The Sunset Inn Blog - Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach celebrates 50th Anniversary!

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:46:00 -0400

Sunset Beach is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. To most it seems like just yesterday Mr. Mannon Gore was setting his sights on the little island that could. This south facing beach was once just an over abundance of sand and waterways that could only be reached by boat. Today it is a place where over 3,400 hundred people call home. If those Live Oak trees could talk they would have some interesting tales.

When discussing the history of Sunset Beach some may go directly to the names associated with the island like the Gore, Frink, Stanaland, & the Holden families, while others would talk more about the setting itself. You can’t visit here without hearing about our old pontoon swing bridge that opened on the hour to let the boats travel through, or how it took a 40 year battle to build a new two lane high-rise bridge. The Sunset Beach Swing Bridge was a big part of the island’s charm, but the new bridge still leads you to one of the prettiest beaches on the East Coast! Sunset Beach residents would also bring up Bird Island, our 1,200 acre nature preserve and the kindred spirit mailbox. The mailbox contains messages, journals, and poems from all who visit there.

Sunset Beach has blossomed over the past 50 years and yet it’s still a quaint, charming, and fun in the sun beach that was named appropriately by Mr. Gore. The rainbow-colored sunsets are like scenes from childhood fairy tales. If you want to celebrate the 50 year Anniversary come join the town May 18th for the Beach Party at the Sunset Beach Gazebo. Tickets will be on sale April 15^th via Sunset Beach Town Hall. We hope to see you at the Inn and on the beach!

Discover Spring in Sunset Beach

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:41:00 -0400

Did you know that Sunset Beach, N.C. has multiple personalities? It is a beautiful, quaint, and tranquil oasis that is perfect for one who just wants to kick back, relax, and soak up some sun. But are you aware that Sunset Beach is just minutes from Highway 17 South that transports you to North Myrtle Beach, S.C. and the heart of Myrtle Beach? That is why it is also perfect for those who love the beach, but want a little more variety and excitement.

Sunset Beach springs to life in March and April and our average temperature is in the low to mid 60’s. For our solitary folks, you can walk the beach and visit Bird Island and the Kindred Spirit mailbox, or rent a bike and take in everything the Island has to offer. For our on the go folks, you have got the beach, but there are also plenty of local festivals and events to keep you hopping! La Belle Amie Vineyard located in North Myrtle Beach is hosting Remember When Oldies Festival on March 23^rd. It is a perfect venue for guests who love live music, great food, wine tastings, and more. They will also be holding the Blues & Jazz Festival on April 6^th and their April Music Festival on April 20^th. The 6^th annual Taste of the Coast at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach will also be taking place on Saturday March 23^rd. They have over 20 local restaurants showcasing their cuisine so you can taste test to your heart’s content. They will have live music and games for all to enjoy.

Here in Sunset Beach, N.C. you can do as little or as much as you want. The Sunset Inn is located on the island and overlooks the Salt Water Marsh and Intracoastal Waterway. No matter what your plans are we provide a home away from home. We have 14 rooms each with one king sized bed and private screened porches and we cater to couples and friend getaways. So what are you waiting for? Come visit Sunset Beach, N.C. and discover all of its personalities.

Happy 4th of July!

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:18:00 -0400

We almost forgot to mention the 4th of July festivities being held in Calabash, NC! On Wednesday, July 4th, the towns of Calabash & Carolina Shores are hosting an Independence Day Celebration riverfront next to Captain John's Seafood. There will be a live band, Parrot Party (Jimmy Buffet cover band), DJ- Jimmy 2-Wraps, food, fun & of course, FIREWORKS! The fireworks will start soon after 9pm, but the festivities begin at 5:30pm. Our lucky guests at The Sunset Inn will have a "birds eye view" of fireworks all around from their private screened porches. Happy Independence Day to everyone!

If you want to view the fireworks from you boat, GREAT NEWS! The new Sunset Beach Boat Ramp is NOW OPEN! We are very excited about the convenience this will offer our guests & vacationing boaters. It is located where the old Sunset Beach Bridge was, directly beside Twin Lakes Restaurant. Enjoy!

If you just can't get here to Sunset Beach or decide to sit home & enjoy fireworks online, be sure to check out SunsetBeachNCWebcam. With 3 LIVE WEBCAMS 24/7, it's fun to see what is happening on the Sunset Beach Pier, oceanfront towards Bird Island, and the views of Marsh/ICW. We feel confident you will enjoy the webcams on your smart phone and your computers. Feel free to make any one of the webcams full screen and just imagine you are here enjoying The Sunset Inn at Sunset Beach, NC!

Love this Sand Dollar Poem!

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:30:00 -0400

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

There's a lovely little legend
that I would like to tell,
of the birth and death of Jesus,
found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely,
you'll see that you find here,
four nail holes and a fifth one,
made by a Roman's spear.

On one side the Easter lily,
its center is the star,
that appeared unto the shepherds
and led them from afar.

The Christmas Poinsettia
etched on the other side,
reminds us of His birthday,
our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open,
and here you will release,
the five white doves awaiting,
to spread Good Will and Peace.

This simple little symbol,
Christ left for you and me,
to help us spread His Gospel,
through all Eternity.

Author Unknown

Sand dollars at Sunset Beach!

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:41:00 -0400

Sand dollars at Sunset Beach

Many of our guests report finding dozens of Sand dollars in one trip to the beach! I tend to be a little jealous each time I hear these stories but still very excited for our guests. This past December, my husband and I walked on the beach on a terribly cold and windy day and I’m pretty sure we were the only nuts out there! It was amazing the amount of Sand dollars we found. I actually felt slightly guilty for picking up so many.

Just today I had a guest bring in a Sand dollar for Susan. Susan has never found one herself and told the guest this yesterday morning during breakfast. On her way out of town the nice lady brought Susan one of her Sand dollars!

Sand dollars live on top of or just beneath the surface of the sand. The spines on the underside allow it to burrow or to slowly creep through the sand. They have fine hair-like cilia that cover the spines. They have food grooves that move food to the mouth opening, which is in the center of the star-shaped grooves on the underside. On the ocean bottom, sand dollars are frequently found together. Live sand dollars can be greenish, bluish or purple and they have velvet like texture.

I can’t wait for my next walk on the beach! Hopefully I’ll be as lucky as I was in December!

Happy New Year!

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:36:00 -0400

Happy New Year!

As the sun sets on the year 2010, The Sunset Inn would like to take the opportunity to sincerely thank each of our guests for choosing to stay at The Sunset Inn. Many of you have stayed multiple times through the years and we look forward to seeing your smiling faces return in 2011. We are all truly grateful for the compliments you give, the kind reviews you write and the opportunity to enjoy your presence again.

We also welcome all Sunset Beach, NC lovers to stop by to tour our Inn, or just say hello. For those of you that have never been to the island of Sunset Beach, we especially invite you to come see this land we love and be our guest at The Sunset Inn.

The Sunset Inn will be closed for the month of January, 2011 to allow time for maintenance & improvements to be made. During this time, please feel free to continue making online reservations for upcoming dates, as holiday weekends tend to fill up quickly. We will continue to check emails and phone messages as well. There are still a few more Historic Sunset Beach Bridge prints (16 x 20) available for only $45, which make excellent gifts. We are also selling the newly printed Sunset Beach History Books full of island history & exclusive photos for $29.95. If you are interested in these items, just send us an email.

From our family at The Sunset Inn to each of yours, we wish you a Peaceful & Prosperous New Year in 2011 with plenty of time to be spent on the sands of Sunset Beach!

The Sunset Beach NC Pontoon Bridge

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:01:00 -0400

Sunset Beach NC In The News!

The Sunset Beach, NC pontoon swing bridge that is the last remaining one of it's kind along the eastern coast ICW has gotten it's share of attention lately.

In fact, the bridge & island have been mentioned recently in popular magazines like Southern Living, Our State, and National Geographic. But even before the new bridge was being built, the island of Sunset Beach had some notoriety. Back in 1992, Money Magazine ranked Sunset Beach 4th in their top ten Hottest Vacation Home Spots. Newsweek advised island home buyers to invest wisely at Sunset Beach, NC in 1993. There have been a handful of novels written with a Sunset Beach, Bird Island, or Kindred Spirit setting perfectly described. Of course, multiple articles & blogs have been written about the island's controversial new bridge which has been closely watched, photographed, debated and delayed. The Sunset Inn and our guests believe that the greatest attraction to Sunset Beach is undeniably, the beach. The bridge, floating or high-rise, is only the means of which to travel by to get to our remarkably wide sandy seashore. Come to Sunset Beach only if you love a virtually untouched shoreline with gentle slopes leading into 80+ degree water where shells & crowds are only found if you search for them. Dive in easy breaking waves without creatures bumping your legs, boat & fish in clear Carolina Blue water, or just sit in awe of it all that Sunset Beach has to offer, but we invite you to see the island for yourself, and of course, come stay at The Sunset Inn.

Sunset Beach, North Carolina

Fri, 15 May 2009 13:59:00 -0400

People who love the coast find Sunset Beach a truly special place. Our picturesque island has a temperate climate without the brutal extremes of summer or winter. Development in the area is limited and our natural beach is unspoiled and uncrowded, the way nature intended a beach to be.