Nicknamed The Black Pearl, the rich culture of the Town of Atlantic Beach was formed of mostly Gullah/Geechee people, descendants of slaves who lived for 300 years on the Sea Islands from Wilmington, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida.
In the early 1930’s, defying Jim Crow laws in the segregated south, debunking black stereotypes, and broadening the enterprises of the Gullah/Geechee people, black men and women opened hotels, restaurants, night clubs, and novelty shops in Atlantic Beach. They would travel along Interstate 95, Highway 17 and South Carolina Highway 9, coming from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia to Florida, where racial segregation took its toll.
Today Atlantic Beach is still an open road for many tourists. It is host to the largest gathering of black motorcycle enthusiasts in the country. Bike Fest is the fourth largest bike rally in the U.S. and the largest single event in South Carolina. The Town of Atlantic Beach is seeking a national sponsor for the event to offer entertainment and concerts aimed at attracting even more people to this historic site.