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Many people don’t realize that an entire abandoned resort now teeters on some perfectly pristine South Carolina coastline, withering away to tatters as the sea, humidity, and salt air consistently eat away at the grandeur of the property. Why Melrose Resort is in utter abandon seems a curse that revisits each new owner, as this same resort has fallen into financial ruin three times in a row. This Daufuskie Island abandoned resort is a fascinating, if rather sad, story.

The abandoned property, now commonly referred to as the Melrose Resort, began in 1991 as a private club whose members ran their own affairs — until they could no longer afford the expenses.
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They sold their club to an outside organization just five years later, in 1996. But the company also couldn't make the endeavor profitable and they, too, sold out.
The third company couldn't make it work either and eventually fell into some legal issues. The end result meant the eventual shutdown of the resort. One by one, the facilities closed, starting with the Island House (shown in the three photos above). It now sits in complete disrepair.
adventurer365/YouTube
The main floor has missing windows and doors — in this photo, we can see water standing in parts of the lobby. The ballroom on the mezzanine is in shambles with a missing ceiling and many of the remaining furnishings strewn about the room.
The abandoned Golf Pro Shop has a missing front door, but that's not the only thing that's missing. Part of the building has been blown or swept away!
adventurer365/YouTube

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One of the three restaurants at the resort sits abandoned, but the white linens are perfectly placed on the tables — some with their place settings still intact.
adventurer365/YouTube
Melrose Resort had some beach cottages as well. Their condition now is sad, but unfortunately, it's real. The doors are open and the contents are simply indoor piles of debris at this point.
adventurer365/YouTube
This resort pool, although it seems to be able to hold water, is filled with green sludge. The expensive teak wood chairs are propped up in a creepy sort of way as if waiting for the next resort guest.
adventurer365/YouTube

These Melrose Resort photos are pretty surreal! Did you know about this abandoned resort in South Carolina? Did you have the opportunity to go when it was still operational? Please tell us about your experience in the comments section. We are always happy to hear about our readers’ trips.

What have you heard about Melrose Resort’s future, if anything? We’d love to know if there are any solid plans to revive this beach retreat. It has so much potential! If you are looking for more fun adventures in South Carolina and beyond, take a look at Airbnb Experiences and plan your next exciting outing!

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Abandoned places in South Carolina are great for a unique weekend trip or road trip. There's nothing quite like seeing places that still exist, but in completely different forms than they originally had. While it can be sad to see some places come to ruin, it can also spark your imagination to think about the many events, good and bad, that could have happened in these places.

 

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The best Halloween town in South Carolina is, of course, Halloween, South Carolina! The city of Conway renamed itself in October 2022 just for the month and just for fun. The people in this fun town have some real holiday spirit! It's a great place to visit in the fall for a classic autumn trip. Don’t forget to pack your best Halloween costumes and bring your family and friends for a unique day out that no one will forget!

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Daufuskie Island, SC 29915, USA