The Coca-Cola House

Known for generations as the Coca-Cola House, this circa-1930 Folly Beach cottage is one of the island’s rare surviving links to its earliest era of oceanfront residential life. Originally built by the McDowell family, owners of Charleston’s Coca-Cola bottling plant, the home once served as a beach retreat for company executives and their families.

When the property was purchased, the structure was fragile from decades of storms, termite damage, rot, and neglect. Rather than replace it with something new, the goal was to preserve what could not be recreated. The home was carefully stabilized from the foundation up, with original beadboard walls, ceilings, trim, and woodwork preserved wherever possible.

While its historic character remains intact, the house was rebuilt for modern coastal living with impact-resistant windows, a standing-seam metal roof, cement board siding, stainless steel railings, copper flashing, improved insulation, and other performance upgrades suited for its oceanfront setting.

Inside, the renovation honors the spirit of the original cottage while introducing light, comfort, and thoughtful modern details. The kitchen remained in its original location, preserved paneling was brightened, and ocean-facing living spaces were opened to make the home feel both authentic and livable.

The result is more than a restored beach house. It is a piece of Folly Beach history brought back to life, preserving the charm, memory, and character that made the home worth saving.