15-05-2025
Kingfisher Inn repairs underway after 2024 closure
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Repairs are underway at the Kingfisher Inn in Garden City, which was evacuated and closed down in March 2024 because of structural concerns.
The high-rise condominium, located on the north side of the Garden City Pier, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that contractors are on-site every day, along with the inn's staff members, who are cleaning and doing preventative maintenance inside units and on the property.
The Kingfisher Inn was initially shut down after an engineer raised concerns about its structural integrity during a routine inspection. The inn was deemed a theoretical 'fall zone area,' according to Horry County spokesperson Mikayla Moskov. However, it was considered repairable.
After the closure, News13 reported that the resort explained in an email to Kingfisher Inn owners that intrusive repairs would be necessary and that the building would most likely remain closed through the summer and possibly into the fall of 2024.
The email also said the estimated project costs were expected to exceed the resort's existing reserve funds. The statement reiterated that everything was an estimate, and that an exact date for reopening and the cost of expenses would not be known until repair quotes were in hand.
The high-rise hotel was built in 1960 with pre-cast tiling known to be weather-resistant, but only to a foundational depth of 40 feet. Saul Martinez, owner of a Myrtle Beach-based engineering firm, told News13 in 2024 that depth is about half of what it should be for coastal properties.
The post from Kingfisher on Wednesday also mentioned that updates, as well as pictures of the continuing work, will be provided on its Facebook page.
Count on News13 for updates.
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Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here.
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