Pawleys Plantation history

“By 1840, there were no small rice planters, having been bought out by powerful men who bought contiguous lands or subsidiary tracts to the north and south.

The South Causeway was built by slaves in 1846 under the direction of planter R.F.W. Allston.

By 1860, these families were responsible for Georgetown County being credited with producing more rice than any other place in the world, except Calcutta, India.

The Atlantic Coast Lumber Co., too, bought and built houses on Pawleys Island in 1900 for use as employee retreats, including the Weston House, now the historic Pelican Inn, which still welcomes visitors today.

Atlantic Coast Lumber wanted to help its hundreds of employees enjoy the beach, so in 1902 the company built a railroad from Hagley Landing to the island, running along the South Causeway.

The hurricane of 1906 damaged the railroad so badly it was discontinued, but Pawleys kept its place as a draw for vacationers.

One of the first was the Pawleys Island Hammock Shop, built in 1935 to showcase the product.

Those folks may be seen at the annual “Pawleys Pavilion Reunion,” which celebrates the much-loved pavilion that burned down in 1970.

When property owners heard talk of large chain hotels considering vacant land on the island, they incorporated as a town in 1986 and passed ordinances forbidding commercial establishments.

While there was major damage from Hugo, help from locals and the Pawleys Island Rotary helped finance extensive restorations. It also saw major restorations in 2005, which gave the building a new roof, siding, windows, and central heat and air conditioning.

In 2012, Liberty Lodge celebrated ownership by one single family for 100 years! The former owner of Liberty Lodge is said to be the inventor of the Pawleys Island Rope Hammock, unchanged and still sold just off the island today.

These restorations were followed by a foundation repair that took place in 2018.