Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach is a barrier island wonderland featuring glorious beaches, great restaurants, dream homes and luxurious condos, all just minutes from the city of Wilmington. Ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 feet wide, this nearly four-mile stretch between Mason and Masonboro inlets features sound-to-sea views all along the way. Even better, Wrightsville Beach is a mere 10 miles from downtown Wilmington.

PHOTOS BY UNIQUE MEDIA AND DESIGN

The off-season’s small-town feel swells when tourists and part-time residents return in spring, summer and early fall. Around 3,000 people live here permanently, but the population hits 30,000 during warmer months. Plenty of accommodations await, from by-thebeach motel rooms to oceanfront “sand castles.” The island is almost completely developed.

SURF’S UP — MOST OF THE TIME

Wrightsville Beach is a surfing hotspot. Pros and beginners rush here with surfboards, paddleboards and body boards. Arrive early to find parking, especially on weekends, otherwise you might drive around for hours in search of a space. Don’t pull into home driveways or condo lots. Your vehicle will be towed from private spaces.

SAILING THROUGH HISTORY

Wrightsville Beach was not always the plush vacation and residential area it is today. Early on, when the state of North Carolina owned the island, the area was named New Hanover Banks. Back then, an inlet separated the island into two segments. Shell Island, to the north, kept its name as evidenced by the present-day Shell Island Resort, which

is surrounded by extravagant homes and large condominium communities.

Between 1791 and 1841, the island was private property, uninhabited and visited only by hunters, fishermen, and sailing enthusiasts. The island’s first structure was the Carolina Yacht Club headquarters. Built in 1853, it’s America’s third-oldest yacht club. Some past members were involved in the Civil War, when blockade runners worked nearby waters. Three blockade runners supposedly foundered on the island.

Following the Civil War, an oyster shellsurfaced turnpike linked Wilmington and Wrightsville Sound. Wilmington Seacoast Railroad tracks followed in 1887. They stretched from the city to the Hammocks, a piece of land west of the beach. That land is now named Harbor Island. A footbridge connected the Hammocks with Wrightsville Beach, and development increased. Another yacht club, several hotels and some beach cottages were built.

In 1889, railroad tracks extended across the Hammocks and Banks Channel to the beach. Visitors from Wilmington began to flock to Wrightsville Beach in summer. In 1899, with 40 to 50 mostly seasonal residents, the Town of Wrightsville Beach was incorporated. Unfortunately, later that year, a hurricane destroyed it.

SURGING AHEAD

The town was soon rebuilt. The rail line became an electric trolley in 1902, and by 1907, 8,700 passengers from Wilmington, New York and other cities rode the “Beach Trolley” to the shore. The stunning Lumina Entertainment Hall was built at the end of the trolley line in 1905. Costing $7,000, a whopping sum in those days, Lumina comprised 12,500 square feet. Three floors hosted various activities including a ballroom, bowling alley and shooting gallery.

Lumina grew several times. A huge movie screen was erected 50 feet out into the surf. In 1910, 600 electric outdoor lights made Lumina visible from miles away. By 1930, Wrightsville Beach hosted 110 residents, but in 1934 a fire destroyed more than 100 cottages and the Oceanic Hotel. Again, the town rebounded. A year later, a new road linked the mainland to Wrightsville Beach.

The population jumped to 1,500 by 1945. Alas, tragedy struck again. In 1954, Hurricane Hazel blew in winds of 125 to 140 miles per hour and a 12- to 14-foot storm surge. Hazel wiped out upwards of 250 houses and damaged 500 more, but Wrightsville Beach would not be squashed. More homes were constructed in Hazel’s wake. The seven-story Blockade Runner Motor Hotel opened in 1964. Unfortunately, Lumina deteriorated. A special era ended when the hall was demolished in 1973.

Shell Island Resort was built in 1984. Mother Nature, however, did not surrender. Hurricanes Bertha and Fran in the 1990s damaged hundreds of homes and businesses, leveled dunes and destroyed two fishing piers. Wrightsville Beach rose yet again. Damages were repaired, and the new concrete, hurricane-resistant Johnnie Mercer’s Pier was built.

Wrightsville Beach Museum of History displays artifacts, photos and exhibits tracing the town’s past. A 12-foot model depicts Wrightsville Beach in 1910.

RECREATION

If you love boats, don’t miss Wrightsville Beach’s annual November Holiday Flotilla Day in the Park followed by that evening’s colorful Holiday Flotilla Boat Parade. People from around the region flock to see the light-festooned boats that cruise the waterways around town. This two-day event focuses exclusively on holiday activities.

Wrightsville Beach is not all about boats. Jazz concerts, a Bark in the Park pet day, bocce ball and volleyball tournaments, the Loop fitness trail encircling the inner island, a kayak and canoe trail through the sound and marshes, and other offerings from the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Department keep residents and visitors active and happy.

WATCH YOUR STEP. THE SEA TURTLES ARE NESTING

As you stroll Wrightsville Beach’s white-sand shore, be mindful of an endangered species that lives here. The nonprofit Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project educates visitors and residents about sea turtles that visit the island. You may see their tracks during nesting season. Before leaving the beach, fill any holes you dug in the sand and remove all trash. Turn off outdoor lights and keep indoor lights from shining on the beach at night, since lights disturb nesting turtles and hatchlings. Don’t use flashlights or flash photography at night on the beach.

The number of sea turtle nests identified in 2016 matched an alltime record for Wrightsville Beach. A total of 15 loggerhead sea turtle nests resulted in 1,382 hatchlings released into the Atlantic Ocean, thanks to the corporative efforts of the visitors and residents.

In the 2017 nesting season, 10 loggerhead nests were found and 878 hatchlings were successfully released into the ocean.

Call (910) 612-3047 to report sea turtle activity, injuries or strandings. If everyone cares, sea turtles will thrive. And don't miss out on free turtle talks every Tuesday evening in summer at the Coastal Federation, located at 309 S Salisbury Street Wrightsville Beach. For more info visit wbstp.org.

LOCAL SPOTS NOT TO BE MISSED

When visiting Wrightsville Beach, be sure to check out these local spots!

Coastal Massage & Spa

When Coastal Massage & Spa opened near Wrightsville Beach, they envisioned a professional, friendly spa experience in a warm, private, and peaceful setting. Creating a spa that would cater to a clientele who expected and appreciated the best of the best in quality, care and expertise.

In 2018 they opened a brand-new, 3,000-square-foot facility at Grand View Apartments equipped with a private bridal suite for wedding parties, bachelorette weekends or pampering sessions for 6 to 10 people. Large mirrors and locally crafted plushy seating make a great place for fun and group photos.

Guests at Coastal Massage & Spa enjoy nine treatment rooms, locker rooms with showers, a steam room, a sauna, HydraFacial and relaxation space enriched with beautifully appointed

Standup paddleboarding is a favorite pastime for locals and visitors. Motts Channel and Lees Cut offer beginners a calm place to get their feet wet.

treatment tables, soft linens, gentle music and a wide variety of signature treatment offerings. The spa is decorated to entice relaxation in a high-end, luxurious setting. The interior of Coastal Massage & Spa was designed to blend coastal elegance with a calming color palette, soft textures and luxury finishes such as quartz countertops, glass tile and frosted windows and doors.

Brides and grooms really benefit from these services before their wedding day, since the final preparation can be hectic. The spa caters to clients seeking all massage techniques and is one few spas in the area that offers couples massage.

Coastal Massage & Spa offers waxing services and eyelash extensions in addition to massage and facials. For those who prefer leaving decisions to the experts, skin care specialists will conduct a customized facial based on an individual’s skin type and skin care goals that will leave you refreshed and glowing.

Oceanic Restaurant at The Crystal Pier

The Oceanic Restaurant has been rooted in Wrightsville Beach’s history for over 40 years, and the adjoining historic Crystal Pier for over 40 more. When first built in 1939, the pier was the longest wooden pier in the Atlantic Ocean. Even to this day, it is the only wooden pier in Wrightsville Beach, expanding 475 feet into the water. The location of the Oceanic is close to where Lumina Pavilion once stood, the entertainment venue popular in the early 1900’s as a destination for tourists and Wilmington residents for local entertainment, dancing and summer activities. Located on South Lumina Avenue, this iconic restaurant sits three stories high, with seating and panoramic views of the sparkling Atlantic Ocean from each floor. The restaurant was recently renovated, offering modern touches and coastal charm, while also providing a look back at Wrightsville Beach history as you enter the restaurant. The restaurant also serves as an oceanfront event venue with access to use the Crystal Pier for receptions and ceremonies.

Enjoy live music on the pier from local musicians on Thursdays and Sundays, all while you dine or enjoy a variety of cocktails at the pier bar. The location of the restaurant also happens to be a favorite location for surfers, and you can often catch the sights of dolphins and sailboats on the water. Grab a drink while sitting at The Jetty Bar, which has a robust selection of wines, cocktails, and beers and overlooks the ocean, with views of Wrightsville Beach’s orange hued sunsets.

The Oceanic serves lunch and dinner daily, with a well-known beachside brunch on Sundays, complete with champagne cocktails and bloody marys. The Oceanic is known for their coastal cuisine and dedication to fresh, local and seasonal dishes.

Seafood dishes range from crab cakes and dip, to sushi-grade Ahi Poke bowls, to your traditional Southern “Calabash-style” platters and chef-inspired features served daily. While visiting, be sure to start off

your meal with one of their local favorite appetizers, such as the Jumbo Lump Crab Dip, Lobster Shrimp Bruschetta or Sunkissed Shrimp. Several seasonal salad entrees are available for those looking for something on the lighter side, with different toppings changing from fried oysters to shrimp. Steaks, chicken and pasta dishes, such as the Pan-roasted Chicken are also crowd-pleasing dinner options.

The Oceanic has a fully stocked bar, with a variety of rotating local craft beers, an extensive wine list and a selection of cocktails. For those looking for a picnic dinner on the beach or heading home after a long day in the sun, you can pick up a to-go menu which includes large, family-style to-go platters. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Brunch is Sundays, from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Oceanic has a private parking lot located adjacent to the restaurant with handicap parking and accessibility. There is direct access to the beach via stairs on the pier or via the walkway next to the restaurant. For those on their family vacations, don’t forget to pick up a souvenir, postcard or t-shirt to remind you of your memorable trip.

Bluewater Waterfront Grill

Bluewater Waterfront Grill overlooks a beautiful marina just over Wrightsville Beach’s Causeway Bridge, what locals call “the first bridge,” as you approach town. The sprawling, two-story restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor seating, offers casual American food and friendly service.

Being so close to the shore, seafood is, of course, a specialty. Start meals with a classic shrimp cocktail or coconut shrimp with dark rum marmalade dipping sauce. The sandwich menu lists crab cake sandwiches, fish tacos and burgers. When soft shell crabs are in season, look for them deep-fried and in a sandwich. Delicious. Entrees touch land and sea, with baby back ribs, grilled rib-eye steaks, citrus-glazed scallops, roasted oysters, a fried seafood platter and a mixed grill featuring mahi, salmon and shrimp. Daily specials are other good bets.

A full bar serves all sorts of cocktails and beer. Wine is poured by the glass or bottle. Reserve beautiful private rooms with stunning views, especially at sunset, for parties, special occasions or business meetings. Bluewater is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the week.

The Bento Box

The Forum Shopping Center on Military Cutoff near Wrightsville Beach hosts The Bento Box Sushi Bar and Asian Kitchen, Wilmington’s premier sushi restaurant. Although recognized for sushi, The Bento Box Sushi Bar and Asian Kitchen is also tops for authentic Asian food. From Thailand to Tokyo, the dishes are all prepared with locally sourced, all-natural or organic ingredients when available. The Bento Box Sushi Bar and Asian Kitchen sake bar boasts one of the largest sake selections in Wilmington and is the first sake bar in the Carolinas to have premium cold sake on draft.

Sit at the sushi bar to watch the masters at work. Consider the signature Delicious Roll, made with either spicy tuna or salmon and seaweed salad topped with avocado, wasabi tobikko, sesame seeds, tempura crumbles and two Bento Box signature hot sauces. The Totally Tuna suits those watching their carbs. Tuna, avocado, wasabi tobikko and sesame soy sheets are wrapped in a thin cucumber and served with spicy ponzu sauce. Choose numerous rice-less and vegetarian rolls. Glutenfree soy sauce is available. All rolls are delicious, but better yet, ask owner/chef Lee Grossman to prepare something “Omakase” meaning “Chef’s choice” in Japanese.

You will want to try all the different Asian street foods available on the menu. Vietnamese ginger beef is a beef tenderloin and vegetable stir-fry in ginger sauce. Pickled sweet red onions and crispy potato straws crown the mix, or try the gluten-free oh-so-crispy Japanese fried chicken, marinated in sake, ginger and soy sauce and dusted with potato starch. Oftentimes, diners choose several dishes and share them to enjoy all the many flavors.

Save room for a the chocolate potstickers for dessert. Each deep-fried wonton package holds a warm, melted, handmade Belgian dark chocolate truffle. A delicious caramel dipping sauce comes on the side. You may order just one truffle, but why would you?

The restaurant is open Monday through Wednesday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday 4 to 10 p.m. Chef closes on Sunday so he and the staff can have quality family time 