Mosquito Beach a South Carolina Spot with a Hard History

Mosquito Beach is not your typical seaside fun-and-sun spot. It has a history both happy and sad. It’s relic of a less tolerant time, when segregation dictated where people could – and more specifically could not, enjoy a day by the sea. 

Located in South Carolina’s Sol Legare community, on James Island, Mosquito Beach is named for the large population of mosquitoes that thrive in the nearby tide flats and creeks. From the 1950s until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it was designated as a vacation destination for African Americans, one of five ‘black beaches’ in the Charleston area. Unlike most beaches, such the nearby Folly Beach, Mosquito Beach was not a sand-and-surf destination. While Folly, then designated as ‘white only,’ had crashing waves and long stretches of pristine sand Mosquito Beach had puff mud and a tidal creek. 

Still, for the Black community, Mosquito Beach became a place to be and be seen. Families came from all over the surrounding area to eat, dance, listen to music, and enjoy the coast.  

Visitors would gather at the dance halls, restaurants, pavilions and bars such Jack Walker’s Club and the Seaside Grill. There, they found not only record-laden jukeboxes, pool tables and fresh seafood, but also a sense of community.  

At its peak, thousands would swarm Mosquito Beach every weekend.  

Mosquito Beach was more than just a recreational area; it was a symbol of resilience. It offered a space for music, dance, and low country cuisine reflecting the rich traditions of the Gullah Geechee people, who lived in the local area.  

Recently, I drove down the inlet road that marks Mosquito Beach. It looked, and felt, empty. All that is left are a few old buildings, some signs and, appropriately, a large metal sculpture of the beach’s mascot mosquito in flight. 

At the time, not realizing the significance and history of Mosquito Beach, I snapped a few photos, continued my trip. When I think of it now, however, I pause to consider its history. I think of all those visitors, packing the once-active bars and restaurants and, perhaps, slapping a few large mosquitoes away. Today, Mosquito Beach is quiet, but in recent years attention has turned toward its history. It’s currently on the National Register of Historic Places and there have been efforts made to re-establish it as a seaside destination with retail, restaurants, and historic heritage facilities. Perhaps, in time, the crowds will return to Mosquito Beach. I hope so. It has an important story to tell.