Folly Beach — Folly Beach, South Carolina

Located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Folly River, Folly Island is home to the City of Folly Beach. It is located in Charleston County, about 15 miles south of downtown Charleston, via Folly Road through James Island. Along with Sullivan’s Island, it’s the closest beach to historic Charleston.

Folly was once called Coffin Island, but these days it’s full of life. On weekends you’ll find Center Street crowded with revelers who gather to talk and drink. There is a shag club, a pool hall, and plenty of coffeeshops and restaurants with outdoor seating.

Despite its lively nature and an abundant supply of tourists, Folly is a world away from South Carolina’s more commercialized beaches like Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head. It’s still a great place to grab a beer, shake off your shoes, and enjoy the sunset with friends.

Th following list highlights the many great places you can visit on Folly Beach:

Folly Beach County Park, Bird Key, Folly Beach Pier, Folly River, Morris Island Lighthouse, Crosby’s Seafood, and last but not least, The Washout.

Historic Pictures of Folly Beach

The following images are from the collection of Maebelle Barnett Bazzel, a lifelong resident of James Island in Charleston County. Most of the views of Folly Beach are from the 1940s-1950s.

Reflections on the Folly Beach

Photographer Kevin Travis, who took this photo of the Morris Island light, shares a great story: “Shot this image on a cold December morning right after Christmas. It was about 40 degrees on the beach at 5:30 am. I used a flashlight to illuminate the old live oaks tree stumps on the beach. Morris Island Lighthouse is in the background. The lighthouse is always the focal point of so many pictures, and rightfully so because of the rich history of this beautiful structure. I wanted to show a different perspective of the beach with the lighthouse playing second fiddle so to speak.”

Steve DuPree, the artist behind the photo of the beached catamaran above, says he calls his shot “Swept Away” because “that is the feeling I get when I look out at a beautiful sunrise. If you are dealing with life’s pressures, get out and watch a sunrise or sunset and just let your mind go. This is the medicine out there.”

Mark Wickliffe tells us about his spectacular image: “This is the site of the Morris Island Lighthouse; it is hidden from traffic and about a 20-minute hike on the beach. Sunrises are often rewarded with extremely grand views, and often you can be the only person with such a grand sight.”

Folly Beach is considered the best place to catch a wave in South Carolina. Even before Hurricane Hugo created the Washout in its destructive wake in 1989 – thought to be the best local break for surfing – people ventured to Folly for the waves. Surfer Angel Llano tells us of the below photo: “Good winter swell in 1978 taken of me by my friend Jim Cooper. The water was really cold, no hood, and the outside air temperature was just above freezing. Coop missed the sequence on this wave. It was a fun ride!”

More Pictures of Folly Beach

Folly Beach Map

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