Myrtle Beach is a fabulous place to visit and live.  But just like everywhere else, before you buy, you need to be aware of what’s around you.

 

Let’s talk about noise.

 

Broadway at the Beach

In today’s Myrtle Beach newspaper, the Sun News, journalist Dawn Bryant reported on noise complaints about helicopter tours originating out of popular tourist destination, Broadway at the Beach (see map below). In particular, residents of Plantation Point, a nearby, upscale neighborhood, have said, “… it is like being trapped in a really bad, never-ending episode of M*A*S*H.” (story HERE)

 

Such is the norm when you live near a tourist destination.

 

Plantation Point residents are also within a mile of NASCAR Speed Park, fun for visiting kids and adults, but not so much for folks trying to enjoy peaceful moments in their backyard retreats.

 

Myrtle Beach Speedway (click on image to enlarge)

And don’t forget, we have a real Speedway here, too, with once-a-week races plus the just-opened NASCAR Driving Experience, sometimes operating seven days a week. (see map below)

 

A recent story by Brad Dickerson and Kurt Knapek in the Sun News about noise from the Myrtle Beach Speedway prompted a local resident to comment,

 

“I moved in the Emerald Lakes community 3 years ago [near the Speedway on Highway 501].  I was from Upstate NY and didn’t know about the track.  The seller never mentioned it.  I suppose that’s why they left.  It never entered my mind to ask if there was a racetrack here!  I’m a single parent and can’t afford to move, or I probably would.  You can’t enjoy yourself, entertain outdoors or carry on a conversation while the races are going on.”

 

So you know enough to ask about amusement parks and airport traffic. But what about golf courses?

 

 

If you like to sleep in late, you may not enjoy living adjacent to a golf course because greens keepers mow early in the morning. Early! At the crack-of-dawn early.

 

Photo credit: Transplanted Mountaineer (click on image to enlarge)

And what about the Intracoastal Waterway, that 1,100-mile long navigable route between New York City and Miami.  You pay big bucks to live on the Waterway, but don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s peaceful. Some sections are like a major highway with constant traffic from boats and personal watercraft.  It’s nice to look at and fun to play in, but it’s not always quiet.

 

By South Carolina law, most residential real estate transactions require a seller to disclose any noise nuisances. Likewise, brokers and sales people also must disclose material facts “affecting the property.” But not all people perceive noise nuisances the same way.

 

So the moral of the story is:  ASK!  Ask the seller and the agent if there are any unusual noise patterns. And ask the neighbors, too.
 
~Kay Van Hoesen
May 25, 2012
 
P.S. If you like peace and quiet, heads up, you may want to avoid visiting Myrtle Beach the last two weeks in May because of huge motorcycle events. Every year, there’s a ten-day Harley rally spread all across the Grand Strand (generally starting around Mother’s Day weekend), followed by the Atlantic Beach bike fest with thousands more motorcycles screaming up and down the streets over Memorial Day weekend.
 
Broadway at the Beach:

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Myrtle Beach Speedway:

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