Search Surfside Beach Area Homes
Search By Area MapSurfside Beach, SC
Geographic Features
Nestled in the heart of the Grand Strand, Surfside Beach is a small town located along the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina. It has a small population of over 5,000 people with two neighborhoods and is the 111th largest community in the state. Affectionately called "The Family Beach", Surfside Beach's two miles of pristine coastline are well loved by both vacationers and residents. This town has succeeded in maintaining its laid back small town charm despite being a thriving vacation destination. Many families return year after year to enjoy the white sand beaches and relaxing atmosphere.
There are many activities to keep everyone happy in Surfside Beach. From swimming to surfing, the ocean provides endless fun. Many enjoy the superb year round fishing either from a boat or from the town's pier. Catch many types of fish including king mackerel, flounder, and trout.
Surfside Beach is located directly south of the fast past bustle of Myrtle Beach. A short car ride is all it takes to leave the soothing seashores behind and enter a hive of activity that will entice the entire family.
Price Range
Surfside Beach has over 3,800 homes and apartments with a median home price of $295,248. Most of the homes are single-family detached homes with 2 to 3 bedrooms but there are still a reasonable number of small apartment buildings and high-rise complexes. Many homes were built between 1970 and 1994 and there are some new and historic homes.
- $0-$100,000 1.61%
- $100,001-$200,000 15.79%
- $200,001-$398,000 62.99%
- $398,001-$598,000 13.41%
- $598,001-$797,000 5.13%
- $797,001-$997,000 0.46%
- $997,001-$1,495,000 0.61%
- $1,495,001-$1,993,000 0.00%
Area History and Culture
What is now Surfside Beach was once part of the 3,200-acre Ark Plantation, owned by John M. Tillman. The property included a plantation house, several outbuildings and cleared fields where sweet potatoes where grown. By 1860 his 60 slaves produced 3,000 bushels of sweet potatoes and grew 90 acres of rice. After Tillman's death the plantation was divided and changed hands many times until in 1952 it became known as Surfside Beach. The area was fairly undeveloped and was covered with sand dunes and a sleepy one-lane road that led from the highway to the beach.
1954's Hurricane Hazel demolished 18 of the town's 65 cottages. Developers cleared the lots, leveled the sand, and brought in topsoil. T. J. Harrison, who later became the town's first mayor, opened the first grocery store in 1955 for the vacationers and 6 year round families.
Significant growth in Surfside Beach started in 1956 when Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was reactivated and its reputation as a family beach began to grow. Surfside Beach was first incorporated in 1964 with 881 residents. Many people began to visit and retire, looking for a quiet beachside community and wonderful year round weather. The Grand Strand, including Surfside Beach became one of the fastest growing parts of the country.
In 2007 Surfside Beach adopted a public-places smoking ban. They were the first town in Horry County to enact such a ban and one of only a handful in South Carolina at the time.
Daily Life
Despite the popularity of the region, Surfside Beach has succeeded in retaining its beautiful small town beach charm. It continues to be a treasure for families looking for a relaxing and fun vacation destination and retirees looking relocated in order to bask in the mild year round weather. The daily life here incorporates many of the benefits of small town living complete with modern conveniences. Friendly faces will greet you on walks around town and soon locals will shower you with southern hospitality.
Traffic is rarely a concern in Surfside Beach, plus daily commutes are practically non-existent. Surfside Beach is a well-educated community; 27.50% of adults in Surfside Beach have a college degree compared to 14.96% nationally. Surfside Beach is also a town of artists and has many art galleries featuring regional art. There are more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America.
Living here provides opportunities to enjoy the natural splendor. Locals take pleasure in the white sand beaches and Atlantic Ocean. Water sports like surfing and boating a popular pastimes. Temperate winters mean the world-class golf and tennis can be played outside year round.
Golf
As part of the Grand Strand, amazing world-class golf can be found in Surfside Beach. The Tupelo Bay Golf Club opened in 1999 and was designed by William Spear to challenge golfers of all levels.
Indian Wells Golf Club has a course rating of 71.9, slope rating of 125 and features 6,624 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. It was designed by Gene Hamm and opened in 1985.
Opening in 1990, Indigo Creek Golf Club boasts 6,744 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 72.9 and it has a slope rating of 140 on Bermuda grass. The back nine is set among giant oaks and features stunning creeks. Golf Digest's 1998 Places to Play has even awarded Indigo Creek a well earned 3 Stars.
Surfside Beach is close to the famous Myrtle Beach, dubbed the "Golf Capitol of the World." High caliber golf course architects including Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, the late Robert Trent Jones Sr., and many others have designed courses. There are even courses designed by pros like John Daly, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus.
Recreation and Sports
As its name suggests, Surfside Beach is famous for its lovely family friendly beaches. The town has 36 beach access points and wheelchair access is available at the 3rd Avenue North entrance, Surfside Pier, and Melody Lane accesses. The white sand beaches are perfect for hunting for shells, building sand castles, and laying in the sunshine. Swimmers will enjoy the clear water and fun surfing and kayaking opportunities. Jet skiing and boating are great ways to get out in the water and throughout the year fishing is a popular sport. The Surfside Pier is an excellent choice for inshore fishing; king mackerel and flounder are caught at all times of the year.
To get a closer look at fish from around the world go to Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach. This 85,000 square foot aquarium is a feast for the eyes and provides a fun family experience where everyone will learn something new.
Get wet at Wild Water and Wheels, a 16-acre park filled with thrilling water rides and slides. The entire family will love to cool off.
Also popular is the Waccatee Zoological Farm, located within 500 acres of private, carefully preserved, wooded property. Along winding trails and beneath shady trees, you'll find over 100 species of animals.
Night Life
Surfside Beach has a varied nightlife that will keep everyone happily engaged. Try one of the waterfront restaurants and end your evening strolling the beach under the moon. Multiple lounges offer the perfect place for a fine glass of wine, beer, or cocktail.
Celebration Music Theatre boasts live entertainment that includes a world class live acts, theatre productions, tribute artist show, stunning dancers, and even a just for kids production. This theatre is in an intimate setting where everyone feels like they have the best seat in the house.
For those looking for a more vibrant nightlife, Myrtle Beach is only a quick drive away. Whether you're interested in dancing at nightclubs, singing karaoke, watching live concerts, or learning the shag, there is a perfect place to fit everyone's taste. The House of Blues at Barefoot Landing draws internationally known musicians and is one of the areas largest venues. Other popular venues for music include the Palace Theatre, the Alabama Theatre, Calvin Gilmore's Carolina Opry, and Legends in Concert.
There are a multitude of nightclubs in Myrtle Beach, most of which are located at Broadway at the Beach's nightclub district Celebrity Square. It features New Orleans-style Boulevard and has 10 clubs perfect for dancing all night long, singing karaoke, or enjoying a relaxing beer.
Festivals and Events
Surfside Beach's Sun Fun Festival is the summertime kickoff for South Carolina's Grand Strand. It also marks the beginning of the Sun Fun Summer of Celebration, which runs the entire summer from June through September. The Festival boasts four days of live entertainment that will have everyone out of his or her seat dancing and having a great time. There is also a spectacular air show, parade, pageants, sporting events, and a kid fair. Don't miss the professional sand sculpture contest. Participants create outlandish sculptures so intricate that it is hard to believe they are made only of sand.
Just a short drive away, nearby Myrtle Beach always seems to be hosting an event or festival. One of their most popular events is the Spring Bike Week and Bike Rally, the largest single motorcycle and Harley rally in the Carolinas. Bikers flock from all over the country to get together and eat lots of great regional food and enjoy live entertainment.
Parks
Surfside Beach features a wide array of parks and nature preserves. All Children's Park contains two playgrounds that are accessible to both physically challenged and able-bodied children. Dog owners love the Bark Park, a dog park located next to the library. Fuller Park features two-lighted tennis courts, a playground, and picnic area with restroom facilities. Huckabee Recreational Complex hosts the youth and adult softball, baseball, and football programs and offers three baseball fields, a football field, a tot lot for children 5 and under, a picnic shelter, and restroom facilities. Martin Park is located along the waterfront park and has two shuffleboard courts, a horseshoe pit, two bocce ball courts, and four picnic shelters. There is also the Floral Clubhouse, which accommodates approximately 35 people, and is available for rent year-round. Martin Field offers a lighted baseball field with a covered picnic area and is the site for T-Ball and Coach Pitch games. Passice Park has beautiful live oaks where you'll find picnic tables, a gazebo, and Veterans Memorial fountain.
The Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington State Park are only a short drive away and are truly not to be missed. The Brookgreen Gardens features hundreds of sculptures and breathtaking flower plantings. Huntington State Park is a picturesque oceanfront park that boasts some of the most pristine wildlife areas around. There are miles of trails that wind their way through the beach, wetlands, and sand dunes.
Schools
Surfside Beach public schools are part of the Horry County School District, which is rated 96.5% higher than other South Carolina schools and 2.3% higher than the national average. This district has a total of $35,218 students and average 15 children per classroom and 11.3 students per teacher. Horry County spends $4995 per student compared to the national average of $5,678.
Horry County School District's recent honors include:
- Met 92% of Adequate Yearly Progress objectives under No Child Left Behind.
- 47% percent more district students participated in AP courses and took AP exams in 2009.
- The District's performance on the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) is higher than the state in 23 out of 24 tests. The percentage of students scoring at the Exemplary level exceeded the state average in all subjects at all grade levels.
Neighborhoods
There are two neighborhoods in Surfside Beach, the Town Center and Garden City. Property values are higher in the Town Center due to the higher number of commercial real estate.
Geographic Features
Nestled in the heart of the Grand Strand, Surfside Beach is a small town located along the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina. It has a small population of over 5,000 people with two neighborhoods and is the 111th largest community in the state. Affectionately called "The Family Beach", Surfside Beach's two miles of pristine coastline are well loved by both vacationers and residents. This town has succeeded in maintaining its laid back small town charm despite being a thriving vacation destination. Many families return year after year to enjoy the white sand beaches and relaxing atmosphere.
There are many activities to keep everyone happy in Surfside Beach. From swimming to surfing, the ocean provides endless fun. Many enjoy the superb year round fishing either from a boat or from the town's pier. Catch many types of fish including king mackerel, flounder, and trout.
Surfside Beach is located directly south of the fast past bustle of Myrtle Beach. A short car ride is all it takes to leave the soothing seashores behind and enter a hive of activity that will entice the entire family.
Price Range
Surfside Beach has over 3,800 homes and apartments with a median home price of $295,248. Most of the homes are single-family detached homes with 2 to 3 bedrooms but there are still a reasonable number of small apartment buildings and high-rise complexes. Many homes were built between 1970 and 1994 and there are some new and historic homes.
- $0-$100,000 1.61%
- $100,001-$200,000 15.79%
- $200,001-$398,000 62.99%
- $398,001-$598,000 13.41%
- $598,001-$797,000 5.13%
- $797,001-$997,000 0.46%
- $997,001-$1,495,000 0.61%
- $1,495,001-$1,993,000 0.00%
Area History and Culture
What is now Surfside Beach was once part of the 3,200-acre Ark Plantation, owned by John M. Tillman. The property included a plantation house, several outbuildings and cleared fields where sweet potatoes where grown. By 1860 his 60 slaves produced 3,000 bushels of sweet potatoes and grew 90 acres of rice. After Tillman's death the plantation was divided and changed hands many times until in 1952 it became known as Surfside Beach. The area was fairly undeveloped and was covered with sand dunes and a sleepy one-lane road that led from the highway to the beach.
1954's Hurricane Hazel demolished 18 of the town's 65 cottages. Developers cleared the lots, leveled the sand, and brought in topsoil. T. J. Harrison, who later became the town's first mayor, opened the first grocery store in 1955 for the vacationers and 6 year round families.
Significant growth in Surfside Beach started in 1956 when Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was reactivated and its reputation as a family beach began to grow. Surfside Beach was first incorporated in 1964 with 881 residents. Many people began to visit and retire, looking for a quiet beachside community and wonderful year round weather. The Grand Strand, including Surfside Beach became one of the fastest growing parts of the country.
In 2007 Surfside Beach adopted a public-places smoking ban. They were the first town in Horry County to enact such a ban and one of only a handful in South Carolina at the time.
Daily Life
Despite the popularity of the region, Surfside Beach has succeeded in retaining its beautiful small town beach charm. It continues to be a treasure for families looking for a relaxing and fun vacation destination and retirees looking relocated in order to bask in the mild year round weather. The daily life here incorporates many of the benefits of small town living complete with modern conveniences. Friendly faces will greet you on walks around town and soon locals will shower you with southern hospitality.
Traffic is rarely a concern in Surfside Beach, plus daily commutes are practically non-existent. Surfside Beach is a well-educated community; 27.50% of adults in Surfside Beach have a college degree compared to 14.96% nationally. Surfside Beach is also a town of artists and has many art galleries featuring regional art. There are more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America.
Living here provides opportunities to enjoy the natural splendor. Locals take pleasure in the white sand beaches and Atlantic Ocean. Water sports like surfing and boating a popular pastimes. Temperate winters mean the world-class golf and tennis can be played outside year round.
Golf
As part of the Grand Strand, amazing world-class golf can be found in Surfside Beach. The Tupelo Bay Golf Club opened in 1999 and was designed by William Spear to challenge golfers of all levels.
Indian Wells Golf Club has a course rating of 71.9, slope rating of 125 and features 6,624 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. It was designed by Gene Hamm and opened in 1985.
Opening in 1990, Indigo Creek Golf Club boasts 6,744 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 72.9 and it has a slope rating of 140 on Bermuda grass. The back nine is set among giant oaks and features stunning creeks. Golf Digest's 1998 Places to Play has even awarded Indigo Creek a well earned 3 Stars.
Surfside Beach is close to the famous Myrtle Beach, dubbed the "Golf Capitol of the World." High caliber golf course architects including Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, the late Robert Trent Jones Sr., and many others have designed courses. There are even courses designed by pros like John Daly, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus.
Recreation and Sports
As its name suggests, Surfside Beach is famous for its lovely family friendly beaches. The town has 36 beach access points and wheelchair access is available at the 3rd Avenue North entrance, Surfside Pier, and Melody Lane accesses. The white sand beaches are perfect for hunting for shells, building sand castles, and laying in the sunshine. Swimmers will enjoy the clear water and fun surfing and kayaking opportunities. Jet skiing and boating are great ways to get out in the water and throughout the year fishing is a popular sport. The Surfside Pier is an excellent choice for inshore fishing; king mackerel and flounder are caught at all times of the year.
To get a closer look at fish from around the world go to Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach. This 85,000 square foot aquarium is a feast for the eyes and provides a fun family experience where everyone will learn something new.
Get wet at Wild Water and Wheels, a 16-acre park filled with thrilling water rides and slides. The entire family will love to cool off.
Also popular is the Waccatee Zoological Farm, located within 500 acres of private, carefully preserved, wooded property. Along winding trails and beneath shady trees, you'll find over 100 species of animals.
Night Life
Surfside Beach has a varied nightlife that will keep everyone happily engaged. Try one of the waterfront restaurants and end your evening strolling the beach under the moon. Multiple lounges offer the perfect place for a fine glass of wine, beer, or cocktail.
Celebration Music Theatre boasts live entertainment that includes a world class live acts, theatre productions, tribute artist show, stunning dancers, and even a just for kids production. This theatre is in an intimate setting where everyone feels like they have the best seat in the house.
For those looking for a more vibrant nightlife, Myrtle Beach is only a quick drive away. Whether you're interested in dancing at nightclubs, singing karaoke, watching live concerts, or learning the shag, there is a perfect place to fit everyone's taste. The House of Blues at Barefoot Landing draws internationally known musicians and is one of the areas largest venues. Other popular venues for music include the Palace Theatre, the Alabama Theatre, Calvin Gilmore's Carolina Opry, and Legends in Concert.
There are a multitude of nightclubs in Myrtle Beach, most of which are located at Broadway at the Beach's nightclub district Celebrity Square. It features New Orleans-style Boulevard and has 10 clubs perfect for dancing all night long, singing karaoke, or enjoying a relaxing beer.
Festivals and Events
Surfside Beach's Sun Fun Festival is the summertime kickoff for South Carolina's Grand Strand. It also marks the beginning of the Sun Fun Summer of Celebration, which runs the entire summer from June through September. The Festival boasts four days of live entertainment that will have everyone out of his or her seat dancing and having a great time. There is also a spectacular air show, parade, pageants, sporting events, and a kid fair. Don't miss the professional sand sculpture contest. Participants create outlandish sculptures so intricate that it is hard to believe they are made only of sand.
Just a short drive away, nearby Myrtle Beach always seems to be hosting an event or festival. One of their most popular events is the Spring Bike Week and Bike Rally, the largest single motorcycle and Harley rally in the Carolinas. Bikers flock from all over the country to get together and eat lots of great regional food and enjoy live entertainment.
Parks
Surfside Beach features a wide array of parks and nature preserves. All Children's Park contains two playgrounds that are accessible to both physically challenged and able-bodied children. Dog owners love the Bark Park, a dog park located next to the library. Fuller Park features two-lighted tennis courts, a playground, and picnic area with restroom facilities. Huckabee Recreational Complex hosts the youth and adult softball, baseball, and football programs and offers three baseball fields, a football field, a tot lot for children 5 and under, a picnic shelter, and restroom facilities. Martin Park is located along the waterfront park and has two shuffleboard courts, a horseshoe pit, two bocce ball courts, and four picnic shelters. There is also the Floral Clubhouse, which accommodates approximately 35 people, and is available for rent year-round. Martin Field offers a lighted baseball field with a covered picnic area and is the site for T-Ball and Coach Pitch games. Passice Park has beautiful live oaks where you'll find picnic tables, a gazebo, and Veterans Memorial fountain.
The Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington State Park are only a short drive away and are truly not to be missed. The Brookgreen Gardens features hundreds of sculptures and breathtaking flower plantings. Huntington State Park is a picturesque oceanfront park that boasts some of the most pristine wildlife areas around. There are miles of trails that wind their way through the beach, wetlands, and sand dunes.
Schools
Surfside Beach public schools are part of the Horry County School District, which is rated 96.5% higher than other South Carolina schools and 2.3% higher than the national average. This district has a total of $35,218 students and average 15 children per classroom and 11.3 students per teacher. Horry County spends $4995 per student compared to the national average of $5,678.
Horry County School District's recent honors include:
- Met 92% of Adequate Yearly Progress objectives under No Child Left Behind.
- 47% percent more district students participated in AP courses and took AP exams in 2009.
- The District's performance on the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) is higher than the state in 23 out of 24 tests. The percentage of students scoring at the Exemplary level exceeded the state average in all subjects at all grade levels.
Neighborhoods
There are two neighborhoods in Surfside Beach, the Town Center and Garden City. Property values are higher in the Town Center due to the higher number of commercial real estate.
