The History Of Myrtle Beach
Today, Myrtle Beach is one of South Carolina's premiere vacation destinations
. It has beautiful beaches, entertainment complexes, and championship golf courses. In short, it is the perfect vacation destination for families, couples and groups of friends. Myrtle Beach hotels are varied, catering to all budget levels and tastes. The area generally enjoys a mild and warm climate that attracts visitors from colder northern parts of North America. Myrtle Beach, however, was not always a bustling metropolis. For many decades, it lay dormant and was a wild and undeveloped area.The Earliest Settlers in Myrtle Beach
Records show that prior to European arrival, the area was occupied by the Waccamaw Tribe. Their primary activities included fishing and trading with other communities upriver. In 1526, a group of Spanish colonists settled 30 miles south of present-day Myrtle Beach but the community did not last long; it was abandoned after a short period of time. It was only again in the late 18th century that European settlers returned. They built tobacco and indigo plantations which were only moderately successful. A few families received land grants along the coast and built their homes in the area but for the most part, it remained uninhabited until after the American Revolution. The family Withers were the area's primary residents until 1822 when a forceful hurricane swept their home into the sea killing all 18 people inside. The surviving members of the Withers family decided to abandon their plots and the natural vegetation once again returned to the area as it was once again largely uninhabited.
Railroads and Development
Just before the turn of the 20th century, a company by the name of Burroughs and Collins received a charter to build a railroad to transport timber from the coast inland. The railroad was completed in 1900 and officially opened on May 1. During the construction, many employees of the railroad and lumber companies would take train flatcars down to the beachfront on their weekends off. The railway terminal was named New Town. It was the dream of Franklin Burroughs, the railroad construction company owner, to turn New Town into a tourist destination. Unfortunately, he died before the completion of the railway but his sons continued with his vision.
In 1901, the Seaside Inn, the first hotel was opened. Now with railway access, the area started to grow steadily. In 1925, a stylish upmarket hotel called the Ocean Forest Hotel was built. It had an elaborate ballroom and elegantly furnished rooms. The hotel also hosted one of the area's first golf courses. The hotel remained a landmark until it was demolished in 1974. In 1937, a municipal airport was built which received commercial flights. The airport, however, was shared with the U.S. Military as an Air Force base for 15 years. The community was officially incorporated as a town in 1938. In 1957, it became a city and was renamed Myrtle Beach after the indigenous trees found in the area.
The Grand Strand & Golf Courses
The beachfront at Myrtle Beach soon became the site of many hotel and resort developments. Because of the many restaurants, entertainment complexes and hotels lining the beachfront, the area became known as the Grand Strand. Today, it is still popular with families and young people, and has a great vacation vibe in season. Most of the development in Myrtle Beach took place in the 1970s as suburbs expanded up the coastline and into the interior. The area's warm climate and scenic landscape provided the ideal location for the building of golf courses. Soon there were several top-quality courses in and around Myrtle Beach. Today, the area is known as a favorite golfing destination.
Today's Myrtle Beach
Today, Myrtle Beach is a destination that is easily accessible. During the late 1900s. the US 17 Bypass was completed, linking the various coastal communities. The city of Myrtle Beach continues to see urban growth with suburbs extending to North Myrtle Beach and Long Bay. Just south of the city, the Murrell's Inlet and Pawley's Island are gradually becoming part of the greater Myrtle beach area. Residential areas continue to grow and many of the golf resorts have incorporated housing estates on their grounds. This provides both residents and visitors with the opportunity to stay within a stone's throw of the golf courses. There are more public golf courses in Myrtle Beach than most golfing destinations in the U.S. Special golfing and family vacation packages provide you with access to several courses during your stay.
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