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The Seafood Capital of South Carolina

Murrells Inlet Homes for Sale

Murrells Inlet is a fishing village at heart, where creekfront restaurants, charter boats and marsh views shape daily life.

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What is it like to live in Murrells Inlet?

Murrells Inlet is a historic fishing village at the southern end of the Grand Strand, known as the "Seafood Capital" for its creekfront restaurants, with homes ranging from marsh-front houses to golf and planned neighborhoods inland (SC Encyclopedia). Buyers choose it for the inlet, the MarshWalk and two of the state's best-known attractions next door, Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens.

Here is the history and what I look at when clients buy here.

An inlet with a long story

The village sits 22 miles up the Waccamaw Neck from Georgetown. Early maps called it Murray's Inlet or Morrall's, after John Morrall, who bought 610 acres on the inlet in 1731. During the Civil War it was a small Confederate port where blockade-runners picked up salt made by evaporating seawater along the shore (SC Encyclopedia).

By the late 1800s families from inland towns such as Marion had a summer colony on the creekfront. Through the twentieth century visitors came for oyster roasts and shore dinners, served by founding families such as the Morses, Nances, Vereens, Olivers, Chandlers and Lees, and a fleet of charter and party boats grew; during World War II, inlet captains ran boats for the Crash Boat Station. Hurricane Hugo reshaped the creekfront in 1989, and the population grew 66% in the 1990s. The 2020 population was 9,137 (SC Encyclopedia).

Next door: the MarshWalk, a state park and a sculpture garden

The MarshWalk

A half-mile wooden boardwalk along a natural saltwater estuary, lined with waterfront restaurants (The MarshWalk).

Huntington Beach State Park

Home of Atalaya, the Moorish-style winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, top bird-watching, and programs on loggerhead turtles; dogs are allowed on the south end of the beach on a leash (SC State Parks).

Brookgreen Gardens

Founded in 1931 by the Huntingtons, with more than 550 sculptures on about 9,100 acres stretching from the ocean to the Waccamaw River; a National Historic Landmark since 1992, with ten garden "rooms" and accreditation from both the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (SC Encyclopedia, Brookgreen).

Homes you will find

Creekfront and marsh

Homes facing the inlet and marsh, some with docks. Water depth, dock permits and flood zones matter most. See waterfront homes.

Golf and planned communities

Neighborhoods west of U.S. 17 with HOAs and amenities. Compare with homes on golf courses.

Newer construction

Builders continue to add neighborhoods along the corridor. See new construction.

Checks before you buy

County and schools

The SC Encyclopedia places Murrells Inlet in Georgetown County, yet the boundary with Horry was redrawn in 2019 and some addresses near the line fall on the other side (RFA). County decides your taxes and school district, so I verify it for each address.

Flood and wind

Creekfront lots need an elevation certificate, a FEMA flood zone lookup and early insurance quotes. Owner-occupants can watch for SC Safe Home grant windows to fortify a roof.

A practical tip: the MarshWalk, the state park and Brookgreen all draw visitors, so traffic on U.S. 17 can be heavy at peak times. Drive the route you would use every day at rush hour and on a summer weekend before you choose a street.

Keep exploring

Back to the Myrtle Beach real estate guide, or continue with these related pages:

Frequently asked questions

Why is Murrells Inlet called the Seafood Capital?

Its creekfront restaurants and shore dinners have drawn visitors for generations. The SC Encyclopedia traces the tradition to oyster roasts put on by the inlet's founding families.

How long is the MarshWalk?

About half a mile, a wooden boardwalk along the saltwater estuary.

Is Murrells Inlet in Horry or Georgetown County?

Mostly Georgetown, according to the SC Encyclopedia, but some nearby parcels are in Horry. I verify each one from tax records.

Are dogs allowed at Huntington Beach State Park?

Yes, on a leash no longer than six feet. Dogs are allowed on the south end of the beach but not the north end or in Atalaya.

Want marsh views and great seafood?

Book a consultation and I will help you compare creekfront, golf and newer homes around the inlet.

Book a consultation Call or text 704.746.7513 Email Sandy

Sources

Facts on this page come from these sources, checked November 2026. Rules and programs change, so confirm details for your specific property.