Gay Dolphin Gift Cove facts for kids
The Gay Dolphin Gift Cove is a huge gift shop in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States. It's located at 910 North Ocean Boulevard. The store proudly calls itself "the nation's largest gift shop"!
In 2011, the Gay Dolphin was about 26,000 square feet. The owner, Justin "Buz" Plyler, said the store had around 70,000 different items. These items are organized into 50 special areas called "coves." You can find all sorts of things, from sea shells to funny seat cushions. There's even an Elvis Cove! Some really big items have included a $7,000 fountain with three dolphins and a life-size cigar store Indian. You can also visit Tom Pierce's Trader Bill's Shark's Tooth Cove inside the building. Here, you can bring your own shark teeth and have them made into cool jewelry.
Contents
The Story of the Gay Dolphin
How the Store Started
The Gay Dolphin was opened in 1946 by Justin Whitaker Plyler and Eloise Plyler. Justin Plyler Sr. wanted a fun, ocean-themed name for his new store. His son, Buz, who was born three years later, shared this story.
Rebuilding After a Storm
In 1954, a big storm called Hurricane Hazel completely destroyed the first store. But the Plylers didn't give up! They rebuilt the store in the same spot, starting close to the beach. Over time, they added a tall, six-story glass tower right next to Ocean Boulevard.
More Fun from the Plylers
In the 1950s, the Plylers also ran an amusement park and a wildlife show. Buz Plyler, born in 1949, started helping his parents at the store when he was just 8 years old. He did the jobs his dad didn't like. Eventually, he became the person who bought all the items for the store. By 2011, he had been working with some sellers for fifty years! Buz also buys items from stores that are closing down, which helps him get good deals. The Gay Dolphin was the first tourist store in the area to stay open all year long.
The Famous Sign
There used to be another part of the store across Ocean Boulevard. Now, a "Ripley's Haunted Adventure" is there instead. But a special sign with wooden dolphins still stands there. The city tried to have it removed, but it's still up! This sign was first put up in the 1970s. It had to be taken down for Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Even though a rule from 1979 said such a sign couldn't be replaced if it was taken down, it went back up in 1994.
The Glass Tower View
For many years, people could climb the circular steel steps to the very top of the glass tower. This tower was once the tallest building in Myrtle Beach! From the roof, you could see amazing views of the city. In 2000, it cost $1 to go up. But if you couldn't find your name on the wall of bicycle license plates inside, you could climb for free! However, for safety reasons, climbing the tower stopped in 2006.
Remembering Eloise Plyler
Eloise Plyler, one of the store's founders, worked at the Gay Dolphin until she passed away in 2009.
Connecting to the Boardwalk
There was a concrete path called the Boardwalk that went past the Gay Dolphin. This path was later made longer and better. It connected the Myrtle Beach Pavilion to Plyler Park. When the new Myrtle Beach Boardwalk opened in 2010, the Gay Dolphin made improvements to its entrance from the boardwalk.
Honoring the Store's Founder
Renaming a Street
Justin Plyler Sr., who started the Gay Dolphin, passed away in March 2002. Earlier that year, a big upgrade to 11th Avenue North was almost finished. This street was then renamed Mr. Joe White Avenue to honor him.
Creating Plyler Park
At the end of Mr. Joe White Avenue, right by the ocean, a new park was planned. This area used to have a motel, a wax museum, and two beachwear stores. In 2000, the Myrtle Beach City Council decided to buy the land for the park. The old buildings on the site had leases until 2002, and then they could be torn down. The park was officially named after Justin Plyler Sr. at the Sun Fun Festival on June 3, 2005.
With the opening of the Boardwalk in 2010, Plyler Park became a popular spot for concerts called "Hot Summer Nights." The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, which was the largest Ferris wheel in the eastern United States when it was built, opened right next to the park in 2011.
