Horry County ready to spend $2.5M on Legends Drive upgrades with creation of special tax district

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Horry County leaders are preparing to take out $2.5 million worth of bonds to pay for upgrades on Legends Drive, recouping the money over the next 15 years through a tax assessment.

A council subcommittee on Tuesday was briefed on the plan, following a September vote to finalize the creation of a special tax district. That happened after property owners in the area voted 385-182 in a July referendum, agreeing to pay an average of $176 annually to cover repair costs.

Those who live near the private road claim it has not been maintained by the owner. They have tried to find multiple solutions since the early 1990’s and believed a special tax district is the only way to get it fixed.

Over the past three decades, the Legends Drive community has tried four times to have the road dedicated to public and entered in the county’s maintenance network.

As a private road, the county has no authority to make repairs or send law enforcement into the area. It’s fallen upon property owners to shore it up since a holding company that owns Legends Drive has refused to do so.

The county council needs to formally vote on the issuance of bonds, expected to happen at an ucpoming meeting.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.