09/06/2024
Just south of Myrtle Beach, SC , tucked between the scenic Brookgreen Gardens and the charming Hammock Shops Village , stands a forgotten piece of history where Ocean Highway meets Old Beach Road. The remains of a once-vibrant mid-century motel, now wrapped in nature’s embrace, quietly tell a story of perseverance and legacy. This is McKenzie Beach, a place rich in history and significance.
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Encased by a carefully maintained fence, the old McKenzie Beach motel holds a remarkable past. But why here, in this small spot along the roadside? To understand that, we must dive into the incredible history of a visionary Black woman, Lillian Golden Pyatt, and the challenges she faced to create a haven for African Americans during segregation.
Back in 1934, Myrtle Beach was a popular destination, but it was off-limits to Black visitors. Pyatt, determined to create a beach club for African Americans, brought to life the Magnolia Beach Club in the midst of the Great Depression. At a time when the country was in motion, thanks to new infrastructure like the Lafayette Bridge, African Americans relied on the Green Book—a travel guide that highlighted safe havens and warned of dangers. For Black travelers, a beachfront resort was a rarity, but Pyatt saw potential in a piece of land she had inherited.
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After discovering her neighbors, Elizabeth “Miss Liz” McKenzie and her husband, owned the adjoining property, Pyatt partnered with them, along with investor Dr. Ulysses Teel, to turn her vision into reality. By 1936, construction began on a resort that would include a hotel, pavilion, dining hall, and cabins. Guests would access this paradise by walking across a pedestrian bridge that led to the beachfront.
The resort soon became a lively hotspot, attracting stars like Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday to its pavilion stage. But in 1954, disaster struck when Hurricane Hazel destroyed the club, washing away the bridge and making it impossible to rebuild. Pyatt’s dream faded, and the land where the resort once stood is now the southern tip of Litchfield Beach.
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Still, the McKenzies continued with a new family-friendly resort on a four-acre tract, though without beachfront access. They named it McKenzie Beach, and while financial struggles eventually led to its sale in 1963 to civil rights advocates Walter M. Manigault and Modjeska M. Simkins, the legacy of inclusivity endured.
Today, the Manigault family preserves this historic site. Though Frank McKenzie and Lillian Pyatt passed away in 1978, their dreams and determination live on, reminding us of a time when they created a space for joy and equality during one of the most challenging eras in American history. Thanks to them, McKenzie Beach remains an enduring symbol of hope and resilience.
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