EXPLORE Edisto 2011 by mclaughlin design

2011-2012

edisto

Botany Bay

Edisto’s hidden treasure The Art & Science of

Vacationing on Edisto Death on the Dunes

The duel at dawn on the “Sands” Discover the Edisto Beach

Loggerhead Turtle Project

Welcome Friends, We are thrilled to share our new magazine Explore Edisto with you and your family. A short while ago we had a desire to create a magazine that highlighted the diverse and exciting local residents, businesses, history and culture of the island and now you’re holding the result of our efforts.

Art Director Craig McLaughlin mclaughlin design craig@mclaughlin-design.com

Editor Julie Gyselinck jgyselinck@atwoodvacations.com

We sincerely hope that as you flip through Explore Edisto, you become even more aware of how our community strives to maintain its simplicity and separation from the rest of the world. It’s no secret that our lack of commercialism and laid back style are just a few of the things that make our island home so special, but do you know how small of a town we really are? Together Edisto Beach and Island claim roughly 3,300 full-time residents! That is just a little shy of the size of the average graduation high school class in large metro area high schools. Never fear, we have plenty to keep us occupied and entertained, be it ourselves or the bounty and adventure that nature provides for us. It has been a pleasure for Atwood Vacations to serve as Edisto’s premier rental and real estate agency for the last 50 years, proudly offering the best properties and service on the beach. While times have drastically changed, life on Edisto has remained much the same. Our visitors continue to come see our island and all of its natural wonders year after year, making their own memories. Whether you are enjoying the pristine untouched beaches of Botany Bay Plantation, shelling at the state park, bicycling down the beach paths, or keeping cool in our vast waterways and ocean, creating your own traditions is what Edisto is all about. Thank you for your love and loyalty for Edisto. We hope you continue to make Atwood Vacations part of your family’s tradition for generations to come. Edisto will always be here, waiting for you to explore! Yours on Edisto, Atwood Vacations and Real Estate

contents features 2 10 18 20 22 28

The Art & Science of Vacationing on Edisto Edisto Beach Loggerhead Turtle Program Death on the Dunes How to Travel to Edisto Edisto Beach Map The Botany Mindset

Contributors Brad Drawdy Erin Garner Tom Mason Kelly Pettus Franklin Sams Photography Caroline Matheny Scott Paschall Cover Photography Caroline Matheny

EXPLORE edisto is published annually by ATWOOD Vacations Real Estate, 495 Highway 174, Edisto Island, SC 29484. We welcome your letters and comments. Please send to exploreedisto@ atwoodvacations.com. We are always looking for contributors for our future issues. If you have an interesting story to share or would like to advertise in EXPLORE edisto, please contact Julie Gyselinck. ©2011 Atwood Vacations Real Estate. All rights reserved.

business spotlights 6 8 14 16 24 26 34 36 38

King’s Market Island Bikes & Outfitters Whaley’s Edisto Water Sports & Tackle The Plantation Course at Edisto Grovers Bar and Grill Stono Ferry Edisto Beach Pavilion The Waterfront Restaurant & Shore Thing

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part of our continued commitment to bring

memorable vacations to you and your family. It’s our way of showing our gratitude for your continued business year after year. And we’ve made it simple to do. What could be easier than saving money on something you love to do, vacationing at Edisto Beach? Simply stay* with Atwood Vacations, five times and receive a 10% discount off your next stay. Plus, receive discounts at local area businesses (see list below). To view homes, plan your vacation getaway or book in real-time with up-to-the-minute rental information and availability visit atwoodvacations.com (or email info@atwoodvacations.com). Or, if the internet just isn’t your thing, call 866-713-5214 to speak to one of our friendly and knowledgable sales associates to request our newly updated Vacation Rental Guide.

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Vacationing on Edisto The Art & Science of

Part of the challenge of scientific discovery, given the abundance of animal forms on our planet, is to focus on a particular species. For this analysis. We choose Homo southernsunburnus, the South Carolina Tourist, with particular attention given to the subspecies attracted only to Edisto Beach.

Shirley Routh, a slight 78-yearold woman, garbed in a pink shirt

in Columbia. Following a common

with appropriate shells and such,

migration rhythm every year, they

sits comfortably in the weathered

plan to spend two weeks on a beach

wooden embrace of an old rocking

located only two and a half hours

chair. She fits the screened porch

away when they could visit any day

she has known for years, just as she

of their choice. Why Edisto?

does the man rocking beside her.

It’s a migration professionally stud-

Bill is slightly older, slightly heavi-

ied by Dan Carter, executive director

er and more talkative – he’s had

of the Edisto Chamber of Commerce.

more practice. They seem, after 58

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for two weeks. They actually live

“Some folks come here to what

years of marriage, to comfortably

cooks down to the bottom line as

own each other.

uninterruptible relaxation,” Carter

But they don’t own the house

said. “Some search for it, some blun-

they are occupying at 3210 Pal-

der into it. What we’re know for is a

metto Boulevard, it’s only theirs

place is a place to get away from city

ATWOOD VACATIONS REAL ESTATE | 3

About Our Natural Resources life, even if it’s an hour away

ing for shells, some of them

Last April, the division of research in the

for a small fix.” He added: A

swim, I don’t swim.” She can;

University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore

“fundamental component” of

she prefers not to.

School of Business, conducted a study of

the paradigm is, in many cases,

“To me, there’s something

the economic impact of the state’s natural

the ability to say, “We didn’t do

about doing exactly what I’m

resources. Those resources span manufac-

a thing all week.”

doing — sitting on this porch

turing, mining, agri-business and tourism. Previous studies have shown tourism to be the state’s principal economic engine.

That is, in some ways, a description of the Rouths. Until one discovers the rest

and rocking and just looking out there at the beauty of the water and the sky and the sand

of the clan, a dozen immediate

and the feel of the palms. It’s

In the Moore study’s executive summary,

family members who migrate

just a very calming influence

these words are found: “Imagine for a mo-

– as do most offspring of other

for me.”

ment, the character of South Carolina’s

species – searching for…?

economy if it were landlocked and barren”

It’s fun to play with inserting new species into the natural

That’s it — in one uninterruptible sentence — water, sky, sand and the feel of palms.

In recognizing South Carolina needs “A

world, but it seems a good time

thriving recreation and tourist industry …”

to drop the analogy when Shir-

the study also says, “The state’s natural

ley says “we went to Botany

resources make considerable opportu-

Bay. We’re not particularly

and TV,” he said, “got a jour-

nities possible, but they should not be

nature lovers. We all loved that,

nalism degree from Carolina in

taken for granted.”

I think the older we get, the

1948 and a master’s degree in

more we appreciate nature, but

broadcasting from Northwest-

I wouldn’t call us fanatical.”

ern in 1949.”

And then “… a higher quality of life means that residents are more likely to remain

The Rouths did not blunder

Relaxing at Edisto Beach “I spent seven years in radio

Bill Routh went to work for

where they are, spend more of their time in

onto Edisto Beach, nor did

WRHI in Rock Hill in 1950 as

the vicinity where they live, and will be less

they search it out. They knew

the announcer for a request

likely to move out of the region or the state.”

it was here all along, and they

show for Winthrop College and

have returned for 16 years for

met Shirley. She was hired to sell

A table of recreational activities shows the

precisely what “cooks down

and write commercials for the

highest participation rate to be “beach

to the bottom line” in Dan

show. She worked for a semester

swimming/sunbathing (62.5%) with its sec-

Carter’s world to the uninter-

until Bill decided to move.

ond most-desired activity, freshwater fish-

ruptible relaxation of what

ing, not even close at 37.2 percent.”

some have called South Caro-

week, and we had a sports direc-

lina’s family beach.

tor who made $75 a week and I

“Uninterruptible relaxation” isn’t mentioned

“There’s nothing to distract

“I started at WRHI at $40 a

thought, boy if I could make 75

in the study, but sitting on the porch at

us from enjoying the beach,”

bucks a week, we wouldn’t need

3210 Palmetto Boulevard in his weathered

Shirley Routh said. “Our fam-

to make any more.”

wooden rocker, Bill Routh looks perfectly

ily loves walking the beach,

uninterruptible.

looking for shark’s teeth, look-

edisto

So he got a job at $75 a week in Anderson, they married and

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later moved to Charlotte’s WIST

Edisto Beach these words are,

summer at the Isle of Palms. Sul-

for a while.

for all intents and purposes, the

livans Island, Garden City and

town’s motto, meaning “We’re

Myrtle Beach.

“WNOK in Columbia was going on the air with television,

not Myrtle Beach.” Examining

Sand is sand. Why Edisto?

and they were adding to their

the 16-year history of the Routh

Hearing Bill describe their

staff, so they offered me a job as

family’s annual migrations takes

personal journey in search of the

staff announcer. We moved back

a pleasant hour or so, sitting on

Golden Fleece of Uninterruptible

to Columbia, and we’ve been

the porch with a balmy south-

Relaxation, one envisions nomads

there ever since.”

west breeze blowing across St.

on camels in a desert … except for

Helena Sound.

the humid ocean breeze.

In Columbia, he worked for 13 years as head of information

Once one has seen sand, what

“We started coming to the

and education for the State Board

makes this particular beach so

island in the year after Hugo in

of Health (now the Department

special? When the Rouths leave

1990,” Bill said. We (had) moved

of Health and Environmental

this staycation home they’ve

from Folly to the Isle of Palms and

Control). He then moved to the

rented for so many years, why

had been there when Hugo hit.

State Commission of Alcohol and

will they turn in the keys and pay

It was torn up, so we looked for

Drug Abuse for the next 17 years

next year’s deposit in advance?

somewhere else and came to Edis-

as deputy director, before retiring with 30 years in state government. The economists at the Moore

“When we first started coming to the beach, we rented a little apartment on Folly Beach, where

to. We rented a house from Kapp Lyons (Realty) the first year.” In 1991, they rented 3210

School of Business named their

we stayed for $35 a week,” Bill

Palmetto Boulevard and wanted

study of the state’s natural

said. “We had two children at

to rent it the next year, but the

resources “Underappreciated

that time.”

owners “commanded the week we

Assets” but never mentioned

Sand is sand. Why Edisto?

“uninterruptible relaxation.”

The Rouths have stayed al-

They didn’t examine the term

most everywhere there is sand.

1993, 3210 has been theirs for the

“family beach” either, but on

They have spent two weeks of

same two weeks each year.

wanted, so we rented one nearby.” They worked that out, and from

continued on page 40

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ATWOOD VACATIONS REAL ESTATE | 5

Come ON Down to the Farm.

ucked away on a little island community and surrounded by acres of growing produce sits King’s Farmers Market. If buying vegetables and fruit straight from the farm sounds right up your ally, pull over on your way into Edisto. Fresh produce isn’t all you will find at King’s. Surprises and treats abound in every corner. Stop in and take a look around. You will be glad you did. King’s Farm Market consists of 100 acres of prime farmland that has scaled down to about 14 acres of sweet corn and 3 acres of flowers, okra, squash, cucumbers, peppers and sunflowers. The sunflowers are sold as cut flowers, and what is not sold is left for the birds. Many of the items that Bonnie and Rett King sell are grown right on the farm. They have reduced the acreage to the point where it is profitable to produce

enough for the roadside stand. Rett is a sixth generation farmer at Edisto. King’s Farm Market is open from March to December and sells what is in season at the time. From sweet corn in June and July to Christmas trees and wreaths in December, there is always something to add to your visit on Edisto. The roadside stand concept started with son Jamie selling extra vegetables on Little Britton Road just off of State Highway 174. He started it with an old crock pot that had been a butter churn for a cash register and an “Honest Pot” when he wasn’t around. The table had vegetables and fruits with a hand written sheet with prices on it. Passers by would stop and take what they wanted and leave the money in the jar. It was the true honor system. When he was 16, he moved to the “Big” highway on 174, and from there the small vegetable market took off. Asparagus & Crab Quiche The present building contains 1 cup cooked chopped crab meat 10 Asparagus spears modern refrigerated coolers full of 1 9 inch pie crust Nutmeg hand made pies and “double yolk” 4 oz Parmesan cheese Salt 1 3/4 cup milk Cayenne pepper eggs. The pies are made by two 3 eggs ladies in the new kitchen on Little Britton Road. One of the great things 1. Sprinkle crab meat in the bottom of the pie shell. you’ll find at King’s Market is the 2. Cut asparagus into 1/2 inch slices and scatter over the top of the crab. boiled peanuts. Rett boils about 2 3. Sprinkle cheese on top. 4. Beat eggs and mix with milk. bushels each day and sells them 5. Season to taste with nutmeg,salt and pepper. all. It’s amazing to watch people 6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes 7. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy! who have never had boiled peanuts when they try them for the first time. 6|

edisto

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off

Show your A twood key and get 5% off your order of $2 0 or more. One per custOmer ple

ase.

g n i m r a f y l i m a f f o s n o i t a r e n e g x i S H omemade Pies Cakes Casseroles Dips & Breads Soups, Salads & Sandwiches

Gift Baskets Cut Flow ers & Herbs

Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market Righ t on th e fa

Located 10 minutes from

Edisto Beach on H ighw ay

2559 H ighway 174, Ed

ist

174

o Island, SC 8 43-8 69-3 6 0 0 Kin gs Market Edisto.co m

At Island Bikes & Outfitters, if you don’t have it and need it, we’ve got it!

sland Bikes and Outfitters opened its doors in June of 2001 by owners Tony and Sonya. Tony moved to Edisto Beach with his family at the age of six when his grandfather was the superintendent of the Edisto Beach State park. His Mom married Henry Collins, of the Collins Pavilion, and grew up spending many summers working the arcade and snack bar. He rented fishing tackle and surf boards at the pier and ran the Blue Marlin Bar located

tackle! All from a little shack! Always the entrepreneur, Tony expanded again to include Parasailing, Jet Ski rentals, charters and Big Banana rides at the Edisto Marina. Sonya spent her childhood summers on Edisto Beach before becoming a permanent resident in 1983. After the devastation of Hurricane Hugo and the excitement of a white Christmas in 1989, a fire destroyed the Planters Oak Restaurant where Sonya was employed. Sonya reopened the Blue Marlin Bar for the Collins’ family in 1990. Tony and Sonya married in 1994, and their son was born in May of 1995. In 2000 Tony’s parents decided to leave the city life for down on the farm. They sold the house on Jungle Road and made Tony and Sonya an offer they couldn’t refuse on the empty lot next door. Construction on Island Bikes and outfitters began in the fall of 2000. Tony was instrumental in the design and construction of the building. In June of 2001, they opened the doors. They have expanded their business to offer a full gift shop stocked with many fun items, souvenirs, jewelry, clothing, bait and tackle, biking and kayaking accessories.

Be sure to stop by and browse on your next visit to Edisto! inside the Pavilion. Tony and his family lived in the house right next door to the bike shop on Jungle Road, now known as the Coldwell Banker Building. In 1990, Tony began renting bikes at the gas station owned by his family. In 1992, Island Rentals was born and Tony extended his fleet to the grassy area and parking lot of the gas station. From the rental shack, visitors to Edisto Beach rented bikes, 4-wheeled bikes, kayaks, golf carts, chairs, umbrellas, tubes, rafts, surfboards, boogie boards and fishing

edisto

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Kayak Tours

Thank You!

Located on the Bike Path Next door to Waterfront Restaurant & Across from the Sea Cow

Tony & Sonya Spainhour Owners

Kayaks • Golf Carts • Canoes • Bait/Tackle • Bikes • Beachwear

Visit Our Gift Shop, Open Daily at 9 am On the Bike Path

Delivery Available

RENTALS · Adult Bikes · Child Bikes · Tandems · Baby Seats · 4 Wheel Bikes · 3 Wheel Bikes · Fun Cycles · Beach Carts · Tag Alongs · Tubes & Rafts

Kayaks, Canoes, Bait/Tackle & Much More!

Rentals by the hour, 1/2 day, full day, 3 day & weekly.

SALES & SERVICE

· Baby Tow Carts Bikes & Accessories: Jamis · Electra · Worksman Cycles · Torker · Fishing Tackle Redline · Burley · Trailmate · Hampton Cruisers · Beach Chairs · Beach Umbrellas Kayaks, Canoes & Accessories: Ocean Kayak · Walden · Wilderness System · TV/VCR/DVD Mad River · Windrider Sailboats · Stand-up Paddleboards · Surf & Boogie Boards Golf Cart Sales · Canoes/Kayaks · Stand-up Paddleboards GIFT & SURF SHOP · Gas Grills · Golf Carts T-Shirts · Hats · Beachwear · Umbrellas · Souvenirs Beach Toys & Games · Surf & Boogie Boards

140 Jungle Road • (843) 869-4444 • islandbikesandoutfitters.com

Stacie Stauff Smith Photography /

10 |

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he Edisto Beach Loggerhead Turtle Project is the second oldest sea turtle project in the state. It began in 1982, with the help of local volun-

teers and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The EBLTP is a group of dedicated volunteers that survey the four mile beach of the town beginning at the Edisto Beach State Park boundary to the Big Bay Sound, or South Edisto River inlet from May through October each morning looking for sea turtle tracks. Once the sea turtle nest is found, they will mark off each nest area. If the nest is in an area that is threatened by high tides and erosion, they will relocate the nest to higher ground. Nests are marked with a yellow sign and stakes are placed around the nest with orange ribbon.

843-869-2151

ATWOOD VACATIONS REAL ESTATE | 11

sources, SCDNR.

each morning during the beach sur-

The data ranges from vey are picking up litter and properly taking one egg from disposing of it, smoothing over sand each nest to be used for castles with moats that were left behind genetic testing, count- by beach goers, and noting and tagging ing the hatched eggs, chairs, tents, toys, and games left on the un-hatched eggs, live beach during the night. These items can hatchlings, and dead entangle nesting sea turtles and hatchhatchlings of each nest. lings causing injury and death. This information goes

Another important duty they per-

into a database. The form is educating the beach front home public can visit this residents about the importance of keepThe volunteers perform many database through the website, www. ing all visible white lights off that may duties essential to the protection seaturtle.org and see how each beach be visible from the beach. The emitted of the sea turtle nests, primarily in South Carolina is performing with light rays from the exterior or interior of checking each one as they make nesting sea turtles. The public can also homes may cause the nesting sea turtles their morning beach surveys. Once adopt a nest and keep up with the and hatchlings to disorient themselves the nest has hatched, the volun- hatching progress. The proceeds go to which may lead to injury or death of this teers collect valuable data to report the website and beach project. to the Department of Natural Re-

Other duties that the EBLTP perform

endangered species. The volunteers cannot do their job without the assistance of the public in

“Creating Vacation Memories that will last a lifetime.”

some cases. You can help by reporting any unauthorized activities, disturbance of nests, or harassment of nesting sea turtles to proper authorities. If you see unmarked turtle tracks, an injured sea turtle, or a dead sea turtle,

Ceramics

Paint your own Ceramics Custom Painted Platters Scrapbooking Studio

Scrapbooking

www.craftsbythesea.com 12 |

edisto

and call the phone numbers listed on the sign or stakes. If no one can be reached immediately, please call Edisto Beach Town Hall at 869-2505 Ext. 212 or EBLTP coordinator, Brad Drawdy at 843-631-0121. The Sea

Edisto Originals

Turtle Stranding Hotline number is

Melted Bottles & Windchimes

coordinator are not paid for their ser-

Edisto Shadow Boxes

Crafts by the Sea

please locate the nearest marked nest

Handcrafts

843-869-0075 8548 Raccoon Island Road

843-633-1639. These volunteers and vices and raise money for supplies by selling Turtle T-Shirts. Each year the project gives a large donation of the funds raised to the South Carolina Sea Turtle Hospital located at the SC Aquarium in Charleston.

Edisto Island, SC • 866-836-0075 (toll-free)

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PT AIN

ALL

Fontaine Charters

869-3446

SC BBQ ASSoCiAtion’S FirSt

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inshore & offshore fishing Charters and family Cruises 843

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“All you CAre to eAt BuFFet” BArBeQue, SoupS, SAlAdS, vegetABleS, deSSertS A lA CArte Menu Fried SeAFood BurgerS & kidS Menu dine-in or tAke-out AvAilABle

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Whaley’s

ostalgia blooms in the strangest of places, including old gas stations. Whaley’s blossomed in just such a place. Taking an abandoned gas station and transforming it into quite possibly the most quintessential beach dive on the east coast. First opened as a convenience store in 1948 by Marion Whaley and operated until his death in 1995, the building maintains much of its original character, including vintage gas pumps. Owner Van Maxwell created his establishment from scratch in 2003 and bit by bit Whaley’s has become a staple for locals and visitors alike. Known for its casual but quirky atmosphere and fresh local seafood, you won’t want to miss this hotspot of fabulous food. In May of 2007, Whaley’s received the prestigious recognition of being voted one of the Top 25 Seafood Dives in the country by Coastal Living magazine. It was a true testament to the dedi-

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cation and devotion of the owners Van Maxwell and Lytle Prichard to provide great tasting and quality food on this tiny barrier island. Whaley’s offers visitors a glimpse into true island life featuring live music from local artists and trivia often hosted by co-owner Lytle Prichard on the weekends. Sit outside at the picnic tables around the flowers and gas pumps from the 1950’s or beat the heat inside in a booth or at the bar. The owners update the menu frequently, keeping it fresh and exciting while maintaining the staples and quality that people have come to expect. The local shrimp, fried or steamed can’t be beat and for the land lovers the Big Ugly Burger is an unbeatable favorite. Paired with the fabulous fresh “raw fries” (think thin sliced and fried to order potato chips) you will be delighted you stopped in. A wonderful establishment with a great vibe and fabulous food, Whaley’s is a must for visitors of Edisto Beach.

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OF THE FAMOUS

Edisto Water Sports & Tackle

f you are looking for some adventure during your vacation to Edisto, Edisto Water Sports might be just up your alley. Situated on Docksite Road, Edisto Water Sports offers all kinds of fun for every budget. Edisto Water Sports is locally owned and operated by Lindsey and Dillard Young, who strive to make sure your chosen activity is fun! Lindsey is a master naturalist and Dillard had the first charter boat on Edisto in 1990. Edisto Water Sports helps you enjoy fishing on many different levels. Charter fishing trips range from three to seven hours. Near shore bottom fishing and in shore fishing take you out to wrangle in sea bass, shark, whiting, croaker, spotted trout and more. Off shore trips are seven hours (six people) and the fishing can range from Spanish and king mackerel, barracuda, snapper and trigger fish. For those looking for a smaller trip Edisto Water Sports offers kayak rentals and guided kayaking tours for the whole family. The two hour guided kayak tour takes you through the winding ACE Basin creeks and various vantage points to view Indian

16 |

edisto

mounds, dolphins and coastal wildlife. They have three guides with more than 30 years of combined experience. All tours are scheduled with the tides so you will have easy paddling in both directions. If you are looking for something less physical but with just as much adventure, check out the two hour scenic river cruise through the beautiful ACE Basin. Sit back and relax as the captains point out dolphins, arrays of sea birds, abundant wildlife, all while sharing the history of the islands, and some spectacular sunsets. Experience a great way to enjoy the beautiful salt marsh creeks and rivers with friends and family and don’t forget to bring your camera and binoculars. Alligator tours and shelling excursions are also offered. Edisto Water Sports has more than just the tours and charters. The ship store offers bait and tackle, snacks, drinks, ice, souvenirs, t-shirts and fishing pole rentals. If discovering Edisto’s bountiful beauty and water life is your goal, stop by as the “EWS Gang” would love to show you the island’s wild side!

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Bait & Tackle

Experience Edisto â&#x20AC;Ś the Way Nature Intended

Shelling Excur Kayak Tours & ACE Basin Rive

Sales

sions Rentals

In-Shore & Off

r & Sunset Cru

Cooler Supplie

-Shore Fishing

s: Beer, Soda &

ises

Charters Snacks

EDISTO WATERSPORTS & TACKLE 3731 Docksite Road | Edisto Island | South Carolina | 843.869.0663 | www.edistowatersports.biz

Death On the lonely, wind-swept barrier island, thirty miles south of Charleston, two men stood exactly twenty paces apart. They faced each other and patiently waited for the single word that would change both of their lives. Over the sound of the relentless breakers pounding the white sand of Edisto Island came the dreaded command: “Fire.” A pistol shot rang out. A split-second later another report echoed across the wind-swept strand. Then it was silent. Very silent.

18 |

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dunes

on the

It wasn’t destiny that brought these two men here. It wasn’t fate. It was a cold, prearranged plan. The story began two weeks earlier in Charleston. Arthur Gilland was 28 years young and enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a native of London, but was visiting friends who had a home in the lower part of the city. During a conversation someone remarked on the easy, casual way of life the people of the Sea Islands in general, and Edisto inparticular, lived. This was almost like a challenge to the adventuresome young Englishman. “I shall wake these people up,” he boasted. “And at a supper, to which I shall invite

843-869-2151

you, on my return, I will show you some momentoes of my trip.” Soon after this he left for Edisto. While on the island, he had words with a native Edistonian known to us today as Mr. Bailey. No one knows if the insult was real or fancied, but an exchange of cards followed which led to a challenge being offered and accepted. Gilland was an expert marksman. His reputation with a dueling pistol was known throughout the Lowcountry. It was said that he could “snuff a candle with every shot.” Bailey also had a reputation. “He couldn’t hit the side of a barn,” is the way

ATWOOD VACATIONS REAL ESTATE | 19

How to Travel to Edisto

From Charleston, SC Airport: Take International Blvd to I-526 W towards Savannah. Turn right onto Savannah/US-17 S. Take slight left onto SC-162 W until you get to SC-174. Turn left onto SC-174. Edisto Beach is just a few scenic miles away. (Total est. time: 1 hr, 11 min / appx. 48 miles).

From Savannah, GA Airport: Go West on Airways Ave. towards Blue Rental Rd. Merge onto I-95 N. Take US-17 N (exit #33 towards Charleston/Beaufort). Turn right onto SC-174. Edisto Beach is just a few scenic miles away. (Total est. time: 2 hrs, 25 min / appx. 103 miles)

If You nEED It, wE rEnt It. BIKEs, KAYAKs, GoLf CArts, BEACH CHAIrs, umBrELLAs, LInEns & morE!

FREE DELIVERY & PICK-UP In thE EDIsto BEaCh aREa.

EDIsto

EssEntIaLs

CALL AHEAD! We do not store rental items at the store. In the peak season, we deliver throughout the day. Call ahead for reservations to ensure availability for bikes and linens during the summer months. In the off season, we have SET delivery times. Call early to ensure the availablilty! 20 |

edisto

Bike rentals & more

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www.edistoessentials.com Edisto Island â&#x20AC;˘ Edisto Beach WWW.ATWOODVACATIONS.COM

one of his friends summed up his ability with a pistol. Still, he had accepted Gilland’s challenge to meet at the local dueling grounds called the “Sands.” His friends urged him to practice. Bailey took their advice and after a few sessions could “hit the barn, but little else.” The appointed day dawned and both men, along with their seconds and a few friends, set out for the “Sands.” Bailey’s group was slowed by the presence of an ox-cart driven by a white-haired old slave. In the cart was more evidence of Bailey’s preparations. Fully expecting the worst, he had brought along a mattress, upon which, perhaps lifeless, he could repose on the long march homeward. Included in his party was a surgeon. Gilland’s small group, mounted on horseback, overtook and passed the slower moving Bailey party. As the young Englishman galloped ahead toward the sound of the breakers, he looked upon the planter with contempt. Everyone in Bailey’s party, including the old ox pulling the high-wheeled cart, seemed to hang his head in shame. It was obvious to Bailey and his friends that Gilland had made no such preparations. Sunrise was at 6:36 and both groups increased their pace so that they would be at the “Sands” at the

appointed hour. At the “Sands” it was chilly. The temperature was in the low 40s and a north wind was blowing. A Charleston newspaper, The Mercury, reports that the weather was “fair” on that day. As soon as the sun broke the binds of the misty ocean, the chilly salt-air began to warm. Still, Mr. Bailey was cold. After the men had tied their mounts to the weather-beaten palmettoes up by the dunes, they began their various tasks. Gulls and terns, their breakfast hour disturbed by the activity, pierced the air with maniacal screams. Now it was almost time. Gilland strutted about very calmly. He had been through this procedure many times and his nerves were hardened to it. Bailey was also calm. He had made his peace with his Maker and knew that he could do no more to ready himself. The seconds called the combatants together and explained the dueling procedure: “You will face each other at 20 paces. You then will be asked ‘Gentlemen, are you ready?’ Then: ‘Fire – one – two – three – hold.’” The time was very near. The angered birds seemed to understand and were quiet.

As Mr. Bailey’s second handed him his weapon, he lowered his voice and said, “Your only chance is to fire on the word,” then he bowed and stepped back towards the dunes. Now it was only Gilland and Bailey. Standing north and south so as to avoid the glare of the rising sun, the pair eyed one another with cold, hard eyes. For an instant there was the complete stillness of death; the question came: “Gentlemen, are you ready?” Affirmative answers were given. “Fire.” Before the count to three could begin a pair of shots echoed over the beach. When the smoke from the black powder was blown away by the gentle sea-breeze, a man was seen to quiver. He staggered, then fell to the white sand. At the Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, the oldest such church in South Carolina, stands a weather-worn, nearly forgotten stone marker. Inscribed upon it is: ARTHUR ALFRED GILLAND Born in London, England, 1811 Died February 12, 1839 “Prepare to meet thy God”

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The ACE Basin: 350,000 acres of pristine

estuaries and wetlands. Home to the bald eagle, wood stork and osprey.

APS

Come enjoy golf

as it was meant to be …

disto Island is a beautiful, family oriented beach about 45 miles south of Charleston. As you drive down the moss draped Hwy 174 to Edisto, you begin to see what island life is really like. The laid back and relaxed low country atmosphere makes you feel as though you could stay forever. Edisto is well hidden and protected, rich in wildlife and natural beauty, as well as quiet and peaceful. It has no red lights, no hotels or motels, and no commercialization which makes it unique to many other coastal areas and is why residents call it home and visitors come back year after year. The island’s sole golf course, The Plantation Course at Edisto is nestled in giant live oaks, magnolias and towering palms, any golf enthusiasts will find a very challenging, and player friendly layout. Measuring approximately 6175 yards, distance is not as important as accuracy and one must not disregard the many water hazards. Small, lush greens and tight fairways add to the challenges of the course. Regardless of your skill level, you are certain to enjoy the beauty of the course and the surrounding areas. You will almost always see pelicans, ospreys, herons and egrets along the course, and keep your eyes open for one of our alligators basking in the sun along the edges of the lagoons. Bald eagles are occasion-

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ally seen gliding over the course. The Plantation Course is maintained in top condition at all times and will be set up in a player friendly mode. Our greens are some of the best in the area. The course is open to the public with daily greens fees as well as offering several membership options and a weekly play card for our vacation guests. Nike rental clubs and pull carts are also available. Come enjoy golf as it was meant to be … the Edisto way. Edisto’s island charm and flavor is sure to have you wishing for more. Escape the hustle and bustle of your everyday life and visit a place where you can relax and soothe your mind. While you’re here don’t forget to try our local oysters in the fall and winter, blue crabs in the summer, or shrimp year round. Located next door to the Pro Shop is Grovers Bar and Grill serving all your favorite seafood dishes and a number of other specialties. Open for lunch and dinner daily, there is something on the menu for everyone. Your visit to Edisto would not be complete without a delicious meal at Grovers. The Plantation Course and Grovers are located inside the Wyndham Resort and are open to the public. Forget all your worries and we’ll see you on the golf course, at Grovers or around the island. By the time your visit is over, you will have many new friends and plans for your next visit.

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Unquestionably

the finest golf course on Edisto Island.

A trip to Edisto is not complete without enjoying the challenge & beauty of The Plantation Course. • Always Exellent Condition

• Complete Pro Shop

• Special 3-Day Pass

• Putting Green & Practice Net available

• Daily Rate of $59 plus tax (includes cart)

• Villa & Golf Packages available

• Nike Rental Clubs available

19 Fairway drive

• Grovers Bar & Grill located on premises

| Edisto Island | south carolina | 843.869.1111 www.ThePlanTaTionCourseaTedisTo.Com

“On the golf course” and “in the resort “are not phrases you expect to hear when someone refers to a trendy, upscale spot known for its locally inspired menu. At Grovers Bar and Grill with its delectable menu and thriving social atmosphere that is precisely what you get. Established four years ago with Chef Nathan Smith at the helm and a goal to provide exceptional food paired with a memorable experience from the time you enter to the end of your meal. The bar menu features delights such as Kansas City Wings, a plate of tender pork ribs cooked to perfection in an Asian barbeque sauce. Satisfy your seafood craving with bacon-wrapped scallops or Nathan’s special crab cake as appetizers. That is just for starters! The sandwich menu is so delectable it’s hard to break away to try the ever changing dinner menu. The Flat Iron Steak Ciabatta with warm goat cheese spread, tender flat iron steak, mushrooms and roasted red peppers on a fresh ciabatta roll will fill your senses and stomach. For those who like to keep it traditional, the Grover Burger will make all others pale in comparison with an 8 oz. patty and your choice

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of cheeses, fresh Edisto tomatoes. And don’t overlook the beer battered, black and tan onion rings. They’re dream worthy. That is just the bar menu! Nathan’s dedication to local cuisine keeps the dinner menu changing according to seasonal availability for seafood and fresh produce. Most notable for this palate was a seared tuna steak and grilled portabella mushroom stack with creamy goat cheese. Another notable seafood entrée featured seared-toperfection grouper encrusted with crushed barbeque potato chips and a sweet sesame chili glaze. Entrées are always served with a choice of two sides including stoneground grits, seasonal vegetables, or specialty mashed potatoes. “My biggest goal for this year is to become as fully reliant on local Edisto farmers and fishermen as possible.” Chef Nathan talks about his future and past menus with pride and gusto, his eyes sparkling the whole time with the pride of a job well done. Whether you are looking for a familyfriendly dining experience for that special evening or just want to step out for an upscale but casual social evening, don’t overlook Edisto’s little secret tucked away on the greens. You won’t be disappointed and if you happen to meet Chef Nathan, don’t be afraid to ask him what to eat. He will guide you down an unforgettable adventure of taste bud delights with a big friendly grin on his face.

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Private Club Quality

Open to the Public

Botany Mindset

The

“We’re all gonna die. Our life span is extremely short in the scheme of things. This property will be here, our legacy should be leaving this in better shape; not for the people as much as for the wildlife and the land.” - Bruce Rawl Manager of Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area Passion oozes from Bruce Rawl’s pores when he speaks about the wildlife and land he has cared for at Botany Bay for 24 years. He speaks carefully, with the punctuating pauses of a person who has often considered how to leave something better than found. It is a moral imperative not unique in Rawl, for his is a mindset reaching through ages to span the history of the extraordinary conservation experiment known as the ACE Basin, with Botany being its latest donation to the commons. Privately held under ancient

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aliases such as Bleak Hall and Seaside, modern Botany Bay Plantation became in 2008 the people’s place; a Wildlife Management Area willed to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Botany Bay’s story is one among many, the latest example of the ACE Basin’s anthropomorphic effect on its people past and present It is the modern extension of Ancient Rome’s Code of Justinian, guaranteeing to all citizens the use of the public trust: the “commons.” “They harnessed the moon and turned the marshes into fields of

gold” Suzanne Cameron Linder introduces her 1995 Historical Atlas of the Rice Plantations of the Ace Basin - 1860. “The rice planters of the South Carolina lowcountry used the power of the moon through the action of the tide to irrigate fields where they grew Carolina Gold…” But Botany Bay was not a place to grow rice. Instead, in its early days it produced long staple cotton, equally valuable in building the fortunes and mindsets of those planters who would inspire in Rawl’s time a DNR bumper stick-

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Mindset sustained. Botany Bay’s recent history is connected to another plantation about 32 miles away as the crow flies. Whitehall Plantation, on the banks of Cuckolds Creek, is a few miles down the Seaboard tracks from Green Pond. An introduction to John E. “Jason” Meyer, who later would leave over 4,600 hundred acres to the people, is best told by another plantation owner, Edisto’s Jenks Mikell, a prominent conservationist and founder of the Edisto Island Open Land Trust. When there was a knock on the door of Peters Point Plantation and Mikell answered, “there was a guy standing there in black Bermuda shorts and a white tee shirt and flip flops and unshaven, (with) a round face, and he said ‘who owns this place?”

er proclaiming the ACE Basin “Forever Wild.” That bond, eloquently stated throughout the Basin from Edisto to Hunting Islands, is an ethos echoed by Rawl’s “we’re all gonna die and … our legacy should be leaving this place in better shape, not for the people as much as for the wildlife and the land.” It is wildlife, hunted and husbanded through the years, that is as important as the fortunes made on the land. As hard work performed by slaves in the rice and cotton fields gave way to the parties of a later landed gentry, the marshes and ponds became pools managed for waterfowl, the lands planted for deer and doves. The complex genealogies of old planters are no less so than the histories of their holdings.

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Exchanged through bargains made by marriage as well as by contract, those ancient complexities are best left to professional historians, such as Linder and those before and after her. Our story is about John E. Meyer and the then Mrs. Meyer, later Mrs. Pepper, told by a rock lovingly laid against a preserved oak, saved from destruction as a pond was dug for wood ducks. Margaret Morgan Pepper Feb. 18, 1922 - Dec. 29, 2007 John Edward Meyer Aug. 27, 1918 - Jan. 1, 1977 We are the people who loved and cared for this place

“I do.” “What’s your name?” “I told him,” and he said “My name’s John Meyer; John E. Meyer.” “Well, Mr. Meyer, where do you live?” “It depends on the time of year.” “Well, where you livin’ now?’ “I live at Whitehall Plantation in Green Pond and I just bought Botany Bay Plantation.” “The light went on,” Mikell continues, “because I had seen it advertised in the Wall Street Journal for $850,000, so I invited him in for a drink, then asked him what he did for a living.” “Nothing.” “And I said well, what did you do for a living?” “And he said nothing.” “And I said well where did your money come from?” “And he said my daddy died and left me a chain of hotels and I’ve been sellin’ ‘em ever since.”

ATWOOD VACATIONS REAL ESTATE | 29

Tom Tindall, a boyhood friend in the 50s and 60s, grew up with Mikell on Edisto Island. Comfortably retired on a North Carolina Christmas tree farm he still visits the old family house on Edisto Beach, which he still owns. Tindall worked for Meyer from 1973 until Meyer died, and tells the story behind the hotels and Meyer’s nickname “Jason.” “He was a blond headed fellow,” Tindall says. “At the time Meyer was about 55 and his hair had reddish overtones, you’d call a strawberry blonde. So his dad, Robert E. Meyer, nicknamed him Jason because he was Jason of the Golden Fleece. Robert Meyer was an entrepreneur who ran a laundry business in Birmingham, and saw that some hotels were poorly managed because he was doing their sheets and towels. He bought out one of those old big hotels that Jason called ‘literate hotels,’ … lots of property downtown in cities… and from that genesis Robert went on to develop about 13 hotels predominantly in the southeast; but at the time of his death in ‘46 or ’47, he owned the Waldorf-Astoria, the Emerson in Baltimore, the Hermitage in Nashville, the Robert Meyer in Jacksonville, and on and on … big old downtown hotels.” Jason Meyer did not have to strug-

gle seeking fortune as his Greek namesake did, he inherited the fleece which enabled him to do the things he loved. One was duck hunting, and with his hotel money he decided to make some improvements at Botany Bay that would ultimately result in him giving it away. According to Tindall, Meyer bought the property — then named Greenway Plantation — from George W. Greenway in 1969. Meyer in “about ‘71 had the grand idea that if the arm of the marsh now Lake Jason, if that thing were cut off, it would make the best duck hunting pond he could ever imagine. He set about hiring a whole crew of drag line and bulldozer operators and the like. He timed the operation because he knew the state had a practice of flying over on Tuesdays, doing an aerial surveillance of the coast. So he marshaled the heavy equipment guys and on Wednesday morning they started to digging. They dug and dug, working about around the clock, and cut off that arm of the marsh, about 60 acres. “The next time the state flew over there the following Tuesday, here’s this great pond and a huge dam that didn’t (previously) exist. It didn’t take long for it to filter through the state hierarchy. I don’t

think it was the attorney general, but maybe the state treasurer. In any event, this gent called Jason and said the dam had to be removed. Jason invited him to come down and for them to talk.” Meyer told Tindall the fellow came from Columbia, and since it was noon and on Meyer’s daily schedule “it was time for a drink. He offered him Jack Daniels and the fellow said ‘Alcohol has never crossed my lips.’ Jason knew he was in deep s--- then.” Meyer nevertheless told his government guest if he could keep his dam, he would give Botany --almost a fifth of Edisto Island -- to the state. The fellow soberly returned to Columbia, and after the idea had been properly massaged by attorneys and bureaucrats, the deal was made. In the mid-70s, Meyer asked Tindall’s boyhood chum Jenks Mikell if he knew someone who could replace the just-fired manager of Whitehall. Mikell recommended Calvert Huffines, whose father had owned Cherokee Plantation. Meyer’s reaction, Mikell said, was “hell, he won’t work for me, he’s rich.” But Huffines, fresh from Clemson with a degree in agricultural economics, was working a row crop farm near Walterboro. “When I left Clemson I weighed about 155 pounds and a year later

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I weighed about 125, and I was working myself to death when one May I got a call from Jason Meyer, who was an old family friend.” Huffines says. “We had owned Cherokee Plantation and he owned Whitehall Plantation nearby. Meyer called and said ‘Calvert, I’ve got a problem, I just had to let my manager go. Peggy and I are going to Europe for the summer, and we’ve crops in the field. Would you consider coming here (to) get our crops in and hiring a manager when we return?’” Huffines would have the house to live in, utilities paid, a pickup truck and gas, and $1,000 a month. “I thought I had died and gone to heaven,” Huffines says. Meyer also took Huffines to Botany Bay and offered to buy all the supplies and equipment for him to plant the fields, and offered him half the crop for his sweat equity. Huffines, the young agricultural economist, wanted to take a shot at soybeans. Meyer said to “do what you want to, just plant enough corn for the dove fields.” At the end of the season they split $100,000 and Huffines says “I was a rich man; I still have that fifty thousand, I’ve never touched it.” When Meyer died, his wife asked Huffines to find a broker to sell Whitehall. Mrs. Meyer’s interests did not include farming, and Meyer’s will provided she could spend the rest of her life at Botany. Huffines, as a result of her request, would recommend Bill Baldwin, who recognized Huffines’ talents as they worked together to sell Whitehall. That relationship ended with Huffines buying Baldwin’s company after he retired. It is now the Huffines Company, Walterboro’s prosperous brokerage and plantation management firm. Following Meyer’s death on the first day of 1977, Huffines continued to assist Mrs. Meyer in putting things in order until October. Tindall stayed on at Botany until September,1980 and was followed by various caretakers and game keepers. One of them was Dr. Carroll Perkins, a na-

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tional authority on the management of quail, who had been working for about a year at Botany. He was ready to retire, and told the now Mrs. Pepper that as soon as he found someone who could manage Botany Bay as well as he could, he would leave. That someone was Bruce Rawl. Rawl had graduated from Clemson with high honors. He began studying veterinary medicine, but switched to

animal science with a minor in agronomy because “my contemporaries, all they wanted to be was vets and I wanted to farm.” The young man had farmed several places on and near Edisto, and in 1985 was hired by Peggy, recently remarried the son of a Pennsylvania senator to become Mrs. George W. Pepper. Perkins and Rawl worked a few months together, going to Alaska

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twice as they became friends. It was Perkins who told Rawl “you can study books all your life, but each ecosystem is different and what works on the coast of South Carolina might not necessarily work 30 miles inland.” Soon Rawl was proving for himself what would work. In 1986, he introduced wild turkeys to Edisto. “Every turkey on Edisto came from that first release of ten hens and five gobblers,” Rawl says, “they were wild birds that survived from Colonial days in the swamps of the Santee River.” Years later, Rawl and Mrs. Pepper left Botany Bay one morning at 3 a.m. and went to the same area, where she killed her first turkey. She was 78. “Ours was like a mother-son relationship,” he says, “but actually better than that. She respected me and I respected her, and we did a lot of things together. We hunted and fished, I went to Maine with her and I never stayed in any servants quarters, I stayed in the main house and went and came as I pleased.” Birds were fair game, but until recently no deer were killed by the landed gentry. “There was a stigma about killing anything with fur on it, Rawl says, “feathers were great, fur was taboo: that was a commoners sport.” He adds “I don’t mean to imply she was prejudiced, that was just the way it was. They’d spend a thousand dollars for a quail, but they wouldn’t shoot a deer out the back door.” But even the gentry evolves, and in recent years venison became a staple at parties. “We’d have parties and dove shoots for 20 or 30 people, and I’d always supply venison loins, Rawl says, “she and I ate venison a lot. A routine developed that Wednesdays were Game Night, with Rawl doing the cooking. WWW.ATWOODVACATIONS.COM

voice trails off. He estimates there will be over 50,000 people, perhaps 100,000, visit this year. “We’re all gonna die, our life span is extremely short…this property will be here … not so much for the people, as much as the wildlife and the land.” Mindset sustained.

Ready for some

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give a kid a puppy and they love it to death. This is a gift of a proportion nobody can comprehend.” He is again speaking carefully, with those pauses to think of how to best convey. “This is more than a beautiful place. People lived here for hundreds of years and survived here and thrived here and did well here, not only economically but health wise…” before the

Toward the end, Mrs. Pepper broke a hip, and in the final three years Rawl continued to cook for her on Game Night. “In the end she couldn’t remember a lot from hour to hour, but she could remember everything from the past and we’d often talk about our adventures.” When she died, two days short of exactly 30 years following Jason Meyer’s death, the legal wheels began turning and within days Botany Bay Plantation became the property of the people. Rawl soon after became – justifiably so, for anything less would have been a crime against nature – the people’s guardian of the new Wildlife Management Area. It immediately had advantages. When hired by DNR, Rawl was asked for a wish list, and he said his first request was another restoration planting of turkeys. It had taken three years for Rawl to get the original turkeys he released in 1986, it took three weeks in 2008. “There were some in Marion County that were eating a guy’s wheat field, so they shot the (net) cannon and caught 28 turkeys, but they only had 25 boxes. They sent ‘em all to me, and that was great. When I released those birds in 1986, it’s probably one of the best things I ever did, I’ve touched every bird ever released on Edisto. I believe in God, and this is where God lives. I’ve been on these islands all my life, and I don’t think I’ve ever taken them for granted. It’s all work, but very rewarding,” Moral imperatives are tricky, and love is difficult to define. When the tourist season begins for Botany’s first full year of public adoration, Rawl says he wants the people to see Botany Bay as he does. “We need to cherish this property. It’s like a puppy. You

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ATWOOD VACATIONS REAL ESTATE | 33

A Lowcountry Golfing Treasure Sits Minutes from Edisto Island

The Lowcountry has a long golfing history and a list of impressive golf courses. While most are unique in their own right, there is one area course that offers amazing Intracoastal views and a Resort-like experience, all without the Resort price tag. The Links at Stono Ferry is a quick trip from Edisto and features a 6,814-yard, par 72 Ron Garl jewel that is rated 4-Stars by Golf Digest Places to Play Guide. This challenging test is sure to appeal to golfers of all skill levels. The Links at Stono Ferry masterfully combines the historic cultural traditions of the Lowcountry with superior quality golf along the pristine Intracoastal waters and salt marshes of South Carolina. Throughout your round you are surrounded by natural beauty and poignant reminders of Stono Ferry’s rich and storied past as the site of a Revolutionary War battle in 1779. Hole 14 is one of Links Magazine’s Lowcountry Dream 18 and the 18th hole features a breathtaking and ever-challenging island green. 34 |

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While at the Links at Stono Ferry, be sure to enjoy the full-service club house, featuring the Stono Grill, open 8:30am-4:30pm daily, with both indoor and screened-in patio dining. Stono Ferry is home to the Ping Regional Clubfitter-of-the-Year and PGA Golf Professional Greg Wood who provides game improvement lessons at the club’s indoor/outdoor Golf Learning Center. Complete your Edisto beach vacation with a round at Stono Ferry. Simply take the short drive up the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway, just 16 miles from the center of Edisto Island, and challenge the awardwinning Links at Stono Ferry. Your trip to the area will not be complete without a day on 18 of Charleston’s most memorable golf holes. The Links at Stono Ferry is located at 4812 Stono Links Drive in Hollywood, SC. For tee times, call (843) 763-1817, or visit www.StonoFerryGolf.com. WWW.ATWOODVACATIONS.COM

breathtaking

and so much more

Only 35 minutes from Edisto Island, The Links at Stono Ferry offers a unique Ron Garl design that flows along the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway. This round of golf will take you across a historic Revolutionary War battlefield and thrill you with 18 of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exciting golf holes, including our island green 18th. The sheer beauty and challenge of Stono Ferry is unrivaled and worth the short trip from Edisto Island.

Tee Times: (843) 763-1817 â&#x20AC;˘ www.StonoFerryGolf.com

he Pavilion on Edisto Beach reigns as the only beach front restaurant and bar. Settle outside on the pier for a sunset drink at Coot’s or enjoy the seafood buffet with ocean views from the dining room. Coot’s maintains a fun, family friendly atmosphere during the day with games for the kids, a foosball and pool table to enjoy while you wait for your lunch to arrive. Drop in after beachcombing to have one of their world famous Bloody Mary’s made with Sun Rise Salsa. Your first sip is sure to instill a life long

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craving, so indulge with caution! More than just a beach bar, Coot’s features most sporting events on their multiple televisions. They also offer some of the best beer and drink specials on the beach. The restaurant’s nightly seafood buffet and menu has something for everyone. The She Crab soup is always a favorite and you can’t go wrong with a cheeseburger in paradise at this beach front establishment. You can find that perfect souvenir at the gift shop which is stocked with t-shirts, beach toys, jewelry, home décor, bathing suits, flip flops and much more. Stroll down the beach and stop in for a visit!

WWW.ATWOODVACATIONS.COM

843-869-2151

ATWOOD VACATIONS REAL ESTATE | 37

Waterfront Restaurant & Shore Thing

aterfront Restaurant and Shore Thing Gift Shop are locally owned and operated by Susan and Scot Flowers. The Flowers’ name upholds four generations in the Edisto seafood industry. Scot grew up on the back of his dad’s shrimp boat, who was a shrimper for 44 years. From the shrimp boats to his mother Doris Flowers’ kitchen, Scot developed a different approach to seafood. Scot opened the Waterfront Restaurant in 2001 to share the wonderful recipes his mother inspired. The Waterfront offers a friendly, family atmosphere and delicious, fresh seafood. Local shrimp and oysters harvested by Scot’s family grace the menu each night. Seasonal vegetables and homemade desserts are pro-

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Gift Shop

vided by local King’s Farm, which is owned by Susan’s parents. After you fill your appetites at the Waterfront, head over to Shore Thing Gift Shop and Boutique for a little piece of Edisto to take home with you. Providing carefully selected merchandise in a fun relaxed atmosphere, you are sure to find what your heart desires. Shore Thing offers women’s apparel, unique t-shirts, beach accessories, children’s clothing, toys, jewelry, and so much more. Susan and Scot pride themselves on the friendly atmosphere they have established in their businesses. Drop by and you’ll probably see Susan, Scot or their daughter Addyson at the restaurant, gift shop or even out at King’s Market. Needless to say it’s all in the family!

WWW.ATWOODVACATIONS.COM

843-869-2151

ATWOOD VACATIONS REAL ESTATE | 39

Top Five East Coast Tourist Destinations

‘Tourism’ continued from page 5

Parker, 10. Sons are Foster Routh, a con-

But why Edisto? Why did the nomads settle? “When we went to Garden City,”

VIRGINIA 6% NORTH CAROLINA 17% SOUTH CAROLINA 32% GEORGIA 10%

ways concerned about our children

was the first “chicken” for the

wanting to go to Myrtle Beach.”

Carolina Gamecocks, later suited

Some of the entertainment there was troubling. “Particularly (for) the teenagers

Shopping 22.9% Fine dining 16% Rural Sightseeing 11% Urban Sightseeing 8.4% S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism study, updated September 2008.

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up for the Miami Hurricanes and even later for the Florida Marlins. When not performing, he works

who could drive themselves,”

in the athletic department at the

interjected Shirley.

University of Miami.

“Everybody was going to

Why Edisto? It’s settled, the

Myrtle Beach and not staying on

early nomadic tents struck in

the beach,” Bill resumed. “We got

favor of 3210 Palmetto Boulevard.

down here, and we found out this

Here, this particular family group

is where we wanted to be.”

beds down for the night like most other species, distinguished from

Rouths children now number six

most others by a penchant for

adults, all of them obviously having

planning tomorrow.

able attractions of Myrtle Beach.

Beach 24.6%

for much of his life, has been a professional sports mascot. He

a great time without the question-

Top Five Leisure Activities

Columbia, and John Routh who,

Bill said, “I remember we were al-

Things change with time. The FLORIDA 6%

sultant for a lobbying firm in

What the Rouths plan is beach and banquets.

Four are ladies, three of them

“We have theme nights,” John

in Columbia. Carol Routh works

said, “we’ve had Medieval Night,

for the Budget and Control Board;

Seafood Night and (with ap-

Shirley “Si-Si” Routh for First

propriate music) Cheeseburger in

Citizens Bank; and Susan Routh is

Paradise Night.”

a nurse. The fourth, Julie, is Mrs.

He explains each gets one

Paige Carlton. A Florida part-time

night to do a meal with the oth-

teacher and professional mom

ers helping. “Si Si had the best

for sons Lucas, 15, Mills, 13, and

night. She had disco night, and

WWW.ATWOODVACATIONS.COM

we played some music and did some dancing.”

Don’t leave your vacation memories to chance.

Si Si and her shells “I love the shelling down here,” Si Si said. “I don’t know any place I’ve been – and I’ve looked for shells in Greece, in Israel, in Spain. I don’t know of any place that’s better for shelling than the sound side of Edisto.” One is forced to recall Mom’s view that the family isn’t “particularly nature lovers.” Remember, they appreciate nature, but don’t call them “fanatical.” Si Si is fanatical about shells. She has displays and containers in every room of her house, she says, but the beach in front of 3210 is “better than Botany Bay. I was concerned about going to Botany Bay, because I was concerned I was going to find so much that I wanted to bring home with me and we didn’t have kids with us.” (Since, the rules have changed and no shelling is allowed.) But one thing is for certain: many visit Edisto Beach – “South Carolina’s Last Chance to Get it Right” – because Homo southernsunburnus seeks relaxation uninterruptible by the attractions of the state’s other beaches, chosen by a species more adaptable to overcharged entertainment. It was Thomas Hobbes who told us dramatically long ago: “When all the world is overcharged with inhabitants, then the last remedy

L P

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Thirsty

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of all is war.” With so many of the species seeking what the Rouths finally found, will Edisto Beach be able to peacefully keep it? 843-869-2151

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843-869-1408 • 3731 Docksite Road • Edisto beach ATWOOD VACATIONS REAL ESTATE | 41

priceless living at affordable prices.

We know how much you love visiting Edisto.

So why limit your time with us to vacations once or twice a year when you could call Edisto home? In addition to vacation rentals, we also offer affordable homes and home sites for any budget. Choose from secluded island living to vibrant marsh views just steps to the Atlantic Ocean. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re currently offering multiple floor plans on various lots throughout Edisto Beach and Island starting at $239,000.

And after you purchase your perfect vacation home, call to speak with us about our Property Management services that will help turn your investment property into a revenue generator while maintaining your stress-free Edisto lifestyle. To view available homes, visit our website at atwoodvacations.com or call 843.869.2151 to speak with one of our friendly sales associates.

843.869.2151 866.713.5214 toll free www.atwoodvacations.com