Neighborhood tucked away from tourism
Forestbrook is a quiet suburb of Myrtle Beach, just 5 miles from downtown, where residents are tucked away from tourism along Forestbrook Road. "For me, the plus is the location. It's not necessarily right on top of everything, but it's very close to everything," says local Realtor Shawn Robey of Realty One Group Dockside. Forestbrook embraces its proximity to the beach through street names like Fantasy Harbour Boulevard, and its very name honors its connection to nearby protected forests and surrounding lakes. The Horry County Fire Rescue is in the neighborhood, adding a layer of security, and residents live less than 8 miles from South Strand Medical Center. "It's maybe 15 minutes from Broadway at the beach and 15 minutes from the ocean,” Robey says. “It’s a very nice neighborhood. It's been established there for a few years, but they've been doing a lot of building recently.”
Mix of homes from the '80s and '90s
"Most people didn't even think about Forestbrook for a long time until recently. It's becoming busier and busier. As Myrtle Beach grows, it's becoming a hot spot," Robey says. Palm trees mix with pine trees, maples and blooming bushes in Forestbrook, where Charleston, custom-built cottages and ranch-style homes settle on suburban roads, sometimes backing up to small ponds or lakes and having personal docks. "The area offers a bit of a mix. You'll find '80s and '90s-era homes here, and some subdivisions are brand-new, like Arcadia," says Re/Max Realtor and local Jeremy Blanton who has his own youtube channel devoted to Myrtle Beach. These new developments often offer community amenities, from sports courts to pools. Home prices typically range between the $300,000s and $500,000s, even for new construction. Robey shares that the flood risk in Forestbrook is minimal to moderate but that everyone in Myrtle Beach technically lives in a flood zone. Extreme weather is also a reality here. "I've been here since 2006, and we've had our share of hurricanes for sure, but I've only had to evacuate once," he says.
Students served by the Horry County School District
Horry County School District serves Forestbrook and maintains an overall A-minus rating from Niche. Its schools include Carolina Forest Elementary, Forestbrook Middle School and Carolina Forest High School. Each school scores an A-minus. The high school offers a dual credit program, helping students get ahead of the game, and they have plenty of clubs to enrich student life, including one for learning sign language. Coastal Carolina University is around 7 miles north along Route 501 for a higher education option.
Route 501 is the gateway to Myrtle Beach
Forestbrook is car-dependent, and though connected to main highways, commuting can be a challenge here. "The northern end is Route 501, the southern end is Route 544, and between the two is one main road, which makes commuting a bit of a headache if you live right at the center of the neighborhood,” Blanton says. “If someone is waiting to turn left into their neighborhood, it backs up traffic. "Still, the traffic is all relevant. "I'm originally from Washington, D.C., and it's nothing like in the bigger cities,” Robey says.” “People laugh at our traffic. They come here, and they say that's not traffic." Route 501 is the gateway to Myrtle Beach for tourists and locals alike. Tourism is nearly year-round in this area now, making the road quite congested. When flights are needed, Myrtle Beach International Airport is less than 7 miles away via Harrelson Boulevard.
Socastee Swamp offers outdoor fun
Socastee Swamp borders the neighborhood to the south and feeds into the Intracoastal Waterway where locals boat, fish and hop on jet skis. Golf courses, including the centrally located Arrowhead Country Club, dot the area. Residents are also 6 miles from the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and its sandy shores. The Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, 13 miles away, offers lush swamps for kayaking and trails through cypress trees ideal for bird watching as 200 species make their home there.
River City Café is a burger hot spot
Though primarily residential, Forestbrook does have a small village shopping center with a Food Lion, Family Dollar, Anytime Fitness, a couple of chain restaurants and the local eatery Ryan's Deli Cafe. More local stops are just outside the neighborhood, including Village River City Café on Dick Pond Road, known for its stacked burgers, and the Porch In Socastee on Peachtree Road, a casual spot for a quick lunch. Along the Intercoastal Waterway, Boathouse is the place to go. "They have a Sunday Funday in the summertime when they host live bands. Older bands that used to be popular," Robey says, adding that it's easy to get to by boat. "I wouldn't consider it a restaurant but a nice hangout spot.”
Broadway at the Beach is a premier entertainment venue
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament and Myrtle Beach Bowl are local and fun for date nights or outings with family and friends. Broadway at the Beach at Celebrity Circle is a massive entertainment complex with an aquarium, water park, amusement rides and more just 5 miles away via Fantasy Harbour Boulevard. Events in the downtown area also happen year-round. “We just had a PGA tour in Myrtle. Right now, it's Harley bike week, and we have that every year,” Robey says. “The summer is the main draw. We have many events throughout the year to bring people into this area.”
Written By
Andrew Spencer
