Visit Carolina Beach

 

Carolina Beach celebrated the Grand Opening of its newly renovated boardwalk on March 31.  The milestone signals the beginning of exciting things to come for the boardwalk, including the opening of new businesses, a renovated arcade and additional accommodations. Boardwalk renovations began in 2014, following $1.6 million in grants awarded to the town, with the first phase completed this week. 

“This is just the beginning of our plans to provide Carolina Beach residents and visitors with a new spin on a beach experience from the past,” said Michael Cramer, Town Manager for the Town of Carolina Beach. “The most exciting thing to take place at Carolina Beach during the Great Depression was the construction of the boardwalk, which is now nationally recognized, so we are proud to help preserve its history today while making big strides toward its future.”

The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is a beloved, vintage icon that has made Budget Travel’s list of America’s Most Awesome Boardwalks and has been featured by CNN, FOX News and USA TODAY. The renovation project provides a facelift for the boardwalk area and greatly enhances beach access, special needs accommodations, and enjoyment of the dune ecosystem. Visitors to Carolina Beach this spring and summer will see the following upgrades and amenities:

• All-new 750-foot long boardwalk – Featuring 16-feet wide walkways that were expanded from eight feet and reinforced with 8x8 posts
• Beach access for all – The addition of five ADA accessible walkways, combined with available beach wheelchairs, makes Carolina Beach one of the most ADA accessible beaches in North Carolina 
• Food and fun – This spring, new restaurant, Shelby Jean's will open in the location of the former Black Horn Bar & Kitchen and Frank’s Pizza will relocate next to Britts Donuts
• Commemorative fish tiles – Featuring the names of Carolina Beach businesses, residents, visitors and their loved ones that are inlayed throughout the boardwalk and purchased by project sponsors
• Accommodations – The beginning of a new 96-room Hampton Inn & Suites, located oceanfront and next to the boardwalk, scheduled to open in 2016
  

Already in the works, phase two includes the addition of even more amenities for visitors to enjoy, including swings, gazebos, cool-off stations, landscaped coves, public art, historical and environmental educational kiosks, picnic facilities and open space for music, art and events. The Carolina Beach Arcade will also reopen, along with several new retail spaces. 

“We are excited about the renovation and expansion of the beloved Carolina Beach Boardwalk, and we applaud Town officials for investing in this iconic attraction that exemplifies the original kind of beach experience that awaits visitors to Carolina Beach,” states Kim Hufham, President/CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority. 

Visitors to the grand opening event can also take a stroll down memory lane, with select photos from the boardwalk’s history on display. The history of the boardwalk dates all the way back to 1887 before the Town of Carolina Beach was officially incorporated in 1925.

The grand opening event will begin with a beach-themed ribbon cutting ceremony at the boardwalk, followed by fun for the whole family. Planned activities include speeches from government officials, beach music and prize raffle drawings, in which attendees will be entered for a chance to win their very own boardwalk sponsorship fish tile, a Freeman Park Season Pass, two tickets to 30^th Annual Carolina Beach Music Festival and two autographed books by Daniel Norris, titled “Carolina Beach, NC – Images and Icons of a Bygone Era” and “Carolina Beach, NC – Friends and Neighbors Remembered.”

The celebration is open to the public and guests are encouraged to dress beach casual, as well as share their boardwalk experiences by using the hashtag, #NewCBBoardwalk, across social media.

*Rain date is April 1 at 2:00 p.m.

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