Things were a lot different around Myrtle Beach when I moved here more than 20 years ago. Things, people, and places change in that amount of time in most areas of the country, of course. But it feels like change and development is accelerated here. 

Take, for instance, this time of year. February and March—besides the migration in flocks of snow birds—used to be a ghost town, with restaurants and attractions closing up shop to regroup before the summer season and save money sans customers. You could cut your local travel time in half, thanks to less traffic and drivers navigating on the roads in unfamiliar territory. You could easily find parking at any beach access. And you couldget a table without a wait at your favorite restaurant or bar on a Friday night. 

I’m not saying all of this to be a grumpy local. It’s just a little different nowadays. Change is different, and that can be good and bad. 

In August 2023, U.S. News and World Report named Myrtle Beach the “fastest growing place in America” for the third year in a row, based on the 2023-2024 ranking on the percentage increase of people living in the area. That’s a quick uptick in folks living here year-round, like a punch in the face. Plus, as Myrtle Beach is continually voted a top-rated U.S. beach destination, depending on the weather, the quiet shoulder seasons are continuing to fade as well While I do love many of the improvements and development being made in our area for the better for my family and the Myrtle Beach reputation overall, this is also a nostalgic time to reminisce on the past, simpler times.

Our assistant editor, Angela Robertson, in fact, shared memories with me from her 37 years of living and working in Myrtle Beach.

“I remember horseback riding at a nice stable where the Pelicans field is now,” she says.  “Broadway at the Beach was non-existent, just forest… And there was a little goat farm on 10th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, later renamed Mr. Joe White Avenue. There was much more sense of community, I think… and far more mom-and-pop motels and hotels, which was neat.”

I think it’s a good time to remember our historic roots and let others know what Myrtle Beach was before it disappears from those who lived it. I belong to a Facebook group, Myrtle Beach History, which is an online community doing just that through old photos, ads, and more, and I love it. 

If you have fond Myrtle Beach memories you’d like to share with us, visit facebook.com/grandstrand and comment your memories on our Myrtle Beach of Yesterday Memories post.