North Myrtle Beach

Barefoot Resort & Golf

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When We Say “Shag,” We Don’t Mean Carpet.

Lat. 33.81601 | Long. -78.68002

Horry County

Acronym To Know… SOS (Society of Stranders)

The Myrtle Beach Name.. And The Grand Strand Moniker.

The first recorded name for the Myrtle Beach area was coined by its original inhabitants – the region’s Native Americans, who called the area “Chicora,” meaning “the land.” The first European settlers to inhabit the area called it “New Town.” The settlement was eventually dubbed “Myrtle Beach,” a tribute to the wax myrtle trees common to the area… And the beach, of course.

The “Grand Strand” moniker is the handiwork of a local newspaper columnist, who in 1945 penned the name for the 60-mile stretch of coastline running from Georgetown on the southern end to Little River in the north.

Person taking a mirror selfie wearing a polka dot skirt, jacket, and holding a phone in a hotel room.

Sam Smith - Editor | Dunes Village Resort

Collage of scenes from 'Shag: The Movie' showing groups of young people in 1960s attire, with text about making lifelong memories and vibrant clothes typical of the era.

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

THE “BIRTH” OF SHAG

1963 “ish”

The Shag finds its roots in the 20s when the Jitterbug and Charleston were king. Through the years, as music evolved and Myrtle/North Myrtle Beach grew, the shag came into shape. The explosion of Motown music was very influential to the dance and culture. When more and more bands from the Carolinas began playing at the beach, they created a wonderful sub-genre called Beach Music. A new Motown/Beach sound.

The smooth steps and gliding moves of the shag are thought to originate from folks dancing on the beach and not wanting to kick up sand.

When teenagers flocked to NMB in the 60s to visit the great beach clubs and shag the night away, they began a tradition that happens several times a year - the S.O.S. The Society of Stranders isn’t just a society which includes shag clubs all along the east coast, but is also what we call the pilgrimages to North Myrtle Beach by thousands looking to dance, relax, see old friends, reminisce, and create new memories. These yearly events include the Spring Safari, D.J. Throwdown, and Fall Migration. Beach clubs like Ducks, The Spanish Galleon, The O.D. Arcade, and the most famous one - Fat Harold’s. It’s such an economic boom to the area, but the cultural significance can not be overstated. In fact, thousands of people exist today because their folks met at S.O.S. or during Spring or Summer break and got married. READ MORE.

Bands like The Drifters, The Tams, and the Catalinas have created both lasting songs and lasting memories. Many of the great beach bands still perform today and there has been a renaissance of newer groups with original charts recently.

Trailer & soundtrack from the 1989 Zelda Barron film, "Shag," with Phoebe Cates, Scott Coffey, Bridget Fonda, Annabeth Gish, Page Hannah, Robert Rusler, Carrie Hamilton, Jeff Yagher & Leilani Sarelle.

Busy street scene with people gathered outside an old-fashioned beach club featuring signs for 'The Pad' and 'Fat Harold's.' A vintage car is parked nearby under a cloudy sky.

History of North Myrtle Beach

Hazeled Into Existence.

On October 15, 1954, Hurricane Hazel struck. Many homes and businesses vanished, and others were made uninhabitable. Beach communities were paralyzed by the destruction. Daunted by the prospect of rebuilding, many elected to sell their property at bargain prices. Thus, larger parcels became available for hotel sites and other commercial enterprises. By removing older dwellings and expediting land consolidation, Hurricane Hazel actually accelerated development.

The beach boomed in the 1960s. Summer tourism increased, and new golf courses expanded “beach season” into spring and fall. In 1968 Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive Beach, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill consolidated into North Myrtle Beach. Atlantic Beach declined the invitation to join. In the 1970s, multistory condominiums and hotels began replacing single-family housing on the oceanfront. On the marsh at Cherry Grove, numerous “channels” were dug, draining and filling wetlands for more development. By the early twenty-first century the rapid increase in housing units had strained local resources and infrastructure to the limit. READ MORE.