Today, the official sale of a property adjacent to Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve marks the culmination of years of work to protect the preserve.
The property is where a new hospital was proposed, far too close to a preserve that requires prescribed fire to maintain the habitat. Announced today, the sale from Conway Medical Center to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) ensures a conservation outcome for this important site. This morning at Lewis Ocean Bay, SCDNR dedicated the property to the preserve.
“We are grateful to Conway Medical Center staff and board for coming to the table with SCDNR for this vital conservation acquisition,” said Faith Rivers James, Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation League. “The Conservation League has been on the ground, guiding this effort, and working alongside the community for many years, and today we can all rest easy knowing this particular threat has passed. The work our team does to protect our coastal communities and habitats is never over, and this is particularly true for Lewis Ocean Bay and other important landscapes across our state. The Coastal Conservation League will continue to advocate for wise planning and sustainable and common-sense development.”
Located near Myrtle Beach, Lewis Ocean Bay is home to important wildlife, wetlands, and native plants —including the state’s only stable population of Venus flytraps. Management of this highly unique and biodiverse ecosystem requires prescribed burning, a precise and controlled practice of using fire to manage forest understory vegetation, thereby enhancing biodiversity and reducing the risk of wildfires.
In February, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was able to purchase the property, ensuring a conservation outcome. This places the 353-acre parcel of forested land adjacent to Lewis Ocean Bay under permanent protection from any further development.
For many years, the Conservation League, partners and passionate community members have fought external threats and incompatible development surrounding the over 10,000-acre preserve in Horry County.
The Conservation League led letter writing campaigns to Horry County Council and Planning Commission, contracted an independent smoke modeler to quantify the number of burn days that would have to be reduced should the hospital be sited next door, organized speakers at county council meetings, hosted public outreach and educational meetings, brought the community into the preserve on nature walks to see the value of the habitat, made countless phone calls and sent countless emails to decision makers, all in the name of advocating for this conservation outcome.
Historically, Lewis Ocean Bay has been threatened time and time again by encroaching development — from proposals for the construction of mines to infrastructure that would crowd the perimeter of the preserve. This type of incompatible development would further complicate management and the preservation of this special place.
In 2020, the development request was made by Conway Medical Center to build a new hospital directly across from Lewis Ocean Bay; behind fire drop gates and on a parcel composed primarily of wetlands. This location would be severely limiting to the already narrow window of opportunities for prescribed burning days, as a medical facility is a critical smoke-sensitive area. Mitigating smoke for a hospital is nearly impossible given its doors are open 24/7, 365 days a year, not to mention the critically ill patients needing to access the facility.
“Placing a hospital next door to a highly smoke-sensitive area would have severely hindered the critical land management necessary for this heritage preserve,” said Trapper Fowler, Conservation League North Coast Office Deputy Director. “Siting the hospital elsewhere and conserving this property was a common-sense solution that balances public health with ensuring prescribed fire practices can continue at Lewis Ocean Bay. This will ultimately safeguard invaluable natural resources and contribute to a more resilient community.”
Community members and conservation organizations rallied together showing support for the protection of Lewis Ocean Bay from this threat. Nearly 25,000 people signed a petition asking Conway Medical Center to choose a different location, and local art activist Mary Edna Fraser shared the beauty of the preserve through a plein air painting.
In February of 2024, Horry County Council deferred the rezoning request that would have made building the Conway Medical Center project possible, and public opposition encouraged Conway Medical Center to enter discussions for selling the property to SCDNR.
“Many local conservation organizations fought along beside us and their contributions will forever be appreciated,” said Becky Ryon, North Coast Office Director. “Though the heritage preserve will see more challenges as growth continues in Horry County, this is a major win for the conservation of Lewis Ocean Bay, the reduction of wildfire risk along the coast, and exemplifying successful prioritization of our state’s natural treasures.”