SC Picture Project » Folly Beach

Crosby’s Seafood

SCIWAY — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:54:34 +0000

The sun sets on another workday for these shrimp trawlers docked at Crosby’s Fish and Shrimp, located in Charleston County. Locally owned and operated, Crosby’s has been serving Folly Beach and James Island for over 30 years.

Crosby’s Fish and Shrimp is a different company than Crosby’s Seafood at the base of the old Ashley River Bridge in downtown Charleston, though the two families are related. The former has its own boats and sells whatever its catching – along with bait, fishing tackle, beer, and ice. When the weather is good, it often hosts Friday-night dock parties.

Folly Beach calls itself the “Edge of America” and has a friendly and relaxed vibe. It has a lively downtown area and is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Learn more about South Carolina shrimp, South Carolina oysters, and Crosby’s Fish and Shrimp.

Folly Beach Pier

SCIWAY — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:54:34 +0000

The Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier on Folly Beach was built in 1995 and extends 1,045 feet into the ocean. It culminates in a 7,500 square-foot covered platform that affords an amazing view of sea and sky. Folly was home to two piers before this one. Like today’s pier, they also served as social centers for the island.

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The first pier was built in 1931, along with a pavilion, boardwalk, and the Oceanfront Hotel. In those days, you could catch an afternoon or evening concert featuring such big-band giants as Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, and Tommy Dorsey. It was also the scene of several beauty contests, one of which was judged by the legendary George Gershwin, who summered on Folly in 1934.

That pier burned in 1957 but a new one soon replaced it – surrounded by a 1,700-foot boardwalk and a modern hotel. Called “Oceanfront Plaza,” the area also featured a skating rink, a bowling alley, and a small amusement park complete with a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and a merry-go-round.

Like its predecessor, the new pier attracted plenty of famous musicians, including The Tams, The Temptations, Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs, The Catalinas, Doug Clark and The Hot Nuts, Jerry Lee Lewis, and even the inimitable Otis Redding. Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, young people flocked to the pier to dance the night away. Its giant windows offered wonderful breezes, and you could catch your breath, talk to friends, or share a drink with your date while staring out over the ocean.

Sadly, the pier burned again in 1977 and there were rumors of arson. Folly did not have a pier for the next 18 years.

In an entirely different vein, the current pier revolves around fishing. At 25 feet wide, it stands 23 feet above sea level. At the foot of the pier, you can also find a sit-down restaurant, an upscale gift shop, rod and tackle rentals and sales, a lower patio space available for rent, beach access, and showers.

The Charleston County Park & Recreation Department hosts monthly fishing tournaments June through September, and the Big Kahuna tournament is held in August each year. In a nod to Folly’s past, it also hosts Moonlight Mixers once or twice a month during the summer. Learn more about the Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier here.

Folly River

SCIWAY — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:54:34 +0000

The sun sets over the tranquil Folly River, which flows alongside Folly Beach, near Charleston. Folly Beach calls itself “The Edge of America” and is a friendly and relaxed beach town. Originally a very quiet place, new developments and a lively “downtown” area make it a favorite among residents and visitors alike. It is also a popular surfing spot, where surfers go to “The Washout” to catch some waves and enjoy the sun.

This image is copyrighted. You may not use it without written consent.

SCIWAY thanks Sasha Azevedo of Charleston for submitting this picture. She writes, “I often drive out from Summerville to the Folly Beach area, as I have discovered it to be one of the best places in the Lowcountry to watch the sun set. On this particular evening, I witnessed one of the most magical, beautiful and peaceful sunsets I’ve ever seen over the Folly River.”