Country living 30 miles from the beach in Tabor City
Tabor City, just across the South Carolina border in North Carolina, is a small town that thrived as an agricultural center through the 19th and early 20th centuries. At one time, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad transported goods like tobacco, turpentine and sweet potatoes from Tabor City to larger towns, while mills and factories added to production. Today, Tabor City has retained much of its rural charm. Agriculture still plays an outsized role in the local economy, and businesses lining Main Street call back to a bygone era. “It’s folksy. It’s the type of town where you walk there on Main Street, and you have your little grilles and cafes,” says Ann Walters, a local Realtor at J. Ray Realty.
Main Street has businesses and restaurants in historic buildings
Several restaurants and businesses line Tabor City’s historic Main Street. Fowler’s Grill serves burgers and hot dogs in its diner-style joint, while Betty & Buddy’s Restaurant has Southern favorites like fried okra, collard greens and pork chops. Main Street also has the Tabor City Public Library, shops like Ooh La La gift shop and Toptrend Boutique, pharmacies like Tabor City Medicine Mart and more. The Ritz Center on Main Street operated as a movie theater from 1929 to 1979. After remaining vacant for many years, the building was restored in 2014 and is now an event space for the community. Places of worship such as Tabor City Baptist Church and First Baptist Church are scattered throughout the community. For groceries, Food Lion is just off U.S. Route 701.
The week-long North Carolina Yam Festival brings Tabor City to life
Each year in October, Tabor City celebrates its agricultural heritage with the North Carolina Yam Festival. This week-long celebration has activities like “Paint a Yam Man,” a sweet potato cook-off and a craft fair leading up to the main festival on Saturday. Saturday hosts the Yam Festival Parade that ends with a sweet potato giveaway, and the entertainment continues with a sweet potato pie eating contest and live music, among other activities. “It’s a real big to-do,” Walters says.
Outdoor recreation on Lake Tabor and at Jellystone Park
Locals can throw out a line from their kayak or motorboat at Lake Tabor. This 100-acre lake close to the center of town also has a pier and seating areas overlooking the water. Just down the road, Jellystone Park has several swimming pools, a small water park, mini golf and more outdoor recreation for families. Visitors can hook up their RVs, rent a cabin or pitch a tent at the on-site playgrounds. Also nearby, the Tabor City Recreation Department hosts youth sports leagues, including baseball and soccer. Tabor City is only 30 miles from the beach, with communities like North Myrtle Beach and Sunset Beach both about 45 minutes away by car. Tabor City’s low-lying terrain near the coast and waterways like Lake Tabor and Grissett Swamp does make some parts of town susceptible to flooding.
Suburban homes off Main Street and stretches of farmland
Many houses in Tabor City branch off Main Street, lining quiet residential streets shaded by trees. Stretches of farmland, with the occasional home on several acres, expand beyond the town’s official boundaries. Residential options include hundred-year-old farmhouses, ranch-style homes from the mid-20th century and recently built New Traditional properties with two-car garages. Homes have recently sold for between $160,000 and $430,000, and a few apartment complexes on the edge of town also serve renters.
Tabor City students have a new pre-K through eighth grade facility
The Tabor City School, which is not yet rated by Niche, serves Pre-K through eighth grade in the town. In 2023, the Tabor City School unveiled its new, $30 million building. This modern facility includes new security features and energy-efficient design elements. Students continue to South Columbus High School, which has a B-minus rating from Niche.
Tabor Correctional Institution and more area employers
On the outskirts of the town, Tabor Correctional Institution houses just over 1,700 inmates and is a major area employer. “Quite a few people work there: social workers, medical staff, not just guards,” Walters says. Nearby medical facilities and hospitals like McLeod Health Loris and Columbus Regional Healthcare System also employ many in the region. U.S. Route 701 connects drivers to interstates leading to nearby cities like Wilmington, a major North Carolina coastal town about 70 miles east, and Myrtle Beach, about 40 miles south. Wilmington and Myrtle Beach both also have international airports.
Written By
Faith Wakefield
