Myrtle Beach State Park Celebrates 90th Anniversary With History Walks, Cupcakes and a Monthlong Scavenger Hunt

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — JULY 7, 2026  |  THOMAS BEACH VACATIONS

South Carolina’s oldest state park marked nine decades with cupcakes, vintage photographs and a monthlong scavenger hunt that runs through the end of July.

Myrtle Beach State Park celebrated its 90th anniversary on Wednesday, July 1, with a daylong program of guided history walks, outdoor games, historical presentations and birthday treats that drew locals, out-of-state visitors and park staff to the 312-acre oceanfront park at the southern end of the Grand Strand. The park, which opened on July 1, 1936, holds the distinction of being the first park to open in the entire South Carolina state park system.

The celebration is not over. Park officials announced a monthlong Historical Goose Chase running throughout July, a self-guided challenge that sends participants to locations around the park to complete history-themed tasks. Those who finish and submit their completed paperwork can receive a commemorative 90th anniversary T-shirt.

The July 1 program opened with a guided walk called A Stroll Back in Time from 9 to 10 a.m., starting at the Fishing Pier picnic deck and winding through natural and historical features that have shaped the park since 1936. Water relays, hula hoop contests and obstacle courses followed at Shelter 1 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., and from 11:15 to noon rangers led a History and Memories session where visitors studied historic photographs spread across picnic tables and swapped stories with park staff.

At noon, chocolate and vanilla cupcakes were distributed to the first 90 visitors, and children were invited to help blow out the candles. An afternoon presentation titled Through the Years at Myrtle Beach State Park ran from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. in the Activity Center classroom, walking attendees through nine decades of photographs and milestones. Giveaways included a park map and a sticker featuring the park logo with a special 90th anniversary design.

The CCC Connection

Interpretive ranger Ann Wilson welcomed attendees and spoke about the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Depression-era work program that built the park. Wilson explained that the CCC’s signature colors were green and yellow, a detail that surprised much of the crowd, and noted that the Corps was responsible for developing 16 South Carolina state parks in all — from Aiken and Cheraw in the midlands to Hunting Island and Edisto Beach along the coast.

The park was established on land donated by Myrtle Beach Farms in 1934. CCC enrollees cleared trails, raised buildings and shaped the maritime forest into a public park over the following two years. Several of those original CCC structures remain in daily use today, including six furnished rental cabins located roughly 200 yards from the beach. The park’s maritime forest of live oaks and southern magnolias has been designated a South Carolina Heritage Trust Site, and its one mile of undeveloped shoreline is among the last stretches of natural oceanfront in Horry County.

Vintage Photographs Traced Nine Decades

Among the most popular features of the celebration was a display of historic photographs laid across picnic tables in the open air. Images included a July 1938 photograph of the park entrance, a 1940 shot of visitors playing games on the top floor of the CCC bathhouse, a 1959 image of a camper line on a hill, an August 1959 photograph of vending and camping registration, and a photograph of Pier No. 4 being rebuilt after Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

The pier itself has had a storied recent chapter. Hurricane Ian damaged the structure in the fall of 2022, and just as repairs wrapped up in late 2023, a nor’easter on December 17 knocked out two additional support pilings. Emergency repairs were completed and the pier reopened in July 2024. Park manager Troy Crider has called the pier probably the most popular feature of the entire park, drawing thousands of anglers and sightseers each year.

The celebration attracted visitors from beyond South Carolina. According to MyHorryNews, a North Carolina couple, Debbie and Bruce Anderson, attended the event specifically to learn more about the park’s history and said they were charmed by both the program and the crowd. Park officials said the event was designed to honor the park’s long history while encouraging visitors to enjoy its natural resources and recreational opportunities.

A Short Drive from North Myrtle Beach

For vacationers staying along the northern end of the Grand Strand, the state park is a straightforward day trip. The park sits at 4401 South Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, roughly 15 miles south of North Myrtle Beach — about 25 to 35 minutes by car depending on whether you start from Windy Hill at the southern end of the city or Cherry Grove Beach at the northern tip. Families staying in the Ocean Drive or Crescent Beach sections will find the run south on Highway 17 uncomplicated, though summer traffic between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. can slow things down — rangers recommend arriving early to avoid capacity closures.

The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through November. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for South Carolina seniors 65 and older, $4 for children 6 to 15, and free for children 5 and under. Pier fishing passes are $8 for adults, $5 for SC seniors and disabled residents, and $3 for children 6 to 15 — no South Carolina fishing license is required on the pier. Parking is first-come, first-served and limited, and the park may temporarily close its gates when it reaches capacity on peak summer days.

The Historical Goose Chase runs through the end of July. Participants can pick up challenge materials at the park and complete them at their own pace. Whether you are staying in one of the oceanfront homes or oceanfront condos in North Myrtle Beach, the park makes a worthwhile morning or afternoon excursion — one of the few places on the Grand Strand where the coast still looks the way it did before the first hotel went up.

Sources: MyHorryNews, “Myrtle Beach State Park celebrates 90th anniversary,” Sarah T. Jackson (July 2, 2026); MyHorryNews, “‘Everybody loves the pier’: After storm damage, pier reopens at Myrtle Beach State Park,” S.T. Cardinal (July 2024); South Carolina State Parks official site, Myrtle Beach State Park pages (accessed July 2026); Wikipedia, “Myrtle Beach State Park” (accessed July 2026). Event details, prices and hours verified as of July 2026 and subject to change; confirm current information with the park at (843) 238-5325 or southcarolinaparks.com before visiting.