Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island was the last part of the Grand Strand to be heavily developed, and with four miles of beach and its classic-style beach homes available for vacation rental, it’s referred to by the natives as “arrogantly shabby.” Pawleys Island offers a laid back atmosphere and attitude benefiting its claim to fame: the original Pawleys Island Hammock.

History:

Pawleys Island is one of the country’s oldest beach resorts. The first people known to inhabit the area of Pawleys Island were the Waccamaw and Winyah Indians. Later, the island was named after the three sons of Percival Pawley who inherited all the land their father owned “from the Waccamaw River to the sea.” The breezy island soon became a summer retreat for wealthy plantation owners, as well as a refuge from malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

What to Do:

Offering many village-style shops, wonderful golf courses and fabulous dining, Pawleys Island prompts visitors to return year after year. Brookgreen Gardens is a magnificent must-see, offering the world's largest sculpture garden.

Did You Know?

The “Gray Man Ghost” is said to patrol the shores of Pawleys Island before approaching hurricanes warning all those he sees to leave the area. According to legend, the homes of those who listen to the ghost are spared during the hurricane.