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Folly Beach is making a significant comeback this beach season, thanks to a multi-million dollar renourishment project in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers. April 22, 2025. (Jason Tighe/WCIV)

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FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCIV) — Folly Beach is making a significant comeback this beach season, thanks to a multi-million dollar renourishment project in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers.

The project, which costs around $18 million, aims to widen the beaches for both storm protection and recreation.

"The beach looks great today. The renourishment project really helped," said Nicole Elko, the City of Folly Beach's Coastal Management Consultant. Elko reflected on the progress made so far, noting that last year's efforts brought more than 100 feet of sand to the beach, addressing the dangerously low sand levels caused by various weather events.

This year's focus is on reinforcing the six miles of beachfront dunes. "The contractor should be here with new sea grasses, and other plants that will go in along the dune system here," Elko said. Planting vegetation is expected to restore the health of the dunes, which have been damaged or destroyed by recent storms.

"During the last several hurricanes, many of Folly's dunes were eroded. So, there are some parts of the community that have seawalls exposed, or they did prior to the renourishments. So they're dunes are completely gone. So, building the dunes back with the sand that's available on the beach is a high priority of the project," Elko explained. The restoration work will help the upper part of the beach manage major flooding issues.

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Elko emphasized the importance of these protections for Folly Beach's way of life. "The economic benefit of the beach is critical for a community like Folly. They essentially can't operate without the beach," she said. Additionally, the project supports wildlife, including critical species that rely on the beach and dunes as their habitat.

This includes turtles, which nest in the dunes to protect their eggs. Turtle nesting season officially begins next month.

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The planting on the dunes represents a small portion of the overall project's cost, but it is a crucial step in ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of Folly Beach's coastline.

Discover Charleston-area favorites and lesser-known oceanfront communities.

The South Carolina coast is full of laid-back beach towns with wide stretches of sand, palm-lined bike paths, quaint boardwalks, and restaurants cooking up fresh-caught Lowcountry fare. I’ve spent much of my life frequenting the Palmetto State’s beach towns—visiting Kiawah Island every year and even living in Charleston for a period. Using my own experience and the expertise of a few locals, we narrowed down the list to the 10 best beach towns in South Carolina. See if your favorite made the cut below.

Isle of Palms

I’ve spent countless days on Isle of Palms, a small barrier island about 15 miles from downtown Charleston. It's one of the more family-friendly beach destinations in the area, and many visitors opt to stay at Wild Dunes Resort or rent a roomy oceanfront home. No matter where you are on the island, though, its leisurely pace, wide beach, and classic small-town vibes will entice visitors of all ages. One of my favorite things to do on “IOP,” as the locals call it, is to grab dinner at Islander 71 and watch the boats come in and out of the marina. I’d also recommend checking out the live music schedule at The Windjammer—or picking up a frosé (frozen rosé) to-go from The Co-Op.

Kiawah Island

In South Carolina, a beach town should evoke a nostalgic mix of humidity, salt water, and the distinctly earthy smell of pluff mud emanating from the salt marshes. Kiawah Island meets all of these criteria—and then some. A majority of the island functions as a gated private community, accessible only to residents, their guests, and those with reservations. However, there are a couple of areas open to the public if you want to do a day trip, namely Kiawah Beachwalker Park and the shopping center Freshfields Village. At the latter, you can load up on all your vacation essentials: groceries, beach reads, bathing suits, and more.

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach may technically be a city, but it has all of the trappings of your classic beach town. There’s a bustling boardwalk, golf courses, go-karts, souvenir shopping, and, of course, a number of public beaches. “I’ve always been drawn to the nostalgia that you can find on Myrtle Beach,” says Betsy Fuller, owner of A Maker’s Post, a gift shop on Sullivan's Island. “One of my favorite movies, 'Shag,' is set there, and whenever I watch it, I daydream about going back to visit the beach town in the 1950s.”

While it might be synonymous with spring break crowds and families on summer vacation, this is a destination that always delivers beach fun—whether you’re hoping to spend the day by the water or keeping your schedule full from sunup to sundown.

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Pawleys Island

Relaxation is paramount when you’re visiting Pawleys Island, a barrier island beach town located between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. This is the type of place where time slows down, you’re encouraged to log off and enjoy the natural splendor of South Carolina’s coast. Spend your days crabbing, surfing (if the waves permit), fishing, golfing, or dining on classic Lowcountry staples like okra soup or shrimp and grits; just don’t forget to save time for the art of doing absolutely nothing. For a particularly romantic getaway, book a room at The Pelican Inn, an eight-bedroom bed-and-breakfast with a charming wraparound porch.

Folly Beach

"As someone who lives 10 minutes from Folly Beach, I certainly feel like I'm on vacation where I live,” says Katie Hirsch, the former director and chief curator of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. One of the closest beach towns to Charleston, it’s a great option for a day trip if you’re visiting the Holy City; just be sure to arrive on the earlier side if you want to beat the crowds and have an easier time parking. Plus, “if you're an early riser,” says Hirsch, you might want to “try finding shark teeth during a morning beach walk.” She also recommends grabbing some food at local favorite Jack of Cups Saloon for “unexpected bites inspired by Asian cuisine.”

Hilton Head Island

"Hilton Head Island is one of the best places to escape to if you want to be near a beach town but want a different environment from Charleston,” explains Hirsch. “It has modern touches but still keeps its Southern charm, appealing to both tourists and locals alike.”

The historic island is known for its golf courses and bike trails, but offers a wide variety of things to do. Gullah heritage tours, boat rides, paddleboarding, and birding are all itinerary contenders, and Hirsch also says the destination has “some of the best thrift stores.” If that’s up your alley, save an afternoon for exploring the goods at The Bargain Box, My Sister’s Closet, and The Church Mouse.

Sullivan’s Island

Sullivan’s Island continues to be a favorite South Carolina beach town—especially for Charlestonians. “The beach is very relaxed, and the marsh views are second to none,” says Fuller. “If you’re visiting, I’d recommend taking a long beach walk [and exiting] at Station 22.5, so you can head into ‘town,’ aka Middle Street, to do a little shopping.” This part of Sullivan’s Island is popular for its various eateries; there’s everything from Mexican and barbecue to burgers and seafood. Fuller recommends getting a table at High Thyme or The Obstinate Daughter, then grabbing a nightcap at Dunleavy’s Pub.

12 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast, According to Locals

Beaufort

The second-oldest city in South Carolina, Beaufort is often compared to Charleston; it’s historic, beautiful, and filled with oak trees and amazing architecture. Its proximity to the water is also a perk. Like Charleston, you’ll have to drive a bit out of the main hub to get to the beach. If you don’t mind parking your beach chair by Battery Creek, rather than the Atlantic Ocean, make your way to the Sands Beach on the southern end of Port Royal. The beach is free to the public, and there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained, including a boardwalk, an observation tower, and shark-teeth-hunting opportunities. For a true oceanfront spot, you’ll need to drive half an hour to Hunting Island State Park, where five miles of beautiful beaches live alongside marshes, a saltwater lagoon, and maritime forests.

Murrells Inlet

Murrells Inlet, or the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina,” makes this list for a few reasons. For starters, the historic fishing village has a feature known as MarshWalk. Spanning a half-mile along a natural saltwater estuary, the wooden boardwalk is home to several restaurants, including Bovine’s, Wahoo’s Fish House, and The Claw House. Head five minutes down the road and you'll arrive at the far-from-crowded Huntington Beach State Park, where you can find three miles of pristine sands to lie on. If you have some time, stop by Brookgreen Gardens, a 9,127 site that also includes a zoo and sculpture garden.

Edisto Beach

Located on Edisto Island, Edisto Beach isn’t your typical, buzzy beach town—and that’s the beauty of it. There are no stoplights, high rises, or chain restaurants on the island, and the town wholeheartedly embraces the magic of slow living. Visitors can explore the 4.5 miles of coastline, take a dip in the ocean, and search for shells, shark teeth, and other fossils that may wash up on shore. Biking, kayaking, and dolphin tours are also popular vacation activities. But if there’s absolutely one thing you can’t miss while visiting Edisto Beach, it's the glorious sunsets. Bring a blanket to Edisto Beach State Park, sit back, and enjoy the show.

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Folly Beach is considering upgrading its stormwater infrastructure along Center Street, which is nearly 80 years old.

Folly Beach City Council will meet on Tuesday night and vote on whether they should award $7.4 million to a construction company to make the improvements.

City officials say that the $7.4 million comes from a grant they received from the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program which is through the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority.

Plans would include replacing all of the existing stormwater pipes, drains and curb inlets along Center Street, from the Folly River to Arctic Avenue, to improve water flow and reduce flooding.

“Some of our biggest challenges are during of course hurricane season and named storms, but we also have flooding and backups all the way through the intersection, sometimes even up past this building,” Director of Public Works, Eric Lutz says. “Problematic areas during rain bombs in the middle of the summer or off times of the year while there is a high tide. Things get backed up and the current system can’t handle that kind of water, so it backs all the way up, wipes out the intersection down here and is kind of hazardous.”

Lutz says about half a million dollars of the grant would also go towards replacing aging water mains islandwide, which are lines that carry safe drinking water to homes and businesses.

Another part of this project Lutz says is adding green infrastructure along the sidewalks and curb inlets, including rain gardens and previous concrete. These additions would help reduce the amount of water entering the system and improve water quality.

Folly Beach City Councilmember and resident Chris Bizzell says that this project is a crucial first step in making Folly more resilient.

“I mean we definitely get some flooding on Center Street, especially during high storm events and it trickles back into the neighborhoods, you’ll have some ponding and that type of thing. So, this project should alleviate a lot of that,” Bizzell says.

If approved by the city council, Lutz says they expect a contractor to break ground on this project in May, just as tourist season begins. He says the project would have an impact on Center Street for this tourist season and the next.

Lutz says people could expect portions of the street to be closed along with some detours, but they would try to keep disruptions at a minimum.

He says that the project would have to be completed by the end of May 2026.

Folly Beach City Council will meet on Tuesday at 7 p.m. to vote on this project.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) - Construction for the Folly Beach Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements Project is set to begin in a few weeks.

There were two community meetings to address the future construction plans of the project on Wednesday night, presenting the plans.

In the presentation, both the Weston & Samson Engineers and the Gulf Stream Construction team on this project broke down what community members could expect from the end of April. This is when they’ll start construction, until May 2026 or so when they wrap up final touches.

Below is the official expected timeline:

A lot of the questions from community members stemmed from concerns in terms of how this would impact their busiest season in the coming months.

“It might be a little bit of pain for a while, but for the most part, I think everybody will adjust. They’ll grumble a little, but other than that, it’ll be fine. These guys clearly know what they’re doing and clearly have worked on some major projects. Yeah. So, I’m not worried about it at all,” community member Kim Jaeger said.

In the presentation, they also took a look at what to expect during construction, like shifting lanes, losing some parking and taking away the palmetto trees, however, that is all temporary.

In fact, you can expect 39 more parking spots on the island and more trees after construction is over.

“We’re going to have a bonus of extra parking spots by the end of this project. So there’s a lot more pros than cons. It’s nice to have rain gardens, it’ll be a nice infrastructure, and it’ll improve Folly,” Jaeger said.

Another factor to consider in the midst of construction was also hurricane season coming up, however, both Jaeger and the project’s team said they would make do.

“We just know when it shows up, it shows up. You can’t do anything about it other than stay in that. So, I know that we, in general, will all end up at the same bag supply place, helping each other fill their bags, putting them in front of the businesses. So, in the end, it is what it is,” Jaeger said.

The Weston & Samson Engineers Project Manager, Chris Pyman, who’s on the project’s engineering team, said they know the timing isn’t ideal. However, since funding comes from a grant with the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program, there’s a reason for it.

“There are time constraints on the grant funding, and that’s why it has to start as soon as possible so that it can be completed by that June 2026 time frame,” Pyman said.

If bad weather comes through, the current drainage system will still work, even as new pipes are being installed.

During construction, they will break the project into a few different parts so they’re not taking up multiple streets at a time and will not hit Center Street until after Labor Day.

“You can’t force a timeline. There’s a lot of different variables involved. Permitting being one of the biggest question marks that you have to factor into your schedule on your timeline when you’re designing a project of this scale,” Pyman said.

The project’s team said they plan on uploading all of their presentation and other information on the City of Folly Beach website under the stormwater management page.

Gulf Stream Construction said they will also send out a two-week look-ahead schedule for the community as they go through this process.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Folly Beach just got a little sweeter.

Shoobies Ice Cream is now open at 18 Center St., offering 16 hard-scoop flavors with homemade waffle cones. Six soft-serve flavors with plenty of do-it-yourself toppings will be released in early March.

The shop took over the space formerly occupied by Dolce Banana Café, which served similar sweet treats, and is repurposing the existing frozen-yogurt machines.

Shoobies is the newest venture from Cody Brooks, owner of the Pineapple Hut mobile frozen treat truck, which will remain across the street.

Brooks, who co-owns the Pineapple Hut with his wife, said they heard through a mutual friend the owners of Dolce Banana Café were selling and came to an agreement to take over the space. They decided to stick to the original concept of self-serve ice cream and embarked on a cosmetic refresh of the space.

“Each of them offer a unique experience compared to the other," Brooks said of the variety of hard-scoop flavors that include Graham Central Station.

"I think we’ve differentiated them enough to prevent one taking away from the other," he said.

Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and until 11 p.m. during the peak beach season.

Bonjour, Summerville

A favorite French-inspired restaurant has relocated and re-opened inside a historic Summerville house.

In August, La Cuisine Du Chevalier — or La Chev, as most call it — closed its location in a Publix-anchored strip mall at 1585 Central Ave. in the Knightsville area.

The restaurant has since reopened as La Chev 208 at 208 E. 1st North St., just off Main Street in downtown Summerville. The renovated 100-plus-year-old property can hold about 50 diners indoors and another 50 outside, co-owner Jason Tucker said.

La Chev held its grand opening Feb. 22. Lunch runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. After an hour closure, dinner services start at 4 p.m. and extend until various closing times.

Island decor

A design company is coming to Johns Island.

Madison Miller Décor is a market place with local vendors, artists, designers and more. The store will carry furniture, home décor, accessories, art and women's and children's clothing.

The business will celebrate its grand opening March 1 and 2 at 1716 Hollydale Court. Champagne and cocktails will be served at noon Saturday.

Hours will run Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 12 to 4 p.m.

SC debut

As hundreds of homes continue to crop up in Summerville, a retailer has opened to help furnish the rooms with its first South Carolina store.

Hometown Furniture, a family-owned business, will open its new showroom Feb. 28 at 1422 Boone Hall Road.

The retailer sells discount furniture, mattress and appliances and is an authorized dealer of name brands, including Ashley, Best Furniture, LG, Samsung, Steve Silver and others.

Hometown's five other stores are in Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

Sushi on tap

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre is gaining a new tenant.

Revolving Sushi Kingdom, owned by Lianna Chen, will move into the first floor of the Hyatt Place hotel at 1600 Palmetto Grande Drive.

Chen said she is still working on site planning and does not have a timeline for opening yet.

Gift givers

A gift store has opened at Shoppes at Seaside Farms in Mount Pleasant.

The Southern Welcome at 1952 Long Grove Drive formerly was an online-only operation. Owned by Steph Ryan, the retailer has now expanded into a brick-and mortar store.

Shoppers can peruse selections of apparel, jewelry, home décor and local artwork. It also offers custom gift sets, event gifting and welcome services for real estate agents, hotels and more.

Popping up

Johns Island designer Grace Frederick is having a pop-up event March 8.

The owner of Grace Frederick Design at 710 Halycon Loop will welcome vendors for an art walk and tent sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Vendors include Color Drunk Designs, House of Gleason, LB Modern Designs, Kimono Dragon Jewelry, 100 Neyrae, Sarah Basso Makeup and others.