Folly Beach is actually a natural barrier island that serves to protect the larger James Island and Charleston from Atlantic storms and forms the outermost western tip of Charleston Harbor. But Folly Beach is a beach town in every sense of the word. Think Hermosa Beach near Los Angeles, Pacific Beach near San Diego or Singer Island just north of Palm Beach. That's Folly Beach near Charleston.
Folly Beach has undergone numerous positive changes in the last several years and yet has maintained its laid-back charm and fierce independence. Known as The Edge of America, a title the local citizens are quite proud of, this island has more public park acreage than any other residential oceanfront island in South Carolina. The County Parks and Recreation Commission has the entire Coast Guard property on the undeveloped northeastern end of the island as well as a County Park with all amenities on the west end of the island, a 1000 foot fishing pier and modern public boat ramp and the landing on the Folly River, just off Center Street.
The Town of Folly Beach has adopted a strategic master plan for all of Center Street that envisions a pedestrian shopping district similar to downtown Charleston, with artist studios, galleries, antique shops and a dinner theater. Many older homes and new condos provide a mixed housing stock. This old beach town is fast becoming a comfortable, cosmopolitan, yet quaint, village of culture and recreation.
Laid back. That may best describe Folly Beach. Life on Folly Beach is part seaside adventure, part surfing lesson, part Hemingway and part Pat Conroy. During the winter, we are a small town of 2,000 year-round residents. In the summer, we are a vacation destination. Locals proclaim, "We have the best waves, the best nightlife and the best beach atmosphere along the Charleston Coast. But don't tell anybody."