Longtime owner of the popular Sea Island Carriage Company on Bay Street in downtown Beaufort, Nichole Bradley, has sold her carriage tour company after nearly eleven years in business.
Nichole is handing over the reins of her popular carriage tours to Charlotte Lawrence, owner of another local downtown tour company, Tales of the Lowcountry, which has been the only historic ghost tour available in downtown for several years.
The change is somewhat bittersweet for Bradley, who, after nearly eleven years of ownership, decided it was simply just time to trot on and follow other dreams.
“I have loved owning Sea Island Carriage Company. I’ve been in and out of the commercial carriage industry here in Beaufort for almost eighteen years, and sometimes I sit back and think about the thousands of guests we, as a company, have welcomed and the stories we’ve shared about Beaufort’s history along the way,” she said.
Nichole plans to enjoy other pursuits, but says although she is selling Sea Island Carriage Company, she will still be around because, “this work is in my blood. It’s part of who I am.” So much so, that she even plans to drive a carriage for Charlotte occasionally.
Being an ambassador to Beaufort, offering visitors their very first introduction to this special place, is something Bradley says she has never taken lightly. “I must give credit where credit is due, the horses have made all of this possible. There have been a handful of horses throughout the years, and each one holds a special place in my heart.” She said she will be keeping possession of her four remaining equine partners which will live on her 70 acre farm in Yemassee.
For Charlotte, it’s not the first horse rodeo for her either. In addition to operating Tales of the Lowcountry since 2015, Charlotte has been a Beaufort carriage tour guide for the past 23 years.
Charlotte, a Beaufort local whose family goes back several generations in town as firemen, farmers, grocery store owners, and shrimpers, and who is in love with the history of the area, will officially start running Sea Island Carriage Company after February 1st, and plans to leave everything as is. “It’s worked so well for Nichole all these years, there’s nothing to really change,” she said.
“This is the next big step for me. I want Sea Island Carriage Company to continue to showcase the history of Beaufort and our small town Southern charm,” she said.
“Many people have no idea how much Beaufort and its local citizens have left their mark on America’s history,” Lawrence said. “It’s always been important to me that people have an understanding of how phenomenal our history truly is. We have the founders, to the pirates, to the wars, the lovers, the natives, the movies, and so much more; there are so many stories to tell.”
Charlotte says she will still operate her historic ghost walking tours with Tales of the Lowcountry because she loves bringing light to Beaufort’s haunted past.
Handing over the reins wasn’t much of a challenge for Bradley, especially when she finally decided it was time. Handing them over to Charlotte was easier for her, because it is going from one local to another. One local Beaufort carriage tour driver to another. One local horse lover to another. One local tour professional to another. One lover of history to another. From one who has Beaufort in her blood, to another.
Nichole said the sale to Charlotte makes sense.
“I want everyone to know that Sea Island Carriage Company is in excellent hands,” Bradley added. “Charlotte is a Beaufort native as well and has been part of the carriage industry here for over twenty years. I couldn’t be more excited for her to take on this opportunity and I have all the faith in her to succeed.”
As Nichole reflected on her time at Sea Island Carriage Company, she also noted to thank everyone who has supported her along the way, including her company manager, Jennifer Defibaugh, who has been with her since day one as a best friend and a shoulder to lean on; and her husband, Nick, who she says has always supported her dreams and never asked her too many questions.
What does the future hold for Bradley? “We’ll just have to see what the future holds — but whatever it is, I know it will be bright and smell like horses.”
What does the future hold for Lawrence? Just stop into 930 Bay Street in historic downtown Beaufort and see for yourself.
