Holden Beach

Island Fun Off the Beaten Path

Sometimes incorrectly identified as "Holdens Beach," Holden Beach is a quiet island located on the coast of North Carolina just 45 minutes north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and 45 minutes south of Wilmington. Located midway between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, Holden Beach is almost 11 miles in length and offers secluded white sandy beaches. In 1756, Benjamin Holden bought a 100-acre island between Lackwood's Folly Inlet and Bacon Inlet. He used the island primarily for cattle grazing, and later for commercial fishing.

In 1925, John Holden Jr. built the "Old Hotel," which was the first residential building on Holden Beach. The IntraCoastal Waterway was cut in 1929-30, and the ferry was put in operation in 1933.

Luther Holden, son of John Holden Jr., sought to make Holden Beach a resort area in 1935. He began selling oceanfront lots and building homes to sell and rent-today that area is called Holden's Beach Resort. Cottages on Holden Beach numbered 15 in 1939, and in 1990 there were over 1,700.

In 1940 on Holden Beach, electricity became available, and in 1948 the first road was paved to the beach. In 1952, the ferry was replaced by a turn bridge. The Town of Holden Beach was incorporated in 1969 and includes the original Holden Island, Robinson Beach and Colonial Beach.

Of the three South Brunswick Islands, Holden Beach is the longest and the largest. With 11 miles of beach along the Atlantic Ocean, the island is a perfect place for beachcombers and joggers to enjoy.

Holden Beach has a reputation as a quiet, family-oriented vacation destination with very little in the way of commercial development. National Geographic Traveler magazine rated Holden Beach one of the best family beaches in the country. The island has a 35-foot height limit for buildings, and most of the commercial property is on the mainland side of the Intra-Coastal Waterway.

Due to Holden Beaches' unique location on the coast (the beaches run east to west), the sun appears to rise right out of the ocean and follow the dunes of the beach before it sets back into the ocean in the evening. This phenomenon is best viewed during the fall and winter months of the year, when the sun is closest to the equator. In the summer, the ocean warms itself into the 80s and warm breezes blow out of the ocean from the south.

Locals care very deeply about the environment, and many are active in the Brunswick County Turtle Watch Program. In fact, in 1990, the Brunswick Turtle Watch registered 63 turtle nests on Holden Beach. That year, 3,278 hatchlings made it safely into the sea due to the help of the Turtle Watch volunteers. If you visit Holden Beach anywhere from May to September, and you happen to see areas of sand dunes marked by yellow bands of ribbon, those are nesting sites marked by the Turtle Watch volunteers.

A trip to Holden Beach would not be complete without a visit to a fish house. Fish houses are where most of the shrimp and fish caught by local fishermen are taken. You should also take a short trip to the traditional fishing village of Varnamtown on the Lockwood Folly River.

Golfers can swing at the Lockwood Folly Country Club, rated four stars by Golf Digest, or one of the many other nearby courses.

The Seafood Peddler on the Causeway in Holden Beach specializes in fresh local seafood. Or try Archibald's Delicatessen with daily lunch and dinner specials, as well as "the best specialty sandwiches, salads and subs on Holden Beach."

Grab a cup of coffee at Cappuccino by the Sea on the Causeway, where the offerings include freshly brewed coffee, coffee beans and loose tea, as well as real cappuccinos, lattes, mocha and frappeccinos, hot chocolate, chai teas, bagels, muffins, donuts, cookies, fudge, taffy, cake, ice cream and other desserts. You'll also find an assortment of greeting cards, postcards, used books, balloons, gift baskets and art, as well as access to a fax machine and copier.

Boomers Rentals at Causeway Plaza offers all of your vacation rental needs, including beach bikes, boogie boards, surf boards, wagons, umbrellas, chairs, rod and reel combinations, kayaks (singe and double), gas grills, charcoal grills (large and small), rollaway beds, full cribs, portable cribs, playpens, high chairs, baby gates, and beach strollers and joggers. They also provide sheets and bath and kitchen towel rentals, as well as electronics such as color televisions, VHS tape players and DVD players.

Annual celebrations in Holden Beach include A Day at the Dock in the spring, the SBI King Classic King Mackerel Tournament in the late summer, and The North Carolina Festival by the Sea in the fall.

Getting here can be a bit tricky the first time since there are no major roads leading to the island. I-95 and I-40 are the main interstates that bring you into the area. From there you can take Highway 17, the east coast highway that will lead you to Shallotte. Be sure to buy most of your supplies here, then follow the signs to Holden Beach. To get to Holden Beach from Wilmington, take U.S. 17 south to Shallotte; take N.C. 130 to Holden Beach Road; then head south to the bridge.

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.

The Brunswick Beaches

• Brunswick Beaches
• Bald Head Island
• Calabash
• Caswell Beach
• Holden Beach
• Oak Island
• Ocean Isle Beach
• Southport
• Sunset Beach

Discover the Holden Beach Area!

• Holden Beach Area Activities
• Holden Beach Area Attractions
• Holden Beach Area Restaurants
• Holden Beach Area Services
• Holden Beach Area Shopping
• Holden Beach Area Entertainment
• Holden Beach Area Churches
• Holden Beach Area Golf
• Holden Beach Area Weddings

For More Information

• NCBeaches.com
• Brunswick County
  Chamber of Commerce
• Southport - Oak Island
  Chamber of Commerce
• Brunswick County Government
• Brunswick County Schools