The Story of McKevlin’s Surf Shop: In Their Words – A Look Back at 60 Years in the Lowcountry

By Mark A. Leon

Timothy McKevlin proudly stands at the helm of a true Lowcountry family legacy that has pioneered a passion for the spiritual artistry of surfing and its celebration of the unconditional love for the ocean. Yes, his family’s commitment to continuing the traditions of the coastal lifestyle and sending good vibes over the last 60 years goes much deeper. This is a family that fought for surfer rights, stood strong for integrating Folly Beach and opened the doors to the visionary world of surfing that thrives today.

Through hard work, family values, spiritual connections to the water and a compassion for promoting a good live, McKevlin’s has and continues to be an honorable ambassador to our Lowcountry lifestyle.

We had a chance to catch up with Timothy and learn a lot more about his family journey from the first shop in the Fall of 1965 to today.

Our Interview with Timothy McKevlin

Describe the early years occupying space at the Folly Bowling Center and what the public sentiment was toward the surfing community in the Lowountry?

My father, Dennis McKevlin, and uncle, Jack McLain, were co-managers of the Folly Bowling Center in the late 50’s and early 60’s. Our very first location was a dark, damp, and pretty dreary rear storage room belonging to that building. My dad and brother, Ted, moved the pins and balls into a corner and set up shop in the fall of 1965. At first the only products were bars of surfboard wax they cut from large blocks of paraffin from the local Rodenburg’s grocery store as well as cheese sandwiches that dad would have on hand for hungry surfers. If anyone wanted to buy a surfboard, he’d take their order and have it shipped from California. As he became more confident in the business, he began stocking boards and t-shirts.

Both the business and the surfers were pretty much looked upon as if they were crazy radicals or misguided misfits. Everyone told my dad that he was nuts to think he could make a decent living at this. Surfing was fully expected to be nothing more than a passing trend. The surfers themselves were ridiculed for not being “real” athletes. They were encouraged to stop pretending, go back to football practice, and do something worthwhile. Surfers in general became stereotyped as drug-taking, lazy, drop-outs because they were taking an “alternate” path. 

You opened during a period of desegregation on Folly Island / Folly Beach. What was the social and political climate during this period and how did you adjust as a business owner? 

This period was definitely a little tense at times. I remember one particular day when word spread over the island that a crowd of “unruly” black people were determined to swim in the ocean. Outrageous! It had everyone in the community whispering to their neighbors, locking their doors, and some hiding. The police gathered in force at the end of Center Street. Some black folks walked toward the beach, dipped into the ocean, turned around, and nothing happened. The whole thing was silly. I do recall hearing about some fights breaking out from time to time when a black person would attempt to enter one of the local bars where a not-so-sober white guy with prejudicial leanings would take it upon himself to express his displeasure. Overall though, I think the beach was a bit more open, tolerant, and just a “happier” place than other spots. People don’t tend to come here to be grumpy and mean-spirited. When my dad and uncle ran the Bowling Center, and there were no automatic pin setters then, the local Folly white kids worked alongside the local James and Johns Island black kids at the end of each alley dodging the balls and re-setting the pins. My dad would take care of the kids picking them up and taking them home. And many of them became his life-long friends – black and white.

Spreading the joy and love of surfing has always been a passion in your family. How did Dennis McKevlin gaining a seat on the city council how to pioneer acceptance for the surfing lifestyle?

At first when my dad became a councilman for Folly Beach, he was pretty much a loner. Quite a few issues (not only surfing related) came down to his one vote versus the rest of council and the mayor. Because his one vote didn’t sway the others, he began taking what he learned from the meetings to television, radio, and newspapers. Back then of course, none of the meetings were captured on camera, and the public was pretty much in the dark on what was really going on. Also, my dad and my brother, Ted, were instrumental in organizing local surfers and their families to help expose how unfairly surfers were being treated – how they were being forced into a dangerously small, crowded area. There were several gatherings on the beach that were covered by the local media showing how large of a group the surfers were and how they didn’t all resemble aliens from another planet! The surfers also organized fund raising events in order to hire an attorney to eventually take Folly Beach to court. Finally, under the advice of their own attorney, Folly settled out of court and returned the best surfing spots to the surfers. And, gradually, a few of the older council members were voted out and new, more broad-minded citizens ran and won those seats. In a 180-degree reversal of their previous stand, Folly Beach actually hired the same attorney, Ben Peeples, who defended the surfers and had taken Folly Beach to court. Then in 1994, the City of Folly Beach, which had once rejected Dennis McKevlin and labeled him a troublemaker, named him Citizen of the Year. Today it seems that the Council and Mayor are very supportive of surfing. In fact, they often even help sponsor some of the events.

The Washout has become a beloved spot for surfers, but there was a period when it was prohibited. Tell us more about that period and how you helped bust down that legislation?

In the 60’s and very early 70’s the area known as the Washout was NOT a particularly great surfing area. The preferred surf spot was located around the 12^th block east. However, erosion, storms, and a gradual change in Folly’s topography eventually did turn the Washout into the very best surfing spot in South Carolina. In the mid-nineties some of the residents (annoyed by the crowds of surfers) who lived across the street from the Washout discovered that this area “technically” was illegal for surfing and pressured for enforcement. As part of the 1976 ruling much of the area now known as the Washout was then restricted and was considered more of a tourist, swimming destination. Over the years the “touristy” part had faded, and the “surfing” part had taken over, so the law was not enforced. But the law was still on the books. Angie Youngblood, then local district director of the Eastern Surfing Association organized surfers and local businesspeople to present Folly Beach Council with an argument stating that the law should be revised making the Washout a legal surfing area. After several council meetings and pleas from the group, the motion was passed.

The surfing lifestyle, surf/beach therapy and organizations promoting the wellness ad therapeutic aspects of surfing (Warrior Surf, Surfer’s Healing) have laid the groundwork for a new revolution. What role will the McKevlin family play in furthering the social, health and recreational value of surfing?

We support those organizations and others with donations as well as being involved in their events. Also, every year McKevlin’s sponsors one of the largest 18 and under surfing competitions on the east coast – the D.J. McKevlin Gromfest. Over 200 of the youngest surfers travel (some from as far as Hawaii) to compete for awards, prizes, and bragging rights. We’ve always felt that younger surfers deserve an encouraging and positive start. In addition, we sponsor a group of local surfers ranging in ages from 12 to 67. Our surf “team” is the longest established one in South Carolina dating back to the late 60’s. Then, in 2019 we began “The Beach Project”.  For this program, we create “The Beach Project” branded merchandise and donate 25% of its sales to a local environmental group like Charleston Waterkeeper, Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network, and the Charleston Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

But, I believe our greatest contribution is made by our staff who tirelessly promotes and educates our customers on the physical and mental benefits of surfing. Every one of them can speak to the sheer fun that surfing brings to them, and they share that joy every single day.

Photos courtesy of McKevlin’s Surf Shop