Running Wild with the Unicorns
Larry Holt from Asheville, North Carolina, has been a seasoned vacationer on Isle of Palms since the mid-1970s, before Wild Dunes and the IOP Connector were even a thought.
Holt and his merry band of travel companions called the “Unicorns” like to frolic around and indulge in everything that IOP has to offer. As a memento, the group made t-shirts embossed with a unicorn that read “Still crazy after all these years.”
Holt’s recipe for the perfect vacation is simple: good weather, plus good food, equals good times. There’s no strict itinerary and no two years are the same, depending on the season, but there’s always a reason to visit.
However, the one key ingredient to any of Holt’s tropical getaways to IOP begins and ends with Carroll Realty. Not only are they a trustful trip advisor with rights to some of the most sought-after rentals on the island, he considers them a longtime friend as they’ve seen the real estate company grow throughout generations of the family business.
“Carroll Realty has been outstanding in dealing with us and we’ve had outstanding accommodations,” Holt shared.
Over the past 40 years, the only time Holt and his crew took a hiatus was during COVID. Not even Hurricane Hugo’s devastation could deter them from vacationing the following year.
Similar to a local, Holt has watched IOP transform from a once sleepy little beach town to a bustling city by the sea. There are aspects he prefers from both time periods, but admits that he wouldn’t change how things have progressed.
“Isle of Palms, to some extent, is a well-known secret to Asheville people,” Holt said. “Once you come you’re going to be hooked.”
Although Holt and his gang are no longer gallivanting around the island like they used to, he’s more than satisfied soaking up the sunshine with his grandchildren. Last month, Holt scattered his wife’s ashes on the beach as well as members of the Unicorns who have passed over time.
“I’m not a religious person but (IOP) is probably as close to heaven as I’m going to get,” Holt added. “It’s a place where we honor, respect and memorialize loved ones we’ve lost. It’s a very, very special place to us.”
By Zach Giroux
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