The Caravelle Resort
Encyclopedia
The Caravelle Resort is an oceanfront resort
located in the "Golden Mile" section of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
. The Caravelle opened on March 1, 1960 and has been one of the cornerstones in turning Myrtle Beach into one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States
.
hit Myrtle Beach in 1954 and many beach homes suffered severe damage, it was believed to be a much safer bet to build the motel perpendicular to the ocean.
The Caravelle Motel was originally conceived and built by George "Buster" Bryan, one of the founders of the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. The Caravelle was designed as a place for members of the Dunes Club to house their guests who came to play the golf course.
, and placed an ad in Golf World
magazine. From that point forward, Myrtle Beach became home to the golf package and has since claimed the title "Golf Capital of the World".
It became The Caravelle Resort as condominium buildings were built around the perimeter of The Caravelle. The seven story Caravelle Tower was built and the efficiency units were sold to individual owners. The Caravelle then rented these units on behalf of these owners in exchange for rental commission and became the first property in Myrtle Beach to do so. This rental management company was the first of its kind, but nearly all of the units that are currently available for rental in Myrtle Beach have now become condominiumized. The Caravelle took over the management units in other buildings around the motel building, and is currently has nine buildings and over 600 units.
In 1988, a new ownership group purchased The Caravelle Resort and in 1989 expanded the motel building and it was then known as the Caravelle Hotel. The hotel building featured an oceanfront addition that added oceanfront suites from the 7th to the 15th floors, an indoor pool on the 7th floor and a six story parking deck.
In 1997, The Caravelle Resort completed its most recent addition. The side wing of the Caravelle Hotel was expanded to 15 stories and a brand new centralized check in lobby was built. At this point the hotel grew from 220 units to 360 units.
In 2007, The Caravelle Resort might have completed its most significant change. $8 Million was spent on the renovation of the efficiencies and suites in the hotel building and the units were sold to individual owners. The rooms feature a level of luxury that is relatively comparable to when the motel first opened in 1960. The renovations included: granite counters, flat screen TVs, custom floor coverings and contemporary decor.
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
located in the "Golden Mile" section of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
. The Caravelle opened on March 1, 1960 and has been one of the cornerstones in turning Myrtle Beach into one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Opening
The Caravelle Motel opened March 1, 1960 as a three story motel with 27 rooms that only had a side view of the ocean. As Hurricane HazelHurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm killed as many as 1,000 people in Haiti before striking the United States near the border between North and South Carolina, as a Category 4 hurricane...
hit Myrtle Beach in 1954 and many beach homes suffered severe damage, it was believed to be a much safer bet to build the motel perpendicular to the ocean.
The Caravelle Motel was originally conceived and built by George "Buster" Bryan, one of the founders of the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. The Caravelle was designed as a place for members of the Dunes Club to house their guests who came to play the golf course.
The first Myrtle Beach golf package
In 1962, Buster Bryan was in the Santa Maria Restaurant with the general manager of The Caravelle, Joe Thompson, trying to figure out a way to bring more business during the off season. They determined that they could build a vacation package for three nights, a round of golf at both The Dunes Club and Pine Lakes Country Club and breakfast each morning for $34.50 per person. With that idea, Buster drove to Pinehurst, North CarolinaPinehurst, North Carolina
Pinehurst is a village in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,706 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the Pinehurst Resort, venue of the 1936 PGA Championship, the 1951 Ryder Cup. The host site for the 1999, 2005,& 2014 U.S. Open Golf Championships, the 2008 U.S....
, and placed an ad in Golf World
Golf World
Golf World is a weekly magazine covering the game of golf published by Condé Nast Publications. It celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2007, and is therefore the oldest golf publication in the United States...
magazine. From that point forward, Myrtle Beach became home to the golf package and has since claimed the title "Golf Capital of the World".
Additions and renovations
The Caravelle Motel added an oceanfront addition in 1965, and a fourth story soon after.It became The Caravelle Resort as condominium buildings were built around the perimeter of The Caravelle. The seven story Caravelle Tower was built and the efficiency units were sold to individual owners. The Caravelle then rented these units on behalf of these owners in exchange for rental commission and became the first property in Myrtle Beach to do so. This rental management company was the first of its kind, but nearly all of the units that are currently available for rental in Myrtle Beach have now become condominiumized. The Caravelle took over the management units in other buildings around the motel building, and is currently has nine buildings and over 600 units.
In 1988, a new ownership group purchased The Caravelle Resort and in 1989 expanded the motel building and it was then known as the Caravelle Hotel. The hotel building featured an oceanfront addition that added oceanfront suites from the 7th to the 15th floors, an indoor pool on the 7th floor and a six story parking deck.
In 1997, The Caravelle Resort completed its most recent addition. The side wing of the Caravelle Hotel was expanded to 15 stories and a brand new centralized check in lobby was built. At this point the hotel grew from 220 units to 360 units.
In 2007, The Caravelle Resort might have completed its most significant change. $8 Million was spent on the renovation of the efficiencies and suites in the hotel building and the units were sold to individual owners. The rooms feature a level of luxury that is relatively comparable to when the motel first opened in 1960. The renovations included: granite counters, flat screen TVs, custom floor coverings and contemporary decor.