Fact check: Is Lana Del Rey’s new album referencing Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Boulevard?

“Summertime Sadness” pop singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey is releasing a new album next year, and the title appears to make a connection to Myrtle Beach.

“Did you know there’s a tunnel underneath Ocean Boulevard,” announced earlier this month, will release on March 10, 2023. Songs from the album will feature a slew of different artists, including Jon Batiste, Bleachers, Father John Misty, Judah Smith, Tommy Genesis, and SYML.

Is the new album title a reference to Myrtle Beach?

That’s not the case, according to Lana Del Ray’s social media posts in Long Beach, California. “Did you know there’s a tunnel underneath Ocean Boulevard” is a reference to Long Beach’s Jergin’s Tunnel, which was built in 1927 to accommodate tourists to the area. It’s also considered a gateway to the beach from the downtown area.

The artist posted photos of the tunnel on her private Instagram account on Dec. 7, alongside her single, with the same title as the upcoming album.

However, the song title has a few residents believing the reference was to the Sea Mist hotel tunnel along Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach.

You can walk underneath the tunnel under Ocean Boulevard

You can enter the tunnel on either side of Ocean Boulevard and 13th Avenue South. Decorated with vibrant pictures of octopuses, whales and sharks, the tunnel has since been abandoned, much like the Jergin’s Tunnel.

The tunnel, built in the 1980s, is maintained by the Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort and was created for people to use instead of crossing the street. It’s since been abandoned, but remains one of Myrtle Beach’s secrets.

This story was originally published December 17, 2022 at 7:00 AM.