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| Home » Holden Beach » New Hanover Beaches » Wrightsville Beach | About Wrightsville Beach | |
Wrightsville BeachWhere Village Charm Meets City LifeWrightsville Beach is a popular destination for weekend getaways and annual vacations for generations of families who return year after year. The town of Wrightsville Beach occupies one of the chain of barrier islands along North Carolina's Cape Fear Coast. The island varies from 1,000 to 5,000 feet in width, and it stretches almost four miles from Masonboro inlet on the south to Mason inlet on the north. Wrightsville Beach was incorporated in 1899 as a resort community. At that time, The Tidewater Power Company installed a trolley system from downtown to the beach, which provided the only land access to the island until 1935. The entire area was originally only accessible by water and was rich with salt water and anadromous fish along with turtles, raccoons and even alligators. The Tidewater Power Company, which owned the island, built the Hotel Tarrymore in 1905 to increase tourism. The hotel, later named The Oceanic, burned to the ground in 1934 during a fire that also destroyed most structures on the northern half of the island. The Tidewater Power Company also built the Lumina, a beach pavilion for visitors. The Lumina, located where the Oceanic Restaurant sits today at the south end of the beach, offered a place where locals and visitors gathered for swimming, dancing and outdoor movies. The building was demolished in 1973. The Carolina Yacht Club was built in 1856 and was the first large structure on the island. The members built a clubhouse, the first structure on what began to be called Wrightsville Beach (after the Wright family who owned land on the nearby mainland). The Carolina Yacht Club is the third oldest yacht club in the U.S. During the Civil War, the waterways were busy with blockade runners making their dangerous, usually nocturnal, trips from the Atlantic into the mouth of the river on their way to the port of Wilmington. Roadways began in 1875, when a charter was granted for the construction of a turnpike connecting Wilmington to Wrightsville Sound. The passage, completed in 1887 and completely topped by oyster shells, was dubbed "the Shell Road." Later that year, the Wilmington Seacoast Railroad Company began a track from Wilmington to the Hammocks. After transportation ground was laid, building began to boom. Another yacht club, two hotels and several beach cottages were built. Visitors from as far away as New York soon came to set foot on the pristine beaches in Wrightsville. In 1935, a two-lane bridge was built across the Intra-Coastal Waterway to Harbor Island and then over Bank's Channel to the beach. Today, the busy and prosperous Wrightsville Beach is a favorite among both tourists and locals, so much so that there is almost no available land for sale. If you're lucky enough to find available property to rent or buy, snap it up, because most of the homes are family heirlooms owned by city residents whose families have maintained ownership through the decades. There's plenty of fun to be had in Wrightsville Beach, including sun bathing, swimming, surfing and fishing-don't forget the sunscreen! There are several free public beach access points along the shoreline. Interested in water sports? Rent a Jet Ski, power or sail boat. Or try a diving, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking or sailing lesson. Lifeguards keep a watchful eye on swimmers during the summer season, and the beach patrol ensures laws are obeyed. There's lots of bait, tackle and piers to accommodate all levels of anglers. And if you happen to have your own boat, there's a free boat ramp just north of the first bridge onto Harbour Island, the island between the mainland and Wrightsville Beach. The island, which spans about a square mile, maintains its charm in the midst of its numerous residents and visitors that walk its sandy beach. Parking is scarce during peak summer (in-season) weekends, the parking meters are strictly enforced, and the locals and merchants guard parking lots vigilantly, so you might consider public transportation to get in and out of the area. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere prevails in this beach community that radiates a village-style charm. A clean and uncluttered five-mile stretch of white sand and sparkling water invites a day of beachcombing, swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and pier or surf fishing for a truly pleasurable experience. For the athletic at heart, there's a city park with lighted tennis courts; volleyball and basketball courts; football and soccer fields; and the "Loop," a fitness trail that circles the inner island. Boaters can enjoy the full-service marinas and charter cruises available. History buffs will enjoy the island's museum of history and narrated scenic cruises along the Intra-Coastal Waterway that offer a glimpse into the island's past. The annual Lumina Daze festival and Castles & Scoops Sand Sculpting Contest, are held each summer. The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla is yet another annual event that celebrate the island's nautical and cultural heritage. A variety of fine accommodations range from full-service resorts and family motels to luxurious cottages and condominiums. Exciting nightlife and some of the Cape Fear Coast's finest seafood restaurants are located on the island and just across the bridge. The Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, housed in the turn of the century Myers Cottage, exists to preserve and to share the history of Wrightsville Beach. Visitors to the cottage will find a scale model of Wrightsville Beach circa 1910; exhibits featuring the early days of the beach including Lumina Pavilion; the history and information about the interaction between the people and the natural environment which have shaped the 100 year history of Wrightsville Beach. The museum also features beach history and lifestyles through permanent exhibits featuring a scale model of the oldest built-up section of the beach, photos, furniture, artifacts, a slide show and recorded oral histories. There are also rotating exhibits on loggerhead turtles, surfing, the Civil War, shipwrecks, hurricanes and beach nightlife at such bygone attractions as the Lumina Pavilion. In the warm season, take a Wrightsville Beach Scenic Cruise aboard a 40-foot pontoon vessel along the calm IntraCoastal Waterway, which affords a fine view of the landscape and wildlife of the tidal environment. Nature excursions to Masonboro Island are guided by a marine biologist. One-hour harbor cruises, shuttles to Masonboro Island and sunset cruises are other highlights. Walk-ons are accepted, but reservations are required for the narrated nature excursions. They also rent motor boats and a 40-foot motor yacht. To get to Wrightsville Beach, take Eastwood Road (U.S. Highway 74), which is the only access. Market Street (U.S. Highways 17 and 74) is the main east-west route to and from downtown. Just east of College Road, Eastwood branches off to Wrightsville Beach, and Market Street continues northeast as U.S. 17 to access the northern beaches. U.S. Highway 76 from the west takes a southerly route through Wilmington along Oleander Drive, a major shopping thoroughfare, and joins Eastwood Road (U.S. 74) just before it crosses the Intra-Coastal Waterway and proceeds to Wrightsville Beach. There are four area airports. Major airline service is offered through two - Wilmington International Airport and Myrtle Beach International Airport. Brunswick County is midway between both airports and about 45 minutes away from each. There are also two small airports in Ocean Isle Beach and Oak Island. 
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Hobbs Realty Copyright © 1998-2012 Hobbs Realty. All Rights Reserved. Photography Copyright © 2012 Hobbs Realty and respective photographers. Reproduction strictly prohibited. Website Services and Consulting provided by LSI. All information on this site is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information on this website are accurate, however, Hobbs Realty cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. Broker-in-Charge (BIC) owns or has an interest in properties managed by Hobbs Realty Inc. Rates are subject to change at owner discretion. Non-standard ammenities are subject to change. Due to high tides and forces of nature, tidal pools may exist in natural settings on the island. Oceanfront properties in close proximity to an ocean inlet are subject to rapid and substantial changes in dune structure and distance to the beach strand. Main Navigation:
Featured in the Holden Beach section of NCBeaches.com. Description: Wrightsville Beach: Visit the New Hanover County Beaches for a variety of activities, attractions, restaurants, shopping and more! Title: New Hanover Beaches: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina Terms: New Hanover Beaches: Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Topsail Island, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach Page generated Sunday, May 20, 2012 10:20:22 PM in 0.03 seconds. [ 5Q-6L-8P-U-5D436449-7195-4232-ABA2-A7CA896A7D2E ] |