It’s the definitive American Dream: you work and you save your entire life so that one day you can buy your own little slice of paradise by the sea. With a pleasant year-round climate, abundant natural beauty, an incredibly low cost of living, the Grand Strand is the place where dreams become reality.
Over the past three years, the Myrtle Beach/Conway/North Myrtle Beach area has been the fastest-growing metropolitan area in South Carolina and the second-fastest growing community in the United States.
With so many
people relocating to our area, it’s only understandable that many of you out
there may not be entirely familiar with the different townships and communities
that make up the Grand Strand. Not to worry, your friendly real estate experts
at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Elliott Coastal Living are here with local
insight into the history, attractions, and real estate offerings along the
Grand Strand. In this way, we hope we can make you feel a little bit more at
home in your new community.
This week, we will be looking at the dreamy seaside town of Sunset Beach, NC.
History
The story of Sunset Beach begins in 1955 with a wealthy real estate investor named Mannon C. Gore. During a visit to the island, then called Bald Head Beach, Gore fell in love with the area’s pristine natural beauty and stunning coastal sunsets. He purchased Bald Beach from the Brooks family, who had owned the island since the 1700s. He also bought 500 acres of mainland property along the Intracoastal Waterway. Gore built a massive swing bridge to unite the island and mainland in a single community, which he renamed Sunset Beach.
Today, Sunset Beach is among the most popular vacation and retirement destinations in the world.
Attractions
Free from
the crowded boardwalks and sprawling high-rises, Sunset Beach’s pristine strip
of coastline speaks to the romantic in us all. In 2017, National Geographic named
Sunset Beach one of the 21 Best Beaches In The World.
Nestled along this three mile stretch of bliss, you will find one of the area’s most treasured landmarks, the Kindred Spirit Mailbox. Filled to the brim with weathered journals, notebooks, and scraps of paper covered in writing, visitors to this sacred site write down and share their deepest wishes, thoughts, prayers, and dreams, and leave them in the mailbox for other pilgrims to enjoy. If this familiar, it should. This mysterious mailbox was a major inspiration for Nicholas Sparks’ Every Breath. Both Sunset Beach and the Kindred Spirit Mailbox feature heavily throughout the novel.
Beyond
pristine coastlines and magical mailboxes, Sunset Beach is also home to an
endless array of elegant boutiques and spectacular waterfront bars and restaurants
guaranteed to satisfy your inner gourmand. A particular favorite among locals
and visitors alike is the perpetually charming Silver Coast Winery. Situated
just a few minutes from the beach, Silver Coast Winery has been making its own
wines and offering tours for over 10 years. After touring their expansive vineyard,
settle in for a cozy wine tasting with that certain special someone in your
life. You can even take a bottle or two home with you if you like what you taste!
And of course, like all Grand Strand communities, Sunset Beach is also home to some of the finest golf courses in the world, including Oyster Bay Golf Links, The Pearl Golf Links, Thistle Golf Club.
Real Estate
Looking to relocate to Sunset Beach? Then turn to the local real estate pros at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Elliott Coastal Living. For more than 60 years, our team of real estate professionals and friendly staff have been helping the people of the Grand Strand with all their real estate needs. Visit their website or stop by their office today to explore the incredible homes and condos available for purchase in Sunset Beach, NC.
