theBEND – Get Outside

ABOUT the BEND.

Bordered on the east by the historic Riverview Memorial Park Cemetery – resting place of a congressman and a rock star—and on the west by the Jenkins Children’s Institute – formerly known as Jenkins Orphanage, famous in jazz lore for its internationally acclaimed children’s marching band, the Bend is bound by a rich history.

The Bend’s history dates back to the 1600s to a series of land grants made by Lords Proprietors. For nearly 300 years, the land at the Bend of the historic Ashley River has gone by many names: Stock Prior, Quarter House, Accabee Plantation, Ryedale, Anna Brae, Malona, and more recently, Ashley Shores, a privately owned subdivision. In 2015, The Pearlstine Company made an offer on the land in order to rehabilitate it.

The Bend is a nod to a broad turn in the Ashley River and the evolving spirit of Charleston.

Under the leadership of Charleston native, entrepreneur, business-owner, philanthropist, conservationist, community activist and developer, Susan Pearlstine, the Bend underwent a multi-year transformation and even today, it continues to evolve.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bend served as one of the Charleston area’s most prized event spaces, as the community safely converged on the space for drive-in movies, distanced graduation ceremonies, political rallies, and one of the country’s first venues to welcome back big-name musicians for socially-distant concerts.

Located at 3775 Azalea Drive, the Bend is conveniently located 10 minutes to downtown Charleston, 10 minutes to the airport, and 30 minutes to the beach.