Myrtle Beach, SC

06/03/2026

How long do you have to live here to be a " local " ?

06/03/2026

1984 Myrtle Beach, SC bumper sticker ! Thanks , Joe Powers! 👉Search the hashtag on Facebook to browse more than 33,000 posts of local history, area photography, and amazing real estate opportunities 🙌 Learn more about Jake Lee at www.jakeleerealestate.com/about

06/03/2026

Myrtle Beach Safari also known as T.I.G.E.R.S. The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species is a 50-acre exotic animal facility in Myrtle Beach, SC that offers public tours and private encounters with tigers elephants chimpanzees lions and other wildlife. Founded and directed by Bhagavan Doc Antle born Kevin Antle in 1960 the park presents itself as a conservation-focused preserve while generating revenue through hands-on animal experiences. Here is a fully factual public-record timeline based on court documents DOJ statements news reports and official filings.

✔️ COMMUNITY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY Jake Lee - Myrtle Beach & Pawleys Island Top Realtor

1980s-1990s: Founding and growth. Antle established T.I.G.E.R.S. in Myrtle Beach as a roadside zoo-style attraction emphasizing rare species breeding and public education. He also created the Rare Species Fund a nonprofit he directs that claims to support global wildlife conservation. The facility became known for close-up photo ops swim-with-the-animals sessions and social-media content featuring tigers and elephants interacting with staff and guests.

2010s-2020: National spotlight. The park gained mainstream attention through documentaries and viral videos. In 2020 Antle and T.I.G.E.R.S. were prominently featured in Netflixs Tiger King series and the follow-up Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story. Coverage highlighted Antles self-described complex lifestyle multiple long-term female partners some former employees and the parks animal-handling practices. Former staff later described a high-pressure environment involving name changes and other personal dynamics.

2021-2023: Federal investigation and guilty plea. The U.S. Department of Justice charged Antle with conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act illegal wildlife trafficking and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors alleged he purchased and sold newborn endangered animals including chimpanzees while laundering more than 500000 dollars he believed was tied to an immigrant-smuggling operation across the Mexico border. Antle concealed payments by routing them through construction-related checks for Myrtle Beach Safari. On November 6 2023 he pleaded guilty to both counts.

2025: Sentencing and aftermath. On July 8 2025 a federal judge sentenced Antle to 12 months and one day in prison a 55000 dollar fine and three years of supervised release. The DOJ emphasized that Antle promoted himself as a conservationist while engaging in the illegal activities. He began serving the sentence shortly afterward.

Ongoing operations 2025-present. Following the conviction Antle lost his federal USDA exhibitor license. However federal records show the Myrtle Beach Safari facility continues to operate under Sugriva Co. LLC registered to China York a longtime associate of Antle. The park remains open by reservation for tours and encounters. PETA has sent formal letters to the USDA requesting an investigation citing continued animal exhibitions and alleging Antle remains involved behind the scenes. The facility still houses animals such as an African elephant named Bubbles that has lived there for decades.

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Antles operation once held one of the largest private collections of rare big cats and primates in the U.S. Revenue historically came from paid public encounters where guests could hold swim with or photograph infant animals. Court evidence included plans to disguise laundering payments as construction services for the safari park itself.

06/02/2026

SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT ::: is it THE STRIP or THE BOULEVARD or something else 🤔

06/02/2026

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06/02/2026

Take a trip back to the late 1950s with this perfect snapshot of the By The Sea Motel at 500 North Ocean Boulevard in the heart of Ocean Drive, North Myrtle Beach.

➡️This article is supported by Jake Lee - Myrtle Beach & Pawleys Island Top Realtor , preserving and sharing the heritage of this extraordinary region.

In the booming 1950s (right after Hurricane Hazel cleared the way in 1954), places like By The Sea popped up all along Ocean Boulevard. These independent motels weren’t cookie-cutter...they had real character, affordable rooms right by the sand, and a welcoming vibe you just don’t find in today’s high-rises.

Fun fact: Ocean Drive was the birthplace of the Carolina S**g, South Carolina’s official state dance, with beach music drifting from nearby pavilions. Stay here and you were steps from the action!

Today the address is home to the beautiful oceanfront vacation house “Palmettos,” but the memories of those classic motels live on.

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06/02/2026

This is the Hob Nob Apartments and Grocery, sitting oceanfront on North Ocean Boulevard at Third Avenue.

➡️This article is supported by Jake Lee - Myrtle Beach & Pawleys Island Top Realtor , preserving and sharing the heritage of this extraordinary region.

Owned and managed by Mr. and Mrs. C. Ringel Thompson of Conway, this charming spot offered visitors apartments upstairs and a handy grocery store below. They advertised it perfectly with the promise of good fishing and crabbing, just a whisper from good bathing right in the Atlantic.

Picture pulling up in one of those classic cars out front after a long drive, stepping onto the porch with the ocean breeze rolling in, and settling in for a perfect family beach getaway. It was pure old-school Myrtle Beach magic during those postwar years when our town was really starting to boom.

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05/31/2026

Ever hit the beach, forget the sunscreen on the back of your neck, and wake up looking like a boiled lobster? Well, congratulations.... you just earned your “redneck” credentials the old-fashioned way!

The word actually started in the late 1800s South as a cheeky (okay, kinda snarky) nickname for hardworking farmers and field hands. Straw hats kept their heads cool, but those necks? Crispy from a full day in the sun. Literal rednecks! Bonus history: in the 1920s, Appalachian coal miners tied on red bandanas during big strikes and turned the term into a proud symbol of blue-collar solidarity.

➡️This article is supported by Jake Lee - Myrtle Beach & Pawleys Island Top Realtor , preserving and sharing the heritage of this extraordinary region.

And that, y’all, is exactly why Myrtle Beach, SC proudly wears the crown as the Redneck Riviera! The nickname first popped up in a 1978 New York Times article about no-frills Gulf Coast beach getaways for working-class Southerners. But national media quickly realized it described us perfectly... affordable family fun, mini-golf marathons, all-you-can-eat seafood, country tunes, and zero pretension. Country star John Rich (Big & Rich) even trademarked the phrase and said Myrtle Beach is one of the best spots for that exact vibe.

So next time you’re rocking that fresh farmer’s tan on the Grand Strand, own it. We didn’t invent rednecks… we just gave ‘em the best vacation spot on the East Coast. 😎

Search the hashtag on Facebook to browse more than 33,000 posts of local history, area photography, and amazing real estate opportunities 🙌 Learn more about Jake Lee at www.jakeleerealestate.com/about

05/31/2026

Waving hello to summer 🌞 Its almost here? Jake Lee - Myrtle Beach & Pawleys Island Top Realtor

05/31/2026