About Us

This is were it all begin, in the small town of Guideway, North Carolina. Built in 1980 by my father, my mother found her passion and made a home for the horses she loved. I was about four and my sister Melissa was about two years old. My mother called her first of several barns to come, Big Boy Stables, named after her horse Big Boy. It was a humble small barn, but a peaceful paradise for my mother. Who knew what she was getting into with the purchase of her first few horses and her first little barn. 

                      

This is my parents current stable in Calabash, North Carolina. This stable is named Peachtree Equestrian Center, and was built in 1991. Peachtree is a boarding, training, and show barn were my mother and father care for not only their horses but about forty different horses for others. Between Inlet Point and Peachtree we care for around eighty horses everyday, rain,sleet, or shine.

Inlet Point Plantation Stables was built in the fall of 1995 and opened for business in 1996 by my parents, Paul and Gloria Smith. Between my mother, father, sister, and myself everything came together with many long years of hard work. As of 2004, Inlet Point Plantation has been operated by me, Mark Smith. Me, my wife Stephanie and son Townsend live In Calabash, NC. The main reason that Inlet Point Plantation Stables has been so successful is that we have surrounded ourselves with the best people around so that they can continue to offer the most memorable family excursion offered in South Carolina. Great people, hard work and determination have led to outstanding tradition at Inlet Point Plantation. We give anyone a chance to not only ride a beautiful, well trained horse, but to experience the quiet, pristine beauty of one of the South's "old southern plantations" that still remains undisturbed by the surrounding growth in and around Myrtle Beach. This has been very important to the Smith family. 

    

This plantation was once the home of Fort Randall, a confederate fort from 1861 to 1863. During the War of the States, the US North Atlantic Squadron was very active in this area. The remains of a cannon ball still lies in place on the Battery Hill beside Fort Randall. The open fields at the entrance to our stables was originally cleared by the 9000 confederate soldiers, as the tree line along the IntraCoastal Waterway served as a barrier from coming enemy ships. The property was once home to Billy the Kid and even Blackbeard was said to have used our island as a safe haven. Waites Island is 1380 acres located on the state line north of Cherry Grove Beach, SC and south of Sunset Beach, NC. On our plantation, Indian burial grounds and archeological finds date back to 600 b.c. The original 10,000 acre plot of land was given to John Alston by King Charles III in 1767, but years later was purchased by the Tilghman family in 1906. Kitty Tilghman was the owner of the property when Inlet Point Plantation Stables was built. The Tilghman family still own a portion of the property today and still is kept in it’s natural state. Here at Inlet Point Plantation time stands still, the plantation with it’s natural beauty and undeveloped beaches are one of the Grand Strand's "Best Kept Secrets".

Listed in the January 2009 issue of "Horse Illustrated" article. 
Named one of the "top ten horse-friendly beaches in the Southeast."

Paradise Found
Explore fabulous beach riding vacations by Cynthia Mcfarland 

Inlet Point Plantation, North Myrtle Beach
The Plantation’s mission is to make sure that you enjoy a breathtaking historic location you won’t easily forget. The ride takes you through a 4,000-acre plantation that the owners wish to keep in a wilderness state. Beginning at the stable next to a pecan grove, the Plantation Trail takes you through a birdwatchers’ paradise where you will occasionally spot a deer or even a bear. On the beach ride, you cross a bridge to Waites Island, and explore the wide beaches of a private 1,200-acre island, which is home to many shore and song birds.

The Smith’s have 41 horses of several breeds including Tennessee Walkers, Warmbloods,  Belgians and Appaloosas. Weekend campouts are offered during the winter months. Carriage drivers are welcome. The private beach ride is two hours; the trail along the Intracoastal Waterway is one hour long. Advance reservations are required.

This article above is the article feature in the following magazine.

Inlet Point was featured in EQUUS CABALLUS Fall 2008 Issue
in the "Life's a Beach" article written by Georgia Brown.