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gary · March 18, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Ingram Planetarium

A few minutes drive, between Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach, is the Ingram Planetarium where you can explore the heavens.

Ingram Planetarium has interesting astronomy and science programs for all ages in the 85-seat Sky Theater.

All shows are 1 hour or less.The theater simulates a perfectly dark, starry night and it is unsafe to move around during the shows.

Late arrivals are not admitted to the theater. We strongly recommend that young children attend the 3 p.m. show.

During the busy summer season they offer fun family activities on various topics. http://www.museumplanetarium.org

gary · March 17, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Over 25 years ago a small group of community leaders met and decided that they needed an event to showcase the great fall fishing Southport-Oak Island area has to offer. The prize money for the first tournament was guaranteed by those community leaders signing a promissory note at a local financial institution – thus the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament was born.

The U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament now attracts almost 500 boats annually and is held in high esteem by the community and anglers. An all CASH GUARANTEED prize structure adds to the enjoyment of the event. The tournament, held Thursday, October 4, 2012, guarantees its entire prize structure; it is not based on the number of boats that participate.

The tournament pays 55 places in its primary prize category including $25,000 for the largest king mackerel. Additional cash prizes are added to the event by sponsors. For more information follow the above links or contact: Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce, 4841 Long Beach Road, SE, Southport, NC 28461 or Email The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce.

Thursday, October 4, 2012, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

gary · March 17, 2012 · Leave a Comment

The Old Sunset Beach Bridge

Summer at the old Sunset Beach bridge promises to be a fun time for everyone!

Take a look, take a photo, take home memories of our iconic bridge and share in our plans for the future.

Learn about the restoration work on the Tender House.

Programs for adults, children and families will be scheduled regularly through the summer.

Listen to stories from a bridge tender, learn about how the bridge worked and the engineering that made it possible, find out about the history of the town and bridge. [Read more…] about The Old Sunset Beach Bridge

gary · February 27, 2012 · Leave a Comment

The Oak Island Lighthouse

The Oak Island Lighthouse was completed in 1958. It was once the world’s second brightest light. The total cost of construction was $110,000.00 (it would be millions of dollars today!).

The lights are 169 feet above the water. The structure is 148 feet tall, but it stands on a slight hill.

There is no spiral staircase as are found in most older lighthouses, but instead there is a series of ships ladders with a total of 131 steps to the lantern gallery level.

The base is set upon 24 concrete-filled steel pilings 10 3/4 inches in diameter and 67 feet deep. The pilings are capped by a 30 foot wide by 3 foot deep octagonal concrete base upon which the tower structure was built.

The main tower is 128 feet tall, built of monolithic reinforced concrete. It was poured continuously into a movable form that was raised by jacks at the rate of one foot per hour.

To accomplish this task a concrete mixing plant was set up on the site to allow for the continuous 24 hour a day operation for days.

The tower has a uniform inside diameter of 16 feet 4 3/4 inches. The wall is 8 inches thick, and the three stripe color pattern is permanently cast into the concrete. [Read more…] about The Oak Island Lighthouse