Pawleys Island – An Overview

Pawleys Island, South Carolina is said to be the oldest seaside resort in America. Development over the years has extended the area to the mainland. It is a much sought after and expensive place to live. We have a small second home there purchased, thankfully, before prices rocketed!

Pawleys Island is a good choice if you want a quieter holiday with many local "fine dining" restaurants, historic reminders and if you are a golfer some of the finest courses anywhere.

Broadly the area from Winyah Bay, south of Georgetown to just north of Brookgreen Gardens was until the 1850s the major rice producing location in the US. A lot of that history is still apparent today.

The families of rice planters who owned plantations on the nearby rivers first settled Pawleys Island in the early 1700's. They knew that it was unhealthy for their families to remain on the rivers during the summer and that the seashore was much healthier.

From this leisurely existence has developed the charm of Pawleys, its shoeless, carefree, laid-back life style, crabbing in the adjacent creeks, fishing, the stories of ghosts, the rope hammocks and the unspoiled, unsophisticated, casual, delightful stretch of wide beach and sand dunes.

The birdlife and wildlife is spectacular and wonderful to see in it's native habitat.

13th green at Pawleys Plantation with views across the salt marsh to Pawleys Island itself.

Even though they didn't know about malaria in the 1700's, they knew enough to get away. They moved their families, horses, cows, bedding, provisions and furniture to Pawleys in May of each year, where they remained until the first frost in November! 12 residences which date from the late 1700's to the mid 1800's can be seen the historic district.

The last house at the southern end
of beautiful Pawleys Island.

18th green at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club with views across the old rice fields