Myrtle Beach : A Tale of Two Cities

It has often been said that Myrtle Beach tells the tale of two cities. I can remember when I was about 16 years old and I first visited Myrtle Beach with my cousin as soon as school dismissed for the summer. In South Carolina, going to Myrtle Beach for the first week in summer is a tradition if not a right of passage after graduating from high school.

Myrtle Beach 13 years ago was a totally different show all together. We took what money we could get an rented a few nights directly on Ocean Boulivard close to the Pavillion. What I witnessed those few nights would forever enchant me about Myrtle Beach. From that point on I loved this city, this wonderful place.

During that time in Myrtle Beach's history it was known more as a party beach than the family beach that it is steadily turning into. Many people called it the Sin City of South Carolina and with the city running out of money to fight porn shops and strip clubs it may still continue to hold some of that reputation.

I can remember people cruizing down the boulivard, stereos blasting loud as they could, dressed to impress, all hours of the night until about 5am when it slowed down for about an hour and then began to crank back up again. The night partiers had retired for some sleep and eats and the day timers started popping out again. For a 16 year old kid with a pocket full of money it was a delight of social events and new experiences that I will never forget.

Now as an adult I have lived in Myrtle Beach for about 4 years. I have travelled all over the country but I just couldn't stay away. I have been present here to watch Myrtle Beach begin to enforce laws and ordinaces to force Myrtle Beach into a new direction from party beach to family beach.

It is hard to ignore that Myrtle Beach is now the golf capitol of the world with more golf courses than anywhere I can imagine. With more that 60 small mom and pop hotels slated for destruction the direction is clear, UP! The plans for new hotel high rises and resorts are comming so fast that the local construction companies cannot keep up. Old amusements are going away and new ones are planned for our great city. Let's hope that the directions we take will be the right ones.