Kure Beach, NC

Kure Beach: Where Small is Good

At the southern tip of Pleasure Island sits Kure Beach, offering views of the Cape Fear River, the Atlantic Ocean, and Zeke's Island estuarine complex. Although Carolina Beach merges into Kure Beach, this wasn't always the case.

In the 1870s, building began in Kure Beach, but it wasn't incorporated until 1947. Much of the history of the area surrounds Fort Fisher, the last major Confederate stronghold to fall to Union forces during the Civil War. During the war, the fort, which stretched for 1.5 miles, was the largest and strongest earthen fort in the Confederacy.

Today, the Department of Cultural Resources operates and maintains the remains of Fort Fisher as a State Historic Site. The property features scenic easements of both the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as a quarter-mile tour trail surrounding the archaeological remains of the Confederate fort. Exterior exhibits, a reconstructed palisade fence and a partially restored gun emplacement are also available for inspection.

The tour trail encircles the Western Bastion, including the partially restored Shepherd's Battery, which has a fully functional reproduction of a rifled and banded 32-pounder cannon.

The Fort Fisher Historic Site's visitors' center features an upgraded theater, a large gift shop, disabled-accessible restrooms, a free 15-minute audiovisual program chronicling the history of the fort, a museum and a state-of-the-art 16-foot fiber optic map. An eight-minute narrative accompanying the map narrates the final Battle of Fort Fisher. There are also plenty of exhibits, dioramas and artifacts to please historians, as well as an informative audio program. The surrounding grounds, including The Cove and earthworks, are open to the public and are available for tours.

When you visit Fort Fisher, be sure to stop by the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, which frequently adds new exhibits. Located on the ocean south of Kure Beach (about 15 miles south of Wilmington), the Aquarium is now three times its original size and the largest of North Carolina's three aquariums. The aquarium features a 235,000-gallon saltwater tank, fascinating displays, interactive exhibits and a half-acre freshwater conservatory. "The Waters of the Cape Fear" follows the river from the Piedmont to the Atlantic Ocean, and more than 2,500 freshwater and saltwater creatures are on exhibit.

After you visit the fort and aquarium, walk across U.S. Route 421 to the Cove. The Cove features a live oak-lined area overlooking the ocean, perfect for a walk on the beach. Or, check out the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, which boasts bathhouse showers, a visitors' center and concession stand.

The nearby Fort Fisher/Southport Ferry also provides many picturesque views of the Cape Fear River during its shore-to-shore journey. The half-hour crossing affords riders excellent views of Federal Point, Zeke's Island and The Rocks from the upper deck. On the Southport side, you'll see Price's Creek Lighthouse at the mouth of the inlet. The crew is knowledgeable, and the cabin is air-conditioned. When traveling between Southport and New Hanover County, be rue to ride the ferry.

Kure Beach is mostly residential, smattered with modest cottages, new upscale houses and a number of beach motels. Several condominium buildings are located in one central area, but other than that, tall buildings are few and far between. There is even a law stating that new structures may not be built taller than 35 feet. Downtown (near the pier) there are several restaurants and a boardwalk with benches that extends north along the beach and is well lit at night. And the 711-foot long Kure Beach Fishing Pier offers anglers the opportunity to test their skills.

There is an arcade but there is little else in the way of that type of entertainment-residents choose to spend their time outdoors and find their own entertainment. There aren't a lot of stores to browse either, which means that visitors and residents are there for other reasons, namely to observe the beauty of their surroundings. The area's annual festivals include the Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival.

Though the town is small in size and population, it's like any other town in that is maintains its own municipal services and fire protection. Both residents and visitors should delight in the fact that Kure Beach will always be small because it is completely surrounded--the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and Historic Site are on the south side, and the U.S. Government owns the west side as part of a buffer zone for the military terminal at Sunny Point across the Cape Fear River. Carolina Beach borders the town on the north, and the Atlantic Ocean is the east border. All of which means no room for growth.

To get to Kure Beach from the north, take Interstate Highway 40 (I-40), which ends on the north side of Wilmington and becomes N.C. Highway 132, which is College Road, the main north-south route through the city. College Road continues south until it ends at U.S. Highway 421 (Carolina Beach Road), which continues south through Monkey Junction to Pleasure Island, where Carolina Beach and Kure Beach are located. U.S. 421 ends at the southern tip of Pleasure Island, the location of the state ferry to Southport.

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-Ocean Isle Beach and Oak Island.