For many years, Conway has been the gateway through which millions of people pass each year on their way to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand, most never realizing the unique experience of Conway.
There are many reasons to visit Conway. Follow the historic trails map for a self-guided tour of stately old homes, picturesque churches and more than a dozen buildings and sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a leisurely stroll along the Riverwalk to view Conway's oldest landmark, the Waccamaw River. Enjoy Riverfront Park, located at the end of the Riverwalk for picnics and a playground for the kids, or visit one of our working art studios scattered throughout our downtown's historic district.
Enjoy shopping at any one of the new shopping centers bustling with activity on the town's outskirts or the unique shops of the historic downtown business district. After shopping enjoy a meal from many different dining experiences, which range from home style cooking to cuisine that satisfies the most adventurous palates.
Discover the treasures of our county by taking in an exhibit at the Horry County Museum. Take in a live theatre production in the Old Main Street theater or Coastal Carolina University's Wheelwright Auditorium.
And while in town, enjoy the huge moss-draped live oaks standing along avenues where vehicular traffic yields the right-of-way as the huge trees stand defiantly in the middle of the street or just out from the curbs.
Conway is increasing economic development through the expansion of our tourism programs and industry with far-reaching benefits for everyone. In the Late 1940's, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce proudly proclaimed, "Life is pleasant in Conway." And today, more than 50 years later, that simple statement is still true. With careful planning, the impact of tourism has been a positive one.
To assist in the tourism growth in Conway, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce has built a new facility housing a visitors lobby with business and visitor information, as well as self-guided walking tour maps.
For those who are interested in a stately older home, downtown Conway's live oak-lined streets create quite an impression. Homes dating back to the early 1800s have been maintained to project the elegant setting in which they were built. Whether you're a first-time buyer or more seasoned, you can find a subdivision to suit your needs. You can even take your pick between seclusion and a popular subdivision - Conway has it all! Subdivisions up to the $200,000 range can be found in and around Conway. Conway's natural beauty makes it very popular for locating a family - and its housing opportunities make it even more attractive. Whether you want to reside in an older home imbued with history or a brand-new one, your family's needs can and will be met in Conway!
Myrtle Beach, SC, is known for many things . . . It sports titles such as "The Seaside Golf Capital of the World," "Branson by the Sea," "The Campground Capital of the World," and "The Miniature Golf Capital of the World." It has been called the "Hottest New Destination" by Destinations Magazine in 1994, and one of "10 Outstanding Family RV Vacation Destinations," by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association in 1995.
The area's first hotel, The Seaside Inn, offered $2 rooms in 1901. Soon after, growth was underway and simple cottages began popping up all along the coast. Beachfront lots were a mere $25 back then, and many served as peaceful summer retreats, tucked away in the secluded beautiful setting of sand dunes and crystal blue Atlantic waters. (Peaceful, that is, unless a herd of semi-wild hogs chased sunbathers off the beach! There are actual accounts of early visitors being pursued by porcine intruders. Thankfully, the hog population is no longer a problem in Myrtle Beach unless you show up on Biker's Week.)
In 1925, Myrtle Beach gained the attention and respect of the "rich and famous." A wealthy textile magnate from Greenville built the Ocean Forest Hotel, with an enormous ballroom, elaborately decorated rooms, the coast's first golf course, horseback riding and tennis. It was a well-known "playground" for the wealthy until it was demolished in 1974.
By 1954, when "Hurricane Hazel" began brewing offshore, Myrtle Beach had grown into a pleasant little resort area, but Hazel had a mind of her own. The powerful hurricane ripped ashore... crushing everything in its path. Following the storm, the push toward resort development was bigger, better and stronger... and it hasn't slowed since!
Now, motels dominate the resort scene of Myrtle Beach and those simple little beach cottages are getting harder and harder to find. The Grand Strand has had a long and colorful history, and history is still being made as this popular beach resort continues to grow and prosper.
Two words best describe the Myrtle Beach area's residential real estate market: "red hot." In fact, the market has been so active that recently U.S. Housing Markets ranked the Myrtle Beach area No. 2 on its Market Hotness Index. New single - family homes, apartments, condominiums, and townhouses have sprung up throughout the Myrtle Beach area at an almost unbelievable pace. A number of gated neighborhoods and planned communities are being developed, some in phases that will not be completed for almost two decades, when the local population is expected to have doubled. From graceful antebellum mansions to golf course villas, inland apartments to seaside houses, the options for buyers and renters of every budget and lifestyle are plentiful. To that abundance and diversity add the Myrtle Beach area's natural beauty, a full complement of services and amenities, and easygoing Southern ways - all the ingredients for an ideal location to start on your own, raise a family, or retire.
Development in the late 1800's drove the Chadbourn Lumber Company (Chadbourn, NC) to purchase a tract of land on December 7, 1887 from James Patterson. The five sided lot was purchased for $1 and Loris, South Carolina was born. The railroad company built a depot on the land to service their trains and a successful timber business.
The name "Loris" has it's roots with the Chadbourn family. the town is said to have either been named for a novel or a favorite dog belonging to the Chadbourn children. Only history knows the real answer.
By 1890, Loris had four stores near Todd's Ferry Road, now Main Street. Loris grew by leaps and bounds during the early 1900's. On July 26, 1902, Loris was incorporated with a one mile radius and the mayor was D. J. Butler.
The agri-business industry has always been driving force in the growth of our area. At one time Loris had the largest tobacco market and best cotton market in the state, according to the Horry Herald, January 1909. The 20's and 30's saw Loris grow into an economic center for Northern Horry County.
Today Loris is a thriving city that forms the economic hub of Northern Horry County. Approximately 3,000 residents live inside the city limits, with more than 62,444 people living within a 15 mile radius of Loris. These figures were obtained in a January, 1996 State Development Board study.
The Loris Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual festival, "The Loris Bog-Off Festival", in the fall of the year. When most people hear the word "bog" they think of mud, but in Loris "bog" is a true southern delicacy. Come check out our festival and try this wonderful dish.
The friendly, small town atmosphere is what keeps people coming back to Loris. A successful town is measured by the moral fiber of it's churches, schools, and people. Loris has all of the ingredients to make you want to call Loris your home too! Come visit for a few days or spend a lifetime. You're always welcome. Real southern hospitality is our specialty.
In 1968, four small beach towns - Windy Hill Beach, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive Beach and Cherry Grove Beach - located on the northern edge of the Grand Strand, joined forces to form the City of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Their shared goal was to provide unmatched services to its residents and tourists; create a unique, safe beach community; and offer a place with superb recreation and vacation facilities. This goal has not only been met, but surpassed with the growing number of tourists who visit North Myrtle Beach each year and the increasing number of residents who are relocating to the North Myrtle Beach area. The City of North Myrtle Beach is now home to over 12,000 permanent residents; with many others calling North Myrtle Beach home during vacations and weekend trips throughout the year.
The City of North Myrtle Beach is the birthplace of the Shag, the official South Carolina State Dance. The Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle Beach (referred to as "OD" by locals) is the host of two, week long "migrations" of shaggers in April and September of every year. Sponsored by the Society of Stranders (SOS), the events bring thousands of devotees of this unique dance to North Myrtle Beach's Main Street to shag, party and visit with old friends. The Shag dance was born right here is North Myrtle Beach and is a cross between the jitterbug and swing dancing, combining fancy footwork and smooth moves.
North Myrtle Beach's Main Street is a great place to shop at unique boutiques, eat at local, family-owned restaurants, or walk on the sandy beaches that North Myrtle Beach is famous for.
The Ocean Drive section is located in the heart of North Myrtle Beach. At Ocean Drive, you will find the North Myrtle Beach post office, Horry County Library (North Myrtle Beach Branch), and the City of North Myrtle Beach municipal complex and many national retailers and fast food restaurants.
The Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach offers some of the best surf fishing opportunities on the Grand Strand. Several marinas in Cherry Grove offer charter boats and deep sea fishing in the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic Ocean. If you want a personalized fishing tour, you can rent a boat for the day and fish the Intracoastal Waterway and the creeks and rivers accessible from it. The Cherry Grove Pier offers excellent fishing, with fishing pole rentals for those needing their own fishing gear!
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