Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant: the 2,000-foot boardwalk, the working shrimp fleet and Magwood memorial, the creekside restaurants, kayaks and parking.

Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. History and park facts come from the Town of Mount Pleasant’s Shem Creek history and Magwood memorial pages and its Shem Creek Waterfront guide; restaurants are listed from their own websites. This guide does not rank restaurants.

Shem Creek is Mount Pleasant’s working waterfront, which the town calls one of South Carolina’s premier waterfront destinations. Shrimp trawlers still tie up beside restaurant decks, a 2,000-foot boardwalk runs over the marsh to Charleston Harbor, and kayaks and charter boats leave from its docks. It sits just off Coleman Boulevard, near where the creek meets the harbor.

Who to call

  • Town Recreation Department (Shem Creek Park): 843-884-8517
  • Charleston County Parks (Shem Creek boat landing): 843-795-4386
  • Police non-emergency: 843-884-4176

Shem Creek Park and the boardwalk

Shem Creek Park, on Shrimp Boat Lane, has an accessible boardwalk with fishing, parking and restrooms, according to the town’s facilities list. The town’s tourism office says the boardwalks run more than 2,000 feet over the marsh and tidal creeks, with views of the creek and the harbor; it suggests watching for dolphins, pelicans and fiddler crabs. It asks visitors to follow its “Keep It Pleasant” promise.

On the Magwood Boardwalk stands the Captain Wayne Magwood Fisherman’s Memorial, a life-sized statue unveiled in 2025. Magwood, a lifelong shrimper and president of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association, received the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor; his boat, the Winds of Fortune, was a familiar sight on the creek. More than 150 donors raised over $100,000 for the statue, the town says.

The shrimp fleet

Captain C. Magwood brought the first ocean shrimp into Mount Pleasant in 1930, according to the town’s history page. A bridge over the creek followed in 1937, then shrimp docks and an ice plant, and at its peak about 70 trawlers worked from Shem Creek. By 2011 about 10 were left. Red’s Ice House stands on the site of Moultrie Fisheries, which made the creek’s seafood ice from 1957 to 1989.

The town’s Meet the Fleet list names the boats still working the creek, among them Captain Donnie Brown’s Carolina Breeze, Captain Michael Cobb’s Family Thing, Captain Vasa Tarvin’s Miss Paula and Captain Rocky Magwood’s Magwood’s Pride. The Magwood family helped found the town’s Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival, held on the last Sunday in April at Memorial Waterfront Park.

Restaurants and bars

From each place’s own website or the town’s listing:

Place Address Notes
Red’s Ice House 98 Church St. Waterfront patio; late-night menu
Tavern and Table 100 Church St. Open 11 a.m. daily, 10 a.m. Sunday; Sunday brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saltwater Cowboys 130 Mill St. Seafood and barbecue since 2017; live music and DJs on its calendar
Shem Creek Crab House 508 Mill St. Family-owned seafood; 843-725-4902
The Mill Street Tavern 504 Mill St. Rooftop deck over the creek; 854-237-0409
Vickery’s 1313 Shrimp Boat Lane Since 1999; happy hour 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays; two outdoor bars
Water’s Edge 1407 Shrimp Boat Lane Seafood with outdoor seating and a downstairs bar
Sunsets Waterfront Dining 97 Ronnie Boals Blvd. Open 11 a.m. daily, to midnight Friday and Saturday; reachable by boat
The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene 106 Haddrell St. Dinner Tuesday to Sunday, 5 to 8:30 p.m.; no reservations; closed Mondays
NICO 201 Coleman Blvd. Oyster bar from French chef Nico Romo; Sunday brunch

Hours change with the season. Many of these places have live music; see our live music and nightlife guide.

On the water

  • Kayaks and paddleboards: Coastal Expeditions rents them and runs tours and boat trips from its Shem Creek outpost.
  • Fishing charters: the town says several inshore and offshore charters leave from Shem Creek.
  • Boat landing: Charleston County’s free Shem Creek landing is at 515 Mill St., with a courtesy dock and accessible parking.

Parking

Shem Creek Park and the restaurants have their own lots. The town is reworking its lot at 516 Coleman Blvd. into 32 spaces, with two EV charging spaces, five boat-trailer spaces and a pollinator garden; construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2026, according to the project page.

Frequently asked questions

Where do you park at Shem Creek?

Shem Creek Park on Shrimp Boat Lane has parking and restrooms, and the creekside restaurants have their own lots. The town plans a reconfigured 32-space lot at 516 Coleman Blvd., with construction scheduled to begin in fall 2026.

How long is the Shem Creek boardwalk?

The town says Shem Creek Park has more than 2,000 feet of boardwalk over the marsh and tidal creeks, with views of the creek and Charleston Harbor.

Are there still shrimp boats on Shem Creek?

Yes. The town says seventy trawlers worked from the creek’s docks in its heyday and about 10 remained by 2011. Its Meet the Fleet list names active boats including Carolina Breeze, Family Thing, Miss Paula and Magwood’s Pride.

Can you kayak on Shem Creek?

Yes. Coastal Expeditions rents kayaks and paddleboards and runs guided tours from its Shem Creek outpost, and the county’s free Shem Creek boat landing is at 515 Mill St.