An Unforgettable Walk on the Beach of Sullivan's Island

Possibly, you have heard this story. The year was 2005. Its place of happening was fittingly Sullivan's Island. The teller is a young lady who was vacationing with her family. One morning she was strolling the beach picking up seashells. While examining one particular shell, she noticed a fully clothed gentleman standing and watching the ocean waves break on the shore.

When she looked up again from her seashell, she noticed the oddly dressed man had moved closer. She looked back down at the seashell to avoid an awkward encounter, but that's when the man spoke to her and asked if she wanted to know more about the shell she was holding. Despite feeling unnerved, she timidly looked up. He had long dark hair and very dark eyes. The man continued speaking. His soft-spoken voice put her at ease. Her apprehension faded away into a disarming and peaceful presence. He explained the seashell in great length, from its pink color and smooth interior to rough exterior, and she was impressed by the vast knowledge the gentleman possessed.

She bent down to pick up another shell and inquire about it, but the gentleman had vanished. The only logical explanation for his sudden disappearance was he had ventured back over the dunes. She picked up her newly collected treasures and headed back down the beach to her vacation home.

Later that evening, her and her family were out to eat at a local restaurant when a painting on the wall over its fireplace caught her attention. The dark image of a man looked eerily familiar, and so she walked over to get a closer look. Without a doubt, it was the man she spoke to earlier on the beach. She immediately flagged down a server and asked her if she knew the name of the man in the artwork. The server looked at her, puzzled, and said, "Oh yes dear, that's Edgar Allan Poe." At least, that is the way the story is told. Questionably, it is difficult to imagine someone would not recognize one of the most prominent faces in literature, but I acquiesce to the thought it could be possible.

The name of the local restaurant in the story is appropriately Poe's Tavern. On any given day throughout the tourist season, it is packed from opening to closing. It seems everyone wants to get a taste of it.

One writer described Poe's Tavern this way, "Eclectically decorated with different quotes from Poe’s work and several portraits of Poe by various artists, it is a quirky stop for passersby to grab a bite to eat, meet some locals, and experience a little history—even if it is beefed up a bit." Ironically, the writer's usage of the term "beefed up", though unintentional, is fitting in more ways than one. It is well known for its sumptuous burgers.

Most everything on the menu has an Edgar Allan Poe theme, from his name to the titles of his acclaimed works. I chose the Beef Gold Bug the day of my visit. The Gold-Bug was a famous story he wrote that takes place on Sullivan's Island. The burger was tasty and done to my preference. However, the highlight of my meal was the Dill Pickle Soup, of which I will describe with one word, WOW.

There are more than several portraits of Edgar. The walls are lined with everything Poe, but the eye catcher is the portrait above the fireplace. If you dare, walk up to it and look into his darkened eyes. However, I warn you, do not stare to long, you just might get sucked into his twisted, haunted world of macabre.

2210 Middle St., Sullivan s Island, SC

Poe submitted his short story called The Gold-Bug in 1843 as an entry to a writing contest sponsored by a Philadelphia newspaper called The Dollar. His story won the grand prize of $100 and was published in three installments. The writing was the most popular and widely read of Poe's works.