Myrtle Beach has been a top vacation destination for years, receiving nearly 20 million visitors each year. While popular for its 60 miles of sandy beaches along the Grand Strand, the Myrtle Beach area is also home to strange tales and curious landmarks.

Make a wish upon an oyster shell and hang it in Vereen Memorial Gardens. Marvel at a home shaped like a UFO, or try shag dancing on the beach. Sip a treat from an old-fashioned soda fountain at Nye’s Pharmacy, and discover the spacious Atalaya Castle, which once provided a home for bears and monkeys. Stop at the Brentwood Restaurant, one of the most haunted places in the US, and perhaps meet a Civil War soldier or a ghost cat.

Longtime journalist, editor, and tour guide Terri Richardson draws on her deep knowledge of Myrtle Beach’s history and the haunted side of the Grand Strand in Secret Myrtle Beach. Turn these pages and discover unique must-sees and must-dos that only those who live, work, and play in Myrtle Beach know about.