Topsail Island is a 26-mile-long barrier island
approximately 40 minutes north of Wilmington. The island is located in both
Onslow and Pender counties and consists of three towns, North Topsail
Beach, Surf City and Topsail Beach. The two mainland towns of
Sneads Ferry and Holly Ridge complete the section known as the
Greater Topsail Area.
Two bridges allow access to the island, a
swing bridge in Surf City and a high-rise bridge connecting Sneads Ferry to
North Topsail Beach. A single main road runs parallel to the ocean along the
length of this narrow island, with side streets running from the ocean to
the sound or Intracoastal Waterway. In a few instances on the wider parts of
the island, you will find an additional smaller street or two running
parallel to the ocean. There is only one traffic light on the whole island
strand.
Topsail's summer population swells up to 35,000, as
compared to the 3,500 year-round residents, consisting mostly of retirees.
The convenient location between the cities of Jacksonville and Wilmington
makes Topsail a desirable place to live. Residents here enjoy a relatively
inexpensive, quiet lifestyle on the beach.
North Topsail Beach, the northernmost town, is a
residential community with oceanfront resort condominium complexes and
rental cottages. With only two restaurants and a pizza shop, North Topsail
Beach's visitors depend on Surf City or Sneads Ferry for most of their
shopping and entertainment. Surf City, located on both the island and
mainland, is in the center of the island. It is the commercial hub with an
array of restaurants and retail establishments. A variety of vacation rental
homes, condominiums and motels are also found here, along with the most
year-round residents. Topsail Beach, on the southern end of the island, is
accessible only through Surf City. It is a quieter area with year-round
homes, rental cottages, motels and condominiums complementing a small
downtown shopping area.
On the mainland, Sneads Ferry and Holly Ridge offer more
choices for entertainment, dining or shopping. Sneads Ferry is a small
village where shrimping and fishing are a way of life. In recent years,
however, the area has continually grown and developed into a community of
upscale housing developments and shopping centers along the main highways.
Holly Ridge boasted a large population during World War II when Camp Davis
was established as an Army coastal artillery and anti-aircraft training
base. The town is now a quiet place enjoyed by longtime residents who find
pleasure in the friendly services of locally owned restaurants, retail
stores and service businesses.
Topsail Island is a small place with a big history. From
the early Indians and explorers in the 1500s to pirates, the Civil War Era,
World War II and Operation Bumblebee to the present, much has been
documented about the Topsail area. This history can be found in the Missiles
and More Museum on Channel Boulevard in Topsail Beach.
Local residents are protective of their environment. This
is particularly evident in the Topsail Turtle Project and the Karen Beasley
Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, both run solely by volunteers.
Many of the volunteers locate and monitor loggerhead turtle nests until the
young turtles are hatched and make their way to the sea, while others
maintain the center and care for sick and injured sea turtles until they
have been rehabilitated and returned to the ocean. Still others take
responsibility for the Turtle Talks, where participants can learn about the
turtles and how they can help protect them. A visit to the Turtle Hospital,
as it is affectionately known, is a real highlight of a Topsail Island
vacation.
The greater Topsail Island area is a friendly place,
offering a nice balance between residents and visitors and busy and quiet
times. It's a place where nature at its finest can still be enjoyed.
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