| Imagine an exclusive beachfront home, only steps | | | | lines. He can't have a driveway, park on his property, |
| from the water for under $80,000! That's what you'll | | | | step on the dunes, touch the sea oats or move any of |
| find in the cabana district in Myrtle Beach. About a | | | | the sand on the lot. Bailey claimed that building the |
| dozen of these 200 square foot beach structures line | | | | cabana had more restrictions than building a house, but |
| the shore in this Ocean Boulevard area. | | | | it was worth the effort. |
| The cabanas have questionable origins; some believe | | | | Most residents don't bother with insurance, as the |
| they originally belonged to beach homes across the | | | | costs are so high, it's cheaper to rebuild. However, |
| street that have since been destroyed and replaced | | | | don't be fooled, these beach huts may be small, but |
| with condos. Others say the structures belonged to | | | | they're mighty. One in particular, owned by Kevin |
| the Ocean Forest Hotel that stood from 1930 to 1974, | | | | Warren and Dean Carroll, is estimated at over 20 |
| and later offered for sale after the hotel was torn | | | | years of age. Its solid structure has survived annual |
| down. | | | | hurricanes for years. |
| In any event these small buildings are among the | | | | Rod Scarborough, a retired bank executive, spent five |
| hottest pieces of real estate in town; only two have | | | | years trying to obtain his $78,000 piece of the beach |
| come on the market in the last seven years. Generally | | | | located from a 40-foot setback to the high tide mark. |
| local realtors maintain lists of prospective buyers, and if | | | | His beach home is in use frequently, with an open door |
| a unit or lot becomes available it usually sells within 30 | | | | policy extended to his friends and family. |
| minutes. | | | | These cherished little beach huts have provided an |
| Myrtle Beach native, Steve Bailey, purchased his | | | | exclusive getaway that only a fortunate few have |
| cabana lot after a five minute phone call with his real | | | | been able to acquire. Hopefully they will remain for |
| estate agent. Apparently the building codes were | | | | years to come, handed down as heirlooms from |
| extremely restrictive, requiring numerous permits, | | | | generation to generation. |
| installation of a septic system, and underground utility | | | | |