This historic storm had a significant impact on the lower part of the state, including Columbia. The major flood event consisted of a four- to five-day stretch of on-and-off heavy rainfall in early October 2015. It started with an early-season cold front, which stalled off the coast after pushing through the southeast. While Hurricane Joaquin…
2024 Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene is the deadliest hurricane to hit the contiguous United States since Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. The storm caused at least 248 deaths, with 175 of those deaths directly related to this massive storm, whether by wind, flood, or other immediate impacts, and racked up almost $80 billion in damages. Helene has officially…
Was Magic Harbor in Myrtle Beach Cursed
Many may remember this amusement park, located just south of Myrtle Beach, with its signature lighthouse out front that welcomed beachgoers. But, deep inside this fun park lurked something more sinister during its years of operation. Today, people share fond memories of this place as a source of nostalgia, but was this park doomed from…
Did You Know This About Kings Highway
Kings Highway, also known as Highway 17, has a rich and haunted history along the Grand Strand. Many may not be aware, but the origins of this route date back to a Native American path that was established over three hundred years ago. It was called the “King’s Highway” because, when completed by 1735, it…
The 1526 Sinking of The Capitana
The shores around the Grand Strand are home to many shipwrecks. After all, at one time, these waters were considered dangerous to navigate. One of the biggest mysteries is the 1526 sinking of The Capitana. This ship was the flagship of Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon’s expedition to the New World to establish a settlement. It…
The Pirate Queen: Anne Bonny
Murrells Inlet was once a hub for piracy in the early 1700s. It was easy to dip into the inlet to avoid capture and hide, which made it a desirable location. Often, piracy is associated with male figures, such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet, but two of the most formidable pirates of all time were…
Is the Isle of Palms sitting on Stolen Loot from a 1955 New York Bank Heist
In April of 1955, the Woodside branch of the Chase Manhattan Bank in Queens, New York, was the site of a $205,000 robbery. Thomas “Duke” Connelly served as the lookout and getaway driver on that day. Since robbing a bank is a Federal crime, Connelly gathered his wife and kids and sought safer confines in…
The Wreck of The Amelia
In 1832, the Amelia made a voyage from New York to New Orleans with 120 passengers on board. The ship wrecked on Folly Beach, stranding all onboard. While stuck, 20 of the passengers died of cholera, also known as “blue death,” and word traveled to nearby Charleston about the passengers. People panicked over a possible…
The Pirates Den: Folly Beach
Yes, the infamous pirate Blackbeard once blockaded Charleston and even threatened to burn the city to the ground. Some may even be more shocked to learn that the legend of Blackbeard extends to Fripp Island, near Beaufort, South Carolina, all the way down to Georgia. As I have mentioned in numerous articles, areas such as…
The 1946 Greenville Ideal Laundry Explosion
On November 19, 1946, one of the worst accidents occurred in the history of South Carolina, which left four to six people deceased, with another hundred to a hundred fifty injured. Around 6:00 PM, 3,500 gallons of propane exploded at Ideal Laundry and Cleaners in Greenville. The blast was felt as far away as Gaffney…