Meet Katt & Sam, Your Folly Beach Hosts
The Rather Shacks is a locally owned and operated group of vacation rentals on Folly Beach, South Carolina.
Learn the story of how the shacks came to be and the people who look after every stay.
Locals, licensed, and reviewed.
On Folly since 2012
We closed on our first run-down compound in 2012, renovated it ourselves, and still live on-site.
363 guest reviews
363 reviews from real stays. Every rated stay averages 5.0 out of 5.
Licensed since 2015
Sam is a South Carolina licensed real estate agent, license #94192, active since 2015. Verify with the SC Real Estate Commission
In the news
Sam was interviewed by Live 5 News on Folly Beach's short-term rental decision, August 2026. Read on Live 5 News
Published in the Post and Courier
Sam's 2014 story, from his years as an architect, ran in the Post and Courier. Read the story
Trusted by other owners
Since 2017, Folly homeowners have asked us to care for their homes too.
Questions guests ask about us
Who owns The Rather Shacks?
Katt and Sam, a husband-and-wife team who live on Folly Beach year-round. They bought their first compound on the island in 2012 and renovated it themselves.
Do the owners live on Folly Beach?
Yes. Katt and Sam live on-site, across the street or down the road from every shack.
How long have The Rather Shacks been hosting guests?
Since 2012, starting with the original compound near Center Street. Today the collection includes studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and homes of three to five bedrooms.
Is Sam a licensed real estate agent?
Yes. Sam has been a South Carolina licensed real estate agent since 2015 (license #94192) and helps guests who want to buy on Folly or around Charleston.
Are the reviews real?
Yes. Every review on the site comes from a completed stay, 363 so far.
Why book direct with the owners?
You deal with Katt and Sam directly, not a call center, and you skip the booking-site guest fees.