A Funky Little Beach Town Folly Beach, South Carolina
VISITORS TO FOLLY BEACH KNOW it as a tiny beach town due south of Charleston, with several restaurants and shops standing shoulder-to-shoul- der along six blocks of Center Street. Te big hotel at
BY MARGARET ANN MICHELS
the end of the main drag reminds them of other beaches, until they realize that at Folly, there is only one. Turn off Center Street in either direction and the ocean view belongs to the cottages and houses along a seven- mile stretch of beautiful beach. Charleston area locals know the
island town as the home of one of the nicest fishing piers around, one of the best surf breaks on the East Coast, a great beach to hang out with friends on weekends and the site of the annual summer season kickoff, the Sea and Sand Festival. “Folly is an eclectic collection of old and new, where cottages, mega- mansions and rental properties create a melting pot of different personalities and incomes,” according to Joe Fersner of Mount Pleasant, who grew up spend- ing summers at his family’s Folly beach house. “It’s very different from the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. It’s still the best community beach around.” LaJuan Kennedy is another local who knows Folly Beach more inti-
mately than most. She grew up on the island, and she has worked there for more than 35 years as an agent with Fred Holland Realty. “In the wintertime when I was a child, there was nobody out here but us. We congregated and played football in the middle of Erie Avenue, which was dirt then,” Kennedy said.
can remain overnight, in houses, condos or the hotel. Most stay lon- ger, visiting not only Folly Beach but also the many other attractions in the Charleston area. Kennedy knows a lot about visitors
to Folly Beach. In addition to selling property, she handles vacation rentals for many of the island’s homeowners. “It’s a funky little beach town
and it’s not for everyone,” she said. “Folly Beach is not at all pretentious. We don’t get dressed up to go to dinner. But we have the great restaurants, the pier, the beach and lots of water sports.” Some of her clients have been coming to Folly Beach for 25 to 30 years. With water on both sides and wildlife all around, Folly Beach appeals to vacationers who just
She remembers relatives from Geor- gia coming every summer and building sand castles, playing on the beach and riding floats in the ocean. While Folly Beach has always been busier in the summer, the population of the island now swells on weekends during the season. Many come to enjoy the beach for the day – stream- ing onto the island until about 2 p.m., when the traffic starts moving in the other direction. About 5,000 people
enjoy being on an island. Kennedy is used to hearing clients say, “I wish I could live here. If I could retire here, I would.” “Folly Beach is a great place to make fond memories,” she said.
For vacation rentals and real estate purchas- es on Folly Beach or the surrounding area, call LaJuan Kennedy at (843) 588-2325, e-mail her at LaJuan@FredHollandRealty. com or visit
www.FollyBeach.net.
www.ILoveFollyBeach.com |
www.CruisesLeavingCharleston.com |
www.CruisesFromCharleston.com 17
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