Although the island claims to be “the oldest seaside resort in America,” there certainly aren’t any traces of resort life. Pawleys Island is home to one of the most undeveloped public beaches in the state and is known for its “arrogantly shabby” style. Life on the island is slow and relaxed, and locals work hard to keep it that way.

Austin Bond, who contributed the beautiful photo above, describes the scene for us: “Every Tuesday I lead a Prayer Breakfast for high and middle school students before school in Pawleys Island for our church’s youth ministry. When the sun rises before 6:45 AM (since that is when the breakfast starts), I try to watch it! It has rained a lot over the last week so it was so nice to see a beautiful sunrise after so much rain … and the high clouds made the morning even more beautiful!”

SCIWAY visitor Dan Christie of Ohio tells us that “on one occasion the storm surge raised the water level to the bottom window of the lighthouse, which is easy to imagine. We loved the tour, and saw dolphins, pelicans, seashells and even a bald eagle. I love South Carolina, thank you!” Find out more about the history of the North Island lighthouse.

Love lighthouses? Check out SCIWAY’s SC Lighthouses Guide.

Special thanks to photographer Vanessa Kauffmann — you can purchase this photo and others on Vanessa’s website.

The first wooden chapel was built in the late 1730s on land purchased from Percival Pawley. This building served the congregation until 1798 when it was destroyed by fire. A second wooden chapel was constructed in its place, but was replaced in 1843 by a more ornate Greek Revival sanctuary. This sanctuary survived several major hurricanes, but was also destroyed by fire in 1915. The current structure replicates the 1843 design on a smaller scale.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, All Saints was one of the most notable Episcopal churches in South Carolina, serving many of the leading planters, politicians, lawyers, and public figures of antebellum Georgetown County. An Episcopal committee’s report from 1860 noted that, prior to the Civil War, All Saints Parish contained “more wealth than any other rural parish in South Carolina, or perhaps in the South.”

SCIWAY thanks Allison Tinney of Charleston for sharing this photo.

“The Chapel” has managed to survive both Hurricane Hazel and Hurricane Hugo, and continues to serve as the island’s only house of worship.

Special thanks to Matt Trudeau of Murrells Inlet for sharing this photo.

The beach was named after Frank McKenzie, one of the resort’s founders. He and fellow Pawleys Island native Lillian Pyatt acquired the land in 1934 and began development shortly thereafter. McKenzie and Pyatt envisioned a place where blacks, without fear of racial discrimination, could visit the beach and enjoy great food, strong drinks, and live music.

In 1936 construction began on the narrow causeway that would run across Midway Creek and connect the mainland to the south end of Litchfield Beach. Over the course of the next few years they would complete the causeway, while adding a pavilion and 15 small cabins. Word of the new resort spread quickly and by the late 1930s popular musicians such as Count Basie, Charlie “Bird” Parker, and Duke Ellington were playing there on a regular basis.

The resort continued to grow until 1954, when Hurricane Hazel hit the coast and destroyed the causeway, pavilion, and most of the cabins. After dissolving his partnership with Lillian Pyatt, McKenzie rebuilt a small motel and bait and tackle shop on the mainland.

While the resort regained its popularity, things were never quite the same for Frank McKenzie, who had to sell the property in the late 1960s due to financial hardships. The new owners closed access to the beach and let the motel fall into disrepair.

Bricks for the church were collected as early as 1740, while the cornerstone was not laid until 1745. Construction was completed two years later and the first service was held on August 16, 1747. The church is constructed from English red bricks held together with local oyster shell mortar. While the design is typical of many colonial churches, it does have several notable features including English stained glass windows and a Jacobean gable.

The interior is lined with traditional box pews and features hand-carved woodwork and flagstone flooring. The church was severely damaged during the Revolutionary War but received repairs and several additions in 1809. The tower and steeple were not added until 1824.

Several notable South Carolinians, including Governor Robert Francis Withers Allston, are buried in the church’s cemetery.

For more information, please visit the church’s website.

Constructed of pressed brick with granite trimmings, the church was built in the traditional Romanesque architectural style and formed the shape of a Latin cross. Its layout changed dramatically in 1967 when it underwent renovations and received several additions.

For more information, visit the church’s website.

The island is proud of its laid back atmosphere and ‘arrogantly shabby’ appearance. Many of its houses are historic and are listed in the National Historic Register.

When you visit, you’ll immediately become aware that Pawleys Island is known for its famous Pawleys Island Hammocks. They are well-made and one-of-a-kind, so be sure to pick yours up!

For more information about the Pawleys Island Town Hall including contact information, please visit the town hall’s main website.