Fall is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons the Grand Strand has seen in years. Between a celebrity-chef mega-restaurant, a brand-new pickleball complex, and a freshly expanded airport terminal, Myrtle Beach keeps adding reasons to visit even after the summer crowds thin out. Here’s a rundown of what’s genuinely new around town this fall, so you can plan your trip around the best of it.
New Restaurants Worth the Drive
Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown finally opened its doors in June 2026 inside the former Myrtle Beach Mall, and it’s still the talk of the Grand Strand heading into fall. The 50,000-square-foot spot packs in a 400-seat restaurant, a 100-plus game arcade, duckpin bowling, and the signature Freaky Tiki bar, making it as much an entertainment venue as a place to eat.
At The Market Common, Ocean Blue Prime Steak House is set to open this fall from the team behind Travinia Italian Kitchen. Expect an upscale steakhouse menu with New York strip, tare-glazed pork belly, mustard-crusted lamb chops, and pan-seared scallops.
Up in North Myrtle Beach, Ocean and Oak Coastal Kitchen is moving into the former Country Living Amish Store at 4403 Highway 17 S, with a tentative September opening bringing coastal comfort food to the north end of the Strand.
Fresh Attractions to Add to Your List
Pickleball fans have a new home base with The PicklePort, targeted to open in the third quarter of 2026 on roughly six acres next to Whispering Pines Golf Course at 900 Harrelson Boulevard. The public-private facility will include 12 climate-controlled indoor courts, four covered outdoor courts, two tournament courts with grandstand seating, a pro shop, and a snack bar, with leagues and events built into the calendar from day one.
Craft beer lovers should keep an eye on South Coast Beer Project, a 10,000-square-foot brewery and event space planned for 5020 Carolina Forest Boulevard, with plenty of outdoor seating and community programming on the way.
Airport and Infrastructure Upgrades
Myrtle Beach International Airport celebrated a ribbon-cutting on its $93.5 million concourse expansion in December 2025, and travelers are now flying through six brand-new gates with updated flooring, signage, restrooms, and additional dining options. Looking ahead, construction on a TSA security checkpoint expansion is expected to begin this fall as the airport keeps pace with record passenger growth.
Beach renourishment crews also wrapped up active sand placement within Myrtle Beach city limits on schedule this summer, with dredging operations moving south toward Surfside Beach, so the sand is looking especially fresh for fall visitors.
New Neighborhoods and Development
The Grand Strand’s growth isn’t slowing down. In North Myrtle Beach, Indigo at the Preserve is bringing 221 new single-family and duet homes as part of the larger master-planned Preserve community, while presales for Del Webb Ocean Isle Beach are expected to open this fall. Closer to Myrtle Beach proper, the 360-unit Waypoint Apartments is moving forward along Wild Iris Drive near Myrtlewood Golf Club, part of a broader wave of approved residential and hospitality projects around town.
Planning Your Fall Trip
Fall remains the sweet spot for a Myrtle Beach getaway: smaller crowds, lower rates, and warm ocean water that lingers well into October. With Downtown Flavortown in full swing, new restaurants opening on both ends of the Strand, and The PicklePort set to debut, there’s genuinely more to do here than there was a year ago. Check back with Carolina’s Like A Local as these openings get closer, and start planning your fall visit around whichever new spot excites you most.
Dennis Stemmle is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lecturer at Coastal Carolina University. He writes about travel, college success, and entrepreneurship.