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Today’s edition · Wed., Nov. 11

Margaritaville resort clears first Myrtle Beach vote

Plus, the city wants a bigger share of the tourism fee and lawmakers have to sign off.

The 5AM Socastee team2 stories19 sources5 min read

Myrtle BeachTop story

Myrtle Beach council gives first approval to alley swaps for a $90 million Margaritaville resort

The Margaritaville resort by the numbers

$90 million
in construction cost
296
hotel rooms
350
local construction jobs, at least
200
full-time jobs once it opens, at least

Sources: Myrtle Beach Sun News, WMBF, Post and Courier, WBTW

If you've wondered what's coming to North Ocean Boulevard next to the Atlantica Resort, it's a Margaritaville. Myrtle Beach City Council approved the first reading Tuesday of an ordinance to abandon seven city alleys, which WBTW says had been holding up developers. A second and final vote is set for next Tuesday, Nov. 17.

WMBF says the resort would replace the former Chesterfield Inn with a pool complex, a lazy river and a conference center built for weddings. Post and Courier reports a 188-foot tower on 406,206 square feet.

  • Second-row alleys: developer pays the city $286,000
  • Oceanfront alleys: 1% of construction cost for one, $40,000 for the other
  • Boardwalk: expanded from Plyler Park to 16th Avenue North
  • Public day passes planned when occupancy allows

Council's second vote comes next Tuesday, with construction hoped for in December

  1. Nov. 10Council approves the first reading of the alley ordinance
  2. Nov. 17Council plans to meet to approve a second reading
  3. Dec. 2026Developers hope to start construction
  4. Q1 2029The resort is expected to open

Sources: Myrtle Beach Sun News, WBTW, WMBF, Post and Courier

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City Hall

Myrtle Beach wants a bigger share of the tourism fee, but state lawmakers have to approve it

If you own a home in Myrtle Beach, this one touches your property tax credit. City council on Tuesday approved an agreement to seek a new split of the , a 1% sales tax on purchases inside city limits. Nothing changes yet: the 80/20 split is written into state law, so lawmakers have to act.

The city's share of the tourism fee would double under the plan

80%Collaborative share60%
20%City share40%

Sources: Myrtle Beach News, WPDE, WMBF

The city's share would be divided evenly between property tax credits for permanent residents and tourism-related capital projects, city spokesperson Meredith Denari said. Those projects would improve existing attractions and add new ones meant to lengthen stays. The plan now heads to Horry County's legislative delegation.

  • City's share: about $9 million now, about $18 million at 40%
  • Homeowner credit: cut from 67.45% to 53.4% in FY 2026-27
  • Current fee term: runs through 2029

$45.5 millioncollected by the Tourism Development Fee in 2025

That's what the 1% sales tax on purchases inside Myrtle Beach city limits brought in last year.

Sources: Myrtle Beach News, Post and Courier

News Notes

Fire Rescue

Horry County Fire Rescue Chief Joey Tanner is no longer with the department as of Tuesday, spokesperson Tony Casey confirmed. Deputy Chief Mike Norket will serve as interim chief, and WMBF reports a search for a permanent chief will begin in the coming weeks. No reason has been given. WPDE notes Tanner was named SC Fire Chief of the Year in 2023. WPDEWBTWWMBF

Wavegarden

Myrtle Beach City Council gave final approval Tuesday to an ordinance adding 26.88 acres tied to the surf park to a multi-county business park. The agreement is part of the financing plan for the city's contribution of up to $20 million, WPDE reports. Horry County Council must still approve it through two readings, WMBF says. WBTWWPDEWMBF

Hwy 501

If you cross Highway 501 at night, overnight lane closures run through Friday night. The northbound lane over the Waccamaw River reopens by 6 a.m. Thursday, and Thursday and Friday nights move to the Intracoastal Waterway bridge. WFXB

Overnight lane closures on Hwy 501 run through Friday night

NightBridgeLane closed
Tue., Nov. 10Waccamaw RiverSouthbound, right lane
Wed., Nov. 11Waccamaw RiverNorthbound
Thu., Nov. 12Intracoastal WaterwaySouthbound, right lane
Fri., Nov. 13Intracoastal WaterwayNorthbound, right lane

Source: WFXB

Flu season

South Carolina ranks second in the nation for flu activity, with only Louisiana higher, WMBF reports. Dr. Robert Sherertz of Grand Strand Medical said about 1 out of every 8 of his internal medicine inpatients over the last month has had influenza, and doctors say the flu shot is the best protection. WMBF

Surfside Beach

Residents packed Surfside Beach Town Council chambers to raise concerns about a proposed annexation near Highway 17 Business, even after councilmembers removed the item from the agenda. Neighbors feared the Prime Storage Surfside Beach, LLC site could be changed into a data center, and WPDE reports the mayor dismissed data center plans. WPDE

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Wardrobe

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

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— Thomas Paine

Things to Do

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Socastee, SC

Wednesday, Nov. 11

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The Wrap

Before they were killed in action, two Conway High School seniors, James and Edward Norton, took up flying after their parents said a motorcycle would be too dangerous. Known as "Hoagie" and "Wack," the brothers are among 4,000 others honored on a World War II marker at Collins Park in Conway. Some Veterans Day reading, right in Horry County.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Conway unveils a WWII marker for the Norton twins

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition19 links · 9 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Myrtle Beach Sun Newsmyrtlebeachonline.com
  3. WBTWwbtw.com
  4. WMBFwmbfnews.com
  5. Post and Courierpostandcourier.com
  6. Myrtle Beach Newsmyrtlebeachnews.com
  7. WPDEwpde.com
  8. WMBFwmbfnews.com
  9. Post and Courierpostandcourier.com
  10. WPDEwpde.com
  11. WBTWwbtw.com
  12. WMBFwmbfnews.com
  13. WBTWwbtw.com
  14. WPDEwpde.com
  15. WMBFwmbfnews.com
  16. WFXBwfxb.com
  17. WMBFwmbfnews.com
  18. WPDEwpde.com
  19. Socastee events calendar5amsocasteesc.com

Past issues

  1. Tues., Nov. 10Conway unveils a WWII marker for the Norton twins
  2. Mon., Nov. 9Horry County approves a Wawa, and neighbors roar back
  3. Sun., Nov. 8Rabbit Man, a $21,000 statue, lands in downtown Myrtle Beach
  4. Sat., Nov. 7Socastee's season ends at Gray Collegiate; 800 homes eyed in Carolina Forest
  5. Fri., Nov. 6South Carolina's first Wawa may be headed to Little River
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5AM Socasteeto me · Wed., Nov. 116:00 a.m.

Margaritaville resort clears first Myrtle Beach vote

Plus, the city wants a bigger share of the tourism fee and lawmakers have to sign off.

The TLDR

  1. Myrtle Beach council OKs first vote on Margaritaville alley swaps
  2. City wants 40% of the tourism fee, and lawmakers must agree
  3. Horry County Fire Rescue Chief Joey Tanner is out
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM Socastee’s other editions

All the news
ConwayConway honors twin brothers killed in World War II with a new historic markerConway unveiled a historic marker Monday, Nov. 9, at Collins Park for twin brothers Lt. Edward R. Norton and Lt. James A. Norton. They were serving together in the U.S. Army Air Forces when their B-26 bomber was shot down over the North Sea, near Holland, on May 17, 1943. Both brothers and the rest of the crew were killed.Tuesday’s editionRead CoastSCDNR sank an abandoned shrimp boat Monday to build a new artificial reefThe South Carolina Department of Natural Resources sank an abandoned, steel-hulled shrimp boat Monday to create a reef. WMBF says the reef sits about ten miles off the coast. WPDE reports the boat was found in a marsh in Little River and donated by its longtime owner.Tuesday’s editionRead DowntownDowntown Myrtle Beach's new $21,000 Rabbit Man statue has people talkingIf you've walked past Fourth Avenue and Broadway lately, you've met Rabbit Man. The metal rabbit wears a bow tie, holds a walking cane in one hand and has a cardinal perched on the other. "I'm sure he'll become a regular feature in people's selfies," Mayor Mark Kruea said at the Nov. 6 unveiling.Sunday’s editionRead

Around Socastee

From WMBF, WPDE and Myrtle Beach Sun News, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

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