North Myrtle Beach: Lifelong Friends Turn Sand Sculptures into a Labor of Love
August 2, 2024, in North Myrtle Beach wasn’t just an ordinary day. The beaches, usually replete with sun bathers and wave surfers, witnessed a spectacle of art like no other. Lifelong friends, Randy Vaughn and Skip Wodke, surprise beachgoers with their elaborate sand creations, a manifestation of a hobby born when their children were toddlers and has grown stronger with time.
Sand Sculpting As An Art Form
For the majority, a beach visit involves basking in the sun or leisurely walking along the shoreline. For Vaughn and Wodke, the luscious sands of North Myrtle Beach become a rather significant canvas for their artistic instincts. Engaging in the meticulous task of creating sand sculptures, the duo has been churning out spectacular creations that often last for days and attract the attention of locals and tourists alike.
“They grew out of it, and we never did,” says Wodke, reminiscing about how their passion for sand sculpting developed while their kids outgrew the beach activity.
The Magic of The Art
Recently, their magnificent creation of a intricately designed sand castle, equipped with a ridged wooden door, bricks, and a guard tower mesmerized beachgoers. Vaughn explains his fondness for the hobby, saying “I’m not one to just lay in the sun and do absolutely nothing. I’ve got to be doing something or get extremely bored, so this is what we do”. The duo spends hours curating these unique sand formations using cake decorating and clay working tools.
The procedure involves lining the sand in black plastic to pack it tightly, followed by hours of carving to give these dreamy sand formations life. Built close to the tide line, these sand creations experience their natural fate, getting washed away eventually.
Art for the Sake of Love
While their sand sculptures could easily compete with professional sand artists, Vaughn and Wodke have no intentions of commercializing their passion. Their motivation stems from the joy they derive from the process, and the happiness they bring to people who stop to admire their art. Wodke shares, “I think it would take a lot of the fun out of it. We really just enjoy watching all the people come by and looking at it, and really doing it for them.”
Through their sand masterpieces, Vaughn and Wodke are not just creating temporary landmarks on North Myrtle Beach, but they are also cultivating a community bound by the shared experience of admiring whimsical sand art.
HERE News Network
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
