South Carolina’s Grand Strand has long been one of the East Coast’s most popular vacation destinations for families. Stretching for 60 miles along the Atlantic coast from Little River to Winyah Bay, the Greater Myrtle Beach Area is now home to world-class golf, entertainment and attractions and welcomes more than thirteen million visitors annually. But how did it become the area we know and love today? Let’s take a step back in history.
A Town Is Born
From its earliest days, the Greater Myrtle Beach area was promoted as a family vacation destination, but prior to the turn of the century, the beaches were largely inaccessible to tourists. Thanks to the balmy southern weather, rich timber resources, and the addition of a railroad in 1900, it soon became apparent that the area had the potential to rival resort towns like Coney Island and Atlantic City to the north.
After this discovery and much development, the newly formed seaside town was named for the wild Wax Myrtle trees growing along the shoreline. Soon, visitors began traveling from surrounding areas to Myrtle Beach and the South Carolina coast in search of a fun summer getaway.
Becoming Grand
By the late 1920s, the Myrtle Beach area had seen exponential growth, with the addition of upscale resorts, a wooden boardwalk, and the region’s first golf club. In 1936, the Intracoastal Waterway was opened for recreational boating, and the following year, the town was officially incorporated (later becoming a city in 1957).
The Myrtle Beach Pavilion was built in 1949. The very same year, the Myrtle Beach Sun coined the region The Grand Strand. Following the publication of their column, “From the Grand Strand,” the moniker was picked up by another local news outlet, the Myrtle Beach News. Soon, words like “The Grand Strand” and “America’s Finest Strand” began appearing on postcards sent across the US or kept as souvenirs.
Still America’s Finest Strand
While much has changed, the Greater Myrtle Beach area is still considered “America’s Finest Strand” today, and families still flock to its shores in search of fun in the sun. Feeling nostalgic? Help us celebrate our ten year anniversary by sharing your favorite Grand Strand memory from the past ten years. Upload your Grand Strand vacation photo to https://go.flip.to/FBVRNMB for a chance to win a $250 Stay Credit on Your Next 7+ Night Stay in a 3-6 Bedroom Condo and more. Entries are due by June 30, 2020.
The sea, the sun, and the Grand Strand! Vacation Rentals of North Myrtle Beach, LLC, is a premier, full-service, licensed property management company in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Whether you are booking a reservation for your vacation or entrusting us with the management of your property, our professionally trained staff will ensure that all the details of renting the property are handled in a pleasant, stress-free manner. Call us today at 888-488-8588!
Myrtle Beach Barefoot Resort, a division of Vacation Rentals of North Myrtle Beach, is just a hop skip and jump away from the beach and beautiful Barefoot Landing, and was built with golf in mind with four of the most amazing golf courses in the area. When planning your vacation getaway, Myrtle Beach Barefoot Resort will help you make the most of your visit to the Grand Strand. Call us today at 800-548-9904!
