Calabash

On North Carolina's southern most coast in Brunswick County lies Calabash, the picturesque one-time fishing village. Seafood, prepared “Calabash-style,” was always a local staple but did not become a driving force until the 1930s. Sometime in the late 40’s and 50’s, Calabash became known for its seafood and was named “Seafood Capital of the World” and has about one seafood restaurant per 10 residents. This tiny port shaded by large oaks has become synonymous with a style of cooking.

Arguments often ensue over who opened the first "fish camp" there: the Becks or the Colemans. In the 30s, both families already were holding outdoor oyster roasts. Both had moved inside by 1940 and had added the now-famous fried seafood to their repertoire. In 1940, a famous entertainer and his troupe stopped by Lucy Coleman’s restaurant. A frequent diner at Coleman's during this era was entertainer Jimmy Durante. Lucy Coleman remembers he always jokingly called her Mrs. Calabash. Before leaving, Jimmy Durante promised Lucy he would make her famous and, not long after, he began signing off his radio program with “Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are.”

The town's fame increased locally, and other restaurants opened to meet the increasing demand. By the 1960s, large crowds from nearby Myrtle Beach were flowing into the small community nightly to get a taste of Calabash. Then, Calabash attracted national attention and restaurants across the South began advertising their Calabash-style seafood. Calabash's original fish camp aesthetic is gone. Brightly lighted signs on newer restaurants with toney dishes like shrimp and linguini with wasabi ginger sauce have forever changed the town's character. Commercial development aside, the food is still great. And, pioneering restaurants like Beck's and Coleman's still serve up the Calabash-style seafood that earned the town its fame

Calabash is a part of a 48,000-acre grant made to Landgrave Thomas Smith in 1691. Originally the area was considered to be part of Little River and until 1735 it was considered to be part of South Carolina. Early settlers to the area arrived from New England and Charleston, SC. One of the settlers, Nicholas Frink came to the area around 1735 and his grandson, Samuel Frink, became a major plantation owner. The “Boundary House”, with the provinces line running down the middle, existed prior to 1750. It was built by twenty-four gentlemen, twelve from each province as a place of rendezvous for travelers. Another settler, Issac Marion, brother of Francis Marion, was serving a Justice of the Peace at the Boundary House, when a dispatch rider delivered the message of the “shots heard around the world”. During the late 1700’s, the Altson family owned most of the present day Calabash at Little River Neck. In the late 1800’s the area was called Pea Landing because of growing and shipping of peanuts to Wilmington. Sometime in 1883, the village requested a post office. A requirement on the application was for a name for the proposed postoffice, Calabash was selected. Around 1890, Samuel Thomas purchased “Hickory Hall Plantation”, which was later passed on to the Thomas family. Their descendents presently live in Calabash.

Today Calabash is surrounded by 6 beautiful golf courses along with a number of quaint shopping areas. Calabash was incorporated in 1973 and in 1989 consolidated Carolina Shores Village into the town. However in 1998, the Town of Calabash voted for the removal of Carolina Shores from the corporate limits of the town. In 2002, Calabash almost doubled the town’s area and its population. Two major subdivision is under construction along with various town enhancements and beautification projects. Calabash is no longer the sleepy little fishing village, but it still retains much of its fishing village atmosphere. The family seafood restaurants of old are now run by many of their descendents. Calabash is an outstanding place to visit, dine, and to live and work. Legend has it that the town–and the Calabash River–are named for the Calabash gourd, which grew wild throughout the area. Nineteenth century slaves used the gourds as drinking vessels or bottles.