Myrtle Beach, SC

10/23/2026

A $1.6 BILLION highway, decades of political fighting, environmental lawsuits, and now Donald Trump's name is being thrown into the mix. Welcome to the never-ending drama surrounding Interstate 73 and Myrtle Beach, SC

Here's what makes this story so interesting.

Myrtle Beach has become one of the East Coast's most popular vacation destinations without a single interstate leading directly into the city. Yet for decades, politicians have been fighting to build one.

Interstate 73 would connect the Myrtle Beach area to I-95, potentially opening the door to more tourism, jobs, businesses, and billions in future economic development.

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

Supporters believe it could transform the Grand Strand, improve hurricane evacuation routes, and make traveling to Myrtle Beach significantly easier.

But not everyone is celebrating.

Environmental groups have fought the project in court, arguing that improving existing highways would be cheaper and less destructive. Some businesses along current routes worry they could lose customers as traffic shifts to the new interstate.

Then there's the money.

Horry County voters approved a transportation tax program that includes $450 million toward I-73, but that funding comes with conditions. The full project still needs additional financial commitments.

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And in one of the more unusual twists, politicians have debated naming the proposed highway after President Donald Trump, even though construction hasn't started.

Here's where things get really interesting.

If I-73 gets built, it could open up enormous opportunities for commercial development, new neighborhoods, and businesses throughout the region. Land near future interchanges could become significantly more valuable.

But would it also accelerate the growth that many longtime residents already feel is getting out of control?

More tourists. More development. More homes. More people.

And would it actually solve our traffic problems, or simply bring even more vehicles into Horry County?

After decades of debate, we're still waiting to see whether this interstate will become a reality.

So here's the billion-dollar question.

Would you rather see South Carolina build I-73, or take that money and fix Highway 501, Highway 17, and the roads we already have?

And if I-73 does get built, will it be the best thing that ever happened to Myrtle Beach, or the beginning of even bigger growing pains?

I'm curious what longtime locals think about this one.

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10/23/2026

Ever taken a drive west from the Grand Strand into neighboring Marion County?

Right next door to Horry County sits Marion County, South Carolina....named, like its Kentucky counterpart, for Revolutionary War hero Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion. It’s a short trip from Myrtle Beach, SC , full of P*e Dee history, farmland, and small-town Southern character.

But there’s another Marion County with a much wilder reputation.

Over in central Kentucky, a group of farmers from Marion County (and nearby areas) became known as the Cornbread Mafia. In the 1970s and ’80s, these rural guys ( sons of moonshiners and to***co farmers ) built what federal authorities called the largest domestic ma*****na production operation in U.S. history. They ran a multi-state network, grew massive amounts (estimates in the hundreds of tons), and operated with a strict code of silence. The name stuck after big busts in the late ’80s; many served long prison sentences. Figures like Johnny Boone (“Godfather of Grass”) and the Bickett brothers became local legends.

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

It was real...documented in court records, books, and now a 2026 documentary. Cornbread Mafia, directed by Kentucky filmmaker Evan Mascagni, premiered at SXSW and has been selected for the Black Mountain Film Festival (November 6–8 in Somerset, Kentucky). It lets the participants tell their side of the story, mixing interviews with animation for the more outrageous chapters.

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10/23/2026

Boo 👻

10/23/2026

Starting next month, Horry County drivers may notice a new kind of neighbor on certain roads. On November 18, 2026, a new South Carolina law takes effect that allows properly equipped and registered utility terrain vehicles, often called UTVs or side by sides, to share some public streets with cars, trucks, and the golf carts many of us already see rolling through neighborhoods near the beach.

LOCAL NEWS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROVIDED BY Jake Lee - Myrtle Beach & Pawleys Island Top Realtor

Here in Horry County and neighboring Georgetown County, golf carts have long been a familiar sight on quieter secondary roads, especially the closer you get to the ocean. State rules already limit those carts to roads with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less, daylight hours in most places, a four mile radius from their registered address, and licensed drivers. Several local cities have adjusted the details a bit, but the basic idea is the same: slow, short range travel for local trips.

The new UTV rules are stricter and a little different. To drive one on a public road after November 18, the vehicle must be titled and registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, carry liability insurance, and display a regular license plate. It needs working headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and proper seat belts at every seat. The driver must be at least 17 with a regular Class D license, not a beginner permit or motorcycle license. Passengers have to be at least eight years old, and anyone under 21 needs a helmet with a face shield or goggles. The UTV itself must be able to reach speeds over 55 miles per hour, stay under 80 inches wide, and meet a few other size and power requirements.

Even then, these vehicles stay limited to secondary roads with posted speed limits of 55 miles per hour or less, and they cannot travel more than ten miles from the address on the registration. Interstates are completely off limits, and the usual traffic laws still apply, including rules against distracted driving and impaired operation. Cities and counties can add their own restrictions if they choose. Until November 18, taking a UTV onto any public road remains illegal and can earn a citation.

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For residents and visitors along the Grand Strand, the practical difference is that a registered UTV could cover a bit more ground and handle a few more road types than a typical golf cart, but only if every equipment, licensing, and distance rule is followed. It is not a free pass to cruise Ocean Boulevard or Kings Highway any more than a golf cart is. Think of it as an option for rural and residential errands rather than a new way to tour the beach.

Official details are available on the South Carolina Department of Public Safety website and from the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you own one of these vehicles, now is the time to check whether it qualifies and get the paperwork and equipment in order before the date arrives. Safe travels, whether you are in a car, a cart, or soon a carefully registered UTV.

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10/22/2026

WOOOOO! Did you know The Nature Boy himself, Ric Flair, used to vacation here regularly and absolutely loved the Grand Strand?

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

The stylin, profilin, limousine-ridin, jet-flyin 16-time World Champion stayed at the iconic Myrtle Beach, SC Hilton back in the day (where a young Stan Lane once delivered him those famous Bloody Marys in his room - true story!). He even owned a house right here in Myrtle Beach with six bedrooms and waterbeds!

Ric was also a regular at the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament in North Myrtle Beach, SC / Barefoot Resort, teeing it up with his brother Darius Rucker, singing at the House of Blues, and bringing that larger-than-life energy every time.

Myrtle Beach has always been Flair Country!

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Who remembers spotting Ric around town, at the beach, the golf course, or the Hilton? Drop your WOOOOO! and your favorite Ric Flair Myrtle Beach story in the comments below. Tag a friend who's a huge Nature Boy fan!

10/22/2026

The Jeepers Creepers Halloween Parade is filling up fast as part of the Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam, with 100 Jeeps already locked in and just 25 spots remaining.

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

On Thursday, October 29, 125 wildly decorated Jeeps will take over Ocean Boulevard with spooky lights, skeletons, pumpkins, costumes, and over the top Halloween creations that will turn the night into pure Halloween magic.

Want to join the parade? Only 25 spots remain, and they are first come, first served. Registration is 30 dollars per Jeep for registered Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam Jeeps only. This includes an exclusive Parade Decal and a limited edition Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam Car Flag. Compete for five Halloween Parade Awards.

Want to watch? It is free. Line Ocean Boulevard from 15th Avenue North to 8th Avenue North and catch all the Halloween madness.

Thursday, October 29 at 6:30 PM on Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach.

Do not miss your chance to be part of the first ever Jeepers Creepers Halloween Parade that kicks off the big Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam weekend.

Register and get full details at https://mbjeepjam.com/event/halloween-parade/

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10/22/2026

This video shows a marked Myrtle Beach, SC Police vehicle at night maneuvering around other cars in a way that many people have called dangerous.

The Myrtle Beach Police Department has responded, confirming the driver was a professional staff member ( not a sworn officer ) who was taking the vehicle to have technology equipment installed. The department described the driving as unacceptable, saying it endangers others and does not meet the standards, professionalism, or values expected of anyone associated with the department or the City of Myrtle Beach.

LOCAL NEWS AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY Jake Lee - Myrtle Beach & Pawleys Island Top Realtor

A supervisor has already addressed the incident and taken corrective action. Officials stated they are treating the matter seriously and will hold personnel accountable.

A marked police vehicle carries an extra responsibility on the road, regardless of who is behind the wheel. The department’s response makes clear they expect the same standard of safe, professional driving from civilian staff as they do from officers.

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10/22/2026

When you said you were ‘dying’ to get to Myrtle Beach… he took it literally.

10/22/2026

Just steps from the Atlantic, this Myrtle Beach, SC landmark has been pouring cold ones, hosting live bands, and living up to its motto “Ya’ Can’t Beat Fun!” since 1944. It’s the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the place where a scrappy young band called Alabama (then known as Wild Country) played for tips night after night from 1973 to 1980 before heading to Nashville and rewriting country music history.

But after the last note fades and the house lights go down, some say the party isn’t quite over.

Locals and staff have long whispered about “Barman Joe,” the singing bartender whose voice can still be heard near the bar. The real man behind the legend was “Don’t Cry Joe” Shotkus..a larger-than-life character who poured b**r at The Bowery from opening day until his death in 1997. He was famous for singing (and sometimes crying through) the old tune “Don’t Cry, Joe,” for carrying stacks of mugs, and for once setting a marathon dance record of more than 5,000 hours with his sister. According to the tale, he collapsed at the bar but came back just long enough to finish his b**r… and never fully left.

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Owner Victor Shamah says the ghost story is a twisted version of the real Joe, and that The Bowery isn’t haunted. Staff, though, have reported unexplained noises and activity after hours. Is it just an old building settling? The echo of decades of sh****ng, celebrating, and country music? Or does Joe still have one more song to finish?

Whether you’re chasing local legends, Alabama history, or just a great night of live music with The Bounty Hunters, The Bowery remains one of Myrtle Beach’s true originals. Next time you’re on the boardwalk, raise a glass and listen close.

Ya’ can’t beat fun… or the stories that linger after closing.

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10/21/2026