Jay Vaughan of Tides is always quick with a smile and a helping hand
I walk my dog, Oakley, all around the island. When it’s warm, we walk to Bert’s and then hang out at Center Street Coffee with my iced americano and my journal. When it’s cold, I still want to walk, so we go to The Tides and get coffee at Roasted, where we sit inside and journal. I think that’s how I first met Jay Vaughan. As Jay does, he acted like he knew me even though I had never met him before. We soon became friends.
As time went on, we connected a few dots of people we knew and faces we’d seen on the island. Jay was on my list from day one of starting this Faces of Folly adventure, and I’m so glad I finally got to pin him down between check-ins at the Tides. We went upstairs to the private meeting rooms there and spent half an hour digging deep into his Folly Beach soul.
FOLLY CURRENT: Where were you born and how long have you been tied to Folly Beach?
JAY VAUGHAN: I was born in Kittery, Maine. My Dad was in the Air Force and from Boston, Massachusetts and met my mom in Bermuda (She was Bermudan). I grew up in West Ashley for 8 years, then we moved to Illinois and Utah, but I always kept the West Ashley house as a rental. I’m a middle boy in a family of 3 boys, and both my brothers live in the Charleston area today. I did a stint in California myself, but South Carolina called me back, and I’ve been here over 40 years out of my 62 years. I think the first time I ever visited Folly was when I was 2 years old in 1965, and my parents brought me to the beach. In 2009, I got my job at the Tides, which at the time was a Holiday Inn.
FC: What’s your favorite thing about Folly Beach?
JV: The connection and the love for people. We all have a common love for the ocean and the beach. All the locals and visitors share our appreciation for our environment.
FC: Share a story that you’re fond of about Folly Beach.
JV: The one that comes to mind is a story that was an extremely emotional one. I gave an excited family directions to the lighthouse, and they were so excited to visit it and take family photos with their dog. Some time passed, and they came back to the lobby, and their eyes were red. They looked exhausted, and some were tearing up. I ran to them and asked what was wrong. They explained that their dog had seen some dolphins and decided to chase them in the water. Within minutes, a rip current took him, and he got far from the beach. They called Folly Beach 911, and the operator called the Coast Guard. In record time, a helicopter showed up and dropped a basket with a Coast Guard angel in it who scooped up the puppy and was soon flown over to them on the beach. He handed their baby back to them, who was dazed and confused but very much alive. They went from pure panic and despair to pure joy and gratefulness. I gave them a group hug just shared their emotion with them. So many people come to Folly each year, and I feel blessed to share in their happiness. I’ve gotten to know over 1,000 people that all love it here.
FB: In your opinion what is the most important issue facing Folly Beach today?
JV: Protecting visiting children and keeping families safe is deeply personal to me. As a father of five, I’ve developed a strong instinct for spotting unsafe situations, especially when kids are involved. Far too often, I’m standing at our bell station and see a beachgoing family park on Arctic. While the parents are busy unloading chairs and coolers, their excited kids run straight into the road. More than once, I’ve watched a 4,000-pound car come barreling around the corner and slam on the brakes just in time. It terrifies me every time. We need to make family trips to the beach safe before a tragedy occurs. I love the families who visit here, and I want them to arrive happy and leave happy—without close calls or heartbreak.
FB: If you were in charge, how would you fix it?
JV: There needs to be a clear separation between cars dropping off families and cars driving through the roadway. Whether it’s a wall, a fence, or some other barrier, that’s for the city to determine. What’s certain is that Folly needs to be more walkable. Cars should be kept in their place, away from strollers, skateboards, bikes, dog walkers, and the three-year-olds laughing and playing nearby. The concern isn’t as much on Center Street, but on West Arctic and East Arctic, where beachgoing families naturally gather.
Pat “Wiggy” Hiban interviews a different “Face of Folly” for this column each month. If you have an idea of someone you think Pat should chat with, please send suggestions to editor@follycurrent.com.
