Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve is a 10,427-acre natural preserve near Carolina Forest, South Carolina.
Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve is named for one of many Carolina Bays. Recent work by the U.S. Geological Survey has interpreted the Carolina Bays as relict thermokarst lakes that formed several thousands of years ago when the climate was colder, drier, and windier.[4] Thermokarst lakes develop by thawing of frozen ground (permafrost) and by subsequent modification by wind and water. Thus, this interpretation suggests that permafrost once extended as far south as the Carolina Bays during the last ice age and (or) previous ice ages.
In the 1800s some of the area had been plantations, and there was a village called Vaught.: 2 At one time, major industries in the area were turpentine and logging. Pine stumps still show evidence they were used in making turpentine.
George Buist sold the land to Southern Kraft Company, which in turn became part of International Paper.
66,000 acres were mostly wooded with a few farms.: 2 During World War II, a portion of the area was a gunnery range for the United States Army Air Corps, and bombing and machine gun targets and the remnants of an army post can be found.Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, people were told land was needed for a bombing range. By February 1942, over 200 people had agreed to give up their land and move, and by March 28, only seven families were left. The bombing range totalled 55,854 acres, with 36,608 acres leased and 19,246 acres government-owned.
On April 10, 1976, the Clear Pond Fire, the largest fire in South Carolina history, started from a campfire on International Paper land. After 25 days of no rain, with Carolina Bays vegetation that burns easily in an area where it is difficult to fight fires, 28,000 acres burned over two days, and 30,000 acres in five days.
Also in 1976, the South Carolina legislature created the Heritage Trust program, the first of its kind in the United States. The program allowed the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies to preserve areas with valuable and endangered plants, animals and other resources in heritage preserves.
In 1989, the first 6,422-acre section of Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve, with 20 Carolina Bays, was purchased from International Paper. A 985-acre tract called International Paper II was added in 1992, followed by the 1,936-acre International Paper III tract in 1993.
In 2007, 305 more acres called the Tiger Bay Tract were added after the South Carolina Department of Transportation asked property owners to donate the land, which could have been developed otherwise, in exchange for an interchange on Carolina Bays Parkway.
754 acres called the Vaught Tract, with 23 more Carolina Bays, were purchased in 2013. SCDNR had hoped to buy the tract from the Vaught family since the preserve was created. The tract provides additional preserved green space to serve as a credit to allow widening of Glenns Bay Road. When wetlands are lost to development, developers must buy credits. Another addition in 2005 compensated for an interchange on Carolina Bays Parkway.
International Paper, developer of Carolina Forest, had wanted a ramp on Carolina Bays Parkway since the company began Carolina Forest in 1993. Burroughs Road, a dirt road also called International Drive, could provide access to South Carolina Highway 90 if paved. However, opponents of such a plan worried that the parkway would no longer serve as a bypass if there was too much development, and environmentalists feared the road's impact on the preserve. The upgrade to the Robert Grissom Parkway interchange was approved in November 2002, a month before the parkway's opening. The paving of the first section of International Drive, connecting Carolina Forest to Grissom Parkway, was completed in 2004.
In April 2009, the area's worst fire in 30 years burned 2000 acres of the preserve, though controlled burns saved another 1000 acres. Black bear habitat was lost and it was believed the bears would move to other areas. 69 homes were destroyed and 100 others damaged.
Here is a local Business that supports the community
Google Map- https://goo.gl/maps/tsa9a8mrAjXL67fR8
1535 Biltmore Dr. Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
Be sure to check out this attraction too!