ANCIENT BALD CYPRESS FOREST

Exploring The Of The Black River

Dating back more than 2,600 years the majestic bald cypress trees of the Black River are a living landmark tucked away in the sleepy, serpent-like channels of the river between Bladen and Pender County lines.

The ancient forest can be admired in its full splendor by navigating the sun-dappled waters of the Three Sisters Swamp where hundreds of old bald cypresses pepper the stream.

Known for their giant knobby roots that intertwine in a maze of gnarled and scaly ridges, the colossus inhabitants of the Black River were discovered more than four decades ago by David Stahle, a researcher at the University of Arkansas, who was conducting a study.

For the past 10 years, Charles Robbins, chairman of the Ancient Bald Cypress Consortium Board, has contributed to the analysis of the bald cypress trees and led people on educational, science-based adventures, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.

“Robbins has an intimate knowledge of the Black River and the wildlife species – such as egrets, osprey, blue herons, crabs, fish, and alligators – that call it home,” wrote NCWF in a release.

In February, the NCWF raised just over $5,200 through For the Love of the Black River Campaign, which offered donors a chance to win a paddle trip guided by Robbins, where five lucky winners will get to take in the breathtaking natural habitat of the monolithic cypress trees.

“Nearly 150 people donated to NCWF’s campaign to raise money for the Black River,” said Bates Whitaker with the NCWF.

“Some people are drawn to tears when they see it. Such an ancient place really has an effect on people,” said Robbins. “Most people come for the science around these trees, but when you come in here, you really get how old they are… you can feel it.”

According to Manley Fuller, NCWF VP of Conservation Policy, a large portion of the Black River is protected but a lot of the watershed is not. Risks to the ancient forest and its water quality include logging in the surrounding area as well as water pollution.

“The forest helps minimize strong winds, provide flood control, and maintain high regional water tables. The tops of the trees provide nesting sites for large birds like herons and bald eagles. A diversity of freshwater fish call the river home, from rare Broadtail Madtom to more common game fish like Largemouth Bass,” said Fuller. “Many paddle the river and some attempt to navigate its intricate network of waterways. However you visit, you never forget the experience.”

The Three Sisters Swamp is managed and protected by The Nature Conservancy. While the ancient forest is a magnificent area to explore, this remote area is not recommended for inexperienced paddlers as there are no marked routes, and water levels can fluctuate making it challenging to maneuver a kayak or canoe.

Water access can be found at Henry’s Landing, also approximately 5 miles north of Beatty’s Bridge on Ivanhoe Road in Pender County, and approximately 1.2 miles east of the 11/53 bridge off Long View Road just outside Atkinson.

Guided tours are available through Cape Fear River Adventures.

Story by Annesophia Richards

For Dylan Pierce, some of the best memories from his youth revolved around hanging out with friends and playing video games. Now, as the owner of Retroscape Video Lounge in Wilmington, Dylan is on a mission to create a space where young and old can play, have fun, and feel like a kid again, one game at a time.

Growing up in Michigan, Dylan and his wife Ann Marie wanted to experience something completely new and signi cantly warmer, so the two moved to the Carolinas in 2016 right a er graduating college. Ann Marie’s love of Nicholas Sparks novels, mixed with Dylan’s interest in the video and lm industry, made Wilmington the perfect spot to settle down and start a new life together. They quickly found an apartment and started new jobs, Anne-Marie as a middle school teacher and Dylan in the service industry. The couple also continued pursuing their love of travel, which included multiple road trips across the country in a van with their dog and cat in tow. It was on one such road trip in 2021 that the idea of a video game lounge rst came to Dylan, at a time when he was feeling burnt out from his job and wanted to make a change.

“We went by Savannah and saw a place on the main strip that had comics, toys, and video games, and it was lled with people,” says Dylan. “It seemed really cool and had a great vibe, and it gave me that spark that I think I’ve had in my head the whole time.”

Dylan’s love of video games goes back over 20 years, as he says he grew up playing Sega Genesis before moving on to future systems like the Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox 360. Over time, he saw how much the games changed and advanced, but what he loved most about them remained the same through the years.

“I’ve always appreciated video games, because it doesn’t matter where you come from, what you’re doing, or what walk of life you’re from, they’re always there as a safe place that you can come to when you’re stressed, or not feeling too good. You can play video games to relax, and that seems to be the case for many di erent people.”

As the idea for Retroscape began to take shape, Dylan knew he wanted his new venture to stand apart from other video game businesses. He came up with the lounge concept as a way of making his location less transactional and more relationship-based.

“With most video game shops you come in, you buy something, and then you leave, but I wanted something related to the way we used to play with our friends,” says Dylan. “There are arcades with a bunch of standup ma- chines where you play with tokens, but there really wasn’t anything out there that I’d seen where you can actually sit down, hang out and play like we did back in the day in each other’s living rooms and basements.”

Dylan found an available property for his business just four blocks away from his home near downtown Wilmington. Located in the city’s Soda Pop District, he knew the area was up and coming, and being able to walk to work every day was an added bonus. Instead of focusing on foot tra c or choosing

~ DYLAN PIERCE

a location based on tourist visibility, Dylan wanted Retroscape to be in a spot where he could attract locals to come and play. The couple signed a lease in February of 2021, began buying up as many games, gaming systems and nostalgic memorabilia to ll the lounge as they could, and by late March, Retroscape o cially opened its doors.

Visitors nd a wide array of games ranging from the early 1970’s Atari Pong all the way through modern day VR games. The vibe is reminiscent of lazy days spent hanging out with friends in each other’s houses, with comfy couches, TVs, old-school décor, vintage games and clothing all around, plus a selection of snacks and sodas to keep everyone happy.

“I’m constantly improving the shop every day, making sure I treat everyone right and that they want to come back,” says Dylan. “My primary focus has been the retro video games because of the lack of access to them, so I wanted to give people a place to play them again with friends or introduce their kids to some of their favorite games from the past. Bringing those memories back is something people love to do.”

In addition to standard hourly rates for play, more frequent visitors can purchase monthly memberships with unlimited play for $25 per month. Other options include a 20-hour gamer pass that can be used anytime and shared with other people. Retroscape also o ers birthday parties, summer camps, and Pokémon trading events. Weekly gaming tournaments are another big draw, something Dylan has worked hard to make possible by partnering with other local businesses as a way to cross-promote and support each another.

“We set up at other places so people can hang out at a di erent venue and still play the games they love,” says Dylan. “Mario Kart is always a favorite, because it’s a very friendly game, and for people who don’t know how to play, it can be picked up quickly, but it’s also competitive, so it’s fun either way.”

As for the future, Dylan hopes to one day move his business into a larger space, potentially even setting up in a house where di erent rooms can be dedicated to di erent eras while continuing to give visitors the comfortable feeling of being at home. He intends to hold true to the two words that have inspired his lounge’s name, keeping things ‘retro’ with his constant hunt at local thri stores and ea markets for games from the past missing from his collection, while o ering people an ‘escape’ from everyday life in which to play them.

“I want to give people from all walks of life an escape where they can come, hang out, be themselves and not have to worry about anything, because when you come here, you’re here to have fun and play video games,” says Dylan. “Something I want for anyone and everyone is to come to a place where they feel safe and welcome.”