Coastal logo

610-428-6730

Contact Us

Plantation Lakes

Carolina Forest — 170-Acre Lake System, Custom Homes, Navigable Shoreline
Plantation Lakes is a custom-home lake community in Carolina Forest, built around roughly 170 acres of interconnected lakes and about 15 miles of navigable shoreline. Almost every lot carries a water view, lakefront homes reach the amenity center by pontoon to private day docks, and prices generally run from the high $500Ks to more than $1 million as of Q2 2026 — making it one of the Myrtle Beach side’s higher-end family addresses.

About Plantation Lakes

Plantation Lakes is what Carolina Forest looks like at the top of its move-up tier. Where the area’s family neighborhoods sell schools and square footage, Plantation Lakes sells water. The community is organized around a chain of lakes large enough to navigate by small boat, crossed by arched bridges, with the majority of homesites positioned to take in a lake or pond view.
That water orientation defines daily life here. Lakefront owners keep boats at their own bulkheads and run them across the community to day docks at the amenity center — a feature that is unusual for an inland Grand Strand neighborhood and one of the main reasons buyers pay a premium over comparable Carolina Forest product. The lakes are freshwater and managed for recreation year-round: kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and small pontoon boats, while keeping the wakes and noise of larger powerboats off the water.
The housing is custom rather than production-built, delivered by builders including The Home Team, Coastal Carolina Homes, and Parkside Homes. The result is a community of individually designed homes rather than repeated floor plans — which appeals to relocating buyers who want a newer home with architectural variety. Platted with close to 800 homesites around the lake system, the deliberately low density keeps water views and shoreline access available to most owners.

Real Estate Market

Metric
Plantation Lakes (Q2 2026)
Typical price range

~High $500Ks to $1M+

Home character

Custom-built single-family, many lakefront

Water feature

~170 acres of lakes, ~15 miles of shoreline

Lot character

Lakefront, lake-view, interior

HOA / amenities

Community HOA; clubhouse, two pools, fitness, courts, day docks

Home values in Plantation Lakes are influenced largely by waterfront location. Homes with lakefront lots, private docks, and direct water access typically sell for more than similar homes on interior lots. Since many homes are custom-built, features, finishes, and overall quality also play a big role in pricing. The luxury buying guide explains how to evaluate the added value of waterfront properties.

Schools

Plantation Lakes is zoned to Horry County Schools within the Carolina Forest attendance cluster, most commonly: Ocean Bay Elementary, Ten Oaks Middle, and Carolina Forest High. Horry County opened Pine Island Elementary and Ten Oaks Elementary for the 2025-26 school year and redrawn elementary boundaries — confirm the current zone for any specific address with the district before buying.

Amenities and Lifestyle

  1. The lake system — roughly 170 acres of interconnected lakes with about 15 miles of shoreline, navigable by pontoon, kayak, and canoe, with arched bridges linking the neighborhoods.
  2. Private day docks — lakefront owners can run boats from their own bulkheads to day docks at the amenity center, a defining feature of the community.
  3. The amenity center — a clubhouse with two swimming pools, a fitness room, and event space.
  4. Courts and recreation — tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, plus playgrounds and sidewalks throughout the community.

Location and what is nearby

Plantation Lakes is conveniently located off Carolina Forest Boulevard, with shopping, dining, parks, and everyday essentials just minutes away. Residents have easy access to the Carolina Forest Recreation Center, the Carolina Forest Library, Tanger Outlets, and the Shoppes at Carolina Forest. Highway 31 is nearby, making it easy to reach North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and other parts of the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach, Conway, and several popular golf courses are all within a short drive.

HOA and community details

Plantation Lakes has a homeowners association that maintains the lakes, clubhouse, pools, and other shared amenities. HOA dues also cover common-area maintenance throughout the community. Buyers considering a waterfront home should review the current HOA fees along with any dock, bulkhead, or lake-use guidelines before closing, as lakefront properties have additional ownership responsibilities.

Why Buyers Choose Plantation Lakes

Plantation Lakes appeals to the buyer who wants Carolina Forest’s schools and newer construction but is not willing to give up water. It offers a navigable lake lifestyle, custom homes, and resort-style amenities — all in a permanent-resident community a short drive from both the beach and the area’s school cluster. Buyers comparing it will often tour the gated Intracoastal option at Waterway Palms Plantation and the amenity-driven lake community of Waterbridge before deciding which water experience fits — a comparison the gated and golf communities guide helps frame.

Frequently Asked Questions

As of Q2 2026, Plantation Lakes homes generally ranged from the high $500Ks to more than $1 million. Price is driven primarily by water position — lakefront lots carry a clear premium — and by the finish level of the custom homes.
Yes. The community is built around about 170 acres of interconnected lakes with roughly 15 miles of navigable shoreline, and lakefront owners can run boats from their own bulkheads to private day docks at the amenity center.
Largely yes. Homes have been delivered by custom builders including The Home Team, Coastal Carolina Homes, and Parkside Homes, so the community features individually designed homes rather than repeated production floor plans.
Plantation Lakes is in the Carolina Forest cluster of Horry County Schools, most commonly Ocean Bay Elementary, Ten Oaks Middle, and Carolina Forest High. Attendance lines were redrawn for 2025-26 when the district opened Pine Island and Ten Oaks elementaries — confirm the current zone with the district.
The community was platted with close to 800 residential homesites around the lake system — a deliberately low density for its acreage that keeps water views and shoreline access available to most owners.
Residents have an amenity center with two pools, a clubhouse, and a fitness room, plus tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, playgrounds, sidewalks, and lake access with private day docks.

Search Plantation Lakes Homes

Browse current MLS listings — updated daily.
vIEW LISTINGS

Talk to Phil

CONTACT US

Related Resources

Nearby