Windy Hill Pirate History
The pirate history of Windy Hill in North Myrtle Beach ties back to the broader lore of piracy along the South Carolina coast during the Golden Age of Piracy in the late 1600s and early 1700s. While Windy Hill itself doesn't have documented pirate settlements, the entire Grand Strand area was part of the network of waterways and inlets that pirates favored for their clandestine activities.
Pirate Presence Along the Carolina Coast
Geography's Role: The intricate coastline, dotted with secluded coves, barrier islands, and marshy inlets, made the South Carolina coast a prime hideout for pirates. Windy Hill and its surrounding areas, like Little River and Murrells Inlet, offered perfect conditions for stashing treasure and ambushing merchant ships.
Famous Pirates:
Blackbeard (Edward Teach): One of the most infamous pirates, Blackbeard, is known to have operated along the Carolina coast. While there's no direct record of him anchoring at Windy Hill, he and his crew were active nearby, notably blockading Charleston Harbor in 1718.
Stede Bonnet: Known as the "Gentleman Pirate," Bonnet also operated along these waters and was eventually captured in South Carolina.
Pirate Legends and Lore:
Local folklore tells of hidden pirate treasures buried along the beaches and in the dunes near Windy Hill. While no significant finds have been unearthed, stories of lost gold persist and add to the area’s mystique.
Ghost stories involving pirate spirits are a common theme in local legends, with tales of ghostly figures walking the beaches on moonlit nights.
Connections to Little River: Just north of Windy Hill, Little River Inlet was a known pirate haven. Pirates used it as a base to repair ships, trade stolen goods, and evade naval forces. Today, Little River continues to embrace its pirate history with themed festivals and tours.
Cultural Legacy: The pirate history of the area is celebrated in North Myrtle Beach through attractions, events, and themed activities. From pirate-themed mini-golf courses to boat tours that recount tales of swashbucklers, the pirate spirit remains alive in the region.
While Windy Hill itself may not have been a focal point for piracy, its location within the Grand Strand places it in the heart of the historical narratives that shaped South Carolina's coastal history.
BLACKBEARD
Edward Teach (or Thatch; c. 1680 – 22 November 1718), better known as Blackbeard, was an English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of Britain's North American colonies. Little is known about his early life, but he may have been a sailor on privateer ships during Queen Anne's War before he settled on the Bahamian island of New Providence, a base for Captain Benjamin Hornigold, whose crew Teach joined around 1716. Hornigold placed him in command of a sloop that he had captured, and the two engaged in numerous acts of piracy. Their numbers were boosted by the addition to their fleet of two more ships, one of which was commanded by Stede Bonnet, but Hornigold retired from piracy toward the end of 1717, taking two vessels with him.
