Ark Plantation – Surfside Beach – Horry County

Much of the information on this page was contributed by J. Benjamin Burroughs of Conway, South Carolina. Ben was formerly the Executive Director of the Horry County Historical Society.

Basic Information

Location – Atlantic Ocean, Surfside Beach, Horry County
Original plantation lands were located where the Town of Surfside Beach is today.
Origin of name – ?
Other names – Arke
Current status – Original plantation lands have been developed into the Town of Surfside Beach.

Timeline

1820 – Earliest known date of existence
The owner at this time appears to be John M. Tillman. His name appears on the 1820 Robert Mills Atlas for the area. He is still the owner in 1838 when his name appears on a survey map of Horry County.

The property extended a mile and half along the beach and some three miles inland.
1850 – About 190 acres was devoted to the cultivation of rice.
1865 – John M. Tillman died. His will does not list a wife or any children. His family eventually sold off the land.
1893 – A hurricane swept through the area. The house was used as a shelter, and holes were chopped in the floor to let water run out. The house miraculously survived the storm.
? – The house was converted into an inn and later was used to house local beach lifeguards.
1960s – The house was torn down.

Land

Number of acres – 3,194
Primary crop/crops – Rice, Indian corn, peas, sweet potatoes, cattle, sheep, pigs
There is an old unmarked cemetery on the property near the ocean.