If there is one place that springs to mind whenever the Isle of Palms is mentioned, it has to be The Windjammer. Anywhere you go in the Southeast, people know where it is. Its longevity has undoubtedly helped propel it to fame, but the atmosphere created from blending live music, beach volleyball and the ocean breeze is what makes it the stuff of legend. When brothers James … [Read more...] about Then vs. Now: The Windjammer – Half-century of ‘jam’ good times
History
From the Archives: Beach boxing – IOP was a paradise for throwing punches
Beach volleyball and the Isle of Palms just seem to go together. You need only observe the crowds that gather at The Windjammer every summer to know this is true. Yet there was a time when boxing was the main attraction. Not just on the island, but throughout Greater Charleston. Local boxing clubs faced off at County Hall on upper King Street. Sailors competed against each … [Read more...] about From the Archives: Beach boxing – IOP was a paradise for throwing punches
Then vs. Now: Curving with the times – Transformation of island transportation
It is a well-known fact that the popularity of the Isle of Palms has grown exponentially over the last several decades, both as a visitor destination and residential community. With that popularity have come the headaches of traffic and parking, not only for residents but for those who wish to visit this slice of paradise. The free bus service offered by CARTA has offset a … [Read more...] about Then vs. Now: Curving with the times – Transformation of island transportation
From the Archives: Moonshine murder trial of 1928
We think of our island as the epitome of tranquility and safety. In fact, that’s why many folks have moved here. But the Isle of Palms was once the site of a heinous crime; a case that will go down in history not only for its vile nature, but also because of the legendary figures involved. The story begins on Sullivan’s Island the night after Christmas on Dec. 26, 1928. … [Read more...] about From the Archives: Moonshine murder trial of 1928
Then vs. Now: Ocean Boulevard – Same rules, different Monopoly board
Some of us are old enough to remember the singer Paul Anka crooning, “Do you remember the times of your life?” What would you consider the times of your life? Many of us flash back to our youth for those memories. Folks who grew up on or frequented the Isle of Palms decades ago remember Front Beach as the backdrop for much of that nostalgia. It was a simpler time when the … [Read more...] about Then vs. Now: Ocean Boulevard – Same rules, different Monopoly board
Then vs. Now: The Boathouse formerly functioned as the Inlet Inn
One of the most idyllic places on the Isle of Palms is undoubtedly Breach Inlet. With its sunset vistas, dolphin sightings and crabbing opportunities, who doesn’t want to while away the hours there? That’s just what Nell and Griffin Bunch were counting on when they opened their restaurant, the Inlet Inn, there in 1938. The couple also offered a few rooms for rent above the … [Read more...] about Then vs. Now: The Boathouse formerly functioned as the Inlet Inn
From the Archives: Saddling up for IOP’s mechanical steeplechase
Two hundred years ago, Charleston had a prominent place in the world of horse racing, with many local planters raising thoroughbreds and Hampton Park’s identity as the renowned Washington Race Course. Believe it or not, the Isle of Palms had its own version of horseracing a century later — although not in the conventional sense. At the turn of the 20th century, Front Beach … [Read more...] about From the Archives: Saddling up for IOP’s mechanical steeplechase
Then vs. Now: The Citadel Beach Club
It’s a landmark situated on the very edge of civilization. And that’s the point. After all, the folks who spend their leisure time there deserve a much-needed break from the structure of their daily lives. What better place to unwind than in a tropical paradise that they can call their own? The Citadel Beach Club is such a haven. Back in 1958, the school purchased 5 acres of … [Read more...] about Then vs. Now: The Citadel Beach Club
From the Archives: Ocean Boulevard was once a dance pavilion for shaggers
Beach music. The term conjures up images of couples swaying and swirling to the tunes of bands from the 1950s like the Tams and the Drifters. The standard attire for the scene is casual: shorts, sundresses, sandals or maybe no shoes at all. Even though the word “beach” implies the genre is restricted to the sea and sand, it can really be found anywhere — at home, at a party or … [Read more...] about From the Archives: Ocean Boulevard was once a dance pavilion for shaggers
Then vs. Now Early days before The Dinghy
Editor’s Note: Then vs. Now is a new ongoing history series featuring today’s landmarks on Isle of Palms and their past developments from yesteryear. In the 1930s, few residents lived on the island full-time. Karl Klump and his wife, Ruth, were some of the earliest neighbors to reside here year-round. As owner of Hardaway Construction and the manager of the Isle of … [Read more...] about Then vs. Now Early days before The Dinghy