Cherry Grove’s Planned House Creek Boardwalk, Plus Where to Fish, Crab and Paddle the Marsh Today

On an early fall morning along Lake Drive in Cherry Grove, the tide slides quietly through House Creek, a heron works the edge of the spartina grass, and a few anglers are already set up along the roadside with buckets, chicken necks and rods propped against the guardrail. It is one of the most familiar scenes in North Myrtle Beach, and it is about to get an upgrade.

The City of North Myrtle Beach is planning a new public boardwalk along House Creek, designed to give the people who fish and crab here a safer and more comfortable place to do it, and to open more of the Cherry Grove marsh to anyone who simply wants to watch the water. Design and permitting are finished, and the city is preparing to seek construction bids, though a funding gap still needs to be closed.

Here is what the project includes, what it will cost and when it might be built, followed by a practical guide to enjoying the Cherry Grove marsh right now, from fishing and crabbing spots to kayak tours out toward Waties Island.

What the House Creek Boardwalk Will Include

The North Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Project at House Creek would build a 12-foot-wide public boardwalk running roughly 1,480 feet along Lake Drive and 39th Avenue North, according to reporting by Maria Elena Scott of The Sun News, along with WPDE and MyHorryNews. Visitors would reach it by a 12-foot by roughly 29-foot walkway, and the design folds in the existing walkway at Russell Burgess Coastal Preserve so the new and old structures work together as one stretch of marsh access.

Along the way, the plans call for one 400-square-foot access deck and six 160-square-foot decks that double as fishing stations, spaced so that people can spread out with their gear. Because the boardwalk would be built over the edge of the marsh, it would shade about 0.3 acres of the wetland below.

Why the City Wants a Boardwalk on House Creek

Anyone who has driven Lake Drive on a summer afternoon has seen the reason for the project. People fish and crab House Creek from the roadside shoreline and along the guardrail, often with children and coolers in tow and traffic passing a few feet away. City Manager Ryan Fabbri said that arrangement is neither the best setup for fishing nor the safest place to do it, and a dedicated boardwalk with decks and fishing stations is meant to move people off the road edge and onto a structure built for the purpose.

Mayor J.O. Baldwin also emphasized safety as a driving reason for the project, and Councilman Hank Thomas called the boardwalk a great amenity for the city. For a neighborhood where so much of the appeal is being close to the water, both on the ocean side and the marsh side, giving people a proper place to stand over House Creek fits naturally with how Cherry Grove is already used.

Cost, Funding and When It Could Be Built

The boardwalk has been in the works for a couple of years, and design and permitting are now complete. The estimated cost is about $6 million. The city had hoped the state would cover roughly half, about $3 million, in a 50-50 split. State Rep. William Bailey secured $1.22 million, which leaves the project about $1.78 million short of that hoped-for state share.

The city plans to open construction bids before the end of 2026, likely within about two months, and officials noted that bids could come in lower than the estimate. If the funding and a contractor come together, construction could begin by summer 2027. How the boardwalk will be maintained over the long term is still under review. None of those dates are final, so it is worth checking the City of North Myrtle Beach for updates as the bid process moves forward.

Russell Burgess Coastal Preserve and Heritage Shores

You do not have to wait for the new boardwalk to get out over the Cherry Grove marsh. Russell Burgess Coastal Preserve, established in 2004 and named for a former city councilman, already has a marsh boardwalk, installed in 2009, that looks out across the grasses and tidal channels. The preserve sits off the Lake Drive and 36th Avenue North area, has parking and portable restrooms, and is a lovely place to watch egrets and herons stalking the shallows as the tide turns. Check the city’s parks listing for the exact entrance before you go.

Fishing and crabbing are allowed at the preserve from ground level, but not from the existing pier structure, so bring your lines and nets to the shoreline and keep the boardwalk itself for walking and watching. Nearby, Heritage Shores Nature Preserve is another city preserve in Cherry Grove with marsh boardwalks and trails, a quieter spot for a morning walk with binoculars.

Fishing and Crabbing in Cherry Grove Today

Cherry Grove has long been the part of North Myrtle Beach where fishing is less a pastime than a way of life. The inshore creeks and marsh channels around House Creek draw crabbers with collapsible traps and handlines, while anglers work the moving water on the tides. On the ocean side, Cherry Grove Pier at 3500 N. Ocean Blvd. is operating again after reopening following Hurricane Ian, and our guide to fishing Cherry Grove Pier covers what to know before you head out.

Before you drop a line, know the licensing rules. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, anyone 16 or older needs a saltwater recreational fishing license to harvest marine resources, which includes finfish, crabs, shrimp and shellfish. There are a few exemptions: you do not need one when fishing from a licensed public fishing pier, and crabbing with three or fewer drop nets, three or fewer fold-up traps or three or fewer handlines is also exempt. Rules and size limits can change, so check SCDNR before your trip. Our Myrtle Beach fishing guide and our roundup of top fall fishing spots in North Myrtle Beach have more on seasons and species.

Kayaking the Marsh and Paddling to Waties Island

The best way to understand the Cherry Grove marsh is to get down on the water, where the sound of traffic falls away and all you hear is the paddle, the wind in the grass and the occasional splash of a mullet. Several local outfitters make that easy. Cherry Grove Kayaking launches from the Cherry Grove park and boat ramp area, rents kayaks and paddleboards, runs guided salt-marsh and Waties Island tours, and can deliver boats to vacation rentals.

Great Escapes Kayak Expeditions, based at 1116 Hwy. 9 E. in Longs, leads guided tours through the Cherry Grove marsh, out to Waties Island and on the Waccamaw River, and reservations are required. Kokopelli Surf Camp also offers kayak and paddleboard tours. Waties Island itself is one of the most rewarding paddles on this stretch of coast, and our guide to Waties Island explains how to see it responsibly. Tour schedules shift with tides and seasons, so book ahead and confirm times with the outfitter.

After a morning in the marsh, it is an easy trip back to the beach. Cherry Grove sits at the northern end of North Myrtle Beach, and from there the rest of town unfolds to the south, from the shag-dancing heritage of Ocean Drive to the relaxed family beaches of Crescent Beach and Windy Hill. For more ideas across the Grand Strand, see our guide to things to do in Myrtle Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Make Cherry Grove Your Home Base

Cherry Grove is the part of North Myrtle Beach where the marsh and the ocean sit side by side, and staying here puts both at your doorstep. Mornings can start with a kayak tour or a crab trap in House Creek and end with a sunset walk on the beach. Our Cherry Grove vacation rentals include oceanfront homes with room for the whole crew and their fishing gear, as well as oceanfront condos for smaller groups who want the beach steps away.

Sources: The Sun News (Maria Elena Scott, September 2026); WPDE (September 2026); MyHorryNews (September 2026); City of North Myrtle Beach; South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (accessed September 2026). Details subject to change — confirm project status, preserve access, licensing rules and tour times before you go.