The Causeways

Local Opinion

Verdict: this neighborhood is old-school cool and has great access, but may have issues with flooding

Pawleys Island proper is separated from the mainland by Pawleys Creek. The creek is crossed twice: the south causeway, which connects Highway 17 at the Food Lion shopping center on the south end of town, and the north causeway, which connects Highway 17 at Waverly Road.

Between these two causeways is a cool, old-school neighborhood that I’m going to call The Causeways. This neighborhood has a bunch of eclectic styles and vibes. There are very expensive and amazing properties right along the creek, some of which have amazing privacy, set far back from the road. Some of them have deepwater dock access; others have docks on shallower creeks, and some have only views.

Towards the highway, you have some homes with spacious lots and green space. These homes were of an older generation, and are not subject to HOA or architectural review. One of my close friends lived in this neighborhood, and it was a nice, quiet, friendly place. These homes are more affordable, but still have great access to Pawleys beaches.

Finally, as with many or most areas, you also have “the developer special”: identical homes with clear-cut landscaping on minimal lot sizes. These homes are newer and may appeal to folks looking for less maintenance.

All of the homes in this area have one of the best amenities around: golf-cart, bike, and even foot access to Pawleys Island beaches via the causeways. They also have back-roads access to many of the commercial centers east of Highway 17 between the two causeways. One interesting fact, though, is that the two causeways are not actually connected by this community - there is no through road.

Another downside is flooding: anything along the creek is prone to saltwater flooding during storm events or even king tides. The newer homes tend to be built up on posts and offer more protection, but because some of the homes in this neighborhood are older, they sit lower to the ground. As with all flood zones, this also means higher insurance premiums. I should say, not all the homes in this community are in a flood zone. Unlike a lot of the homes east of 17, the amount of space between the creek and the highway means that a many properties are high and dry.