Pawleys Island Real Estate Blog

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 28^th. 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 18^th 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 6-9^th. 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 53^rd 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 10^th 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 25^th 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!

Travel Back in Time on Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island has rich history filled with stories that began in the early plantation days and extend into modern times. Over the next few months, we will be releasing posts focusing on certain aspects of Pawleys history. From ghosts stories, the development of Pawleys Island, historic vacation homes and more; there are pieces of Pawleys Island’s past that yearn to be explored.

As I cross the causeway, smelling the sweet pluff mud and hearing the seagulls chattering overhead, my imagination turns to the older days before technology and without the stress from today’s world. How comforting it is to sit on the front porch, take a deep breath of salt air and listen to the familiar sounds of the beach. One of the allures of Pawleys Island is the sense that it has always been here, a familiar friend. Regardless of the personal changes throughout the year, the island remains stable.

Liberty Lodge is a historic Pawleys House and an iconic property on the island. Originally built on the mainland, known as Canaan Seashore, across the Pawleys creek. Around the mid 1850’s, the Ward Family disassembled the home and moved it to the present location at 520 Myrtle Avenue! In 1912, Cornelia Ehrich, the Great Grandmother of the current owners, bought the house and surrounding 10 acres for $5,000. In 1954, Hurricane Hazel deposited a rowboat onto the porch, surprisingly without damaging any rails! Up until the 1970’s, an artesian well on the property supplied the water for Liberty Lodge and several other surrounding properties. Liberty Lodge has stayed in the family and is now known as a popular rental home to many repeat vacationers, year after year!

The next time you’re vacationing at Liberty Lodge, keep an eye out for the original 1” by 12” wooden siding, hewn from single planks with some pieces in excess of 30” long. A keen eye will also spot examples of mortise and tenon joints that harken back to an older style of home construction. See if you can find some of the home’s architectural clues that belie its storied past.

Fall in Love With Pawleys Island this Fall!

I am going to begin this post by being completely biased. I LOVE summer. I love the sun rays, the never ending days, boiled peanuts- all of it. Summer will forever be my favorite season. But fall on Pawleys Island is pretty great and has a special piece of my heart also.

If you vacation on the Island in the summer, I invite you to visit in the fall as well. Pawleys Island transforms through the passage of seasons. As many visitors have packed up and returned home, the Island converts into a quiet solitude of cool nights, starry skies and bonfires on the beach.

Check out my top 5 reasons to visit the beach in the fall:

No Traffic

While the summer traffic can cause minor delays which is frustrating at times, we all agree it is worth it once your toes are in the sand. However, that is one thing that i love about fall- no traffic! That means plenty of room to jog on the causeways, fish from the surf and peacefully stroll the beach.

2. Fall Memories

While the summer memories consist of splashin’ in the ocean and embracing warm sun on your skin, the fall vacation memories have a different feel. For the seafood lovers, it is Oyster Season! Grab a bushel at the local seafood market and enjoy a oyster roast. A favorite activity of mine is having a bonfire on the beach, s’mores and stargazing. Bonfire permits are given out at Town Hall. In my family, we play a nice, calm(yeah right) game of flag football on the beach; creating lasting memories, several bruises and in one unfortunate situation- a broken finger.

3. Save on Price, not Quality

The prices of these homes are at the lowest point in the fall. Enjoy a five star vacation rental for a fraction of the summer price. Saving money and visiting the most beautiful Island, win-win!

4. Activities in the Area

Pawleys Island has awesome fall activities! Brew at the Zoo is held at Brookgreen Gardens. Sip your way through the zoo and visit with all type of animals. Also, Annual Lip-Rippin’ Chilympics Chili Cookoff and Annual Surfriders Oyster Roast and Bloody Mary Contest are fun fall events to attend and participate!

5. Views

As the days grow shorter, the skies at both sunrise and sunset glow with the most spectacular display of colors. Vibrant pinks, fiery reds, passionate oranges and bold purples race across the sky. The light from the sun passes through much more atmosphere before reaching our sight so it comes into contact with many more molecules in the air. Our sunsets will leave you breathless.

Spend some time this fall on Pawleys Island, where memories are created no matter the season!

I’ll see you on the beach!

Here’s to Never Saying Goodbye to Summer

Labor Day came and went, along with the remnants of Summer 2018! The days are beginning to get dark earlier and school has gone back in session. But on Pawleys Island, we never say goodbye to Summer!

Come spend a week or long weekend on Pawleys this fall, where summer never ends. Splash in the cool water, lay under the smiling sun and enjoy the quiet, peaceful beach.

Pawleys Island is a special place where unforgettable moments are made year after year. Whether it be a summer vacation or a quick getaway weekend, the memories made on Pawleys will stay with you for a lifetime.

Let the grand memories created this summer carry you through the colder, less welcoming months. Summer carries a sense of fun, relaxation and a period of slow down. Where time moves slow and told by the tides. The biggest decision is what to cook for dinner.

So here is to Summer! The fun times and sunshine. The laughter and excitement. The longer days spent with family and friends. Here’s to Summer 2018 and here is to all the summers to come.