Grand Strand Health Opens Little River ER on June 1 | North Myrtle Beach
LITTLE RIVER, S.C. — A new freestanding emergency room is set to open its doors to the public on June 1, 2026, giving residents and summer visitors across the northern Grand Strand their first locally based, around-the-clock emergency care option. The facility, operated by Grand Strand Health under the name Little River ER, is located at 1586 U.S. Highway 17 in Little River, positioned off the highway between Mineola Avenue and Ellis Drive on land that formerly housed a boat supply store.
A $15 Million Investment in Northern Horry County
The Little River ER is one piece of a sweeping, $350 million regional expansion by Grand Strand Health — an HCA Healthcare affiliate and the dominant hospital system along the Grand Strand. The Little River facility carries a price tag of approximately $15 million on its own, matching the investment level of two companion freestanding ERs being built simultaneously in Murrells Inlet and Conway.
Grand Strand Health held a ceremonial groundbreaking at the Little River site on November 20, 2025, with community leaders, hospital executives, and Horry County officials in attendance. At the time, construction crews had already been active on the site for roughly a month. The project moved quickly: the original completion target was April 2026, with a May opening anticipated. The June 1 debut represents a modest but manageable shift from that schedule.
What the Facility Offers
The Little River ER spans more than 10,000 square feet and is built to handle the full spectrum of emergency medical situations. The facility includes:
| Staffing | Board-certified emergency physicians and specially trained clinicians, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Exam Rooms | At least 10 examination rooms plus a dedicated triage room |
| Imaging | Advanced X-ray and CT scanning capabilities on site |
| Laboratory | Fully equipped on-site lab for rapid diagnostic testing |
| Transfer Capability | Cases requiring higher-level inpatient care can be transferred directly to Grand Strand Medical Center’s main campus in Myrtle Beach |
| Phone | (843) 692-1000 |
Grand Strand Health has noted that the facility is specifically designed to serve residents and visitors across North Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove Beach, Atlantic Beach, and neighboring communities in Brunswick County, North Carolina — a catchment area that extends well across the state line.
Why Little River, and Why Now
Hospital leadership has been direct about the driver behind this investment: the northern end of Horry County has experienced sustained population growth, and until now Grand Strand Health had no presence there. Grand Strand Health CEO Mark Sims has noted that the health system logged more than 125,000 emergency room visits annually across its existing four facilities — a figure that makes the case for expansion difficult to argue against.
The location on Highway 17 also carries a practical advantage that hospital planners emphasized at the groundbreaking: proximity. In emergencies involving cardiac events, strokes, or serious trauma, the minutes saved by not driving to Myrtle Beach can be the difference in outcomes. The facility is built to close that gap for Little River, North Myrtle Beach, and the communities tucked along the Brunswick County border.
Board member Henrietta Golding, speaking at the November groundbreaking ceremony, described the new ER not as a convenience but as something the community requires to keep pace with its own growth.
Part of a Broader $350 Million Expansion
The Little River ER does not stand alone. It is one component of a major capital investment that Grand Strand Health, funded by parent company HCA Healthcare, is deploying across Horry County. The full expansion plan includes:
| Project | Location | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Freestanding ER (Little River) | 1586 U.S. Hwy 17, Little River | ~$15 million |
| Freestanding ER (Murrells Inlet) | Hwy 17 Business & Wesley Road | ~$15 million |
| Freestanding ER (Conway) | Church Street & Millpond Road | ~$15 million |
| New South Strand Hospital (59 beds) | Adjacent to South Strand Medical Center | $226 million |
| Main Campus Enhancements | 809 82nd Pkwy, Myrtle Beach (3 new ORs, ER & lab upgrades) | $55.2 million |
| New Parking Garage (742 spaces) | Main campus, Myrtle Beach | $30 million |
What It Means for North Myrtle Beach Visitors
For the hundreds of thousands of travelers who visit Cherry Grove Beach, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill each summer, the opening of Little River ER means a genuine safety net that wasn’t there before. Medical emergencies don’t plan around vacation schedules. A jellyfish sting, a slip on a wet deck, an allergic reaction, a child’s sudden high fever — these moments happen, and the closer the care, the calmer the outcome.
The June 1 opening date lands at the front edge of peak summer season — a fact that is not lost on anyone who watches how crowded Highway 17 gets between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Whether you’re staying in an oceanfront home or an oceanfront condo in North Myrtle Beach, full emergency services are now just minutes up the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: Horry News, WBTW News 13, WMBF News, The News Argus (Brunswick Beacon), Grand Strand Health (mygrandstrandhealth.com). For medical emergencies, always call 911. For non-emergency inquiries about Little River ER, contact Grand Strand Health at (843) 692-1000.
Planning a trip to North Myrtle Beach this summer? Thomas Beach Vacations has been helping families find the perfect oceanfront escape for years — and now with Little River ER just minutes away, you can enjoy the beach knowing a little extra peace of mind is built right into the neighborhood. Browse our oceanfront vacation homes and oceanfront condos, or give us a call at (843) 273-3001. We’d love to help you make the most of the season.