfront Marshwalk, providing locals and visitors yet another creek access. Located next to Capt. Dicks Marina, the Veterans Pier replaces the "old Government Dock," used as a crash-boat station during World War II and destroyed in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo.
Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes In December 2003, a 14-story, 400-room Marriott hotel opened in the Myrtle Beach area and recently earned AAAs Four-Diamond Rating. The oceanfront hotel is located in the upscale community of Grande Dunes and offers the Strand's only on-site oceanfront European day-spa, along with golf, tennis and 45,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space. The 15,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which divides into eight sections, accommodates 1,600 people for receptions and 1,200 for banquets. A Junior Ballroom accommodates up to 575 for receptions and 450 for banquets.
The Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel made its debut Sept. 28 when Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the nations largest independent hotel management company, assumed operations at the former Radisson Plaza Hotel. The two-year-old, 402-room property, which maintained AAAs Four-Diamond rating, features a contemporary design and relaxed setting, while offering luxury accommodations and amenities. Combined with the convention center, the new Sheraton offers more than 250,000 square feet of event space, including an outdoor Events Plaza and a Grand Ballroom for up to 1,200 guests.
Tanger Outlet Center Phase 2B The Myrtle Beach areas newest outlet center moved into a new phase in 2004 when it opened 23 additional stores at its U.S. 17/S.C. 22 location in North Myrtle Beach. Among the lineup: Gail Pittman Pottery, Gap, Ben & Jerrys, Banana Republic, Puma, Guess, Jones New York, Ultra Jewelry and Dolls & Bears. The new phase brings the center to 100-plus stores and 400,000 square feet. The Myrtle Beach area now boasts two Tanger Outlet Centers, after Myrtle Beach Factory Stores on U.S. 501 was purchased and renamed last year.
Road Improvements The Grand Strands network of roads has vastly improved. The 28-mile Veterans Highway (S.C. 22), a four-lane road that links U.S. 501 west of Conway and U.S. 17 north of Myrtle Beach, opened in 2001. The Carolina Bays Parkway (S.C. 31), which opened in December 2002, runs from S.C. 9 to U.S. 501; in December 2004, it was extended to S.C. 544, and eventually it will extend to U.S. 17 south of Myrtle Beach. Harrelson Boulevard, a new access road to Myrtle Beach International Airport from U.S. 17 Bypass, also opened in 2002. Other completed projects: Robert M. Grissom Parkway, which runs parallel to U.S. 17 Bypass and provides a passageway through central Myrtle Beach, and extensive improvements to U.S. 501 and S.C. 544, major thoroughfares to Myrtle Beach area.
The Myrtle Beach area, also known as South Carolinas Grand Strand, is a 60-mile stretch of coastline. The Grand Strand begins at the South Carolina state line at Little River (in Horry County) and stretches south through Pawleys Island (Georgetown County). Considered one of the nations top vacation destinations, the Grand Strand hosts approximately 13 million visitors annually. The increasing number of attractions, live-music theaters, shopping centers and golf courses attracts visitors throughout the year.
The Grand Strand has been visited by many regional, national and international publications and broadcasting companies. For example, in 2003 the area was the scene for WBs One Tree Hill, Discovery Channels American Chopper and King of the Jungle; Travel Channels Worlds Best; and Food Networks Date Plate. Nationally, the area has been featured in Southern Living, Southern Bride, The New York Times, Newsday Travel, Travel America, Philadelphia Inquirer and Where to Retire magazine. Internationally, articles have appeared in Canadian Traveller, Selling Long Haul and Elle Magazine of Germany.
NATIONAL REVIEWS
In addition, the Myrtle Beach area has received these positive national reviews:
TRAVEL CHANNEL:
.. AMERICAS BEST BEACHES - BEST THRILLSEEKER BEACH (2006)
.. BEST AMERICAN BOARDWALK (2004)
.. BEST FAMILY BEACH (2003-2004)
Once again the Travel Channel has named Myrtle Beach one of Americas Best Beaches. Myrtle Beach was among 10 U.S. beaches chosen for the 2006 Best Beach designation. (The resort community also earned a spot on the list in 2003.) For 2006, Myrtle Beach was named America's Best Thrillseeker Beach, alternately called America's Most Adrenaline Packed Beach during a show being broadcast on the Travel Channel. Featured beaches are also showcased on the Travel Channels Web site, TravelChannel.com.
The Travel Channel named Myrtle Beach one of Americas Best Beaches for 2003-2004. Myrtle Beach also was singled out as the Best Family Beach. A review on the Travel Channels Web site, Discovery.com, stated, Myrtle Beach is the East Coasts ultimate vacation hub. The Myrtle Beach area was showcased on the Travel Channels Americas Best Beaches program and on the Web site.
The Travel Channel bestowed an additional honor on the Myrtle Beach area in March 2004, placing our oceanfront boardwalk at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion on the list of Best American Boardwalks. A program by the same name was broadcast on The Travel Channel, and the list appeared on the Web at Discovery.com.
READERS DIGEST:
.. BEST OF AMERICA (2006)
The Myrtle Beach boardwalk has been named one of the Best of America by the editors of Readers Digest magazine. May 2006
GOLF DIGEST:
.. No. 1 GOLF-HOME COMMUNITY (2006)
Golf Digest named Myrtle Beach both the No. 1 Golf-Home Community in the Southeast and Americas No. 1 Golf-Home Community. Golf Digest collected figures from the Longitudes Group, a research firm specializing in leisure activities, to rate cities on criteria such as the number of highly ranked courses, playable days per year, cost of living, off-course diversions and more.
FORBES MAGAZINE: ..No. 29 OF 200 BEST PLACES FOR BUSINESS AND CAREERS
Forbes magazine ranks the Myrtle Beach area the 29th best place for business and careers among 200 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas.
GOLF DIGEST: ..No. 9 OF 50 GREATEST GOLF DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD
Myrtle Beach is No. 9 on Golf Digests list of the 50 Greatest Golf Destinations in the World. The list resulted from a survey of more than 700 low-handicap American golfers.
In his book The Great Towns of America: A Guide to the 100 Best Getaways for a Vacation or a Lifetime, author David Vokac lists Myrtle Beach as one of the 100 most outstanding communities in the country.
USA TODAY TRAVEL:
.. MYRTLE BEACH INCLUDED IN 10 GREAT PLACES TO GO COASTAL WITH YOUR KIDS (2005)
Stephen Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach) included Myrtle Beach on his list of 10 Great Places to Go Coastal With Your Kids, which appeared in USA Todays Travel section in July 2005. Leatherman is a professor and director of the International Hurricane Research Center & Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, and the author of Beach Vacation Travel Journal and Dr. Beachs Survival Guide.
YAHOO! TRAVEL & NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE:
.. No. 2 OF TOP 10 BEACHES (2003-2004)
Myrtle Beach beat out exotic locales such as Waikiki and St. Thomas in an online poll of favorite beaches conducted by Yahoo! Travel and National Geographic Traveler magazine in 2003-2004. The survey of more than 2,200 travelers ranked Myrtle Beach No. 2 of a list of Top 10 Beaches. Results of the survey and video highlights were posted on Yahoo!s Web site and published in National Geographic Traveler. In a subsequent poll, Myrtle Beach remained in the Top 10.
SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE:
.. SECOND FAVORITE BEACH TOWN (2005)
The Myrtle Beach area again has been named a favorite travel destination by readers of Southern Living magazine. In its 2005 Readers Choice Awards, Myrtle Beach was named second favorite beach town. Myrtle Beach has been near the top of the list every year since the Readers Choice Awards were launched in 1995. Also making the list for 2005, for favorite public gardens, is Brookgreen Gardens (at No. 4).
ESCAPEHOMES.COM:
.. No. 1 OF 10 MOST DESIRABLE SECOND HOME MARKETS (2005)
.. No. 4 ON LIST OF TOP GOLF TOWNS
The Myrtle Beach area is No. 1 on the 2005 list of 10 Most Desirable Second Home Markets, according to EscapeHomes.com, a Web site for second-home buyers. Following Myrtle Beach are South Padre Island, Texas; Naples, Fla.; Holden Beach, N.C.; Ocean City, N.J.; Las Vegas; San Diego; Park City, Utah; Orlando; and Santa Fe, N.M. Investors made up 62 percent of the home seekers; 18 percent were looking for a vacation home; 15 percent were looking for retirement property; and 5 percent were looking to relocate. In addition to being reported on EscapeHomes.com, the list was broadcast on CNBCs Town Hall program. The Web site also placed the Myrtle Beach area fourth on its list of top golf towns.
TRAVEL 50 & BEYOND MAGAZINE: .. ONE OF 10 GREAT RETIREMENT TOWNS (2004)
Travel 50 & Beyond magazine included Myrtle Beach on its list of 10 Great Retirement Towns in a 2004 article.
RESTAURANT BUSINESS MAGAZINE: .. No. 1 IN UNITED STATES FOR GROWTH POTENTIAL
In 2004, Restaurant Business magazine ranked the Myrtle Beach area No. 1 in the United States for growth potential for the fourth consecutive year. The magazine rates the nations top restaurant markets based on overall sales, sales as a percentage of income and local per-capita sales.
WHERE TO RETIRE MAGAZINE: .. ONE OF 100 BEST RETIREMENT TOWNS IN AMERICA
Where to Retire magazine named the Myrtle Beach area one of the 100 Best Retirement Towns in America. The magazine cites the Myrtle Beach area for its low cost of living and calls it one of the best beach towns in the nation. Editors traveled to all 50 states to compile the list.
AAA: .. No. 3 OF TOP FIVE MOST POPULAR DRIVE DESTINATIONS FOR VACATIONERS TRAVELING BY CAR (2004-2006)
For the third consecutive year, the Myrtle Beach area is among the five most popular destinations for vacationers traveling by car, according to AAA. Myrtle Beach comes in at No. 3, behind Orlando/Walt Disney World and Niagara Falls. Following Myrtle Beach are Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.
THE TORONTO SUN:
.. GOLFERS CHOICE BRONZE AWARD FOR BEST TRAVEL DESTINATION (2005)
The Toronto Sun presented the Myrtle Beach area with the 2005 Golfers Choice Bronze Award for Best Travel Destination. Winners were selected by readers of the 200,000-circulation Canadian newspaper.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE:
.. SPORTSTOWN USA (2004)
The Myrtle Beach area has long been called the seaside golf capital of the world. Now theres a new moniker, Sportstown USA, thanks to Sports Illustrated magazine and the National Recreation and Park Association. To mark its 50th anniversary in 2004, the magazine selected one city from each state for the Sportstown designation. Myrtle Beach was chosen because its leaders recognize that sports are an enormous force for good in the community. The areas numerous parks and recreation facilities and 115 golf courses also were factors. Sports Illustrated got its start in Myrtle Beach in 1954, when parent company Time Inc. met at Pine Lakes Country Club and announced plans to launch the magazine.
PALMETTO PARENT MAGAZINE
.. MOST FAMILY FRIENDLY VACATION DESTINATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA (2005)
For the third year in a row, the Myrtle Beach area was voted Most Family-Friendly Vacation Destination in South Carolina by readers of Palmetto Parent magazine. Winners of the 2005 Palmetto Parent Family Choice Awards were published in the July 2005 issue of the magazine.
CHARLOTTE PARENT MAGAZINE:
.. BEST FAMILY WEEKEND GETAWAY (2005)
Myrtle Beach was named Best Family Weekend Getaway in Charlotte Parent magazine after earning the most votes from readers in the second annual Family Favorites awards. As a 2005 Family Favorite, Myrtle Beach earned a Reader Approved seal.
GREATFAMILYRENTALS.COM: .. No. 3 MOST SEARCHED DESTINATION FOR JULY 4TH FAMILY VACATION (2005)
Myrtle Beach was the third most-searched destination for a 2005 July 4th family vacation on the GreatFamilyRentals.com Web site. Orlando and Kissimmee, Fla., held the top two spots.
VACATIONSPOT.COM:
.. TOP BEACH SPOT (2005)
VacationSpot.com, which lists condos, suites, bed-and-breakfasts and private homes available for booking online, named Myrtle Beach the Top Beach Spot for 2005.
BYWAYS MAGAZINE: .. No. 4 OF 50 MOST POPULAR MOTORCOACH DESTINATION
The Myrtle Beach area ranked No. 4 on a list of 50 of the most popular motorcoach destinations of the decade in Byways Magazine. The publication is produced for the National Motorcoach Network, a marketing group of more than 2,000 motorcoach tour operators. Others in the top five were Branson, Mo. (1); Washington, D.C. (2); Nashville, Tenn. (3); and New York City (5).
D.K. SHIFFLET & ASSOCIATES: ..ONE OF NATIONS TOP VACATION SPOTS FOR RETIRED AMERICANS
..No. 5 IN NATION FOR LEISURE DESTINATIONS
The Myrtle Beach area was named one of the nations top vacation spots for retired Americans age 55 and older, according to a study by tourism researchers D.K. Shifflet & Associates. The company also ranked the Myrtle Beach area No. 5 in the nation for leisure destinations.
MEETINGS SOUTH MAGAZINE:
.. BEST OF THE SOUTH (2006)
Meetings South magazine chose Pawleys Plantation, in Pawleys Island, to be among the selective Best of the South awards, naming the resort one of the best meeting facilities in the Southern U.S., Caribbean and Yucatan Peninsula for 2006 by readers of the magazine. Selection criteria are based on quality of meeting space; guest rooms; guest services and amenities; food and beverage service; hi-tech services and equipment; recreational facilities and activities; the efficiency and helpfulness of staff; and overall value and experience.
SOUTHERN ACCENTS MAGAZINE:
TOP 10 WINNER IN THREE CATEGORIES (2006) . . .
.. FAVORITE SOUTHERN CITY FOR A WEEKEND GETAWAY
.. FAVORITE GOLF/SPA DESTINATION
.. FAVORITE BEACH DESTINATION
In the May/June 2006 issue of Southern Accents magazine, Myrtle Beach is a Top 10 winner in three categories of the 2nd annual Great Escapes Reader Travel Award Contest. They are Favorite Southern City for a Weekend Getaway, Favorite Golf/Spa Destination and Favorite Beach Destination.
In the 1920s, a group of businessmen began building an upscale resort called Arcady at the north end of the community.
Arcady featured the present 
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