Holden
Beach’s history as a prospering commercial fishing center
gives it its unique flavor still today. Eleven miles of tranquil
beaches are connected to the mainland by only one two-lane
elevated bridge. The peaceful unhurried ambiance found here
make it a romantic vacation spot with a variety of cottages
and condos for rent. If your beach plans include fishing,
Holden Beach is also known for its surf and off shore fishing.
A full service fishing pier provides a great diversion for
the both amateur and expert fisherman.
The
island is also home to a couple small stores, fresh seafood
store, post office, restaurants,
clothing store, fishing pier, tour
boat/fishing boat charter, and video store. Holden Beach
is also close
Holden
Beach is just one half mile wide at its widest point, so most
of its homes have spectacular ocean views from most sides.
Oceanfront properties almost always include marsh and / or
canal views from the front decks and windows.
Holden
Beach Facts:
The
island is about eight miles long and has about 900 permanent
residents. The tourist season, which produces much of the
town's income, has grown longer over the years and now lasts
from about May to August, increasing the town's population
to approx. 15,000.
A
fishing pier, two fish houses and several charter
boats operate in the town. Holden Beach has a handful
of businesses, including a pizza restaurant, two general stores,
an apparel store and real estate agencies, but the unincorporated
mainland area leading to the island's bridge continues to
grow with restaurants, novelty and T-shirt shops, ice cream
and cappuccino stands, and convenience stores.
Oceanfront
property owners and the town paid for a $1.2 million dune-replacement
project finished in 1998. The 8-foot-high dune stretches from
the beach's east end to the 800 block of Ocean Boulevard West
- about 4.5 miles. But erosion continues, and town leaders
are trying to come up with ways to fund future dune repair
and beach renourishment.
Holden
Beach also has laid an eight-mile sidewalk along its main
road.
The
town has one of the county's regional beach access points,
a 90-space parking lot with handicapped-equipped restrooms
and showers. A ramp to the beach, paid for by a state grant,
provides handicapped accessibility to the shore.
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