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Bell Buoy Seafood

SC PICTURE PROJECT 3 Comments

SC Picture Project / Colleton County / Bell Buoy Seafood

For more than 40 years, Bell Buoy Seafood on Edisto served up “fresh from the boat” fare. Operated by Gwen and Weldon Bell, the store sold wild-caught fish, shrimp, and crabs to both retail and wholesale customers. It also served up home-cooked items to go, including Mrs. Bell’s famous tomato pie. Mr. Bell collected antique cars, fire engines, and tractors. From time to time he would park several vehicles on display outside for visitors to admire while waiting for the day’s catch.

Bell Buoy Seafood

Brent Silman of Prosperity, 1998 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

While it was still up and running, one reviewer described Bell Buoy as follows:

Weldon Bell is the proprietor of the seafood business and also the main fish wholesaler at Edisto. The key to Weldon’s success, however, is the kitchen that he built a few years ago behind the store for his wife. Gwen and her experienced staff clean, prepare and cook the seafood fresh from the dock and then convert it into some of the tastiest ready-to-cook casseroles you will find anywhere.

Bell Buoy sat on the banks of Big Bay Creek. After the Bells retired in 2003, the Town of Edisto tore down the old buildings to make room for the creation of Bay Creek Park.

The land was appraised at over $4 million, but in order to preserve the land and prevent its development, the Bell Family lowered its price by $1.5 million. The Town of Edisto was able to raise the remaining funds through a $2 million grant from the South Carolina Conservation Bank. A $225,000 brownfield loan from the federal government then allowed the town to decontaminate the area, which had been used for commercial purposes for decades.

Today, Bay Creek Park includes a dock for fishing and crabbing as well as open space for picnics, a gazebo for outdoor concerts, and an interpretive center that is used as an arts and crafts market on Wednesdays from spring through fall.

Reflections on Bell Buoy Seafood


Many thanks to Jane C. Brailsford, who helped us with much of the above information. She writes, “Located on the site is the town park with a small fishing pier, a lovely gazebo for outdoor concerts, and one small building that is used for the weekly arts and crafts market held spring-fall. There is a modest parking lot that serves the park and the nearby marina. Mr. Bell’s property was preserved as an open space that is used by the community and visitors to the island.”

Plan Your Trip: Bell Buoy Seafood

Where is Bell Buoy Seafood located?
Address: 3706 Docksite Road, Edisto Beach, SC 29438
GPS Coordinates: 32.493627,-80.340533
What else should I see?
Sea of Peace 3.1 miles
Edisto Beach State Park 4.3 miles
Edisto Beach 4.3 miles
George and Pink's 8 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Bygone Landmarks
  • Edisto Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Parks
  • See other South Carolina Restaurants
  • See other South Carolina Stores
    Bell Buoy Seafood Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Thia Beniash says

      February 26, 2016 at 5:26 PM

      How sad to tear down such beauty. Do you know of the where abouts of the old cars and other relics?

      Reply
    2. Marie Lynch says

      July 29, 2014 at 7:05 AM

      Once again, take a beautiful slice of American history and turn it into a parking lot and condos for tourists almighty dollars… way to go Edistonians!

      Reply
    3. Ralph Koerber says

      January 3, 2013 at 5:09 PM

      Awwwwwww. We always got our seafood there when we stayed on the island. We would ride there on bikes and bring it back in sacks with ice hanging over the handlebars. The kids would play with Mr. Bell’s dog that was always laying about the place. Time marches on. Guess we have our memories.

      Reply

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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