Surfside Beach Explains Concrete Crushing at Former Wild Water & Wheels Site

Surfside Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, is crushing concrete on site at the former Wild Water & Wheels property on Highway 17. The town says the work will continue on and off, and it has not set an end date.

Why the concrete is being crushed

A Planning, Building and Zoning notice dated Oct. 20, 2026 says large amounts of concrete, above and below ground, must be removed before the property can be redeveloped. Instead of hauling it away, contractors crush the usable concrete on site for reuse in new roads and infrastructure.

Who can bring materials to the site

The notice says only one contractor, Atlas, may bring concrete onto the site. No other companies or individuals may dump materials there.

How long the crushing will last

The notice says crushing will happen intermittently as more buried material is uncovered. Equipment may be left on site and brought back as needed. The town says there is no firm completion date yet.

Dust, noise and reporting

The notice says the contractors are following all required permits and operating-hour rules, and water is used to control dust. Residents who see something unsafe, unpermitted or like unauthorized dumping should contact the town’s Planning, Building and Zoning Department at 843-913-6111 or 843-839-3769.

What comes next at the site

The notice says the town has approved roads, utilities and grading for the property, and the long-term plan is commercial use. It says potential hotel and restaurant developers have begun buying nearby parcels. Once financing is final, building the site’s infrastructure is expected to take about six months. The notice says its information comes from discussions with project representatives on Sept. 23, 2026, and that timelines may change.

Council business

In a weekly update dated Oct. 23, Mayor Robert Krouse reported that the Town Council, at a rescheduled meeting, approved:

• A contract with UES Professional Solutions 29, the second-lowest bid, for special inspections related to the courthouse project. The update does not explain the project.
• A FEMA grant to assist firefighters.
• A memorandum of understanding with the Horry County Sheriff’s Office.

The council also gave first reading to ordinances on open containers at town events, on Chapter 17 revisions covering vehicle fueling stations, and on parking and use conditions at mini-storage and self-storage locations. The mayor’s update says Planning, Building and Zoning Director Brodeur would give an update on the concrete crushing at the council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The update does not say what was reported at that meeting.

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