Updated: Nov. 6, 2024 at 4:45 PM PST

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Folly Beach hopes to curb a growing need for “cost-friendly” livability by expanding access to workforce housing, but they need opinions to push them forward.

Leaders are asking the public to weigh in on ideas to bring diverse housing options closer to city limits. The idea was first introduced in July when planning commission board members discussed creating affordable long-term rental spaces.

Folly Beach has seen an increase in July long-term rentals after a cap was placed in 2023 on short-term rental options.

“It’s getting to be a bit more expensive to live on Folly Beach, and that’s starting to impact our public safety, our service workers, who are having to move further out and find places they can afford to live in,” Councilmember Chris Bizzell says.

Sarah Piscatelli has worked on Folly Beach for more than a year. She admires the character of the beachfront and its local hospitality.

“I used to live on James Island, made a shorter commute. Since we now own a house in Goose Creek, so a longer commute,” Piscatelli says. “It is so rewarding to work somewhere and commute somewhere that is so beautiful.”

Coworkers and surrounding businesses share a similar experience. The restaurants, cafes and shops lining Center Street say peak tourism season gives them the business and the energy they need, but staffing can be difficult to maintain, despite the potential of higher pay.

Local residents add attainable housing is “no doubt, a need,” but would like to see how it would be done. City officials have confirmed there is not a lot of space in city limits for development.

“I know locals are super passionate about the community we have and are obtaining. I feel like any sort of additional housing, anything built besides whatever is being done already is excessive,” Piscatelli says.

The city aims to have a formal plan by February 2025 that includes details of cost, timeline, location and design. Between that time, leaders expect to hold public hearings and meetings to dispute options.

“We won’t be building high-rises, we can’t build high-rises because we don’t have room. The avenues we want to build through planning commission may look very different than they do in other places,” Zoning Administrator, Jenna Stephens, says. “Planning commission is about to send out a survey we hope business workers will answer, to know how far they live, how far they commute, how much they pay, are they looking for housing on Folly Beach and would they benefit from some sort of help.”

Bizzell says this is the time for “creative solutions,” as it can be difficult to gauge an “affordable” definition for housing. He adds the average single family home could cost anywhere between $3,000 and $4,000 a month.

To submit public comment on this project, you can contact the city of Folly Beach here.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCBD) – Toby’s Spooktacular Sweep, a Halloween celebration, returns for its third year at Folly Beach this year.

The annual beach sweep events kicks off Halloween early on Oct. 27. Participants are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes while they pick up litter along one of the six stations. The family-friendly event will provide Halloween temporary tattoos, slap wristbands, and stickers.

Vanessa Oltmann, founder of Toby’s Spooktacular Sweep, said why she organizes this event around the holiday.

“I decided we need to have fun, so what wouldn’t be better than to do a costume sweep, a spectacular – spooktacular for everyone,” Oltmann said.

The turnout for the event has been impactful to the coastal community by keeping areas within the beach clean.

“We’ve had over 300 volunteers over the past two years and we’ve collected close to 2300 pieces of debris,” Oltmann said.

Toby the Turtle and the City of Folly Beach host the sweep, while they continue to have a partnership with the South Carolina Aquarium.

“The aquarium provides all the supplies and the necessary equipment for us to be able to collect data” Oltmann said. “Which is very important in this world for us to know what kind of debris is in the ocean or on the earth, because everything that’s out there on the ground ends up in the ocean. And we want to protect wildlife, domestic life, marine life, and human life so that all affects us.”

Surrounding the beach sweep, one of the major concerns is plastics. Oltmann said anything that ends up in the ocean or in our waterways, eventually ends up in our bodily systems.

“This data actually helps us to be able to go to the city or any politicians to say look, we have an issue. What can we do to resolve the problem, the founder said. “This is why the sweeps are so important, they make the public aware of what’s here.”

The beach sweep is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with the costume contest to follow at 4 p.m. along with treats at the participating restaurants. For those who wish to participate, must sign up to receive a wristband and free parking.

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Folly Beach has been working on developing a plan in hopes of reducing car accidents and creating safer roads for pedestrians and drivers.

In April, the City approved a contract to develop this Safety Action Plan and leaders have been working on taking the necessary steps to create the most beneficial plan possible ever since.

Some steps they are taking to develop this plan include meeting with community members and stakeholders to get a sense of what improvements should be prioritized. They are also gathering data and audits about the roads, speed limits, and incident locations in the city.

Their hope is to collect all this information, create the Safety Action Plan based on it and then implement those plans.

The city has gathered crash statistics and data regarding pedestrians in the area so they can look at what improvements are needed as part of this comprehensive plan. Thursday evening the city is hosting a public meeting to present this data to the community and gather feedback on what safety improvements they would like to see.

The city is looking to narrow down the necessary projects and problem areas. For example, there have been several pedestrian incidents near Center Street, so that may be a project area they choose to prioritize.

Katie Zimmerman is the executive director of Charleston Moves, an organization that works toward building a safer and more accessible community for pedestrians and cyclists.

She says she anticipates this plan will take a year to complete before they can take action, but she shared how important this process is for community members to express their feedback.

“The best thing from the community is just to continue to participate in the process and make sure folks are letting the planners know what they’ve experienced, and also what their ideas are for safety improvements and where,” Zimmerman says. “You know, most of us are not engineers, but we certainly have experienced the situation in the community, not just Folly Beach, but throughout the county. It’s pretty dangerous for those of us who are biking and walking.”

Zimmerman says that pedestrian safety is a major issue across not just the Lowcountry, but throughout South Carolina.

Many other cities and municipalities have chosen to also develop Safety Action Plans and Zimmerman hopes those can help bring more of these changes to the Lowcountry and encourage a connected, safe environment for pedestrians.

Zimmerman says that, to bring these plans to fruition, the council must implement certain policies aimed at eliminating pedestrian fatalities and develop the plan so they can qualify for federal funding for the actual installation of these projects. Those also help them to better leverage future project plans.

One of these policies is a “Target Zero Plan,” which would set a goal to get the number of traffic fatalities down to zero by a certain year.

Zimmerman says pedestrians, and human beings in general, need to be the top priority.

“Everywhere pedestrians should be No. 1 in transportation planning,” she says. “Human beings are the most vulnerable, especially when they’re not in a car and obviously cars are now being built to be safer for people in the cars and not as safe for people who are outside of the cars, so we have a situation on our hands. South Carolina is a dangerous place for vulnerable road users.”

To Zimmerman, intersections, bridges and paths should be designed so well that it is safe enough for an 8-year-old to cross it, and she hopes that is what comes of the Safety Action Plan.

Thursday evening, the City of Folly Beach will be hosting its last scheduled informational drop-in session to gather community feedback on the development of the Safety Action Plan.

The meeting will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will take place at the Folly Beach Community Center located at 55 Center Street. The meeting is open for anyone to come and provide their input.

More information on the meeting as well as some of the crash data that will be presented can be found here.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

With 2876 miles of coastline, hemmed by beaches and barrier islands, South Carolina is a dream for seekers of sun, sea, sand, and, yes, even solitude. Whether you’re looking for silent strolling, family fun, or a spring break vibe, you'll find a beach in the Palmetto State that ticks the right boxes.

South Carolina entices visitors with cool, sparkling Atlantic waters and broad, sandy beaches that hide dazzling seashells and fossils (including fossilized teeth of the prehistoric shark Megalodon). You can admire the wildlife, dive deep into history, enjoy water sports, and dine, shop and enjoy the spa life in the best beach resorts in the Lowcountry.

Each of South Carolina’s beaches has its own vibe, and many are just a short drive from Charleston, a nostalgic nexus of southern charm. Consider South Carolina for your next beach vacation for memories that will last a lifetime; here are the state's top beaches.

1. Folly Beach

Best beach for surf town vibes

Just south of Charleston, Folly Island has the Atlantic Ocean right outside the front door and the Folly River right out back. Eons of interaction between these two bodies of water created the six miles of broad sandy beaches that ring the island – great spots to surf and boogie board, kayak and fish, go boating or water ski.

Hailed as one of America's last true beach towns, Folly Beach's storied history begins with its original residents, the Bohicket Indians, who lived in the area until the 1600s when European colonists forced them to relocate.

Today, Folly Island has 2400 full-time residents, but the population swells on holidays and weekends. A charming and funky surf vibe pervades on Folly Beach's Center Street, lined with boho clothing shops and seafood restaurants.

The surrounding island is dotted with ocean-focused attractions, including Folly Beach Pier, a pelican rookery and the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, with scenic coastal landscapes framing the Morris Island Lighthouse.

Folly Beach is a great place for culture, too. The Porgy House was home to Charleston authors DuBose and Dorothy Heyward in the 1930s. This is also where, in 1934, George Gershwin wrote Porgy and Bess, based on DuBose Hayward’s novel.

Planning Tip: For a fun family day out, explore the marshlands along the Folly River by kayak – it’s an adventure that’s safe and fun for kids of any age, and kayak excursions can be easily arranged in Folly Beach.

2. Hilton Head

Best beach for luxury

Famous for its stylish luxury accommodations, Lowcountry beaches and more than 23 world-class golf courses, Hilton Head was the first eco-planned resort in the United States, and it's a favorite vacation spot for the ritzy set.

You can steep yourself in decadent luxury at Hilton Head’s spas, dine in four-diamond-rated restaurants and play a round or two in between bronzing and beach-combing, but you'll need a budget to match.

Covering 42 sq miles, low-lying Hilton Head Island is bordered by 12 miles of stunning beaches, and many of the island’s exclusive hotels have their own private beach access. The Gulf Stream keeps the daytime temperature comfortably above 80°F from May to September, and the ocean waters are not much cooler in summer. Travelers on a budget will appreciate the public sections of beach; metered parking is available at eight of the island’s beaches.

While Hilton Head is famous for its high-end offerings, there’s plenty of pocket-friendly exploring for families and nature buffs. Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge is home to deer and alligators, and myriad bird species throng its maze of salt marshes and lagoons. Moss-draped oaks, magnolias, pines, and palmettos make for wonderful photos.

Planning Tip: Plan your trip for September (after Labor Day), when the beaches are emptier, but temps are still pleasant. You'll also have the best chances of seeing a sea turtle nest hatch. If you're lucky enough to experience it, don't shine any lights on the hatchlings as they make their way to the ocean (they'll get confused!).

3. Edisto Beach

Best beach for nature lovers

One of four oceanfront state parks in South Carolina, Edisto Beach is a great rustic getaway for nature lovers. A vacation on the sand-fringed island of the same name invariably involves adventures in the great outdoors.

The state park is crosshatched with hiking and biking trails, including the state’s longest system of ADA-accessible hiking and biking trails. Edisto Beach provides affordable beach fun, from furnished cabins in the woods to oceanfront and forest campsites. Hike, bike, explore the beach, fish and splash in the shallows to your heart's content.

The park also has an environmental education center with exhibits on the natural history of Edisto Island and the surrounding ACE Basin, which includes the watersheds of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers. The park is a nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles from May to October.

Planning Tip: To keep kids engaged, search the palmetto-lined strip of sand on Edisto Beach for colorful seashells and keep an eye peeled for fossils. Petrified bones from mammoths, saber-toothed cats and other prehistoric mammals have been found here.

4. Bull Island

Best beach to avoid the crowds

Stepping onto Bull Island – also known as Bulls Island – is like setting out on an east coast safari. Accessible by ferry or kayak, with 16 miles of trails and seven miles of undeveloped shoreline to explore, this is the perfect island to avoid the crowds and enjoy the unspoiled scenery of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.

Bull Island is a famous haven for migrating birds, with more than 293 species recorded here. Kids will love spotting a regal American bald eagle. If observing alligators, catching a glimpse of black foxes, or spotting bottlenose dolphins is on your bucket list, naturalist-guided tours are great for all ages.

The 66,000-acre island is the largest of four barrier islands within the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, which preserves saltwater estuaries, marshlands, freshwater impoundments and maritime forests. Bottlenose dolphins raise their calves in Bull Island's protected creeks, and loggerhead sea turtles nest on the island beaches.

Boneyard Beach, named for the bleached skeletons of oaks, cedars, palmettos and pines that litter a three-mile stretch of beach at the island's northeast corner, is popular with photographers.

Planning Tip: Bull Island is a great day trip from Charleston, which is about 50 minutes by road from the ferry launch in Awendaw. Contact Coastal Expeditions for a variety of island excursions by kayak, stand-up paddleboard or ferry.

5. Crescent Beach

Best beach for families

Myrtle Beach is South Carolina’s most popular beach resort, luring more than 19 million visitors annually. Tourists come for the family-friendly attractions, beachfront hotels, all-ages entertainment, and, of course, the white-sand beaches.

The sandy strip extends northeast towards North Myrtle Beach, where dreamy Crescent Beach is the city's hidden gem. It's the best spot to settle in under a beach umbrella with a good book as the kids boogie board in the surf or build sandcastles on the shore.

You’ll find plenty of adventure and water sports in North Myrtle Beach, from wakeboarding and jet-skiing to surfing and parasailing – perfect if you're a water-loving adrenaline junkie.

Planning Tip: On land, kids will love the thrills and spills at Family Kingdom and the towering Skywheel Ferris wheel. Take a break from the commercial attractions with a boardwalk stroll in peaceful Myrtle Beach State Park.

6. Kiawah Island

Best beach for privacy

A private escape with 10 miles of white-sand beaches, Kiawah Island is a little slice of paradise. A world-class resort and a vibrant village coexist along a pristine coastline, flanking 10,000 acres of coastal woodland, sand dunes and marshes populated by whitetail deer, alligators, bobcats, seabirds and sea turtles.

While this is one of the best beach destinations for a luxury vacation, the natural setting is being preserved and enhanced for current and future generations. Most beaches are private and reserved for property owners, resort guests and holiday-let renters, but casual visitors to the island can sun and swim at beautiful Beachwalker County Park.

The island is as welcoming to families as to couples. With kids in tow, soak up the sun and splash in the surf, then visit the 500-year-old Angel Oak Tree; for a grown-up experience, grab a meal or a drink at the Charleston Tea Garden or the Firefly Distillery.

Planning Tip: Kiawah Island is accessible by road from Charleston in around 45 minutes, so it's an easy day trip if your budget doesn't stretch to stopping over. There's parking at the Beachwalker County Park, but the 150 spaces fill quickly in summer, so arrive early.

Published: Oct. 10, 2024 at 2:05 AM PDT|

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) - A Lowcountry nonprofit that works to enhance the lives of veterans and their families is giving the community an inside look at what they do and the impact they have.

The Warrior Surf Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that was founded in the Lowcountry in 2015. The organization offers a free surf therapy, yoga, one-on-one wellness coaching and a sense of community to veterans.

The organization focuses specifically on veterans struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, transition issues and other mental health issues.

Warrior Surf Foundation offers a 12-week program that is free for anyone who is military affiliated, whether they are a veteran, an active-duty member, or even a family member of a veteran.

But for the first time ever, the organization will host a community day for anyone of any age to come out to see what they do and meet the Warrior Surf Team.

The different outlets that the organization offers allow veterans to work with physical barriers they may have developed while serving, as well as mental barriers like anger and trust issues.

Joshua Suggs is the chief surf instructor for the organization and a veteran himself. Suggs served in the army and has been a part of the Warrior Surf Foundation for four years. He says that throughout his time with the program, he has seen it completely change the lives of the participants and helped break barriers for them both physically and mentally.

“I have watched people who carry around that anger and aren’t exactly socially capable anymore, completely turn around like a full 180. And you see people come out of their shells, which is kind of their safety mechanism. They’ve been hurt so many times and lost trust through the military, and they feel capable of being in society again because of community,” Suggs says.

One of the organization’s mottos is “leave it on the beach,” encouraging the veterans to be present in the moment and to release any negative feelings they may be having. While the therapy programs are impactful, Suggs shared the top reason he encourages veterans to check their organization out.

“Mostly for the community. In all honesty, I mean, there’s surfing everywhere. You can do yoga at home if you really want to. And just specifically for veterans, the VA offers therapy, but if you want to get involved with a new group of people that will make you feel comfortable, vulnerable, if you wish, safe, which is a really hard thing for vets specifically that’s why they should get involved. Come and find new people that are experiencing the same struggles that are also seeking something to help with those struggles,” he says.

For anyone interested in checking out what this organization does, they will have the opportunity to do so this weekend.

The Warrior Surf Foundation will host their first ever community day Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at 3rd Street West on Folly Beach.

The event is free and open for anyone of any age or skill level in the community to attend, military affiliated or not.

They will be accepting donations at this event to go completely toward the Warrior Surf Foundation’s Surf Therapy Program.

The community day will begin with yoga at 8 a.m., surfing from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a large group meditation. It is an opportunity to see what “Day One” is like for those who participate in the 12-week program.

Event leaders say that participants should bring a towel, change of clothes, sunscreen, water and a snack. Foam surfboards will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested in attending can RSVP through this link here. They will also need to fill out the waiver linked here.

For those interested in supporting the work the organization does, donations can be made here.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.