Garden City Beach
Garden City Beach History
As with many other cities along the Grand Strand, Garden City Beach was destroyed by Hurricane Hazel when it made landfall in 1954. In fact, only a handful of houses remained habitable after the storm passed. Garden City was, again, hit by a major hurricane when Hurricane Hugo struck in 1989. The area re-built after both hurricanes and it is now known as a quieter, less commercialized beach along the Grand Strand where surfers come to enjoy the waves in a less busy part of town.
Garden City Beach, SC is an unincorporated town partially in Horry County and partially in Georgetown County. Garden City Beach is just south of Surfside Beach (South Ocean Blvd. in Surfside Beach becomes North Waccamaw Drive in Garden City Beach). The borders of the beach area of Garden City Beach are Surfside Beach to the north, the Murrells Inlet tidal creek to the west, the mouth of Murrells Inlet and the jetties to the south and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. The beach area of Garden City Beach is only a few miles long and not even a ½ mile wide. While Garden City Beach does not have a governing body, the Garden City Beach Community Association organizes several events throughout the year and also works on town beautification.
Garden City Beach Properties For Sale
The ocean, tidal creeks and marsh land of Garden City Beach is now home to many full-time residents and the short-term home of people from across the country looking for some relaxation. In Garden City Beach, you can purchase anything from a small condo to use for your vacation home or primary residence to a 7+ bedroom oceanfront beach house.
Properties here can have views of the water, both ocean and marsh, and often are dotted with Spanish moss covered oak trees that are hundreds of years old or Palmetto trees to remind you that you are at the beach.
Homes For Sale
- Ocean Front Homes
- Ocean View Homes
- Marsh Front Homes
- Under $200,000
- $200,000-$400,000
- $400,000-$500,000
- Above $500,000
Condos For Sale
- Ocean Front Condos
- Ocean View Condos
- Marsh Front Condos
- Under $200,000
- $200,000-$400,000
- $400,000-$500,000
- Over $500,000
Shopping
Garden City Beach has a few locally owned shops that you need to visit while you are in town. The Village Surf Shoppe has been in business since 1969. It is the “go to” shop in Garden City Beach for all your surfing and paddle board needs including lessons and rentals. While there, grab a new pair of flip flops, sunglasses, t-shirt or other accessories.
If you need to go grocery shopping and do not want to venture out on Business 17, drive your golf cart up Atlantic Avenue to Kroger’s. You’ll be able to get all the groceries you need for a great weekend or week at the beach and a cup of Starbuck’s to go! Off Business 17, you will find a Walmart Supercenter and a Food Lion a little farther down the Garden City Connector.
Dining and Entertainment
While on the beach, you can walk up to Sam’s Corner at the corner of S. Waccamaw and Atlantic Avenue to grab a hot dog or hamburger and a drink.
After a long day at the beach, you can eat at one of the local seafood 
After a long, lazy day at the beach, visit Painter’s Ice Cream at one of their two Garden City Beach, SC locations (one of Business 17 and one on The Pier).
Parks and Recreation
The main attraction in Garden City Beach, SC is the beach! Because there are not many high-rise hotels…especially on the south end of Garden City Beach, the beaches are not as crowded as the beaches in Myrtle Beach. Watch out at high tide though…there’s not much beach! Many days when crossing the marsh on Atlantic Avenue, you will see people crabbing in the marsh or fishing off the marshwalk. Surfers get together at the Garden City Pier for surfing competitions throughout the year or just to catch a few waves. In the summer, visit the Garden City Beach Pavilion, Arcade and GiGi’s Grill, a go-cart track and a few carnival rides in the summer.
The Marlin Quay Marina is a full service marina offering charter fishing, parasailing and extreme blaster jet boat rides. The marina also has a convenience store so you can pick up snacks and drinks to take with you for you day on the water and their grill opens each year in May for lunch.
For the golfers and putt-putters in your group, visit the Tupelo Bay Golf Center. There you will find an executive course, a lighted Par 3 course, driving range, putting green and 2 18-hole miniature golf courses.
Commute
As with other cities along the Grand Strand, Garden City Beach is close to everything. The most commonly used roads will be Business 17 and Bypass 17. Highway 707 and Highway 31 can also be used to get around the area and to Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. Garden City Beach is about 30 minutes to the Myrtle Beach International Airport and about an hour and a half to Charleston, SC.
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Schools
Because Garden City Beach expands across two counties, the area is served by two school districts. The Horry County part of Garden City Beach is served by the St. James School District while the Georgetown County part of Garden City Beach is served by the Waccamaw School District.
St. James School District
Seaside Elementary School (Kindergarten – 4th Grade)
1605 Woodland Drive, Garden City Beach, SC 29576
843-650-3490
St. James Intermediate School (5th Grade and 6th Grade)
9641 Scipio Lane, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
843-903-6005
- School Website
- School Facebook Page
- State Report Card
- GreatSchools.org Page
St. James Middle School (7th Grade and 8th Grade)
9775 St. James Road, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
843-650-5543
St. James High School (9th Grade – 12th Grade)
10800 Highway 707, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
843-650-5600
Waccamaw Schools
Waccamaw Elementary School (Kindergarten – 3rd Grade)
1364 Waverly Road, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
843-237-4233
Waccamaw Intermediate School (4th Grade – 6th Grade)
320 Wildcat Way, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
843-237-7071
Waccamaw Middle School (7th Grade and 8th Grade)
247 Wildcat Way, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
843-237-0106
Waccamaw High School (9th Grade – 12th Grade)
2412 Kings River Road, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
843-237-9889
Contact Kathy Rukat Smith about Garden City Beach
Complete the form below with any questions you have about Garden City Beach or call/text Kathy Rukat Smith at 843-267-2710.