Time flies when you’re having fun! All of a sudden, fall is upon us. The marsh grass is starting to turn colors and the weather is getting chillier. While we miss summer, fall is a wonderful time to experience Pawleys. Traffic is slower, the days are a bit shorter and the beach is quieter. We have entered our lowest rate period, so you can find wonderful deals during this time. There are also oyster roasts, chili cookoffs, and pumpkin painting! There is a ton to do and we are here for it! Brookgreen Gardens has some activities to do as well. You can explore the marsh walk in Murrells Inlet or hit the river walk in Georgetown. Both towns have delicious fresh seafood for lunch and numerous shops and stores to peruse. There are a few new restaurants in Pawleys as well as our long-standing favorites. Fall brings a new season and we are excited to experience it all. Hope you can do it with us!
Author: Susan McNeil
Sweet Summertime
IT’S SUMMER!
The season we’ve all been waiting for. The heat, the sunny beach, and the boiled peanuts are back! We are so excited to be welcoming our vacationers back to the beloved island. The tradition of generations continues. The options are endless. Sunbathe on the beach, jump the waves, fish the creek, kayak, etc. One of my personal favorites is floating down the creek. Find the right tide and just jump in with your favorite float. By far one of the most relaxing and fun things to do. If you are hungry, catch fresh crabs using chicken necks. You can also buy fresh shrimp from the Shrimp Man on the corner or visit one of the local seafood markets! Other news, the Pawleys Island 4th of July T-shirts are now for sale! You can buy them from Town Hall or Pawleys Island Supplies. The 4th of July parade will be at 10 am on Sunday, July 4th. The Chapel service will be held at 8 am to let the attendees view/participate in the parade. Mark your calendar! We are so excited about summer and look forward to seeing you!
Traditions
It’s a new year and a new me! Just kidding- same corny, silly me; just a new year full of hope, adventure, and resolutions. New Years is a time of traditions, reminiscing, and the excitement of NEW! What are your traditions?
In my family, we always eat hoppin’ johns, collards, and cornbread for good luck, wealth, and prosperity on new years day. We also jump into the ocean at midnight. Polar plunge! I 10/10 do not recommend.
Many families have a tradition to come to Pawleys Island every single summer. The vacation originated with the grandparents bringing their children, and now has evolved to 3-4 generations coming each year! So many memories are made on Pawleys Island-where times seem to slow down and people are reminded of the good ole days. Cooking meals together, spending the days frolicking on the beach, and ending the day with porch sittin’. We tell time by the tides and the sun. Oh, the stories we would hear if these walls could talk. Some of my favorite memories are on Sundays’ sitting outside at the beach with my whole family after a big meal. Bob Marley was playing through the speaker, beer was flowing and the sun was shining.
As we navigate this strange time, many family traditions are hard to uphold. The tradition of family time is deeply rooted at Pawleys Island. We love to see your family return each year and enjoy hearing your stories during your vacation.
Work-cation, stay-cation, school-cation, or simply vacation, Pawleys Island is here to be whatever you want it to be.
Happy Fall Y’all!
Happy Fall, y’all!!
Where did summer go? Time flies when… we are in a pandemic? But seriously, summer flew by so fast and now we are approaching the season of oysters, pumpkin spice, and all things spooky. Pawleys Island welcomes you this fall to enjoy the -slightly- cooler weather, quiet beaches, and tranquility that you can only find with your toes in the sand and a drink in your hand. Brookgreen, Huntington and the Gullah Museum are all offering fall activities that you can still practice social distancing, but learn, explore, and discover.
Brookgreen is having a Brew at the Zoo in the Field of Light exhibit. It will be on November 7 from 5:30-8:30. Three food trucks and live music- come on! $45 a ticket or $20 if you’re a DD. Huntington Beach State Park is also another fun place to visit. The park even has a castle that you can stroll through. The history is fascinating! It is actually common to see alligators walking across the road there! Check out all the park has to offer, you won’t be disappointed! The Gullah Museum is opened by apt from Monday – Saturday. The Museum has presentations on Gullah Geechee history, crops, crafts, food, worship, music, naming practices, language and so much more!
Come visit Pawleys this fall and explore a different type of beach vacation.
Pawleys and adventure await!
Fall for Pawleys Island!
During the transition to online possibilities for both work and school this fall, why not take advantage of this option and treat yourself to a change of scenery by working from the comfort of your vacation rental home?
The rental rates have dropped, the weather is still beautiful and the island is noticeably quieter! The lower rental prices will allow you to save money while still experiencing a fantastic getaway. All of our homes and condos have Wi-Fi service for your schooling or work needs. Not only does this allow you to complete assignments remotely, but you can explore the deep history that Pawleys Island offers. Fantastic ideas for at-home history lessons for kids with rich stories from plantation times, discovering natural science and coastal environments.
During the next few weeks, we will be sharing great ideas of local history, environmental learning, and cultural diversity all within our community. For example, did you know we have a local Gullah Museum? There is also deep history found in Brookgreen Gardens. I can’t wait to share those hidden gems with you!
Treat yourself to a different type of vacation this fall. The beach is still here waiting for you, but take a moment to explore the history and nature of our beautiful area. Spend the day exploring and then you can view the sunset from the creek dock. Did you know the sunsets in the fall are much more vivid than summer sunsets? The light from the sun must pass through much more of the atmosphere so the light is exposed to more molecules in the air producing vibrant reds, pinks, purples, and other astonishing colors.
The fall is a great time to be at the beach and with the flexibility working virtually provides, it’s a win, win!
COVID-19 from Pawleys Island Realty
As we continue to monitor the situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19), we want you to know the health and safety of our guests and staff is our main concern.
We are delaying housekeeping services to limit the chance that staff will encounter the virus on services. Housekeepers have also been directed to follow the guidelines recommended by the CDC and are using an EPA-registered disinfectant product to clean rental units at guest departure.
On March 27th, Pawleys Island Town Council passed an ordinance to ban any short term rentals (30 days or less) beginning Saturday, March 28th at 5 pm through April 30th, 2020 to prevent the spreading of COVID-19.
At this time, Governor McMaster has ordered the closure of all South Carolina beaches, boat ramps and landings on all state lakes, rivers and waterways. He has also issued an executive order to close all non-essential businesses across the state which went into effect April 1st. We are still at work but our lobby is closed.
Historically, Pawleys Island has been a sanctuary of peace and healing. In the upcoming months, as we begin to find a new normal, we encourage you to spend time at Pawleys Island; soaking up the sun rays, walking on the wide beaches and exploring the rich history. There are many activities that can be done in solitude.
Brookgreen Gardens has miles of open land and gardens to explore. You can walk among the statues and reflect in peace. The statues tell a story of another time and we urge you to lose yourself in the process of exploring. Once state parks reopen, visit Huntington Beach! Huntington Beach not only has art and history to view but also provides a campground and miles of nature trails to explore. Thanks to the beach renourishment, we have much wider, open beaches. Walk, explore, shell and meditate in the beauty of Pawleys Island. There are several options for a quiet, peaceful, uninterrupted vacation just waiting for you!
If you have questions or concerns, please contact our rental department at 843-237-2000. We are here for you. We look forward to seeing you and your family and appreciate you choosing to vacation on Pawleys Island.
Beach Renourishment on Pawleys Island!
Whew! The holidays are behind us and we are moving into the roarin’ 2020’s! Let this year be full of adventures, unforgettable experiences and time cherished with family and friends.
The island is buzzing with excitement as the renourishment project is making its way north, moving at a steady pace. Savannah, the cutter dredge, took a little break over the Christmas holiday but resumed on December 28th. Savannah is now operating from a secondary borrow area which is closer to shore and expected to increase the speed of operations.
The Charleston-based company, Marinex Construction, has been working on this large project since fall 2019. The project is designed to place 1.1 million cubic yards of sand onto 2.6 miles of beach from an area 2-3 miles south of Pawleys Island. Marinex has been working 24/7 to complete this task. The south end parking lot is still closed. The town is working with the county to reopen the parking lot but at this time does not have an anticipated date.
The project is expected to be completed in February 2020. For more information and continual updates, please visit the Town of Pawleys Island website here!
We hope you will enjoy the new beach!
It’s Fall on Pawleys Island!
It’s fall y’all!
Fall brings oyster roasts, football games, pumpkin spice everything and spooky ghost stories to Pawleys Island! The favorite Pawleys Island tales include legends of the ghost of Alice Flagg and the Gray Man.
Alice Flagg’s story is an old tale filled with heartbreak. Alice was born into a prominent family, but in an age old story, she fell in love with a lumberman in a lower social class. Her possessive brother, Dr. Allard Flagg, disapproved of the man and forbad Alice from seeing him. The couple kept their relationship a secret, eventually becoming engaged. Dr. Flagg discovered Alice’s secret engagement, ordered her to return the ring and sent her away to attend school in Charleston. She refused to return the ring and kept it tied around her neck on a ribbon in defiance. Unfortunately at school, Alice became very ill and was rushed back home. While being tended to by bedside, her brother found the engagement ring and ripped it off, disposing of it in the Low Country marsh. Alice was distraught, begging for the ring’s return no avail and soon died. A marble slab is placed in the graveyard at All Saints Church with the marking “ALICE”. It is said that Alice’s ghost is still searching the Low Country for her beloved ring. Some legends report if you are wearing a ring and you walk backward six times counterclockwise and six time clockwise, you will feel your ring twist on your finger. Other claims say you must circle the grave 13 times and place a coin on the stone before she visits or that she will only appear to true lovers who place a ring or flower on headstone. While there are several versions of the story, all agree that Alice has been seen wandering the area, heartbroken looking for her ring and mourning her lost love.
The Gray Man is a ghost with the reputation as protector of the homes on Pawleys Island and warning residents of an impending major storm or deadly hurricane. There are several versions of the legend; however, the most common one states the Gray Man is a ghost of a young man traveling from Charleston to see his fiancée. Excited to see her, he was racing through the marsh quickly, not paying attention and fell deep into quicksand and was consumed. His fiancée was heartbroken. Once day she was walking along the beach and spotted a shadowy figure approaching. He told her to leave quickly as she was in grave danger. She went home, informed her family and they quickly left the island. That night, a hurricane raged over Pawleys Island causing wrath and destruction. When the family returned to the island, they found most of the homes on the island destroyed. However, their home was left undamaged with their beach towels still hanging on the front porch!
Those who have seen him described a man wearing a long gray coat and a top hat. He will appear, signaling that you must leave the island and then he quickly disappears. If you heed his warning, your house will be spared during the storm. The lucky people who have encountered him have credited him with saving their homes and finding their belongings just as they were left. Whether superstitious or just interested, spotting the Gray Man is a sure sign it is time to head inland!
As the temperatures begin to drop, and summer becomes a sweet memory, enjoy every moment of the fall season. We’ll see you at the beach!
Fun Events this Summer!
Are you spending some time this summer on Pawleys Island?
While the obvious choice would be to spend time on the beach and enjoy the creek, there are events happening in the area that you don’t want to miss!
May 18th is the annual Pawleys Pavilion Reunion from 6:00-11:00 pm at the Pawleys Island Nature Park, just off the North Causeway. Hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Georgetown, this night is filled with memories, shagging and delicious food compliments of Moe’s BBQ. The original Pawleys Pavilion was a popular beach music spot that burned down in 1970. Once a year, beach music played live by local bands brings everyone together to shag under the stars and reminisce about the good ole days.
The Carolina Country Music Fest is back again for its fifth year! This event takes place in Myrtle Beach from June 6-9th. Artists such as Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, and Dierks Bentley will all be performing! Just a quick drive up to listen to some great music.
If you enjoy being outside and exploring the natural beauty of Pawleys, I would recommend signing up for a tour with Surf the Earth. They offer a variety of paddle board and kayak tours through the Pawleys Island Creek. You may see a heron stalking along the banks and watch the fiddler crabs scurry through the pluff mud. You don’t want to miss this! Surf the Earth also offers a moonrise sunset tour that really showcases what Pawleys Island has to offer.
Fourth of July is a highly celebrated holiday on Pawleys. The day kicks off at 10am with the 53rd Annual Parade that starts on the south causeway winding down to the birds nest section then back up to Atlantic Ave. Locals and summer residents alike participate with crazy and funny themed floats. Floats can be entered for $15 in advance or $20 on the day of. After the parade, everyone retreats to the beach in anticipation of the Salute from the Shore, now in its 10th year! The annual flyover begins in Cherry Grove and heads south all the way Hilton Head. Crowds of onlookers line the shore and wave, cheer and celebrate the people who have served in our military while watching the planes soar over the coastline.
Calling all kayakers! The Annual Kayak Race will be held on Thursday, July 25th from 12:00-4:00pm. The event encompasses single kayak, tandem kayak and paddle board races for all ages. Sign up day of the event in the Pavilion Park on the North Causeway. Contact Surf the Earth for information and rentals at 843-235-3500.
Many of our local restaurants and bars have live music on the weekends so make sure to check their website or social media for the updated list of artists featured each week!
Whether you take advantage of the fun events around Pawleys or decide just to relax in the hammock, I hope you enjoy your vacation to the fullest!
I’ll see you on the beach!
2019 PIR T-Shirts!
We are thrilled to present our 2019 Annual T-Shirts! These shirts can be purchased from the Pawleys Island Realty Office located at 88 Linwood Altman Causeway. They are available in sizes ranging from S-XL, in both men’s crew neck and women’s V-neck. If you need a bigger size, no worries. Just let us know, we will make it happen!
The PIR Shirts are specially designed with a large design on the back and a smaller design on the front left side. This year, the design on the back is an image of the newly renamed causeway- Linwood Altman Causeway with a pelican flying over the sign. The front displays a blue crab and marsh grass.
Each year we will have new t-shirts for sale with different artwork to commemorate the year with Pawleys Island Realty. Come to PIR and purchase yours during your vacation!
