About Litchfield Beach

Kings and Queens and European Head’s of State marveled at the rich taste and texture of Waccamaw Carolina Gold rice. It was once considered the finest rice in the world and it was grown in hand-dug rice fields in this beautiful location, just 30 miles south of Myrtle Beach.

The heady days of the Carolina Gold rice boom gave way to the changing tides of society. When slavery was abolished the rice empire collapsed. Some of those families who made their fortunes on rice for nearly 100 years, between 1800-1900, lived in plantation homes that rival any in the antebellum south. Many of these magnificent homes are still standing and provide a glimpse into the past.

When the hottest months of the summer came upon the gentry, they would escape the heat and malaria carrying mosquitoes by trekking across the creeks and marshes of the South Strand. They lived in modest beach homes for the season in places now called Litchfield and Pawleys Island. Some of these beach homes also still stand and are another reminder of the wealth and privilege that came to some and how the water’s edge has always had a magnetic attraction.

The mouth of Murrells Inlet separates Garden City to the north from Litchfield Beach to the south. Litchfield Beach is so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the Myrtle Beach area, it’s hard to imagine that it’s only a short drive south. Here, golfing, dining, upscale homes, condos and specialty shopping have made the area popular for those who want the beach life with a little more sophistication. Reminiscent of Hilton Head, Litchfield is a delightfully designed community where relaxation in style and grace rule the day.

The lure of relaxation, the ocean breeze, warm sand under your feet and unspoiled beauty await visitors to Litchfield Beach, where southern hospitality is not something of the past.