Tales of the Silver Coast – Area History

A Secret History Of Brunswick County – From the earliest days of European exploration to the golf courses and beach resorts in this fascinating and fast-growing region, Brunswick County has attracted settlers, invaders, and visitors of all descriptions.

In these pages you’ll read about Steve Bonnet, the “Gentleman Pirate,” who hid his ships in Brunswick’s moss-draped creeks but unfortunately underestimated the ebbing tide; “Mrs. Calabash,” who’s said to have lent her name to the famous sign-off for Jimmy Durante’s classic radio shows; and Topsy the Elephant, who swam for the Brunswick riverbank after breaking loose from circus handlers in the 1920s.

Follow the struggles and victories that shaped Brunswick County, from the first contact of Europeans with native Americans, to successive administrations of the Lords Proprietors, the royal governors, the British crown, and the leaders of a new nation—many at whom hailed from this small but influential corner of North Carolina. Discover Brunswick’s rich Civil War history, scenic roadways and waterways and current-day towns and townships.

Tales of the Silver Coast, recounts the tales of privateers and plantation owners, politicians and Prohibition rum-runners and the many colorful people and diverse places of southeastern North Carolina.
Hard Cover $24.95

“Miller has done an exceptional job keeping the tone light while still being informative. Each story is only two to three pages long, with illustrations liberally spread throughout, making it perfect for children. Young and old will love the story of the Barefoot Felon, where a captain uses a simple trick to save his ship from pirates.”

- Brunswick Alive! Magazine

What’s Going On Up There?

Get out of the heat this summer and enjoy a few cool shows—at Ingram Planetarium in nearby Sunset Beach (25 minutes from Holden Beach).
The planetarium, at 7625 High Market St. in The Village at Sunset Beach, is on its summer schedule now and opens at noon Tuesdays through Saturdays.
The Ingram Planetarium offers a number astronomy and science programs.

Displays abound in the planetarium’s Paul Dennis Science Hall, and free family activities are offered at 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 19.

Check out “Navigating the Seas,” covering the function of basic tools used in celestial navigation.

On Wednesdays, the featured program is “Turtle Talk,” with Sunset Beach Turtle Patrol volunteers teaching about the life cycle of sea turtles and their work to save them.

Thursdays are “Sun Fun Day.” Learn how the sun works, look through a solar telescope (weather permitting), and participate in other sun-related activities.

The planetarium’s 85-seat Sky Theater simulates a perfectly dark, starry night, and it is unsafe to move around during shows. Late arrivals are not admitted to the theater. All shows are one hour or less.

The show schedule through Sept. 4 kicks off each day at 1 p.m. with “Astronaut,” a new show appropriate for all ages. Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut while exploring amazing visualizations of space. Float around the Space Shuttle and watch Chad, an animated test astronaut, as he learns about the perils of space.

The 2 p.m. show features “Oasis in Space.” Voyage through the solar system and deep into the universe in search of water, the key ingredient to life on earth. Learn about our solar system and the universe. It’s suitable for ages 8 and older.

At 3 p.m., the planetarium features “Zula Patrol: Under the Weather,” which is best suited for a younger audience. Join the team from the planet Zula as they use the pet Gorga to collect and learn about weather here on Earth and across the solar system.

The featured show at 4 p.m. is “Seven Wonders,” recommended for ages 9 and older. Turn back time and witness the seven ancient wonders of the world as they have not been seen for thousands of years. Then journey through space and see seven cosmic wonders as never seen before.

At 5 and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 19, the planetarium offers laser music shows. Laser music programs are like a rock concert without the band, and they are loud.

Admission per show is $8 adults and $6 for senior adults and children ages 3-16. Those interested in seeing more than one show will receive a $1 discount.
Memberships are available. Groups should call for advance reservations and instructions.

Call 575-0033 or visit www.ingramplanetarium.org for more information.

Holden Beach’s Water Cleanest!

Things are going just swimmingly at most NC beaches. The annual beach water quality report by the National Resources Defense Council Read more

Holden Beach On Charlotte TV

Charlotte News 14 Television featured Holden Beach and  Mayor Alan Holden on their Thursday programing. Read more

Holden Beach Concert Series

Holden Beach offers free concerts all Summer every Sunday night at the pavilion, under the bridge at the end of Jordan Boulevard. All concerts start at 6:30 p.m.

Here’s the schedule for the Holden Beach NC Summer Concert Series”

May 30: The Imitations, beach/Motown
June 6: The Government Plant Band, ’80s blues/’70s rock
June 13: Goldrush, beach/oldies/country
June 20: Used-to-be’s, authentic ’50s
June 27: Northern Boarder, bluegrass
July 3 (Saturday): Ohana, Polynesian show
July 4: The Wilmington Big Band, big band/variety
July 11: Captain Cook & the Coconutz, best of Buffett
July 18: Sea Cruz, big band/variety
July 25: Craig Woolard Band, beach music
Aug. 1: GB4 Band, classis rock/blues
Aug. 8: Prince Taylor & the Beach Bums, beach/variety
Aug. 15: Da Howlies, Hawaiian swing
Aug. 22: Bailout, beach rock
Aug. 29: Bam Jazz, swing/jazz/blues
September 5: The Imitations, beach/Motown

Holden Beach Renourishment!

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has just finished a beach renourishment project on Holden Beach NC that also includes dredging aiding navigation.

The $800,000 project removed sand from the last sand bar in the Lockwood Folly Inlet (near the waterway) and moved the sand to the east end of the beach.

Officially titled the Lockwood Folly Inlet Crossing Navigation Maintenance, the project put sand starting in front of the last house on the east end all the way to in front of the clubhouse at Winding River’s which is also on the oceanfront.

The project which put 172,000 cubic yards of sand on the beach runs 9/10ths of a mile long and is 150 feet wide.

Town manager David Hewett said that Congressman Mike McIntyre worked to make sure the Corps’ project was fully funded without any cost to Holden Beach.
The benefits of the adding sand to the shoreline include beach-compatible sand keeping the cost of the project down because it doesn’t have to be transported from a distant source, the additional sand will provide protection from storm-damage to homes at the east end of the island, some of that sand is expected to drift down providing extra protection for beach houses elsewhere on the beach.

Also the widened beach at the east end will offer additional recreational benefits such as sunbathing, fishing and shelling, also the extra sand will create extra nesting habitat for sea turtles.

It was important that the project be completed by May 1 in order to not interfere with the nesting season of the loggerhead turtles.

Holden Beach Pavilion Closed

The Holden Beach Pavilion was closed during the first week of May while workers made temporary repairs on a column that had begun leaning.

The Holden Beach pavillion was built just little more than two years ago as part of the Jordan Boulevard Project which includes a covered stage with an adjacent ramp and fishing pier for public use.

The column was leaning 1.25 inches near the bottom but 6 inches at the top.

Town manager David Hewett said the town had an engineered, temporary bracing and stabilization plan,” Hewett said.

The town is made temporary repairs so the pavilion stage can be used for the free summer concerts and plans to get a permanent fix designed and in place right after Labor Day in time for  the annual Holden Beach Festival By the Sea.

Spend An Unforgettable Day!

Come to the beach and take in some history at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson Historic Site and Orton Plantation. Read more

Local Pirate Captured!

The pirate Stede Bonnet was captured at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, right by the nearby town of Southport, NC. He was taken to Charleston, SC and hung along with his crew! Read more

Video Of “Gator” On Beach

This video was taken on July 15th, 2009 and shows the “gator” we found on the beach right in front of The Winds Resort Beach Club! Read more

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