Horry County leaders vote to keep wind-shading devices off beaches in explosive meeting
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Wind-driven devices like the popular Shibumi Shade won't be allowed on Horry County's 14-mile beachfront even on a trial basis after councilmembers shot down the proposal Tuesday at an explosive meeting.
'Obviously, these people have never seen our beaches in the summer. You can't walk on them. We have 20 million-plus tourists coming to Myrtle Beach every year,' councilman Bill Howard said. 'I just can't see this happening, and I know that our public safety is concerned about it.'
Since its 2016 launch, Shibumi Shade has emerged as the industry's leading manufacturer of wind-shaded devices, popping up on more than 800 beaches across the country.
Co-founder Dane Barnes said only 'six or seven' beaches prohibit them, and three are on the Grand Strand: In addition to Horry County's year-round ban, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach bar them during the busiest three months of summer.
Surfside Beach permits them.
Barnes told councilmembers that 2,000 Horry County residents have purchased his company's products.
'Right here in Horry County, allowing Shibumis would actually improve beach space. One Shibumi can replace several umbrellas, reducing clutter and making the beach feel more open,' he said. '
He spoke to News13 and says he was not pleased with county council voting down both the options that were on the table.
'But really, my impression of this meeting was that this was the good old boys' network of friends, helping friends and keeping Shibumi out and keeping the free enterprise of a safer solution off of Horry County beaches, which is so unfortunate,' Barnes said.
County officials first began discussing the issue in 2023, but it never gained traction due in part to concerns by law enforcement about visibility and overcrowding.
Weslyn Lack-Chickering, whose Lack's Beach Service contracts with Myrtle Beach to provide lifeguard services in exchange for renting out umbrellas, said adding Shibumis to the mix during peak tourism season would be crippling.
'By allowing wind-driven devices during the summer months, we're looking at a compliance nightmare. My staff is going to have to explain why one tent is OK and why another tent is not,' she said. 'I know that my staff will be cursed and threatened daily. Lack's truly will not be able to handle this ordinance change.'
The most dramatic exchange of Tuesday's meeting came when councilmembers Dennis DiSabato and Michael Masciarelli clashed over their position on the issue.
DiSabato said he supported a one-year trial for Shibumis, which led Masciarelli to question how the item appeared on the council's agenda at all after being rejected by its two subcommittees.
'I guess my big question is, sure, this shade isn't going to slap somebody in the face and kill them, but when a lifeguard or somebody can't hear a child hollering for help that they're drowning, or a parent can't get to their child, who's going to apologize for that death,' Masciarelli said. 'Somebody on the council who pushed this for political reasons, campaign donations, whatever the case might be?'
'That is absolutely out of line, Mikey,' DiSabato said.
'Of course, open your mouth and confirm,' Masciarelli shot back.
'He should be censured,' DiSabato said.
DiSabato later apologized.
'I take my reputation very seriously, and when one of my colleagues up here decides to impugn that by suggesting that votes are purchased, I get very irate,' DiSabato said.
State campaign finance records show that DiSabato has not received any contributions from Shibumi Shade or other wind-driven device companies.
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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.
* * *
Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work, here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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