This story was written by Backroad Portfolio co-founder Elizabeth Poland Shugg for
and reprinted with permission here. Photos were taken by Elizabeth unless otherwise indicated.Some businesses change with trends and technology. Others forego modern conveniences to preserve timeless traditions and authentic experiences.
I visited such a place last week while vacationing with family near Pawley’s Island, South Carolina. It’s a best-kept secret among locals and returning guests. A place where AC units aren’t needed—or even missed—and indoor guests remove their hats.
We arrived early for our 1:15 p.m. lunch seating. “Welcome to the Sea View Inn. Sweet or unsweet tea?” The hostess greeted us warmly, then scurried away to give the kitchen staff our drink orders.
We walked into a room filled with pillowy furnishings and book-lined shelves. Sea breezes flowed through open windows as the inn’s coastal clientele examined book titles, painted seascapes, and historic artifacts.
The front porch accommodated a long row of rocking chairs and an antique joggling board. An “America, Land That I Love” sign hung above the door, not far from a message politely asking guests to refrain from cell phone conversations and laptop usage while enjoying the porch. Hungry patrons watched osprey dive for menhaden while awaiting the dinner bell.
Yes, there’s a dinner bell. I’ll get to that shortly.
Preserving a Coastal Treasure
In 1937, Celeste and Will Clinkscales established the Sea View Inn, creating a tranquil retreat that attracted a loyal following among its annual guests.
In 1954, Queens College associates Thelma Albright, Alma Hull, and Loma Squires bought the inn and set out to preserve its charm through their Rocking Chair Times newsletter. Hurricane Hazel destroyed the original inn in 1954, but Thelma, Alma, and Loma had it rebuilt by 1956.
Alma, sole proprietor until 1978, enforced strict rules, such as locking the inn’s doors at 10 p.m. and banning alcohol. Cook Geneva Polite created Lowcountry delights for guests that enhanced the inn’s appeal. Its reputation grew.
In 1978, Page Oberlin bought the inn from Alma after another sale fell through. Hurricane Hugo inflicted enough damage to temporarily close the inn in 1989, but it reopened in 1990.
In 2002, current owners Sassy and Brian Henry bought the inn and have maintained the property’s original charm and integrity, while focusing on refining its historical significance.
Lowcountry Delights
Talented sisters Myrtle Edwards and Vertrella Brown, have been in charge of the Sea View Inn’s kitchen since the 1980s. After the Henrys bought the inn, Sassy asked the sisters to add more of their home-cooked Lowcountry meals to the menu—a change well received by staff and guests.
Currently, the inn’s weekly menu features dishes like crab divine, fried chicken, seafood quiche, and baked fish. Inn guests enjoy a weekly low country boil during the summer months.
Popular side dishes include squash casserole, collards, and okra with tomatoes. Alongside meals, guests are served hush puppies, biscuits, yeast rolls, or cornbread. For dessert, guests receive cobbler, white chocolate pecan pie, lemon chess pie, or caramel cake in just-right portion sizes.
We dined at the Sea View Inn when crab divine and caramel cake were on the menu. At 1:15 p.m. sharp, a melodic symphony of dinner bells lured us into the dining room where frosty glasses of iced tea awaited us at our reserved table. Shortly after, the meals were rolled out and delivered. We devoured every bite.
Helpful hint: Make a reservation and remember to bring cash or your checkbook. No credit cards are accepted at the Sea View Inn’s restaurant.
Palmetto Cheese
A quick note about this fabulous product. The Henrys have established a popular brand of pimento cheese that originated at the Sea View Inn called Palmetto Cheese. I actually bought it at my local grocery store before realizing it was a Sea View Inn creation. It’s by far the best pimento cheese I’ve ever tasted. Check it out.
A House on Myrtle Avenue
Another quick note. Pawley’s Island holds a special place in my heart and memory. During the early 1980s, my father,
, booked a house on Myrtle Avenue three summers in a row for family vacations. We rode waves, flew kites, and searched for shells.He joined us on our trip last week. Returning to the island for our Sea View Inn lunch took us back to those early ’80s vacations. He writes about them in his latest column, which you can read here.
My dad had triple bypass heart surgery in May. This summer, my sister and I booked a family beach trip in his honor. We spent a restful week watching other families with young children ride waves, fly kites, and search for shells.
Back in the ’80s, I didn’t know about the Sea View Inn, but wish I had. I hope you’ll visit this coastal treasure some day soon. It remains a barefoot paradise, blending seaside serenity with communal meals and timeless hospitality in a world where simple pleasures and southern manners are taken for granted far too easily, and often.
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Ready to go rock on their front porch and savor the view!