Murrells Inlet

A Village Built Around the Water

Murrells Inlet’s story reaches back to the 1700s. Fishing, oysters, boats, and the natural saltwater estuary shaped the community long before it became a modern destination. The town’s post office officially adopted the Murrells Inlet name in 1913.

Over time, visitors arrived from inland South Carolina for coastal breezes, cottages, fishing, and oyster roasts. That relationship with the water remains the center of the community today.

The MarshWalk

The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is a half-mile wooden boardwalk along the natural saltwater estuary. Waterfront restaurants, fresh seafood, live music, charter boats, sightseeing tours, kayaking, and seasonal events make it the social heart of the inlet.

More Than Restaurants

Murrells Inlet is also a starting point for inshore and offshore fishing, paddleboarding, dolphin trips, eco-tours, and wildlife viewing. The calm waters and surrounding marsh create a landscape that feels completely different from the busier center of Myrtle Beach.

Two Major Neighbors—One Huntington Legacy

Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park face one another across U.S. 17. Huntington Beach is one of South Carolina’s premier coastal parks and frequently reaches capacity during busy weekends and holidays. Brookgreen brings sculpture, gardens, wildlife, and Lowcountry history together, while the state park protects beach, freshwater lagoon, salt marsh, maritime forest, and historic Atalaya.

Atalaya Castle—Spanish for “watchtower”—was Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington’s 30-room, 40,000-square-foot Moorish-style winter home and Anna’s working sculpture studio. The park was later leased from Brookgreen Trustees in 1960. Ron and Michelle volunteer here as park hosts, making these connected Murrells Inlet landmarks part of their own R&M story.