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Search By Area MapPawleys Island, SC
Geographic Features
Pawleys Island lies off the Waccamaw Neck peninsula in South Carolina. It is at the southern end of the Grand Strand, which is considered one of the oldest resort areas in the United States. Visitors flock to Pawleys Island via the two modern bridges, the South Causeway and the North Causeway. At a little over three miles long and a quarter mile wide, Pawleys is a sandy barrier island with natural beauty in all directions. Pristine white beaches are at the southern end, tidal creek and marsh area to the east, 15 foot high sand dunes in the north, and the Atlantic is on the west side of the island.
Locals refer to Pawleys Island has being 'arrogantly shabby' mainly because of their predominantly cypress sided homes. Relaxing is the chief activity on the island and can be achieved through the many splendors available. Beach combing, swimming, kayaking, boating, fishing, and surfing are all widespread.
Pawleys Island is positioned close enough to for visitors and residents to easily visit the bright lights of Myrtle Beach.
Keep an eye out for the 'Gray Man Ghost,' who is said to patrol Pawleys Island before approaching hurricanes giving warning to leave the area. Legend says that if you listen to him your home will be spared.
Price Range
Pawleys Island homes have a median price of $301,006, which is higher than in comparison to both South Carolina and the United States housing averages. Most of the homes are single-family homes with 3 to 4 bedrooms built between 1970 and 1994 but there are some apartments and housing complexes.
- More than $1,851,000 2%
- $1,388,001 - $1,851,00 2%
- $962,001 - $1,388,000 5%
- $740,001 - $962,000 4%
- $554,001 - $740,000 10%
- $370,000 - $554,000 19%
- $185,001 - $370,000 30%
- $93,001 - $185,000 16%
- Less than $93,000 12%
Daily Life
Pawleys Island continues to have a carefree lifestyle. With only 140 full time residents this is a tiny beach town. The population is seasonal though, as many people own second homes here and visit in the summer. Like the locals, they revel in 'arrogantly shabby' daily life that can include fishing, going to the beach, crabbing in the adjacent creeks, and delighting in a casual seafood dinner.
An interesting thing about Pawleys Island is that there are a high number of scientists here and a much higher number of people with college and advanced degrees.
This is definitely a car-oriented town. The majority of residents use their cars to drive to and from work. The small community size and spread out residential area makes this place ill fitting for public transportation.
Golf
Pawleys Island offers thirteen challenging golf courses, designed by such greats as Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye and Tom Fazio. Caledonia Golf and Fish Club was ranked the 5th Best New Public Course in America by Golf Digest when it opened in 1995 and has remained on their 100 Best Public Courses ever since. Heritage Club is Pawleys Island's highest ranked course at number 46 on Golf Digest's list.
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Pawleys Plantation Golf Course is on a creek and has been ranked among the South Carolina's 'Top 25 Layouts' by Golf Digest.
River Club is the only course in the area that feature bent grass greens. It has one of the highest ratings of any of the courses along the Grand Strand, receiving 4.5 starts in Golf Digest's 'Places to Play.'
Another highly ranked course is the True Blue Golf Club. It was recently named #1 in the Myrtle Beach area by Golf Digest and has earned many other nods for its beautiful and well designed course.
Other courses include the Founders Golf Club, Litchfield Country Club, Wachesaw East, and Willbrook Plantation Golf Club.
Recreation and Sports
Pawsleys Island has great recreational activities due to its prime location between the ocean and the marsh. At the beach one can usually find a private spot to enjoy the pristine white sand and sea that is well known for its surf. This is a family beach to swim, look for shells, and play in the sand. Fishermen utilize the two marsh bridges or use one of the two launch boat ramps to go deep sea fishing for wahoo, snapper, grouper, sea bass, and tuna. Enjoy crabbing off a crab dock. During high tide, explore the salt marsh with a kayak or canoe and look for birds.
From jewelry and antiques, to the Famous Pawleys Island Hammock Shops, Pawsleys Island offers some of the finest shops anywhere along the entire Grand Strand. The Original Pawleys Island Rope Hammock continues to be very sought after more than a century after their invention. South Carolina riverboat captain Joshua John "Cap'n Josh" Ward wanted to create a comfy, cotton-rope bed for hot and humid nights out on the water. His design has remained a classic.
Pawleys Island is just a short drive to the historic town of Georgetown and all the vibrant activities Myrtle Beach has to offer.
Night Life
Pawsleys Island has a nightlife to match its laid back reputation. One of the best ways to spend evenings is strolling along the beach in the moonlight looking at the stars. The town offers great local seafood and other selections to suit everyone's tastes.
Neighboring Murrells Inlet is known as the 'Seafood Capital of South Carolina.' Their restaurant row has award winning seafood and barbecue restaurants.
The vibrant nightlife of Myrtle Beach is only a drive away. Whether you're interested in dancing at nightclubs, singing karaoke, watching live concerts, or learning the shag, there is a perfect venue for everyone.
Festivals and Events
Pawleys Island Festival of Music has been beloved for over 20 years for its fine wine gala, incredible live music, visual and performing arts, and delectable culinary treats. Featured music ranges from jazz, symphony orchestras, bluegrass, gospel, beach music, blues, and big band. The festival is held throughout various indoor and outdoor venues.
Pawleys Island also hosts the popular 4th of July Parade and the Annual Kayak Race.
On Sunday afternoons there is a local galleries have an open house tour. Trolleys take patrons in a continuous loop around five galleries. Each gallery has live music and serves wine and light refreshments.
The adored Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival held at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet. From pottery to jewelry, hundreds of arts and crafts vendors showcase and sell their handcrafted items.
Parks
Pawleys Island Nature Park features sweeping views of the estuary, Pawleys Creek, and a lovely landscaped garden. The City will be adding to park with land furnished in part by the McCarley family. Mrs. Mary Anne McCarley was the long time owner of the house and was a talented artist.
Located just north of town, the Brookgreen Gardens is the showplace of art and nature that was developed in the 1930s by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Once four colonial rice plantations, this 9,000-acre garden is meticulously maintained. It is dotted with over 550 pieces of America's finest 19th and 20th century sculptures, the largest showcase of American figurative sculpture in the US. Artists include Frederic Remington, Daniel Chester French and Mrs. Huntington. There are over 2,000 species of plants and native animals and birds can be seen in the wildlife park. Special guided nature cruises and kayak trips wind through the tidal creeks and abandoned rice fields. Gourmet picnic baskets are available for purchase.
Huntington State Park is a picturesque oceanfront park that boasts some of the most pristine wildlife areas around. There are miles of trails that wind their way through the beach, wetlands, and sand dunes. Daily nature programs are available to teach you about the local plants and animals. Several species of birds live in the fresh and saltwater lagoons, making this a great spot for bird watching. Amenities include RV and tent sites, nature trails, and a gift store. The Huntington home, Atalaya, is incorporated onto the grounds.
Schools
Students who live in Pawleys Island would attend a school in the Georgetown school district. There are 10,340 students in the school district with an average of 14 children per classroom. This is below South Carolina's state average of 15 per class. The districts test scores are slightly below the state average in both reading and math.
The area public schools include Waccamaw High School, Waccamaw Middle School, and Waccamaw Elementary. Private schools include Waccamaw High School Island Christian Academy and Pawleys Island Montessori Day School.
Area History and Culture
Pawleys Island hosted its first vacationers when plantation owners came to the ocean shore as a refuge from the summer mosquitoes and malaria. George Pawley, the town's namesake, owned the island during the colonial era and sold sections to others wanting to come to the coast. Twelve of the homes these families built still reside in the town's historic area.
In 1791 President George Washington toured the Grand Strand and visited the Alstons on their Pawleys Island area rice plantations.
In the 1700 and 1800s this area was colonized by the English and planted with large tracts of rice. During this time the rice plantation owners produced a large share of the world rice and were much more powerful and wealthy than tobacco, sugar and cotton farmers.
The Grand Strand started to develop into a vacation area during the 1930s but Pawleys Island has been one of the slowest in development and retains its quiet laid back feel. Many of the cottages are sided with cypress and are said to be arrogantly shabby by locals. After Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989 many of the cottages were destroyed and replaced with more shabby homes. But this is how visitors and locals prefer Pawleys to remain, even blocking commercialized developments.
Neighborhoods
There is only one neighborhood in Pawleys Island.
