A longtime motel in North Myrtle Beach could be getting a new life. Here’s what we know
It appears a longtime family-owned motel in North Myrtle Beach may be getting a new life.
Fencing surrounds the Pelican Motel, and it appears that construction work is taking place at the site. The oceanfront motel at 2310 N. Ocean Blvd. had been in operation for nearly 60 years before it was sold last year.
It is unclear if it will remain a motel or if the site will be transformed into something else.
The motel was sold for $5.4 million in June.
Century 21 Realtor Scott Mathews, who was the listing agent, said he had driven by the site on Monday but wasn’t sure what is taking place at the motel.
A New York company, Pelican Apartments LLC, is listed in tax records as the property owner. Attempts to contact the company were unsuccessful.
The website for the motel says that it is under renovation. A building permit filed in September with the city of North Myrtle Beach lists work as repairs to existing concrete stairs on the ocean side of the building.
The permit also says that a decision to demolish or remodel the motel will be made in the first week of November. The permit expired March 27.
The motel was a longtime staple in the city and one of the last remaining mom-and-pop motels in the area. Many such motels over the years have either closed or been torn down because they aren’t able to compete with the larger, high-rise hotels being built.
Former Pelican Motel owner Tracy Huggins had considered tearing the motel down and building a parking lot. But he took advantage of the hot market and sold it instead.
“I’m getting some age on me,” Huggins said Tuesday about his decision to sell. “My child is not interested. (There is) nobody to leave it to.”
The Huggins family bought the motel in 1975. After spending 30 years with no holidays with the family, Huggins said he was ready to let it go.
He has heard from former customers about the motel – many of them asking what is happening at the location.
Huggins said all he knows is that renovations are occurring.
