History

Once upon a time it was Hunter Island. Then its name changed to Long Island. In the early 1900s, it earned the nickname “the Coney Island of the South.” Today, you know this 5.4-square-mile barrier island as Isle of Palms. ile barrier island as Isle of Palms. Home to just over 4,000 souls, according to the most recent census, Isle of Palms boasts a popular beach, numerous … [Read more...] about An Amusing Story: The Coney Island of the South

Editor’s Note: The following harrowing tale originally appeared in Hurricane Hugo - The Storm of the Century. For more survival tales about this powerful 1989 storm, visit the digital version of the magazine at www.HugoMagazine.com. I would like to have been somewhere where I could have seen it,” said a Lowcountry resident who lost everything to Hugo. It’s a reaction shared by … [Read more...] about Night of Wind and Water

Once upon a time, before it had a bridge from the mainland, Isle of Palms had its own airport. You couldn’t fly directly to London or Los Angeles, but Atlanta and Altoona wouldn’t be out of the question. Perhaps the most important person in the history of this airfield was Haywood “Woody” Faison, who fell in love with flying at the age of 5 in his native North … [Read more...] about Remembering the Isle of Palms Airport: Up, Up and Gone Away

Directly after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Publisher Bill Macchio revealed his limited-edition magazine titled “Hurricane Hugo: Storm of the Century” to residents of Mount Pleasant and the surrounding islands. This harrowing account by Jim Cox originally appeared in its pages. We hope you will enjoy the look back, and be sure to stay safe for this storm season. — by Jim Cox • Isle … [Read more...] about Looking Back: Recalling Hurricane Hugo’s Devastation

Back in the days when Elvis the Skinny was king and “gay” was synonymous with merry, there lived on the Isle of Palms a couple of big time New York gangsters. The gangsters’ sojourn on the Isle of Palms is a tantalizing tale of fact and hearsay sprinkled with the obligatory lineup of colorful outlaw nicknames. The facts of the story are as follows: In April of 1955 one Thomas … [Read more...] about Gangsters Who Called IOP Home