Bike week (Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, Murrells Inlet: transplants, hotels, school)

[Mrs. P]

I read a newspaper on line for this area (MB) etc.
Said the bikers kind of by-passed MB and headed into Murrells Inlet.

Any ramifications on Murrells Inlet over this? Seems like a too little town to be able to handle that influx.

Article wasn't real full of details. I have no problems with this, but wondered about the traffic etc issues.

For someone considering moving there, this could or could not make a difference.

[baylovers]

I am not sure whether it was the new bike laws or the economy (combination), but the Bike Weeks this year were fairly low in attendance, particularly this October. Murrells Inlet has always been the spot for Harley week and they have always seemed to handle it well. I think that the bikers opted against the hotels & restaurants in MB and instead stayed in other parts of Horry & Georgetown County.

I am not really into the biker scene but that is what I have experienced. Perhaps someone else can tell you better.

[rrufast]

There is no hiding that MI does play a rather large part in the Bike Rallies, both Spring and Fall. HOWEVER, recent actions by the illustrious MB City Council have made it LOUD and CLEAR that bikers ARE NOT WANTED IN MYRTLE BEACH. Having said that, many chose to take their money elsewhere and they didn't even bother coming down for either rally (Spring or Fall). An overwhelming majority of those who did used every available outlet possible to avoid entering the City Limits of MB. The message has been sent that bikers are no longer welcome in the area so we will continue to experience diminishing numbers until there is essentially no Rally to speak of.

That being the case, MI has always handled the traffic flow quite well due to the traffic pattern that already exists. GROUND ZERO is SBB, Hoof and Finns, and THE BEAVER BAR. Outside of those locations, traffic is no worse than any other day in the peak of tourist season.

Do keep in mind that you are considering moving to a tourist destination... and a very popular one to boot. When you live here you can't forget that.... :-) Sadly, too many transplants have... and we don't like 'selective tourism' any more than, say, Orlando or Vegas, would...

I like MI myself.. but it's just a little too laid back and quiet for my tastes right now. It is a beautiful area though!

[PawleysDude]

RRUFAST makes an excellent point that tourism can be a noisy sport, and it's not just bike weeks.

Murrells Inlet makes its living along the MarshWalk, as a friendly, lively place featuring live music every nite during the summer season and weekends the rest of the year. Numerous pricey developments have sprung up on tiny pieces of land within a mile or so of the MarshWalk, and they are being inhabited by new residents, mostly retirees, who have suddenly decided they don't care for live music every evening, despite the fact that the music was there first. During the summer, Georgetown sheriff receives nightly noise complaints from the new residents, and in some cases, act on them.

In a situation strikingly similar to MB Bike Week, some of these residents have been openly vocal regarding their desire to "bring peace and quiet" to the area. Apparently, killing the golden goose is a difficult concept to comprehend. Too many new transplants are failing to realize that the restaurants and attractions that they enjoy are here because of the tourists, who are here to have a good time, and yeah, make noise. When the tourists finally find somewhere else to play, there's no way the local population can support all the good stuff. It will be a sad day....

[UpstateBooster]

Originally Posted by PawleysDude

RRUFAST makes an excellent point that tourism can be a noisy sport, and it's not just bike weeks.

Murrells Inlet makes its living along the MarshWalk, as a friendly, lively place featuring live music every nite during the summer season and weekends the rest of the year. Numerous pricey developments have sprung up on tiny pieces of land within a mile or so of the MarshWalk, and they are being inhabited by new residents, mostly retirees, who have suddenly decided they don't care for live music every evening, despite the fact that the music was there first. During the summer, Georgetown sheriff receives nightly noise complaints from the new residents, and in some cases, act on them.

In a situation strikingly similar to MB Bike Week, some of these residents have been openly vocal regarding their desire to "bring peace and quiet" to the area. Apparently, killing the golden goose is a difficult concept to comprehend. Too many new transplants are failing to realize that the restaurants and attractions that they enjoy are here because of the tourists, who are here to have a good time, and yeah, make noise. When the tourists finally find somewhere else to play, there's no way the local population can support all the good stuff. It will be a sad day....

There is truth in that, but there's also the strong possibility that a "quieter" beach region will bring in other people who stayed away because of the noise (not really partying, but the deafening, conversation-killing sound of those bikes) and sort of intimidating aura around these folks and events. It may be irrational, but lots of people feel that way.

[baylovers]

UpstateBooster, I understand your point but putting up with 2 weeks of motorcycles a year is hardly a major inconvenience, in my opinion, especially considering the revenue they bring to the area. I also do not believe that those who making those two weeks "quieter" will bring in as much money or popularity. Actually, the opposite may occur. Those motorcycle enthusiasts will opt not to come back during other vacation periods and will try their best to discourage friends & families, also.

PawleysDude, you hit the nail on the head about the noise complaints. And considering the lack of available deputies on any given night, tying them up on noise complaints has negative impact on their patrol patterns and response times to real emergencies.

[rrufast]

PawleysDude & Baylovers-
I can't give you rep points but you sure deserve them for your above two posts!

[UpstateBooster]

Originally Posted by baylovers

UpstateBooster, I understand your point but putting up with 2 weeks of motorcycles a year is hardly a major inconvenience, in my opinion, especially considering the revenue they bring to the area. I also do not believe that those who making those two weeks "quieter" will bring in as much money or popularity. Actually, the opposite may occur. Those motorcycle enthusiasts will opt not to come back during other vacation periods and will try their best to discourage friends & families, also.

PawleysDude, you hit the nail on the head about the noise complaints. And considering the lack of available deputies on any given night, tying them up on noise complaints has negative impact on their patrol patterns and response times to real emergencies.

So, the Vandals and Goths on these scourges of the road get to run roughshod over and deafen everyone else "just because". How nice. I firmly believe if they never returned again, others would take their place. It would be the "green light" for lots of people who probably stay away to finally check out the area, and then return again and again, etc.

[PawleysDude]

I firmly believe if they never returned again, others would take their place...

Hey Upstate - Yes, perhaps a small number of people will. The reality is that MB will NEVER replace the number of visitors and the revenue that the bikers brought in during these 2 weeks. All of the rallies occur during times when most children are still in school, so there's no way families can replace the 200,000+ visitors during those weeks. I'm sure some empty-nesters will visit during those weeks, but the surveys I've seen indicate these are NOT incremental visitors. They may be visiting during those weeks, but would have still visited during a different week if the rallies were still being held. That in no way helps the small businesses who are suffering from the actions of MB's city council.

As Baylovers pointed out, MB has not yet fully experienced the downside of their actions. MANY of the folks who came down for the rallies also came back later in the year with their families. I think it's safe to assume we'll never see them or their revenue again.

It's obviously a volatile issue and emotions are running high down here. Yeah, the bikes are loud. I'm not a biker, and I could live without the noise. But I've lived here about 10 years, and I knew I was moving to a tourist area, so it's really no big deal. My experience has been that while the bikers have a good time, they are some of the friendliest, most respectful groups of visitors we get. The amount of charitable money they raised for LOCAL MB charities thru poker runs, etc, was huge. Our charities and those who benefit from them are now suffering big time from this loss. I will gladly take the bikers any day over the hordes of inconsiderate golfers who fly in here on charters, and get drunk, loud and obnoxious in restaurants all over town. The bikers understood what a precious thing they had in MB and treated it as such. The tour-group golfers treat this place like a doormat.

MB has screwed up big time. The best things that could ever happen down here are (1) new residents grow up and realize they are moving to a tourist town and (2) the current MB mayor and city council get voted out in November. Of course, neither will happen, so the new breed of affluent retiree transplants will continue to run roughshod over the business owners who helped to develop MB. The interesting thing will be to see how MB deals with the ensuing loss of revenue.

[Teddyterp]

What Pawleys Dude said.