Spring Forest, Murrells Inlet

Spring Forest is one of Murrells Inlet's most intimate and private 55+ communities — and for buyers who want tranquility, natural beauty, and genuine seclusion without sacrificing coastal convenience, it is a hidden gem. With just 126 traditional cedar-sided homes, most of them situated on lagoons that wind gently through the community, Spring Forest feels like a private retreat rather than a development. Established in 1985 by Coker Builders and designed by architect Tom Pegram, Spring Forest was built with a specific vision: a quiet, close-knit adult community where residents could live comfortably on the water at an affordable cost. Forty years on, that vision is still intact. The community maintains itself with a proud volunteer culture and low HOA fees — under $75 per month — that include lawn maintenance, trash removal, and even RV and boat storage at no additional charge. Spring Forest sits off Hwy 17 Bypass in Murrells Inlet, making it a golf cart ride to Garden City Beach, minutes from the MarshWalk, and close to all the conveniences of the southern Grand Strand. For buyers who want a small, peaceful, gated community with water views and a strong sense of neighbors-as-family, Spring Forest is unlike anything else in the Myrtle Beach market.

 

The 5,000 sq ft clubhouse serves as the community's social hub — a gathering place for activities, special dinners, and volunteer committee meetings. The outdoor 70-foot pool is open during warm weather months and is the center of community life in spring and summer. The clubhouse also includes an exercise room with cardio equipment, a game room with a pool table, and a library. Community activities are planned regularly and include social dinners, clubs, and group outings. RV and boat storage are provided within the community at no additional HOA charge — a significant benefit for residents who travel or boat.

The defining characteristic of Spring Forest is its lagoons. Most of the 126 homes back up to one of the community's winding lagoons — offering peaceful water views, bird watching, and the sound of water as a daily backdrop. Kayakers, herons, egrets, and turtles are regular residents of the lagoons. This natural water feature gives Spring Forest a character that feels far removed from the commercialism of nearby Myrtle Beach while remaining just minutes from everything the Grand Strand offers.

 

Spring Forest homes are traditional cedar-sided construction from 1985 to 1994 — single-story, 2–3 bedroom floor plans ranging from approximately 1,056 to 1,800 sq ft. Many include attached garages or carports, private patios, Carolina rooms, hardwood floors, and vaulted ceilings. The homes have been maintained and updated by long-term owners over the decades — many feature new roofs, modern kitchens, and refreshed bathrooms. Homes are available on a resale basis only.

Spring Forest is a community in the truest sense. With just 126 homes, neighbors genuinely know each other. The community is self-governed with a proud volunteer ethic — residents organize social events, maintain common areas, and look after one another in the way that only small communities can. This culture is exactly what many retirement buyers from the Northeast and Midwest are seeking when they say they want to 'find their people' in a new home.

Spring Forest is accessed off Hwy 17 Bypass in Murrells Inlet, providing easy access to the entire Grand Strand via Hwy 17. Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital is nearby. Walmart, restaurants, Inlet Square Mall, and a full range of shopping are within minutes. The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk and Garden City Beach are a short golf cart ride away.