Topsail Coaster

coaster OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE TREASURE COAST

TOPSAIL

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Contents Area Attractions 10 16 20 22 25

On Island Time North Topsail Beach, Surf City Sites to See Topsail Beach, Sneads Ferry Holly Ridge, Hampstead

Features

12 18 24 30 34 41 54 58

Top of the List: Biggest Events The Topsail Towers Coastal Camping Turtle Tales Coastal Calendar Topsail Turns 50 Island Fishing Breaking Barriers – Ocean City

Guides

46 42 28 50 26

Local Flavor: Guide to Dining Out Good Buys: Shopping Perfect Stay: Accommodations Sea & Do: Recreation Link to the Links: Golf Courses

VIP Info

52 56 61

Local Map Tide Tables Advertiser Page Directory

on the cover Children play near the Surf City Pier. Photo by Mimi Guthrie

TOPSAIL

Published by: NCCOAST 201 N. 17th St. Morehead City, NC 28557 Phone: 800.525.1403 Fax: 1.877.247.1856 email: editor@nccoast.com

2013-2014 Celebrating 20 Years as the GUIDE TO THE TREASURE COAST Vol. XVIIII • www.nccoast.com

Advertising Director: Jamie Bailey (252-241-9485 sales@nccoast.com) Account Executive: Jasa Lewis Managing Editor: Amanda Dagnino Staff Writer: Josh Lambert Creative Director: Kim LaChance Graphics Coordinator: Mimi Guthrie Graphics: Kyle Dixon, Erin Pallotti Production Director: Rudy Taitague Lead Pressman/Mail Center: Skip Hicks Pressmen: Allen Henry, Anthony Stamper Commercial Pressman: Edd Moore Bindery Leader: Jason Yates Bindery Operator: Rudy Taitague Distribution Manager: Dorrie Nicholson Pre-Press: Corey Giesey Business Manager: Georgia Lewis Commercial Print: Andrea Vangelist, Amy Krysa Topsail Coaster is a visitors’ guide distributed freely to the public via select Greater Topsail Area locations including advertising businesses, chambers of commerce, state welcome centers and via email requests to editor@nccoast.com.

Entire contents, maps, ad and graphic design elements copyright 2013-2014 by NCCOAST Communications. Reproduction without the express written consent of the managing editor is prohibited. Neither publisher nor advertisers will be held liable for any misinformation.

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Topsail Coaster

ISLAND TIME

Welcome

to the Treasure Coast

H

ugging the Eastern North Carolina coastline, about midway between Cape Lookout and Cape Fear, is 26 miles of meandering, sparsely populated sandy beaches just waiting for visitors.

The world of Topsail Island could easily be equated to stepping back in time – a time when life was just a little bit simpler, a little bit safer and far less stressful. There are no amusement parks. No bike week. No multi-million dollar museums or zoos to lure guests to the region. Instead, you will find miles of beaches and small, friendly, family-run businesses reminiscent of the beach towns of the 1950s and 1960s. All that is lacking is you.

Anyone coming from a more metropolitan area will find it hard to believe that destinations like Topsail still exist. It’s hard to imagine that there are 10

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places where a sunbather can find a small, isolated sliver of beach to call their own for a day. But, on Topsail, it’s not only possible, it’s probable.

Topsail Island (pronounced Topsul), was mostly uninhabited until the 1940s.

There was no structured settlement, only fishing camps and the livestock belonging to mainland farmers who

Mimi Guthrie photos

would run their charges across sandbars and shallows at low tide to graze on the thick underbrush.

Thanks go to the military for raising awareness of this little slice of heaven.

During World War II, the US Army constructed Camp Davis in nearby Holly Ridge and used the remote island for artillery training. When the Army departed a few short years later, the US Navy picked up the torch, taking up residence on Topsail Island for secret Operation Bumblebee missile tests.

While it was the Army that constructed the island’s first humble buildings, it was the Navy that gave the island its most prominent structures, many of which remain. More than 200 missiles were launched, proving the success of the ramjet engine which laid the foundation for the space shuttle program with its

ability to push an aircraft past the speed of sound.

The government was gone by 1948, but it left a few remnants behind, including a pontoon bridge to Surf City, basic roads, artesian wells and electricity. Topsail Island was finally ready for inhabitants. Surf City incorporated in 1949, Topsail Beach in 1963 and North Topsail in 1990.

Life today is much like it was when the first soldiers set foot on the island, quiet, peaceful and endlessly picturesque.

Sure, technology has arrived. The internet is available, cable TV and all.

But, that doesn’t mean that residents or visitors are spending a lot of time indoors using them. With a never ending amount of outside activities, from sunbathing and fishing to kayaking and golf, people discover their time at Topsail is best spent outdoors.

Topsail Coaster 11

TOP OF THE LIST Shrimp Festival Holds Strong Celebrating its 43rd anniversary, the Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival makes its way onto the scene Aug. 10-11 with a full line of activities, food and fun. This quaint seafood village festival is a tradition that began as a way to honor the local fishing community, and it has grown over the years, drawing crowds of more than 10,000 people.

The festival gets started on Saturday morning with a parade and fills the weekend with live music and plenty of shrimp for everyone, prepared in a variety of ways. This annual event, hosted by the Sneads Ferry Community Center, is a fun-filled weekend of shrimp, music and friendship.

The two-day events include the crowning of the festival kings and queens, carnival rides, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, dancing, fireworks and excitement around every turn. Also, make sure to throw your competitive spirit into the shrimp peeling contest, which encourages all ages to learn and perfect the art of cleaning shrimp. For more information, visit sneadsferryshrimpfestival. org.

Festival is Spot On

Each year, Hampstead takes to the streets to celebrate the town’s most abundant catch – the spot. The fish is celebrated with a two-day festival each September, complete with food, fun and entertainment. This year’s festivities take place Sept. 28-29, marking the 50th year for this celebration of spot.

Guests are treated to a true Southern fried spot dinner featuring two spot, fries, coleslaw, hushpuppies and sweet tea, served from 11am6pm on Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday.

Additional fun includes the Spot Festival Queen and Princess Pageant, rock climbing walls, car12

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Shrimp Festival

nival rides and art and craft vendors.

Bring your lawn chairs or blankets to relax and enjoy live entertainment followed by late night fireworks at 9pm on Saturday. Admission is $3 per adult and children 12 and under are free. All proceeds go to Topsail schools and the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department. For additional details, visit www.ncspotfestival.com.

Welcoming Autumn in Topsail The island celebrates the fall season Oct. 19-20 with the annual Autumn with Topsail weekend, which welcomes the onset of cooler weather while raising much needed funds for the Missile Assembly Building and the Missiles and More Museum with art, food and live beach music.

The event is held on the grounds of the Assembly Building, previously a research and testing site for Operation Bumblebee, a top secret missile program operated by the US Navy from 1946 to 1948. Now under the direction of the Historical Society of Topsail Island, the building is home to a museum with a collection of regional exhibits, including information on its exclusive past.

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You’ll find delicious chef prepared foods to Fresh fruits and veggies from our Farmers feed your day-at-the-beach-hungry family Market make for great healthy and tasty right in our Fresh Foods Market. snacks on the go.

Fire up the grill with the freshest, tastiest Did somebody say crab legs? Don’t miss meats you’ll find... straight from our own out on fresh catches like salmon, crab Butchers Market. and shrimp in our Fishermans Market.

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TOP OF THE LIST

Poplar Grove

Things get started at 7:30am on both Saturday and Sunday with a pancake breakfast inside the Assembly Building. The festival features a juried Artists’ Court with many regional artists displaying and selling their work, live musical entertainment, a variety of food vendors, games and rides for children and more.

Admission is $3 for adults. Children 10 and under and active duty military are free. For more information, call 910-329-4446 or visit autumnwithtopsail.com.

typical of an 1800s era working community.

Poplar Grove is preserved through the efforts of the non-profit Poplar Grove Foundation.

A variety of special events are held at this historic site, including the spring Herb and Garden Fair, a seasonal farmer’s market and the Classy Chassis Car Show each July. A Halloween festival runs through October and the special Christmas Open House is a popular December attraction. For more information, call 910-6869518 or visit poplargrove.com.

Poplar Events at the Grove

Tournament for the Kids

One of the oldest existing peanut plantations in the state, Poplar Grove Plantation was in the same family for more than six generations. The site opened as a museum in 1980 and today, the mansion draws crowds throughout the year.

Built in the 1950s, Poplar Grove is now on the National Register of Historic Homes, and is meant to preserve the homestead of a successful farming family, the outbuildings and crafts 14

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Each year East Coast Sports and the Surf City Parks and Recreation Dept. trade their big rods for pint-sized models as they present the annual Father’s Day Youth Fishing Tournament at Soundside Park.

A favorite of area youngsters, the event is slated for Saturday, June 15. Sign up runs from 10am-noon and fishing runs from 11am to noon. First through third place winners will receive a gift certificate and a trophy and places

nt

Kids Tourname

Penguin Plunge

Chilly Penguin Plunge

4th-35th will receive a trophy. The first 180 children under 12 who sign up will receive a free rod and reel. To learn more, call 910-328-1887.

The Dolphin Dip Foundation brings people together each New Year’s Day for a fun opportunity to have a dip into the cool ocean waters for a different and refreshing way to embrace a new start. The water may be chilly, but it never seems to stop crowds in Surf City from taking a brave immersion in the frigid ocean waters of the Atlantic during the annual Dolphin Dip Extravaganza.

The 12th annual Dip will be held at 11am on Jan. 1 at the Roland Avenue Beach Access in Surf City and the swim begins at noon. Participants are invited to wear creative costumes since the event includes an award ceremony rewarding those for being the best dressed.

Held in conjunction with the dip is the Dolphin Dip Dash 5K Beach Run. Awards will be given to age groups and overall winners.

To register, or to obtain additional details, visit www.dolphindip.net.

Topsail Coaster 15

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH While a handful of resorts dot the coastline, North Topsail, located at the most northern edge of Topsail Island, is a quiet, secluded residential community. With miles of sandy beaches, colorful sunsets, wild vegetation and plenty of solitude, the region is popular with summer visitors seeking a peaceful getaway to recharge.

Visitors will find the second of the island’s two bridges to the mainland in North Topsail as well as some of the most scenic sound views to be found along the stretch of island.

A favorite place for kayakers and nature enthusiasts, this is a great spot for bird watching and a kayak or canoe provide visitors with an ideal vantage point.

Those who have a chance to spend time on the water

will want to be sure and stop by the Permuda Island Coastal Reserve. Artifacts found at the site date back to as early as 300 BC. Protected by the NC National Estuarine Research Reserve, the thin island in Stump Sound includes salt marshes and former agriculture fields gilded with broomsedge, dog fennel, asters, goldenrod and Mexican tea.

Recent census data revealed approximately 450 residences in the town and a population of less than 850.

Annually those figures grow as summer visitors seek a peaceful vacation getaway.

Visitors will find a variety of accommodations in North Topsail Beach, from several luxury oceanfront resorts, to condominiums, beach homes and a motel.

For more information visit www.ntbnc.org.

sURF CITY Home of one of the state’s two operational swing bridges, Surf City has one leg on the mainland and another on the island, bridging the gap and welcoming guests to this island paradise. The bridge, which opens on the hour to allow boat traffic to pass, is a great spot for scenic views of the sound below, as is surrounding Soundside Park, which boasts a calendar of summer events. The active parks and recreation department provides a full calendar of family entertainment. Outdoor movies and concerts run throughout the summer.

With the NC Dept. of Transportation set to replace the bridge in coming years, there’s no doubt more people than ever will be jumping out of their cars for a 16

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final shot of the historic structure in action.

Surf City offers a variety of shopping and dining options. Incorporated in 1949, the town’s growth came as a direct result of the military’s presence in the region.

It brought with it a variety of amenities, including surf and gift shops, miniature golf, boat tours, bike paths, public boat ramps.

Don’t let Surf City’s collection of amenities fool you into thinking you’ve stumbled upon a beach metropolis. It is still a small, rural, oceanfront community. The town’s catchphrase, “Big enough to be competitive, but small enough to be happy,” just about says it all. For more information, visit surfcity. govoffice.com.

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The Topsail Towers

Retracing Topsail’s Military History

By Amanda Dagnino

T

opsail was separated from the mainland until the 1940s and reachable only by those few locals who knew how to hop, skip and jump their way across the marsh during low tide – a barren, 26-mile stretch of sand and maritime forest. Its remoteness makes it easy to assume that there is little history on Topsail Island. But, nothing could be farther from the truth – and its coastal watch towers are a vital reminder of the important role the site played in military history.

Rarely do the towers go unnoticed by visitors – standing along the coastline like sentinels of an era long forgotten. Despite the battle scars from the elements endured, the towers remain erect, strong and sturdy, as conversation starters for history buffs or puzzling pieces of a mystery for first time visitors. Even among longtime residents, stories abound about the purpose of the towers, from World War II submarine spotting posts to whale watching outposts. No, they weren’t built by the electric company, but they were, for many years, shrouded in mystery, opening the door for the imagination and the elaborate stories it can create.

It was the US Army that first came to the North Carolina shore. In less than six months during World War II, the government constructed Camp Davis on the mainland at Holly Ridge, bringing the modest community with a population of less 18

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than 50 to a max of about 70,000 in a few short years. Troops could conduct artillery training under the shroud of safety provided by the barren island of Topsail. By the end of the war, much of the base was dismantled and the troops were transferred. But, the island’s potential was noted and it didn’t take long until the US Navy had the ideal use for the site.

On the sandy shores of what the Navy then called the “sand spit,” troops crafted and tested some 200 missiles from 1946 to 1948. In March of 1947, with the issuance of a press release, the Navy finally announced what it was doing on the island, although it failed to mention that the tests had been ongoing for months.

“Eights observation stations, located along the sand spit for tracking of units in flight will house radar and photographic equipment for recording of performance data,” the release read.

Operation Bumblebee included the development and testing of the Navy’s first supersonic guided missile and the ramjet engine, the basis for today’s jet aircraft and warheads, including the Terrier, Tartar and Talos missile systems in use aboard Navy vessels today. Ranging in length from 3 to 13 feet in length, the missiles were constructed and tested along the otherwise peaceful 26-mile stretch of beach, according to Wilmington author David A. Stallman in “Echoes of Topsail,” now in its third printing.

“The missile site was principally made up of an Assembly Building, control tower, launching platform, bombproof room and eight photographic towers,” wrote Stallman, noting that most are still intact today.

The Assembly Building, now maintained by the Historical Society of Topsail, is home to the Missiles and More Museum and a plethora of artifacts and images from the missile tests.

The control tower, a shorter version of the photographic towers, sits in a direct line between the Assembly Building and the launch pad. While it previously had an observation deck, the tower’s roofline has been altered through the years. The launch pad can be found as the patio for the Jolly Roger Motel and the bombproof observation room is now part of the motel’s basement.

The towers, according to Stallman, were located in a precise scientific fashion to allow for the gathering of data and photographing missile

Mimi Guthrie photo

Mimi Guthrie photo

Tower 1: 930 S. Anderson Blvd. (integrated into home) Tower 2: 1000 Block of S. Anderson (natural state) Tower 3: 3008 S. Shore Drive (previously altered, now natural) Tower 4: 1408 N. Anderson Blvd. (integrated into home) Tower 5: 332 N. Shore Drive (integrated into home) Tower 6: Site of former Ocean City Pier, North Topsail

(previously altered, now natural) Tower 7: 3900 Island Drive (integrated into home)

tests. They were rigidly constructed to avoid any shifting or vibration within the structure and manned with photographic equipment that could record the flights over 10-20 miles at speeds of up to 1,500 mph. The towers were centered on “concrete slabs supported on creosoted piles driven to a minimum depth of 20 feet and 15 tons of bearing.�

Seven of the original eight structures remain, although a few have been merged into beachfront homes and are hard to recognize. While three of the residences are private, Tower 5, is a shortterm rental offered through Ward Realty, allowing guests the opportunity to spend the night in a piece of history.

Tower 8, which was located at the northern edge of the island, was destroyed in 1989 after becoming an eyesore and a gathering spot for vandals and rebel rousers. At least three deaths

occurred on the site from falls from the top floor and the owner opted to demolish the structure when he realized it was impossible to keep trespassers off the property.

Now protected by the Historical Society of Topsail, the Missiles and More Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places, as is Tower 2, which is noted as being the most original of the remaining icons.

To learn more of the story, the museum is open from 2-4pm, Monday through Saturday, May through September, with reduced off-season hours.

Admission is free. For additional details, call 910328-8663 or visit topsailmissilesmuseum.org. Of course, grabbing a map and taking a jaunt around the island trying to find these towers can provide a unique and historic adventure for visitors of any age.

Topsail Coaster 19

SITES TO SEE

Missile Museum

POPLAR GROVE PLANTATION Just a few minutes off the island, visitors are welcome to take a trip back through history at one of the oldest existing peanut plantations in North Carolina. While others throughout the area made fortunes through the “golden leaf,” tobacco, this historic landmark owes its success to its cash crop, the peanut.

The site includes a 4,284 square foot Greek Revival Style manor house, featuring 12 rooms with 12 fireplaces and a pair of corbelled interior chimneys. On the grounds, the site also allows guests to visit craft shops, the blacksmith’s shop or the tenant farmer’s cabin. The mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been preserved as the original homestead of a successful farming family. The outbuildings and craft activities offered are typical of an 1800s era working community.

Be sure to check stop by and sample the peanuts, what some locals like to call Goober Peas, guests can choose either boiled or fried. The site is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday and noon to 5pm on Sunday. Details: 910-686-1621.

MISSILES AND MORE MUSEUM From pirates to missile launches, Topsail Is20

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land has a rich history and the Historical Society of Topsail’s museum is a great place to learn more about it. Located in the Assembly Building in Topsail Beach, the museum takes up space used by the US Navy during World War II. The military launched more than 200 experimental rockets from the beach, making adequate use of the island’s remote location and marking its name in the history books. Missiles and more are celebrated at the Topsail Island museum, 720 Channel Blvd., Topsail Beach. Details: 910-3294446, topsailmissilesmuseum.org.

PENDER COUNTY MUSEUM Folks in Burgaw turn to the Pender County Museum to help keep the region’s history alive.

Through informative exhibits and programs and the walls of the oldest brick home in Burgaw, where it is housed, the museum offers guests a peek into the past. Exhibits include a whiskey still and medical artifacts from the tonsillectomy clinic the site previously housed. Interested in World War II? The museum has more than 40 oral histories recorded. Call for hours, 910-2598543 or pendercountymuseum.com.

(Continued on page 23)

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TOPSAIL BEACH The smallest of the three towns on the 26-miles of Topsail Island celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2013.

The first region of the island to be developed, Topsail Beach looks today much like it did in the 1950s and 1960s. Highrise development is not allowed at this southern most reach of the island and conservation is encouraged, leaving miles of natural, untouched seashore and panoramic views from just about every vantage point.

There are more homes, of course, but not many. Less than 600 people call Topsail Beach home, however, the number of seasonal visitors continues to grow for this family-oriented community. With pristine beaches and a nostalgic charm that is hard to beat, it’s easy to see what brings families back year after year.

The town is home to the Missiles and More Mu-

seum, the authority on Topsail Island’s military history.

From a target range for the US Army to the home of the Operation Bumblebee missile tests by the US Navy, the military found varied uses for the island, making Topsail Beach the hub of its activity. The museum brings the story to life through artifacts and clippings at the Assembly Building, home of the Historical Society of Topsail Island.

Pier fishing, sunbathing and watersports are popular pastimes. Topsail Beach does have its own marina and boat launch, located at 912 S. Anderson Blvd. (910-328-2746). A cost is charged for each launch from the ramp, however, visitors can purchase a weekly pass for $40 and a season pass for $100. Passes are sold at the marina when an attendant is on duty or at town hall during normal business hours. To learn more about Topsail Beach, visit www.topsailbeach.org.

SNEADS FERRY With a growing population, Sneads Ferry continues to be a scenic waterfront village with a strong base in commercial fishing. Each August it celebrates its fishing industry and the species that has put it on the map with the Sneads Ferry’s Shrimp Festival, bringing visitors from around the state eager for a taste of the wild shrimp that is abundant in the region.

The state’s most recent statistics note that Sneads Ferry is responsible for about 385 tons of shrimp a year, making it the county’s largest seafood producer and giving this community of less than 3,000 residents a lot to celebrate. Its bounty doesn’t stop there, however. The seaport brings more to the table than shrimp, including clams, scallops, oysters, mullet, spots, grouper, soft shell crab among others.

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Divided by water from Topsail Island’s northern edge, Sneads Ferry was settled around 1775 at the site of a vital ferry operation. Edmund Ennett started a ferry across the New River at the site in 1728, providing a necessary link in the Post Road from Charleston, SC to Boston. Ferries on each side of the banks were in operation by 1759, with Robert Snead manning the north shore site. First tagged Lower Ferry, the community that grew up around his business was later renamed in his honor. The ferry operated through 1939 when the first bridge was constructed to join the banks. Today, a high-rise bridge has permanently connected the two sides, although Sneads Ferry’s significance has not been forgotten.

SITES TO SEE Wilmington for a daytrip. With an array of first-class museums and attractions, this break from lounging by the ocean may be exactly what you need. If you go, make sure you visit the Battleship North Carolina, Bellamy Mansion Museum, Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum, Children’s Museum of Wilmington, Fort Fisher, Screen Gems Studio and Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park.

Moores Creek

(Continued from page 20)

BELLE OF TOPSAIL With the slogan, “If it’s sunny and warm, we’re sailing,” you know that you have embarked with a crew that knows how to enjoy the water. The Belle of Topsail is a 55-foot replica of an 1880s turn of the century riverboat that offers a unique experience to cruise the Intracoastal Waterway.

The peaceful cruise includes picturesque specialty and themed cruises, sunset dinner cruising, scenic nature tours and holiday cruises or, guests can choose to reserve the riverboat to celebrate their special event onboard. The Belle is docked at the Beach House Marina, next to the swing bridge in Surf City. For cruise rates and offerings, visit www.belleoftopsail.com.

DESPERADO HORSE FARM & TRAIL RIDES Looking for something a little bit different?

Desperado Horse Farm offers year-round guided rides through the woods and beach rides during select times of the year. Located in Rocky Point, just west of Surf City, the farm is open seven days a week. Details: 910-675-0487.

Moores Creek National Battlefield In February of 1776 American Revolutionaries defeated a force of North Carolina loyalists, in part thwarting a British invasion of the Southern colonies. Today, at Moores Creek National Battleground in Currie, visitors can follow a 1-mile trail with exhibits leading through the battlefield and across Moores Creek. The park has a visitor center with exhibits and audio-visual program, a Colonial forest trail and a picnic area and is a popular spot for fishing, nature walks and wildlife viewing. Details: 910-283-5591, nps.gov/mocr

THE AZALEA COAST When deciding what to do with yourself during your island vacation, don’t discount nearby

Gallery • Gift Shop • Art & Yoga Classes Frame Shop • Art Supplies • Space for Events

22527 Highway 17N Hampstead, NC 910-803-0302 • 910-330-4077 www.artexposure50.com artexposure50@gmail.com Topsail Coaster 23

Coastal Camping

For those looking to get to up close and personal with nature during their visit to Topsail Island, camping is the ideal route to take. Whether you’re packing up the camping trailer for a week at the beach or are simply backpacking through, the small sliver of island has a variety of campgrounds to choose from.

Camping these days doesn’t necessarily mean roughing it. Nobody says you have to go without the perks if you decide to spend your vacation in a tent.

Hot showers can still be expected, so can pools, fishing spots, boat ramps, playgrounds for the kiddies and free Internet access – beautiful sunsets are provided daily at no additional charge.

At family-friendly Lanier’s Campground (1161 Spot Lane, Surf City) guests can have it all and still feel like they’re getting back to nature. Amenities for this soundside location include a bathhouse, fishing pier and cleaning station, arcade, sandwich grill, beach bingo, playground, interdenominational church services and other organized activities, horseshoes, pool and a store with basic staples. RV, camper and tent sites are available for daily, weekly or monthly rates. Daily rates for a tent site start at $27 per day, or stay for six and get the seventh night free by taking advantage of the weekly rate.

Small, quiet and friendly, Surf City Family Campground (2460 Island Drive, Surf City, 910-3284281) provides a little more privacy than some of the 24

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larger parks, but packs great views of the ocean. A small onsite store carries the basics and a small game room can help entertain the children on cloudy days. The petfriendly site also features a bathhouse for those who are eager to walk down on the beach. Tent sites are $32 a night.

No matter how you like to camp, it’s easy to find your place at the Virginia Creek Campground (440 Crooked Creek Trail, Hampstead). Located on waterfront land that has been in the same family for more than 200 years, the site has spots for just about every type of camper, from the RV enthusiast to the backpacker. Close to restaurants and shopping, and just a hop, skip and jump from the beach, this pet-friendly campground offers laundry facilities, hot showers and a nearby boat ramp.

Also in Surf City, Blackbeard’s Treasure Campground (610 Roland Ave., 910-328-1206) offers full hook-up RV sites, tent sites and pop-up trailers with daily, weekly and monthly rates available. Close to shopping and restaurants, this park overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway features boat storage, a dump station, bath facilities and picnic tables.

Whether you’re coming for a long weekend, or you’re here for the summer, camping on the Treasure Coast can be the perfect way to commune with nature and get to know the community.

HOLLY RIDGE Touted as the Gateway to Topsail Island, the quiet bedroom community located about 12 miles north of Hampstead sits at the intersection of Hwys 17 and 50 and boasts a population of just under 1,300.

While it is indeed a pass through on the way to the beaches of Topsail, the town has played a far more vital role in bringing attention to the area than few realize. The fishing and farming community caught the military’s attention in 1940.

It’s proximity to the coast and Jacksonville made it the ideal spot for a new military installation. The government acquired more than 46,000 acres, including the “sand spit,” or Topsail Island. Camp Davis was erected in about five months, close to 1,000 structures in all, including barracks,

mess halls, recreational buildings, post exchanges, a hospital, warehouses and plenty of roadways. Housing anti-aircraft regiments and barrage balloon troops, the population rose from less than 30 to 110,000 residents by 1943. For more than a decade, aircraft engines were tested, artillery was designed and rockets were fired as Holly Ridge carved its niche in the history books.

By 1948, however, the military installation was closed and the population again dipped significantly.

As the popularity of Topsail rose, so has interest in Holly Ridge, which continues to see a slow but steady rise in population as it welcomes visitors to the Treasure Coast. For more information, visit www.townofhollyridge.net.

HAMPSTEAD This unincorporated community is strategically located between Topsail and Wilmington, giving it ideal access to all that both regions offer. Close to the shopping, dining and culture the big city can provide, yet close to the old-fashioned feel and beautiful beaches on Topsail Island, Hampstead is a favorite for young families and retirees.

It has also become a favorite for golfers who are drawn to the warm climate and the four golf courses found in the region.

Throughout the rest of the state, however, it is known for the NC Spot Festival, which serves up more than 5,000 pounds of the small fish during the annual weekend.

There have been a few points in history where that

catch was not as abundant, however, including during a historic visit by President George Washington. The first president is said to have spent a night in town, eager to dine on the wild mullet caught in Topsail Sound. When he arrived, however, the mullet had yet begun to run and the feast was quickly swapped out for ham instead, hence Hampstead.

A monument at the “Washington Oak” points to where the first president stayed overnight at a local tavern.

As Hampstead continues to preserve its historical place in the South, it has also grown to offer a variety of contemporary shops and restaurants of its own, creating a perfect blend of past and present. For more information visit hampsteadchamber.com.

Topsail Coaster 25

links to the links

Bear Trail Golf Club 444 Harris Creek Road, Jacksonville 910-346-8160 www.beartrailgolf.com (Map #16) This 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course was professionally designed by Rusty Simmons of Simmons Golf Designs, Orlando, Fla., and Gene Daniel of Blackwater Golf, LLC professionally shaped and constructed the greens, the boxes and fairway features. The course is equipped with a pro shop, state-of-theart driving range and putting green.

Belvedere Golf & Country Club 2368 Country Club Drive, Hampstead 910-270-2703 www.visit belvederecc.com

Castle Bay Country Club 107 Links Court, Hampstead 910-270-1978 www.castlebaycc.com

North Shore Golf Club

Golfing the Treasure Coast Visitors looking to trade their flip flops and fishing poles for a chance to practice their golf swing while on vacation certainly have no shortage of options when it comes to the Treasure Coast. With lush landscapes and picturesque water views around every bend, the backdrop couldn’t be more relaxing.

From professional instruction and putting greens to pools and on-site dining options, the variety of country clubs and golf courses in the Topsail area have lots to offer, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned golfer.

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101 N. Shore Drive, Sneads Ferry 910-327-2410 www.northshorecountryclub.com (23) Offers a perfect combination of natural beauty and challenging play. Play on the best conditioned course in Topsail! Rated 4 stars by Golf Digest.

Bermuda style, newly renovated greens and world class golf at affordable rates. Open to the public.

Twilight rates, junior rates, lessons, driving range.

Olde Point Golf and Country Club 513 Country Club Drive, Hampstead 910-270-2403 www.oldepointgolf.com.

Topsail Greens Golf Club 1040 Topsail Greens Drive, Hampstead 910-270-2883 www.topsailgreens.com

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Hwy 210 North Topsail Beach Topsail Coaster 27

perfect stay Use locator numbers with area map on pages 52-53.

Breezeway Motel & Restaurant 636 Channel Blvd., Topsail Beach 910-328-7751 (24) Located adjacent to the restaurant and only 150 yards from the beach, the family owned and operated Breezeway Motel offers clean, comfortable rooms and cottages with wifi, pool, soundside fishing pier and dock. Pet friendly.

Look for us on the web at www.breezewaymotel. com for a complete list of amenities and rates.

United Country Coastline Realty 965 Old Folkstone Rd., Suite 108, Sneads Ferry 800-497-5463 (19) Your information source for luxury living on the Carolina coast, featuring sales & rentals of condominiums, townhomes, single family residences, on the ocean, bay or fairway. Look for us on the web at cbcoastline.com or email us at rentals@cbcoastline.com. Call for a free brochure.

Treasure Realty, Inc. 1950 Hwy 172, Suite R, Sneads Ferry 800-762-3961 (15) Conveniently located at the intersections of Hwys 210 & 172 behind Hardees in Sneads Ferry. Look for the parrot! Proud to be for 18 years running the top producing firm of the decade in North Topsail & Sneads Ferry! With 124 years combined experience in sales & rentals, we know what our customers are looking for & help them find it. We continue to be #1 because we make our customers #1. Look for us on the web at treasurerealty.com or email richard@treasurerealty.com.

Ward Realty Corp.

116 S Topsail Dr., Surf City 800-782-6216 (30) On Hwy 50 in Surf City, original developers of Topsail Island, provides real estate sales, vacation rentals, cottage construction. Visit www.wardrealty.com to find specials or search the extensive database of available rental properties.

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Southern Hospitality On The Sound Since 1949

restaurant - catering - special events dock - motel - fishing pier - pool The Breezeway Restaurant - Enjoy an unforgettable soundside sunset while dining waterfront at the Breezeway. We’ve been serving the traditional and delectable fare of fried seafood and hushpuppies to generations, while also offering diverse menu options for every discerning palate in our casual and family-friendly dining atmosphere. Featuring: Fresh Local Seafood (Fried, Broiled, Steamed and Grilled), Daily Specials, Pasta Dishes, Salads, Kids Menu, Catering, Dine in or Carry Out, Reunions, Receptions and other Special Events.

The Breezeway Motel - Located adjacent to the restaurant and only 150 yards from the beach, the Breezeway Motel offers clean comfortable rooms and cottages with wifi, pool, soundside fishing pier and dock. Pet friendly. Look for us on the web at www.breezewaymotel.com for our complete list of amenities and rates.

634-636 Channel Blvd. Topsail Beach Restaurant 910-328-4302 Visit the breezewayrestaurant.com to view our full menu Motel 910-328-7751 Visit breezewaymotel.com to see our calender of events and specials

Topsail Coaster 29

Turtle Tales Turtle Hospital is on the Move

In a small, nondescript building tucked at the end of a thin sand-covered road in Topsail Beach, volunteers are preparing meals, checking bandages and making their morning rounds. It’s a hot, often smelly job – but the volunteers come back day after day for one reason – the turtles.

This is the scene every day at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center’s current location in Topsail Beach, which opened in 1997. But that’s not the scene volunteers are hoping they’ll be seeing by the end of this turtle season.

The Turtle Hospital, as its best known about Topsail Island, has been overrunning its space since just about day one. And with 60 patients inhouse this spring, director Jean Beasley said she is ready for a change of scenery and expanded quarters.

Under construction, the new hospital in Surf City takes the volunteers from 1,000 square feet to a whopping 12,000 square feet, taking the program off the island but giving it more visibility in the process. The new facility will feature a flow through water exchange system. Water will continually pump from the sound into the individual turtle tanks. The water will then return to the sound via an overflow pipe and drain. During the winter months, the water will be pumped from the sound into an outdoor reservoir tank and heated to 75 degrees. Additional features will include fresh running hot and cold water, laundry facilities and an examination space with medical equipment and supplies.

The $1.4 million project has been in the construction phase for more than three years, but 30

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like many projects of this magnitude there have been speed bumps along the way. The one thing Beasley isn’t doing at this point, is saying exactly when the staff will be moving shop.

“We’ve set dates several times but something always comes up to delay us,” she said. “The one thing we don’t want to do is get everyone excited and then let them down. The site is under construction and our hopes are to be relocated as soon as possible. Nobody wants this open and the turtles in their new space more than we do.”

Opened in 1997 with the help of only volunteers and donations, the Turtle Hospital serves not only nesting turtles and hatchlings, but also provides refuge and specialized care for sick and injured sea turtles. Volunteers deliver medicine, food, water and care in hopes that the turtles (including loggerheads, greens and the rare Kemp’s ridley) can be rehabilitated and released back into their natural habitat.

It is the only rehabilitation program of its type in North Carolina. For many years, the only other site on the Eastern seaboard was a facility in Florida. Today, however, state-funded programs are also offered in Georgia and South Carolina, helping alleviate some of the load.

In addition to rehabilitation, the site also oversees the Topsail Turtle Project, or the beachwalkers as they’re fondly called, which puts 150-180 volunteers on the beach May through October to identify and mark turtle nests along the island’s 26 miles of oceanfront.

Turtles face almost insurmountable odds. One in a 1,000 births will survive its first year alone.

Of those that make it past 20-30 years of age

Visitors to Topsail Island can do much to help promote sea turtle survival without working or volunteering directly with the Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. For everybody who visits the island, from year round locals to those staying just a week, there are some easy rules to keep in mind during the months of May through October.

to join the ranks of mating adults, only one in 10,000 will emerge unscathed.

A retired teacher, Beasley began following the turtles with her daughter, Karen, walking the beach during the summer months in hopes of helping the turtles’ rate of survival. After her daughter’s untimely death, Beasley carried on the work her daughter loved, naming the center in her honor.

In 2007, she was recognized as Animal Planet’s Hero of the Year and was named a 2008 UNCWilmington Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholar.

This award was given in recognition of her outstanding contribution to humanity in the spirit of Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

While summer visitors are accustomed to a stop at the turtle hospital while exploring the island, with the move pending, the site will not open to guests this year.

“It was a hard decision to make, but with 60 turtles there is little room for the staff to move around. This is more patients than we have had before so we’re scrambling for space ourselves,” said Beasley. “It wouldn’t be possible for us to receive guests.”

Beasley advised that the hospital will keep the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce and visitors centers up to date with progress so word will spread quickly as the project rolls to a close.

One thing is for certain – when the hospital makes its move to Surf City, the door will once again swing back and welcome visitors. To aid the process, donations are graciously accepted at Sea Turtle Hospital, PO Box 2095, Surf City, NC 28445. To learn more about the program, visit seaturtlehospital.org.

• Everyone loves to dig big holes in the sand, but be sure to fill them in before you leave. While they can be dangerous for humans, these same holes can be deadly to sea turtles.

• Never disturb a nest, nesting turtle or sea turtle you find on the beach. Trying to “help” a sea turtle is also a big no-no.

Despite TV appearances as affable surfer dudes, sea turtles are wild animals and will bite, especially when injured or stressed.

• Never shine a flashlight on or take a flash photo of a sea turtle. The light can disorient a nesting female, causing her to abandon her task and even lose her eggs. Hatchlings naturally orient to the brightest thing in the sky, so turning off all oceanfront porch lights from May through October will help ensure no one exits the nest going the wrong way.

• Pick up trash. Sea turtles have poor eyesight and will “taste” just about anything. Many turtles have died as a result of eating plastic and other garbage that they mistook for food.

Plastic bags especially can seem a lot like jellyfish (a tasty meal to a sea turtle).

• Turtles will take advantage of an easy meal like hooked squid or baitfish. Most hooks readily dissolve in salt water, so cutting the line as close as possible to the hook will normally present an insignificant danger to the turtle. Stainless steel hooks, swallowed hooks, deeply embedded hooks and having a turtle become entangled in fishing line are all potentially lifethreatening problems, however. For assistance with a hooked or entangled turtle, contact the Director of Beach Operations (910470-2880).

• Remember that sea turtles are federally protected and endangering them in any way could result in fines and imprisonment.

• Any and all sea turtle activity (nesting, hatchings and dead or alive, stranded turtles) should be reported to the Director of Beach Operations at 910-470-2880 or call the local police department.

Topsail Coaster 31

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coastal calendar

JUNE

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1, 28: Concert in the Park.

6-8pm. Join the Surf City Parks and Recreation Dept. for a free family-friendly concert at Soundside Park. Performers this month are the Cosmic Groove Lizards (1st) and The Other Guys (28th).

Snacks and drinks are available for purchase. No alcohol is allowed. Details: 910-3284887.

5, 12, 19, 26: Farmer’s Market at Poplar Grove. 8am-1pm.

Guests can expect fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs, cheese, meats, seafood, honey, baked goods, peanuts and a variety of handcrafted items from regional artisans. Details: 910686-9518.

5, 19: Market Cooking Classes. 10:30am-1pm. Join Chef Alexis Fouros, author of “Feast for the Gods,” at Poplar Grove Plantation and learn how to cook with the Greek tradition of farm to table. Price is $40 per person, including lunch. Reservations required.

Details: 917-969-2430.

Fri. 14: 2nd Friday Art Exhibit. 6-8pm. Join other area artists at Art Exposure in Hampstead for a juried art show, “Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse and Create.” Details: 910-330-4077.

7-9, 13-16: “Seeing Stars in Dixie.” The Sneads Ferry Community Theatre brings

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NC Blueberry Festival

this romp to the stage. Performances are at 8pm on Friday and Saturday with matinees at 3pm each Sunday. Details: sneadsferrycommunitytheatre.com.

7, 21: Movie in the Park.

Dusk. Join the Surf City Parks and Recreation Dept. for an outside viewing of a familyfriendly movie at Soundside Park. Movies this month include “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” and “The Lorax.”

Guests are encouraged to

bring blankets, chairs and other comfort items. No alcohol is allowed. Rain location is the Surf City Community Center. Details: 910-328-4887.

10-13: She She’s Flip Floppers Camp. 10:30-Noon. Registration is required for this fun tumbling summer camp program designed for children ages 3-7. Cost is $45 per child and $35 for each additional sibling. Details: 910650-6061.

Sat. 15: 10th Annual NC Blueberry Festival. 9am-9pm.

Celebrate in Pender County, known as the first cultivated blueberry producer in the 1930s and currently ranked second in blueberry production in the entire state. This festival celebrates the historic, economic and cultural significance of blueberries in this region. This premier event attracts more than 30,000 people to enjoy entertainment, artisans, antique cars, food vendors and of course, blueberries at the Pender County Courthouse, 100 S. Wright St., Burgaw. Details: 910-259-2007.

Sun. 16: Father’s Day Youth Fishing Tournament. 1-2pm.

The Surf City Parks and Recreation Dept. invites fathers and sons to come enjoy an afternoon of fishing and fun.

Sign up runs from 11am to noon and fishing is from 12pm. Prizes for first place through 25th. Details: 910328-4887.

Sat. 22: 13th annual Sneads Ferry Lions Club Pinfish Tournament. The Lions Club will lure anglers into the water again this year with its fishing tournament. Proceeds benefit state and regional services for the blind. Details: 910-3272776.

Lanier’s Campground, 1161 Spot Lane, Surf City. After the parade, stop by the gazebo for live entertainment provided by Loose Change. Details: www.lanierscampgroundnc. com.

pect fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs, cheese, meats, seafood, honey, baked goods, peanuts and a variety of handcrafted items from regional artisans.

Details: 910-686-9518.

JULY

Wed. 3: Island Fireworks.

Concert, fireworks & children’s activities at Soundside Park, Surf City. Details: 910328-4131.

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3, 6, 26: Concert in the Park.

6-8pm. Join the Surf City Parks and Recreation Dept. for a free family-friendly concert. Performers this month are Mark Roberts & The Breeze (3rd), The Clams (6th) and Lynne Hargrove & Friends (26th). Snacks and drinks are available for purchase. No alcohol is allowed. Details: 910328-4887.

3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Farmer’s Market at Poplar Grove.

8am-1pm. Guests can ex-

Thur. 4: Four Towns Fireworks. Dusk. Spectators will gather at Holly Ridge Municipality Park for children’s rides, concessions and fireworks.

Details: 910-329-7081.

5, 19: Movie in the Park.

Dusk. Join the Surf City Parks and Recreation Dept. for an outside viewing of a familyfriendly movie at Soundside Park. Movies this month include “Rise of the Guardians” and “Thunderstruck.” Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and other comfort items. No alcohol is allowed.

Rain location is the Surf City Community Center. Details: 910-328-4887.

24-27: She She’s Flip Floppers Camp.

10:30-Noon.

Registration is required for this fun tumbling summer camp program designed for children age 8 and up. Cost is $45 per child and $35 for each additional sibling. Details: 910-650-6061.

Sat. 29: July 4th Parade.

5pm. Decorate your golf cart, bike or even yourself for this fun patriotic parade hosted by

Firework Celebrations

Topsail Coaster 35

coastal calendar Registration is required for this fun tumbling summer camp program designed for children age 8 and up. Cost is $45 per child and $35 for each additional sibling. Details: 910-650-6061.

John Brown Quintet

Sat. 6: Ocean City Jazz Festival. 5-9pm. The 2013 Ocean City Jazz Festival is held in historic Ocean City in North Topsail Beach. Gates open at 4pm. Artist line-up includes The John Brown Quintet, The Stanley Baird Group and Kim Pacheco with Richard Harris White, Jr. Ticket prices at the gate are $25 for adults and $12 for children ages 617. Details: www.oceancityjazzfest.com.

Sat. 6: Earth and Surf Festival. 8am-5pm. This event includes a BMX Stunt Show, Yoga, stand up paddleboarding, live music, surf, sun and even and 5 and 10K Run. Details: 910-330-3140 7, 13: Loose Change Performs. 7-10pm. Enjoy live entertainment and relax at the gazebo at Lanier’s Campground, 1161 Spot Lane, Surf City. Details: 910-328-9431.

17, 31: Market Cooking Classes. 10:30am-1pm. Join Chef Alexis Fouros, author of “Feast for the Gods,” at Poplar Grove Plantation in the Cultural Arts Center Barn

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and learn how to cook with the Greek tradition of farm to table. Price is $40 per person including lunch. Reservations required. Details: 917-9692430.

Sat. 13: Classy Chassis Car Show. 9am-4pm. Selected as a top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society, featuring more than 180 pristine vintage vehicles and antique tractors at Poplar Grove Plantation. The Country Flea Market will be held in conjunction with this event. Other activities include a 50/50 raffle, discounted tours, food , music and a live broadcast with Brian White of 104.5FM. Free.

Donations are welcome. Details: www.poplargrove.com.

22-25: She She’s Flip Floppers Camp. 10:30-Noon. Registration is required for this fun tumbling summer camp program designed for children age3 3-7. Cost is $45 per child and $35 for each additional sibling. Details: 910650-6061.

29-Aug. 1: She She’s Flip Floppers Camp. 10:30-Noon.

AUGUST

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2, 16, 30: Movie in the Park.

Dusk. Join the Surf City Parks and Recreation Dept. for an outside viewing of a familyfriendly movie at Soundside Park. Movies this month include “The Pirate: Band of Misfits,” “Here Comes the Boom” and “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.”

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and other comfort items. No alcohol is allowed. Rain location is the Surf City Community Center. Details: 910-328-4887.

7, 14, 21, 28: Farmer’s Market at Poplar Grove. 8am-1pm.

Guests can expect fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs, cheese, meats, seafood, honey, baked goods, peanuts and a variety of handcrafted items from regional artisans. Details: 910686-9518.

7, 21: Market Cooking Classes. 10:30am-1pm. Join Chef Alexis Fouros, author of “Feast for the Gods,” at Poplar Grove Plantation in the Cultural Arts Center Barn and learn how to cook with the Greek tradition of farm to table. Price is $40 per person

including lunch. Reservations required. Details: 917-9692430.

9, 31: Concert in the Park. 68pm. Join the Surf City Parks and Recreation Dept. for a free family-friendly concert.

Performers this month are E.S.P. Reggae (9th) and The Meteor Men (31th). Snacks and drinks are available for purchase. No alcohol is allowed. Details: 910328-4887.

11-12: Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival.

Celebrating its 42nd anniversary in 2013, the Shrimp Festival is a two-day affair that celebrates the area’s bountiful seafood with a fun party for the entire family. There is

live music, the Shrimparoo Shrimp Dinner, arts and crafts, a beverage tent, rides, games shrimp heading contest and a fireworks at approximately 9pm.

Details: sneadsferryshrimpfestival.org.

12-15: She She’s Flip Floppers Camp. 10:30-Noon. Registration is required for this fun tumbling summer camp program designed for children

ages 3-7. Cost is $45 per child and $35 for each additional sibling. Details: 910650-6061.

19-22: She She’s Flip Floppers Camp. 10:30-Noon. Registration is required for this fun tumbling summer camp program designed for children age 8 and up. Cost is $45 per child and $35 for each additional sibling. Details: 910650-6061.

19-20: 20th Sneads Ferry King Mackerel Tournament.

Sponsored by the Sneads Ferry Rotary Club, anglers will vie for nearly $80,000 in cash prizes during this Southern Kingfish Association sanctioned event. De-

Shrimp Festival

The Historic

Beach Shop & Grill

A Topsail Tradition Since 1957

“Where the Locals like to Eat” Serving ...

Call for hours

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner All ABC permits • Extensive Wine list

701 South Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach | beachshopandgrill.com | 910-328-6501 Topsail Coaster 37

coastal calendar

SEPTEMBER

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tails: kmtdirector@sneadsferryrotary.com.

Sat. 31: Topsail Beach 50th Anniversary. 4pm. Music begins at 4pm and dinner will be served at 6pm as the town celebrates this milestone at the Assembly Building. Fireworks follow dinner. Cost is $5.

4, 11, 18, 25: Farmer’s Market at Poplar Grove. 8am-1pm.

Guests can expect fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs, cheese, meats, seafood, honey, baked goods, peanuts and a variety of handcrafted items from regional artisans. Details: 910686-9518.

17, 31: Market Cooking Classes. 10:30am-1pm. Join Chef Alexis Fouros, author of “Feast for the Gods,” at Poplar Grove Plantation in the Cultural Arts Center Barn and learn how to cook with the Greek tradition of farm to table. Price is $40 per person including lunch. Reservations required. Details: 917-9692430.

Fri. 6: Concert in the Park. 68pm. Join the Surf City Parks and Recreation Dept. for a free family-friendly concert.

Performers this month are The Mako Band. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase. No alcohol is allowed.

Details: 910-328-4887.

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Wine Festival

Fri. 13: 2nd Friday Art Exhibit. 6-8pm. Join other area artists at Art Exposure, 22527 Hwy 17 N, Hampstead, for an adult student art show. Details: 910-330-4077.

gate. Tickets include a commemorative wine glass. Ages 6-20 are $5 and children 5 and under are free. Details: www.muscadineharvestfestival.com.

Sat. 21: Taste of Hampstead Wine Festival. 7-9:30pm. Get your palates ready for a terrific sampling of an array of delicacies provided by area restaurants and an inspired selection of wine and craft beers from local wineries.

Add entertainment and this event is a perfect opportunity to get to know the locals and experience Southern hospitality. Details: 910-270-9642.

28-29: 50th Annual Spot Festival. Hampstead is home to the NC Spot Festival. Enjoy music, games, a pageant, vendors and a traditional Southern spot meal, served from 11am to 6pm, Saturday and 11am to 5pm, Sunday.

Fireworks start at 9pm on Saturday. Admission is $3 for adults, children 12 and under are free. All proceeds go to Topsail schools and the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department. Details: www. ncspotfestival.com.

27-28: NC Muscadine Festival. 10am-7pm. Celebrate the nation’s first cultivated grape and state fruit at the Kenansville Fairgrounds. Sample more than 150 wines and enjoy tailgating with friends as you listen to live entertainment featuring the Fantastic Shakers, Craig Woolard Band, Beach Billy Brothers and Ken Knox & Company. The festival runs from 5-9pm on Friday, Sept. 7 and from 10am-7pm on Saturday, Sept. 28. Tickets are $8 in advance for Friday, $20 in advance for Saturday and slightly higher at the

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2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Farmer’s Market at Poplar Grove.

8am-1pm. Guests can expect fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs,

Chef Alexis Fouros, author of “Feast for the Gods,” at Poplar Grove Plantation in the Cultural Arts Center Barn and learn how to cook with the Greek tradition of farm to table. Price is $40 per person including lunch. Reservations required. Details: 917-9692430.

Autumn in Topsail

cheese, meats, seafood, honey, baked goods, peanuts and a variety of handcrafted items from regional artisans.

Details: 910-686-9518.

11-13, 18-20: Poplar Grove Plantation’s Halloween Festival. Fans of fearless thrills and friendly fun are invited to visit the haunted barn, enjoy rides, a haunted hayride, games, food, pony rides, non-scary funhouse, fortune tellers, costume contests and more at the Poplar Grove Plantation.

Free admission, activity prices vary. Details: 252-686-9518.

19-20: Autumn with Topsail.

7:30am-8:30pm. Enjoy the autumn air and its salty sea breeze at this Topsail Island Beach Music Festival featuring several live entertainers, food and artists. Festival grounds are held each year across the Assembly Building on Channel Blvd. and Flake Ave. Details: www.autmnwithtopsail.com.

Wed. 30: Market Cooking Classes. 10:30am-1pm. Join Chef Alexis Fouros, author of “Feast for the Gods,” at Poplar Grove Plantation in the Cultural Arts Center Barn and learn how to cook with the Greek tradition of farm to

table. Price is $40 per person including lunch. Reservations required. Details: 917-9692430.

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Sun. 3: Happy Trails Dog Expo. Bring your furry friends for an afternoon of fun at Poplar Grove Plantation.

Events include the dandiest dog costume contest, demonstrations, prizes and a variety of vendors offer pet products. Details: 910-696-9518 ext. 27.

Sat. 28-Dec. 23: Festival of Lights. 6pm. Enjoy one of the areas greatest holiday traditions at Mike’s Tree Farm, 1600 Haw Branch Road, Beulaville. Sit with family and friends on a lighted hayride through the farm and view festive Christmas lights, decorations, scenes and a live Nativity. The cost is $8 per person, age 5 and up. Details: 910-324-3422.

Fri. 29: Topsail Island Flotilla. Add an island vibe to your holiday season and enjoy this annual parade featuring decorated and lighted boats as they sail down the Intracoastal Waterway. Boats will start in Surf City at the bridge and continue to the south end of Topsail Beach. Best views are at the Assembly Building,

6, 13, 20, 27: Farmer’s Market at Poplar Grove.

8am-1pm. Guests can expect fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs, cheese, meats, seafood, honey, baked goods, peanuts and a variety of handcrafted items from regional artisans.

Details: 910-686-9518.

Wed. 6: Market Cooking Classes. 10:30am-1pm. Join Topsail Coaster 39

coastal calendar any sound dock or beach and Soundside Park. Details: 910329-4446.

Sat. 30: Topsail Tree Lighting. 6pm. The town of Topsail Beach welcomes the seasons with the lighting of the official town tree at 820 S. Anderson Blvd. Details: 910-328-5841.

Surf City Tree Lighting. 6pm.

Join the town of Surf City at Soundside Park as it lights its holiday tree and kicks off the Christmas season. Santa will be there to welcome the youngsters and cookies and hot chocolate will be served.

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Sat. 7: 8th annual Jingle Bell Ball. 6:30pm. Dress in your best and enjoy an evening to support the Historical Society of Topsail Island.

The event includes a catered meal, cash bar and entertainment for dancing at the Topsail Island Assembly Building, 720 Channel Blvd. Tickets are $40. Details: 910-328-2488.

Christmas Parade. The Topsail Beach Christmas Parade fills the streets in honor of the season. Details: 910-3285841.

Sun. 8: Plantation Christmas. 11am-4pm. Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus and tell your wishes, listen to holiday stories, enjoy an arts and craft show and see the 1850 Manor House decorated in its seasonal best at the Poplar Grove Plantation. Details: 910-686-9518.

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Sat. 14: Breakfast with Santa. The Surf City Community Center welcomes the big guy.

Details: 910-328-4131.

sale just in time to grab some plants for the spring garden.

Details: 910-686-9518, www. poplargrove.com.

14-15: Sneads Ferry Winter Fest. The annual event includes the lighting of the town Christmas tree, breakfast with Santa, arts and crafts, food and entertainment at the community building on Peru Road.

April

January Dolphin Dip. 11am. Virtually thousands of people gather at the Roland Avenue Beach Access in Surf City each Jan. 1 for this chilly dip to help raise money for Hospice. The swim is scheduled for noon.

Details: 910-526-3788.

February “TAG” Party Reverse Raffle. Join the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism at the Assembly Building, for a change to win money. Tickets are $50 per person and include beer, wine, food and entertainment.

Guests must be 21 to attend.

Details: 910-329-4446.

Battle of Moores Creek Anniversary. 9am-5pm. Moores Creek was the location of one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War and the first patriot victory of the war.

Step back in time and enjoy reenactments, military camp life, musket and artillery firing and broadsword use at the Moores Creek National Battlefield, Currie. Details: 910-283-5591, www.nps. gov/mocr.

March Herb Fair & Plant and Garden Sale. 10am-4pm. Join Poplar Grove Plantation for its annual herb and plant

67th annual NC Azalea Festival. A celebration of Wilmington’s exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture and its favorite flower stretches through five days of entertainment that includes a parade, street fair, circus, concerts and pageant. Details: www.ncazaleafestival. org.

Hops of Spring Beer Tasting. Noon-6pm. Join friends on the island in Surf City at 105 S. Topsail Ave., as the Greater Topsail Area Chamber hosts this event featuring entertainment, beer tasting and 50/50 raffle. Cost is $25 per person and children 12 and under are free.

May Pender County Spring Fest.

Meet at the Pender County Courthouse Square in Burgaw for this festival featuring local vendors offering homegrown and handmade goods.

Join friends and family from 6-10pm on Friday to enjoy an evening of dancing. The festival runs from 9am-4pm on Saturday and includes arts and crafts and children’s activities. Details: www.visitpender.com.

For more information on Topsail area events, contact the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce at 910-329-4446 or visit topsailcoc.com.

T

echnically, it’s not the oldest town on the island, but Topsail, incorporated in 1963, is certainly at the center of the island’s history. The town is in celebration mode this season after holding a party in March to kick off the festivities. A second event is planned from 5-8:30pm on Saturday, Aug. 31, along with live entertainment, food and fireworks to mark the occasion.

Surf City, the oldest town on the island, was incorporated in 1949, and by 1960 several permanent residents had made their way down to the southern end of the island. Businesses had taken root as well, including the iconic Breez-way Inn, according to David A. Stallman’s “Echoes of Topsail.” Sitting on a board of commissioners, Tom Humphrey, Forest McCullen, Herbert Williams, Dewey Justice and William Godwin, along with Mayor Lewis Orr, discussed the prospects of incorporation with the public at Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel.

There were no municipal buildings to speak of, so the group often met in Orr’s office to discuss the details. The first order of official business?

The group created a zoning ordinance and building code, moves that helped protect the natural resources of this picturesque strand of beach.

The US Navy took over the island during the 1940s as a joint venture with Johns Hopkins University, the start of the space program for the US government – Operation Bumblebee. Roads were constructed and waterways dredged to aid in the

new endeavor. A small bridge was constructed to access the island and a variety of buildings were added to support the program. The island’s sound side was home to its arsenal center, where the assembly and storage of rockets took place, and a launch pad was built on the ocean side. More than 200 experimental rocket launchings took place on Topsail Island between 1946 and 1948. The testing program was later halted and the government sold the island to the public. Many of the original military structures stand today, including concrete towers used to monitor experimental launchings.

When the military departed, it left behind the infrastructure, the humble beginnings of a small town. And New Topsail Beach, as it was previously pegged, quietly became a popular fishing and vacation spot.

Topsail Beach continues to provide a friendly, family-oriented style of beach living. Although there are more than 1,200 homes on the island, there are only about 500 permanent residents that call the island home year-round. The warmer months bring an influx of tourists, increasing the population to roughly 7,000. This seasonal influx helps sustain many of the town’s businesses, restaurants, motels and more.

Join in the celebration this summer as the town marks a milestone. Summer Plunder Days brings arts and crafts to the streets from 10am to 4pm each Thursday, June through August. And the Memorial Day celebration is open to all.

Topsail Turns

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good buys D’s Interior Design 834 Hwy 210, Sneads Ferry 910-327-2166 (25) Offers interior design services and unique furniture, accessories, lamps and more. Browse through the spacious showroom to find everything you’ll need for decorating, gift giving, bed making and accessorizing.

Come see how we’ve expanded our apparel selection.

Now carrying Sparkle Life, Mud Pie, Periwinkle, Charlie Paige and more. Jewelry, clothing, flip flops, totes, etc.

Visit www.dsinteriordesign.net.

Gift Basket

Bellavie

Use locator numbers with area map on pages 52-53.

Beach Furniture Outfitters, Inc. 520 N. New River Drive, Surf City 910-328-4181 (22) Offers one stop shopping that saves time & money; visit our showroom for carpet, vinyl, bedding & accessories, artwork, furniture for any room; complete household packages are our specialty; we take the hassle out of furnishing your house, condo or apartment; open year-round 9am-5pm. Visit www. beachfurnitureoutfittersinc.com.

Bellavie Boutique 2660 Hwy 210, Ste. 102, Hampstead 910-329-1447 (32) Located on the corner of Hwys 50 and 210.

Women’s apparel, shoes, accessories, handbags and jewelry. Join the email list or follow us on facebook for the latest fashions.

Bert’s Surf Shop Hwy 210, Surf City 910-328-1010 (27) Offers the best selection of surfboards, gear & apparel, featuring brand names like D.C., Quiksilver, Teva, Billabong, Volcum, Salt Life & Roxy; lowest prices, open year-round, www.bertsurfshop.com.

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702 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach 800-424-7245 (12) Located between mile marker 1 & 2 in Topsail Beach. The Gift Basket has a fine selection of 14K & sterling silver jewelry and carries the largest selection of tide clocks & weather instruments in the surrounding area; collectibles & unique gift items found here too.

Ask about the Topsail Island Destination Bracelet.

Open in season 10am-5pm, Mon.-Sat., 11:30am3:30pm, Sun., online at www.topsailgiftbasket.com or tideandweather.com.

Harris Teeter 203 Alston Blvd., Hampstead 910-329-0711 (1) Located in Surf City Crossing, taking pride in offering the best quality and selection available when it comes to fresh food and all vacation necessities. Count on Harris Teeter to meet your needs, whether you’re stocking up your home, your vacation rental or are searching for a quick snack from the deli, 24 hours a day, www. harristeeter.com.

Mia’s Marketplace 14061 Hwy 50/210, Surf City 910-803-0316 (9) For the gifts you won’t find anywhere else! Mia’s brings you the extraordinary! Offering unique gifts and home décor and resort clothing by Escapada, Mud Pie and Hatley. We have Spartina handbags, pajamas, baby specialties, Archipelago lotions and jewelry for every budget. Ask about our exclusive Ocean Treasures Cuff – the Reel Housewives of Topsail Island bracelet. Stop in and see why we’re quickly becoming the favorite store on the beach. Located on the corner of Hwy 50

South End Outfitters

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910.328.4181 Topsail Coaster 43

good buys gear, clothing & accessories (see ads for coupons).

South End Outfitters 627 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach 910-541-0832 (34) Located next door to Beach Shop and Grill with the same local owners. Topsail Beach’s newest surf shop offering rentals and retail, paddleboards and bicycles.

Carrying Tommy Bahama, Southern Tide, Vineyard Vine, Peter Millar, jonnie-O, Sperry and more.

Topsail Art Gallery & Frame Shop

and JH Batts Road – on the mainland, about ½ mile from the swing bridge, near the new turtle hospital. Visit shopmias.com.

121 S. Topsail Drive, Surf City 910-328-2138 (4) Located on the premises of Crabby Mike’s Restaurant & Mystic Treasures Jewelry, featuring the talents & original creations of numerous local artists; prints of many regional & national artists; island photography, custom framing, original artwork, and nautical gifts, topsailart.com, 910-328-2138.

Mystic Treasures Jewelry

Topsail Island Trading Company

121 S. Topsail Drive, Surf City 910-328-6300 (17) Features the best in custom jewelry from local designer Tommy J., pieces from award-winning designers across the country, plus the Topsail Island “TI” Bracelets & the Hooked on Topsail Island Bracelets.

Now providing state-of-the-art custom design & redesign work with CAD/CAM. Where every piece is as unique as its owner & your imagination becomes reality, www.mystictreasures.nc.com.

201 N. New River Drive, Surf City 910-328-1905 (29) Freshly made cream & butter fudge is made right in front of your eyes! Our fudge makes an excellent gift, available in over 50 flavors including sucrose-free flavors.

We ship anywhere, all year long. Distinctive selection of jewelry & other fine gifts, www.topsailtrading.com.

Quarter Moon Books & Gifts 708 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach 800-697-9134 (37) Offers reading selections for every interest including bestsellers, new releases, regional, nature & a treasure trove of children’s books; used books, extensive selection of greeting cards, stationery, journals & enchanting gifts; try our gourmet coffee, espresso, cappuccino or smoothie while browsing, new wine bar, open daily, public internet access, www.quartermoonbooks.com.

Shark Attack Souvenir & Gift Shop 1295 Hwy 210, Sneads Ferry 125 N. Topsail Drive, Surf City, 910-327-1322 (35, 36) Souvenir & gift shop with live shark tank, beach 44

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Tsunami Surf Shop 1288 Old Folkstone Road, Sneads Ferry 13523 Hwy 50, Surf City 910-741-0481 910-803-0663 (2) Welcome to the largest surf shop on the East Coast, now at a new location offering brands such as Oakley, Costa Del Mar, Reef, Quiksilver, Billabong, Duck Dynasty, Ducks Unlimited, Southern Marsh, Rainbow, Sanuk, Volcom, Vonzipper, Fox and more. Open 7 days a week, 9am-10pm (see ad for 10 percent coupon), 910-741-0481.

Wings 106A N. New River Drive, Surf City 910-328-5900 (8) Offers all you need to reach the beach, including beachwear, suntan lotion, skimboards, beach toys for children, gifts & more, see ad for coupons.

North Carolina’s Premier Fishing & High Performance Boat Dealer

Proud Dealer For: Yamaha Outboards NauticStar • Cobia Mitzi • Pathfinder Sundance Boats Magic Tilt • Venture

Sales & Service

For all your boating needs

109 James Street • PO. Box 899 Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 (910) 327-3953

www.powermarineoutfitters.com

(910) 327-2106

Full Service Marina for over 50 years, right on the ICW Boat Ramp and Docking Areas with both diesel and gasoline.

We also have the best retail store for all your boating and fishing needs, from bait & tackle, rods & reels, marine electronics, hardware, and so much more!

104 James Street • Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 www.newrivermarina.com Topsail Coaster 45

local flavor

Whether you’re in the mood for seafood, pizza, pasta, a great steak or a lunchtime sandwich, the Topsail area offers a treasure trove of wonderful restaurants from which to choose. The following restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. Call to verify hours, especially during the off season. Use numbers with area map on pages 52-53.

The Beach Shop and Grill 701 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach 910-328-6501 (14) Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week in season. Try our wonderful wraps, gourmet sandwiches and salads for lunch as well as our awardwinning Shrimp and Grits for dinner. Fresh local fish served daily, handmade desserts and our famous Key Lime Pie is a must! After your delicious meal, shop next door in our gift shop carrying Life is Good and our own brand of Beachdog wear.

Breezeway Motel & Restaurant 636 Channel Blvd., Topsail Beach 910-328-7751 (24) Topsail Island’s landmark seafood restaurant since 1949, open for dinner spring, summer & fall, delicious seafood & spectacular sunsets, park or dock & dine on the waterfront, beer & wine permits, private parties, meetings, on-site catering, thebreezewayrestaurant. com.

Bumblebee Market 513 Roland Ave., Surf City 910-328-2105 (26) Located next to the swing bridge in the old post office, specializing in gourmet treats & drinks, serving cappuccino, iced lattes, locally roasted coffee, gourmet 46

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treats, bubble tea (you haven’t enjoyed summer if you haven’t tried it) & vast amounts of chocolate; picnic baskets for the beach or park are offered for enjoyable sunny days, there are gifts for yourself, family, friends & pets. Check out our sister store, Dang!

Come Wine at North Topsail Beach Bar 4021 Island Drive, North Topsail 919-915-2072 (10) A staple in your Topsail Beach vacation entertainment. The perfect atmosphere for birthdays, bachelorette and ladies night out. Check our facebook page for upcoming events and live entertainment.

Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille 108 N. Shore Drive, Surf City 910-328-5577 (7) Preparing crab cakes, ribs, seafood, steaks, pasta and more. Enjoy the oceanfront dining deck, a full bar, elevator access and impeccable service. Open at 11am for lunch, 5pm for dinner and 9am for Sunday brunch.

Visit www.bluemainsail.com/daddymacs.

Em R Wings 1016 Old Folkstone Road, Sneads Ferry 910-327-2848 (3) The one place you’ll want to visit over and over again.

Celebrating over 15 years in business with one of a kind

wing flavors. Casual family dining featuring sandwiches, burgers, seafood, entrees, spaghetti, kids’ menu and more. Full ABC permits. Open for lunch and dinner. Dine it or call for take-out.

Home Port Restaurant & Pub 718 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach 910-328-7000 (28) “Definitely & Deliciously Italian,” this restaurant & pub offers great food such as seafood, steak, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, salads & pizza, karaoke is held on Friday nights & live entertainment on Saturday nights.

Mainsail Restaurant 404 Roland Ave., Surf City 910-328-0010 (5) Look for the big blue sail. Offering fresh island seafood, steaks, pastas & sandwiches, as well as a kids’ menu, homemade desserts & a full service bar; reservations & takeout orders accepted. Also, join us for drinks after dinner in the Commodore Room Martini Bar & Lounge. Call for entertainment schedule, 910328-2124.

The Pantry at Mia’s Marketplace 14061 Hwy 50, Surf City (9) Featuring hundreds of candy options – gummies, chocolate, old-school faves and dozens of flavors of salt water taffy! Remember wax bottles, Mary Janes, Juju Bees, Flying Saucers and Chic-o-sticks? We’ve got them! Create new memories with your family filling bags of childhood favorites. We have the best chips, pretzels, dips, jams and dressings. Top it off with an old-fashioned soda or a Luna Pop! We have all your sweet and salty treats covered. Located on the corner of Hwy 50 and JH Batts Road, on the mainland about ½ mile from the swing bridge, near the new turtle hospital.

A don’t miss store!

Quarter Masters Restaurant & Tavern 13741 Hwy 50, Surf City 910-328-3100 (6) Great eats and fine spirits. Next to the big green alligator, offering a great kids’ menu, sports bar, live music. Catering available, reservations accepted. Open Tuesday-Sunday, year round.

Daily Lun ch & Dinn er

Specials

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wide-screen tv · pool tables

Dining Room Open Mon-Fri: 11-3 & 5-9 Sat & Sun: 11-9

Live Entertainment on Saturday Nights Karaoke on Friday Nights @ 9:30

CALL FOR SEASONAL HOURS

910-328-7000

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SHARK ATTACK FREE FREE Beach Beach Bag Bag with with $15 $15 purchase purchase or or more! more!

125 N. Topsail Drive, Surf City • 910-328-1346

ALL SUNTAN LOTION

One coupon per person. One offer per coupon.

While supplies last. Exp. 1/31/14

20 OFF %

SKIM BOARD One coupon per person. One offer per coupon. While supplies last. Exp. 1/31/14

FREE

99

¢

BODY BOARD WITH LEASH

While supplies last.

One coupon per person. One offer per coupon. While supplies last. Exp. 1/31/14

7

$ 99

HERMIT CRAB with cage purchase

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts or specials. Exp. 1/31/14

SHARK TOOTH NECKLACE One coupon per person. One offer per coupon. While supplies last. Exp. 1/31/14

3

$ 99

***Sale Items Excluded*** GOOD AT ALL SHARK ATTACK LOCATIONS! 48

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SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

The Best For Less SHARK ATTACK LIVE...

sHARK

LARGEST SHARK IN THE WORLD!

1295 Highway 210, Sneads Ferry • 910-327-1222

BEACH CHAIR One coupon per person. One offer per coupon. While supplies last. Exp. 1/31/14

BEACH TOWELS ONE-MAN BOAT 29”x45” CANVAS RAFT

Exp. 1/31/14

HOODED SWEATSHIRTS

Exp. 1/31/14

3 FOR $10

One coupon per person. One offer per coupon. While supplies last. Exp. 1/31/14

REG. $1499

7 $ 99 6 $ 99 REG. $999

SALE

Exp. 1/31/14

99

SALE

14

$

8

$ 99

***Sale Items Excluded*** GOOD AT ALL SHARK ATTACK LOCATIONS!

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

Topsail Coaster 49

Sea & do Second Wind Fitness 98 Quarter Horse Lane, Hampstead 910-270-4044 (21) Offering aerobics classes, indoor pool, tanning beds, outdoor obstacle course and more. Open 6am8:30pm, Monday-Thursday; 6am-8pm, Friday; 8am4pm, Saturday; and 1-6pm, Sunday. One day passes, five-day punch cards and 30-day passes available. Visit secondwindfitnesscenter.com.

Summer Plunder Days Use locator numbers with area map on pages 52-53.

Boating, Fishing & Tours On Topsail Island you can fish two inlets, soundside coves and creeks, the Intracoastal Waterway, the surf or the Gulf Stream. Charter boat services are always ready to take you out for the exciting challenge of catching king mackerel, dolphin, tuna, snapper, grouper and cobia.

New River Marina 104 James St., Sneads Ferry 910-327-2106 (11) A fully operable marina in business for over 50 years. Boat docking areas, diesel and gasoline, bath house, camping, retail store for all your boating, fishing and crabbing needs. Carrying Calcutta, Penn, Shimano, Gup, Costa Del Mar. Don’t miss the 3rd annual Eric Powell Redfish Tournament in July, which raises money for the ALS Association.

Open Water, Inc. 241 Dunn Road, Sneads Ferry 910-327-9208 (13) With 35 years experience in sales and service.

Carrying Mercury, Mercruiser and Yamaha. Full service shop, sales, service and storage. Boat detailing, bottom painting, trailer repair, inboard and outboard maintenance, electrical work and more. Open MondayFriday, 8am-5pm, Saturday, 8am-noon.

Power Marine Outfitters 109 James St., Sneads Ferry 910-327-3953 (33) North Carolina’s premier fishing and high performance boat dealer. Proud dealer of Yamaha outboards, Nautic Star, Cobia, Mitzi, Pathfinder, Sundance Boats, Magic Tilt and Venture. Visit powermarineoutfitters.com for inventory and additional information.

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910-328-5841 (20) Join the Town of Topsail Beach as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with Summer Plunder Days art and craft sales in a traditional farmers market setting. Events run from 10am-4pm each Thursday, June through August. Expect jewelry, pottery, shell art, baskets, scissor art and more. Come Pillage in the Village! Visit Topsailbeach.org.

Classes & Programs Art Exposure 22527 Hwy 17, Hampstead 910-330-4077 (31) This 5,000 square foot building has room for studios, classrooms, gallery exhibits and events.

Available for lease by artists and for formal and informal events. Classes offered for adults and children in a variety of media and techniques. Art supply store inhouse, frame shop and gift shop.

Exhibits & Museums Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center, currently located directly behind Topsail Beach Town Hall before transitioning to a new Surf City location in late July or early August, is a site dedicated to caring for sick and injured turtles.

The new location on J.H. Batts Road (next to the Surf City Community Center), is a new $1.4 million facility offering an inside glimpse at what goes into caring for sea turtles. Call 910-328-3377 or visit www. seaturtlehospital.org.

Missiles and More Museum is open 2-4pm, closed Wednesday and Sunday, April through midOct.; at other times by appointment (800-626-2780 or 910-329-4446). Located in the Assembly Building, 720 Channel Blvd., soundside, Topsail Beach. Video, oral histories, artifacts & exhibits including Indian artifacts, pirate and World War II displays & more, www. topsailmissilesmuseum.org.

Discover the unique shops filled with all Topsail’s treasures...

FREE 1/4 lb of Fudge

(Chocolate or Vanilla) with purchase over $15. Must present coupon at time of purchase. 1 coupon per family visit.

Expires 12/31/2013

FREE TOPSAIL ISLAND COIN!

www.topsailtrading.com 201 N. New River Drive, Surf City Call for Hours 910-328-1905

www.topsailgiftbasket.com 702 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach Call for Hours 910-328-7111 Located Between Mile Marker 1 & 2

Full ABC TS I PERM

EM R !

WING

Try Our Wings One of a Kind Flavor Open for Lunch & Dinner Call in for Take Out

Must present coupon.

Expires 12/31/2013

The O n You’l e Place to V is l Want & Ove it Over r Aga in!

• Sandwiches • Burgers • Seafood • Entrees • Spaghetti • Kids Menu Casual Family Dining

(910) 327-2848 North Shore Village Center 1016 Old Folkstone Road Sneads Ferry, NC 28516 Topsail Coaster 51

“Wine” at North Topsail Beach Bar “Wine”

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910.328.0401 Follow us on Facebook to keep up with our events!

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NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH

Seaview Pier

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Gift Basket Harris Teeter Home Port Restaurant Mainsail Restaurant Mia’s Marketplace Mystic Treasures New River Marina North Shore Golf Club Open Water, Inc. Power Marine Outfitters Quarter Masters Restaurant & Tavern Quarter Moon Book Store

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Second Wind Fitness Shark Attack (2 Locations) South End Outfitters Summer Plunder Days The Pantry at Mia’s Marketplace Topsail Art Gallery Topsail Island Trading Co. Treasure Realty Tsunami (2 Locations) United Country Coastline Realty Ward Realty Wings

17

Permuda Island Coastal Reserve Fishing Piers Artificial Reefs ASSEMBLY BUILDING

Assembly Bldg.

Missile Towers Topsail Coaster 53

ISLAND FISHING

Topsail Island Piers Jolly Roger Fishing Pier 803 Ocean Road, Topsail Beach 910-328-4616

Seaview Fishing Pier 124 Fishing Pier Lane, North Topsail Beach 910-328-3172

Surf City Ocean Pier 112 Shore Drive, Surf City 910-328-3521

Surf City Soundside Park Pier Surf City Park, Surf City

Topsail offers several options when it comes to dropping a line. From piers and surfside to trolling on a charter boat, few things are better than casting a line on Topsail Island’s beautiful coastline. Anglers rave about the spring sea mullet and the Spanish mackerel, drum, flounder, cobia and spots as the water begins to warm.

Pier fishing was born with the construction of the Surf City Ocean Pier in 1948, now an icon in the community.

The love of the sport quickly caught on, leading to the construction of two additional ocean piers and more recently, the soundside pier in Surf City.

Fishermen who prefer a little solitude and peace, can easily find their place in the sand for a little surf fishing, by far, one of the most relaxing ways to participate. It’s not uncommon to find an angler resting back in a beach chair, his rod tucked into the sand by his feet as he patiently waits for a nibble. The payoff for surf fishing isn’t bad either, with catches often including flounder, trout, black drum, spot and pompano.

Those feeling a little more adventurous have their choice 54

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of more than 25 charter boat captains in the immediate area, with fishing trips that range from inshore jaunts that are calm enough for the kids to high seas adventures in the Gulf Stream. Most captains can cater a trip to your wants and needs, however, how good of a day you have is always up to the fish. Visit www.topsailcharterfishing.com for a list of charters available in the area.

Rules & Regulations While fishing on any of Topsail’s three ocean fishing piers, anglers are not required to purchase a NC Fishing License. The piers carry blanket licenses to cover all fishing on the premises.

All other fishermen over age 16 must purchase a permit from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Those interested can pay with a credit card online at ncwildlife.org, call 1-888-2HUNTFISH (1-888-248-6834) or view a list of locations throughout the Treasure Coast by visiting www.ncwildlife.org/Apps/WildlifeServiceAgent/ Search.asp.

SHARK ATTACK

LARGEST LARGEST SHARK SHARK IN IN THE THE WORLD! WORLD! 1295 Highway 210, Sneads Ferry • 910-327-1222 125 N. Topsail Drive, Surf City • 910-328-1346

FREE BOX OF TAFFY

LADIES SWIMSUITS 99 (select designs only, Mix and Match)

$5

With purchase of $15 or more.

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts or specials.

Exp. 1/31/14 TC -SA

FREE HERMIT CRAB with cage purchase

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts or specials.

Exp. 1/31/14 TC -SA

LADIES’ SWIMSUITS BEST NAME BRANDS

$5

off

Mix & Match Sets or Ladies’ Swimsuits priced $40 or more

Janzten, Hobie, Christina, Liquid Blue, etc Best selection of little girls’ suits

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts or specials.

Exp. 1/31/14 TC -SA

$699

Exp. 1/31/14 TC -SA

5 ½ FT. BEACH UMBRELLA Must present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts or specials.

Exp. 1/31/14 TC -SA

SOUVENIR T-SHIRTS

3 $10 for

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts or specials.

Exp. 1/31/14 TC -SA

ALL SUNGLASSES

NEW ARRIVAL AIRBRUSH

20% off

TEE-SHIRTS Must present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts or specials.

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts or specials.

Exp. 1/31/14 TC -SA

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts or specials.

Exp. 1/31/14 TC -SA

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!

The Best For Less SHARK ATTACK

FREE Beach Beach Bag Bag with with $15 $15 purchase purchase or or more! more!

FREE Topsail Coaster 55

Topsail Island tides JUNE 2013

High Date AM PM 1 2:21 3:12 2 3:22 4:13 3 4:22 5:08 4 5:17 5:57 5 6:08 6:42 6 6:54 7:23 7 7:36 8:02 8 8:16 8:39 9 8:55 9:15 10 9:34 9:52 11 10:12 10:28 12 10:52 11:05 13 11:33 11:43 14 ----- 12:18 15 12:25 1:06 16 1:11 1:59 17 2:03 2:55 18 3:00 3:53 19 3:59 4:50 20 5:00 5:47 21 6:00 6:42 22 6:58 7:36 23 7:54 8:29 24 8:50 9:22 25 9:46 10:14 26 10:43 11:07 27 11:41 ----- 28 12:00 12:41 29 12:55 1:42 30 1:51 2:43

Low AM PM 9:26 10:02 10:21 11:09 11:13 ----12:09 12:01 1:03 12:45 1:50 1:26 2:33 2:06 3:13 2:44 3:55 3:21 4:28 4:00 5:05 4:38 5:41 5:18 6:17 6:01 6:54 6:49 7:34 7:42 8:17 8:42 9:04 9:47 9:55 10:52 10:49 11:56 11:45 ----- 12:56 12:41 1:52 1:37 2:46 2:33 3:39 3:29 4:31 4:25 5:22 5:23 6:14 6:22 7:06 7:24 7:58 8:30 8:51 9:38

DECEMBER 2013

High Date AM PM 1 5:40 5:56 2 6:29 6:46 3 7:18 7:38 4 8:09 8:30 5 9:00 9:25 6 9:54 10:23 7 10:49 11:24 8 11:47 ----- 9 12:29 12:49 10 1:36 1:52 11 2:40 2:55 12 3:40 3:54 13 4:34 4:48 14 5:22 5:37 15 6:05 6:21 16 6:46 7:02 17 7:24 7:41 18 8:01 8:19 19 8:37 8:56 20 9:13 9:35 21 9:50 10:15 22 10:27 10:57 23 11:07 11:44 24 11:52 ----- 25 12:35 12:41 26 1:30 1:37 27 2:28 2:36 28 3:26 3:37 29 4:22 4:36 30 5:17 5:32 31 6:10 6:27

56

www.nccoast.com

Low AM PM ----- 12:47 12:35 1:37 1:25 2:27 2:16 3:17 3:09 4:09 4:04 5:02 5:03 5:57 6:07 6:54 7:16 7:52 8:28 8:50 9:39 9:46 10:43 10:38 11:40 11:27 ----- 12:30 12:11 1:14 12:53 1:55 1:33 2:33 2:11 3:10 2:49 3:46 3:27 4:22 4:06 4:57 4:47 5:34 5:32 6:12 6:23 6:54 7:21 7:40 8:24 8:31 9:29 9:25 10:32 10:21 11:31 11:17 ----- 12:26 12:13 1:18

JULY 2013

High Date AM PM 1 2:50 3:43 2 3:49 3:40 3 4:46 5:31 4 5:39 6:17 5 6:26 6:59 6 7:10 7:39 7 7:51 8:16 8 8:30 8:52 9 9:08 9:27 10 9:46 10:02 11 10:24 10:37 12 11:04 11:14 13 11:46 11:54 14 ----- 12:33 15 12:38 1:25 16 1:30 2:22 17 2:27 3:23 18 3:30 4:25 19 4:36 5:26 20 5:40 6:34 21 6:40 7:20 22 7:38 8:13 23 8:34 9:05 24 9:29 9:55 25 10:23 10:45 26 11:17 11:34 27 ----- 12:12 28 12:25 1:09 29 1:18 2:07 30 2:14 3:07 31 3:14 4:06

Low AM PM 9:45 10:44 10:37 4:40 11:27 ----- 12:39 12:15 1:27 12:59 2:10 1:41 2:49 2:21 3:26 3:00 4:01 3:38 4:35 4:17 5:09 4:56 5:42 5:38 6:17 6:24 6:55 7:16 7:38 8:15 8:26 9:19 9:21 10:27 10:20 11:34 11:21 ----12:36 12:23 1:34 1:22 2:27 2:20 3:19 3:17 4:08 4:12 4:57 5:07 5:45 6:03 6:33 7:01 7:22 8:02 8:12 9:07 9:05 10:12 9:59 11:14

JANUARY 2014

High Date AM PM 1 7:03 7:23 2 7:54 8:17 3 8:46 9:11 4 9:38 10:07 5 10:31 11:06 6 11:25 ----- 7 12:07 12:23 8 1:10 1:24 9 2:14 2:27 10 3:15 3:29 11 4:12 4:26 12 5:02 5:16 13 5:46 6:01 14 6:27 6:41 15 7:05 7:19 16 7:40 7:56 17 8:15 8:32 18 8:49 9:08 19 9:22 9:45 20 9:57 10:24 21 10:35 11:07 22 11:17 11:55 23 ----- 12:05 24 12:51 1:01 25 1:51 2:04 26 2:55 3:10 27 3:58 4:15 28 4:57 5:16 29 5:53 6:13 30 6:47 7:08 31 7:38 8:01

Low AM PM 1:09 2:10 2:04 3:00 2:58 3:51 3:54 4:41 4:52 5:33 5:53 6:26 6:57 7:22 8:06 8:19 9:16 9:16 10:22 10:12 11:20 11:04 12:10 11:51 ----- 12:54 12:34 1:33 1:15 2:10 1:53 2:45 2:30 3:18 3:07 3:50 3:44 4:22 4:23 4:56 5:06 5:32 5:53 6:12 6:47 6:59 7:49 7:52 8:56 8:52 10:04 9:55 11:08 10:58 12:06 11:59 ----- 12:59 12:56 1:50 1:52 2:39

AUGUST 2013

High Date AM PM 1 4:13 5:00 2 5:08 5:48 3 5:58 6:32 4 6:42 7:12 5 7:23 7:49 6 8:02 8:25 7 8:40 8:59 8 9:17 9:34 9 9:55 10:09 10 10:34 10:47 11 11:17 11:27 12 ----- 12:04 13 12:13 12:57 14 1:06 1:57 15 2:07 3:01 16 3:14 4:07 17 4:22 5:11 18 5:28 6:10 19 6:28 7:04 20 7:24 7:56 21 8:17 8:45 22 9:08 9:32 23 9:58 10:19 24 10:48 11:06 25 11:38 11:53 26 ----- 12:30 27 12:43 1:25 28 1:37 2:24 29 2:36 3:24 30 3:38 4:22 31 4:35 5:13

Low AM PM 10:54 ----- 12:09 11:45 12:57 12:33 1:39 1:17 2:18 1:58 2:53 2:38 3:27 3:17 3:59 3:56 4:32 4:36 5:05 5:18 5:41 6:05 6:21 6:56 7:06 7:55 7:58 9:00 8:57 10:09 10:02 11:17 11:08 ----12:19 12:13 1:15 1:13 2:06 2:10 2:55 3:05 3:41 3:58 4:26 4:49 5:11 5:41 5:55 6:34 6:41 7:30 7:29 8:30 8:22 9:33 9:19 10:36 10:18 11:32 11:14 -----

FEBRUARY 2014

High Date AM PM 1 8:29 8:54 2 9:18 9:47 3 10:08 10:41 4 10:59 11:37 5 11:53 ----- 6 12:36 12:51 7 1:38 1:55 8 2:41 2:59 9 3:41 3:59 10 4:35 4:52 11 5:21 5:37 12 6:03 6:18 13 6:40 6:55 14 7:15 7:31 15 7:49 8:06 16 8:22 8:41 17 8:56 9:16 18 9:30 9:54 19 10:08 10:36 20 10:49 11:24 21 11:38 ----- 22 12:19 12:35 23 1:22 1:40 24 2:29 2:51 25 3:36 3:59 26 4:39 5:02 27 5:36 5:59 28 6:30 6:53

Low AM PM 2:47 3:27 3:42 4:15 4:37 5:03 5:33 5:53 6:33 6:44 7:37 7:40 8:45 8:39 9:52 9:40 10:52 10:37 11:43 11:28 ----- 12:27 12:14 1:05 12:55 1:40 1:34 2:13 2:11 2:45 2:48 3:16 3:25 3:47 4:04 4:20 4:45 4:56 5:31 5:37 6:23 6:25 7:24 7:22 8:31 8:27 9:41 9:36 10:46 10:44 11:44 11:48 ----- 12:38 12:47 1:27

SEPTEMBER 2013

High Date AM PM 1 5:26 5:58 2 6:11 6:39 3 6:53 7:17 4 7:31 7:53 5 8:09 8:28 6 8:47 9:05 7 9:26 9:42 8 10:07 10:23 9 10:51 11:06 10 11:41 11:56 11 ----- 12:36 12 12:52 1:38 13 1:57 2:45 14 3:07 3:53 15 4:16 4:57 16 5:20 5:54 17 6:18 6:47 18 7:10 7:37 19 7:59 8:23 20 8:46 9:08 21 9:32 9:52 22 10:17 10:36 23 11:02 11:20 24 11:49 ----- 25 12:07 12:40 26 12:58 1:35 27 1:57 2:35 28 2:59 3:34 29 3:58 4:28 30 4:50 5:16

Low AM PM 12:19 12:05 1:01 12:52 1:38 1:34 2:13 2:15 2:46 2:55 3:20 3:35 3:54 4:17 4:30 5:01 5:09 5:49 5:52 6:42 6:42 7:41 7:38 8:47 8:43 9:56 9:53 11:02 11:03 ----12:01 12:08 12:54 1:07 1:42 2:02 2:28 2:53 3:11 3:42 3:54 4:30 4:35 5:17 5:17 6:05 5:59 6:56 6:45 7:50 7:36 8:49 8:34 9:49 9:37 10:44 10:38 11:32 11:33 -----

OCTOBER 2013

High Date AM PM 1 5:36 5:58 2 6:18 6:38 3 6:58 7:17 4 7:37 7:56 5 8:18 8:36 6 8:59 9:18 7 9:44 10:02 8 10:31 10:50 9 11:23 11:44 10 ----- 12:20 11 12:44 1:23 12 1:52 2:30 13 3:04 3:38 14 4:11 4:40 15 5:12 5:37 16 6:06 6:29 17 6:55 7:16 18 7:41 8:01 19 8:25 8:44 20 9:06 9:26 21 9:48 10:07 22 10:29 10:49 23 11:12 11:33 24 11:57 ----- 25 12:21 12:47 26 1:16 1:41 27 2:15 2:37 28 3:13 3:32 29 4:07 4:24 30 4:56 5:11 31 5:41 5:56

Low AM PM 12:14 12:22 12:52 1:07 1:28 1:50 2:03 2:32 2:40 3:15 3:18 4:00 3:59 4:46 4:43 5:36 5:31 6:31 6:25 7:30 7:26 8:35 8:36 9:41 9:49 10:43 11:00 11:40 ----- 12:04 12:31 1:01 1:17 1:53 2:01 2:41 2:42 3:27 3:22 4:11 4:01 4:54 4:41 5:38 5:21 6:23 6:05 7:11 6:53 8:02 7:48 8:56 8:50 9:48 9:53 10:36 10:53 11:20 11:47 ----12:01 12:36

NOVEMBER 2013

High Date AM PM 1 6:24 6:41 2 7:07 7:25 3 6:51 7:10 4 7:37 7:56 5 8:25 8:45 6 9:15 9:37 7 10:08 10:34 8 11:06 11:37 9 ----- 12:07 10 12:45 1:12 11 1:55 2:18 12 3:00 3:20 13 3:59 4:17 14 4:52 5:09 15 5:39 5:56 16 6:23 6:40 17 7:04 7:22 18 7:44 8:02 19 8:23 8:41 20 9:01 9:21 21 9:40 10:02 22 10:21 10:47 23 11:04 11:35 24 11:50 ----- 25 12:28 12:40 26 1:23 1:33 27 2:19 2:28 28 3:12 3:22 29 4:02 4:15 30 4:51 5:06

Low AM PM 12:42 1:23 1:22 2:09 2:04 1:56 1:48 2:43 2:34 3:32 3:23 4:24 4:16 5:19 5:13 6:17 6:18 7:18 7:29 8:20 8:42 9:20 9:53 10:15 10:56 11:05 11:52 11:52 12:43 ----12:35 1:29 1:15 2:11 1:54 2:52 2:33 3:32 3:11 4:12 3:50 4:52 4:32 5:33 5:17 6:16 6:07 7:01 7:03 7:48 8:05 8:35 9:08 9:23 10:08 10:11 11:04 10:58 11:56 11:46

Your Marine Headquarters

Mercury

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We do it ALL!

From complete engine overhauls to simple tune ups.

Sales • Service • Storage 114 Sugar Lane • Sneads Ferry, NC 28460

910.327.9208 www.openwaterinc.com

Hours: M-F 8-5, Sat 8-12 Topsail Coaster 57

Breaking

Photos courtesy of Ocean City Beach Citizens Council

T h e H i s t o ry o f O c e a n C i t y

While there are facets of Topsail Island’s history that are visible for all to see, there are plenty of hidden treasures that are far less obvious, tucked just below the surface of this pivotal island home.

The north end of the barrier island is known today as the Town of North Topsail, incorporated in 1990. It is not, however, the first residential en58

www.nccoast.com

clave to call the northern stretch of beach home.

That honor falls to Ocean City, what many believe was the first beach resort for African Americans in the still segregated South.

It was the late 1940s and the military had cleared off of Topsail Island. Edgar Yow, a white attorney from Wilmington, and later mayor, owned 1-mile stretch of beach front property about 3 miles north of Surf City. The lawyer approached Dr. Samuel Gray, a black physician in Wilmington, with the idea of creating an African American beach community where residents could actually own a beachfront home. Dr. Gray turned to Bertram, Wade, Louise and Robert Chestnut, siblings who purchased the first tracts of land in the new Ocean City.

“In the 1950s, Father Kirton of the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church along with the Chestnut family decided to have a summer camp located in Ocean

Barriers Zach Frailey phtoo

City,” writes Chris Rackley, president of Lewis Realty Associates in a recent blog on the company website. “Soon after the community built a dormitory that housed over 60 children for the summer camps. Today, the Wade H. Chestnut Memorial Chapel still stands and is the center of community activities along with the Ocean City Community Center.

“In 1959, Ocean City Developers, Inc. decided to build the Ocean City Fishing Pier,” continues Rackley. “The pier was located and built upon one of the watch towers left over from Operation Bumblebee. A personal connection of the history of Ocean City lends itself in this era of the community. Elizabeth “Peggy” Lewis, a then paralegal with the attorney Yow and later owner of Lewis Realty Associates, Inc. from the 1980s until 2011, assisted the Ocean City Developers, Inc. in their meetings by serving as their secre-

tary. Lewis also through the law firm assisted with real estate purchases and development.”

Rackley’s great aunt Peggy and his greatgrandfather enjoyed fishing at the pier, he said, and caught many mullet from their “secret” fishing hole located just off the side of the pier.

The pier itself was demolished after suffering extensive damage from Hurricanes Fran and Bertha in 1996, the realtor said, but the tower that it was built around remains as a reminder of the strides that were made for the civil rights movement on the shoreline it overlooks.

In May of 2012, the community of Ocean City received historical recognition with commemorative street signs and each summer the community celebrates with a Jazz Festival, supported in part by a grant from the NC Arts Council. More than 60 years later, the site continues to be a vibrant community.

Topsail Coaster 59

108 North Shore Drive Surf City • 328-5577

11am-3pm Lunch 5pm-until Dinner Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm

OYSTER BAR

Prime Rib and Surf & Turf Special Saturday & Sunday 404 Roland Avenue, Surf City www.BLUEMAINSAIL.com 60

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910-328-0010

Private Party Rooms Available Reservations Accepted

advertiser directory The following is a categorized listing of Topsail Coaster advertisers. Each advertiser listing is followed by the page number of their ad and the advertiser’s phone number. For information on advertising your business in Topsail Coaster Magazine, email sales@nccoast.com.

FOOD & DRINK

Beach Shop and Grill........................................ 37 910.328.6501 Breezeway Motel & Restaurant ...................... 29 910.328.7751 Come Wine at North Topsail Beach Bar........... 52 919.915.2072 Daddy Mac’s..................................................... 60 910.328.5577 Em R Wings....................................................... 51 910.327.2848 Home Port Restaurant & Pub........................... 47 910.328.7000 Mainsail Restaurant ........................................ 60 910.328.0010 Quartermasters Restaurant & Tavern...Back Cover 910.328.3100

REAL ESTATE/RENTALS/ ACCOMMODATIONS

Breezeway Motel & Restaurant ...................... 29 910.328.7751 United Country Coastline Realty........................ 7 910.327.7711 Treasure Realty . .............................................. 17 910.358.4708 Ward Realty Corp. .............................................. 5 910.328.3221

RECREATION

Art Exposure..................................................... 23 910.330.4077 Bear Trail Golf................................................... 27 910.346.8160 New River Marina............................................. 45 910.327.2106 North Shore Golf Club....................................... 27 910.327.2410 Second Wind Fitness Center.............................. 8 910.270.4044 Summer Plunder Days........................................ 8 910.328.5841

SHOPPING

Beach Furniture Outfitters, Inc. . ..................... 43 910.328.4181 Bellavie Boutique................................................ 6 910.329.1447 Bert’s Surf Shop.................................................. 2 910.328.1010 Bumblebee Market........................................... 57 910.328.2105 D’s Interior Design.............................................. 8 910.327.2166 Gift Basket ................................................2, 3, 51 910.328.7111 Harris Teeter..................................................... 13 910.329.0711 Mia’s Marketplace.........................................5, 63 910.803.0316 Mystic Treasures Jewelry ...................... 3, 32-33 910.328.6300 Open Water, Inc................................................. 57 910.327.9208 Power Marine Outfitters................................... 45 910.327.3953 Quarter Moon Bookstore .....................Back Cover 910.328.4969 Shark Attack Souvenir & Gift Shops ..................................... 48-49, 55 910.328.1346, 910.327.1222 South End Outfitters......................................... 43 910.541.0832 Topsail Art Gallery & Frame Shop............... 32-33 910.328.2138 Topsail Island Trading Company.................51, 63 910.328.1905 Tsunami...................................................4, 21, 62 910.741.0481 Wings.................................................................. 9 910.328.5900

Topsail Coaster 61

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Salsas, Chips, Pretzels, Mustards, Dips Sugar-Free selections, too!

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201 n. new River Drive surf City, nC 28445 910.328.1905 www.topsailtrading.com