Carteret County Chamber of Commerce BUSINESS DIRECTORY & VISITORS GUIDE 18 Hole Championship Golf Course Soccer Golf 4 Clay Lighted Tennis Courts Golf & Tennis Pro Shops Swimming Pool Bridge Restaurant Bar & Grille Member Social Events Weddings, Banquets & Special Events Social, Sport & Golf Memberships $40.00 PER PERSON INCLUDES GOLF & CART FOR 9 OR 18 HOLES, DINNER FOLLOWING YOUR ROUND & TAX Starting Times: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Adults & Children Ages 14 & Over—$12 (Walking) Children Ages 6 to 13—$10 (Walking) Children Ages 5 and Under—FREE Ball Rental—$5 per Person Power Cart Rental —$13 per Cart VISITORS GUIDE The fog is seen rolling in from the ocean toward the Oceanana Pier in Atlantic Beach; it’s just another Kodachrome kind of day at the Crystal Coast. Amy Nelson Relax. When you’re here, you’re on ‘Beach Time.’ In Carteret County, everything revolves around water – commerce, recreation and family living. Rare scenic beauty stretches across more than 500 miles of incredible ocean and inland coastline. Our coastal environment is the centerpiece of our identity. CARTERET COUNTY Chamber of Commerce Mission 801 Arendell Street, Suite 1 Morehead City, North Carolina 28557 The mission of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce is to improve the economic climate of Carteret Phone: 252-726-6350 County. Toll Free: 1-800-622-6278 Website: www.nccoastchamber.com email: [email protected] Vision Fax: 252-726-3505 Our vision is for Carteret County to be “the most desirable Insta location for business and leisure in North Carolina.” ON THE COVER: In the Down East section of Carteret County…you get a sense that there’s not much difference between the way things were and the way things are now. That’s part of the Down East community character. “Seen Many a Day,” photographed by Sally Lumpkin, attests to our affection for our maritime culture and heritage. Special thanks to all photographers who offered images for publication. Their work is credited. CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 1 What’s for dinner? Surf fishing is a great way to relax and participate in “Carteret Catch.” Carolyn Temple, Coastal Image Photography So, this is what paradise looks like… Carteret County and the Crystal Coast form a unique and magical destination along the Southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. Everyday can be a holiday at America’s premier “recreation destination.” We’re known as the “Water Sports Capital of North Carolina”…because you can enjoy a multitude of activities beside, on, in, over and under the water. Through this publication, we hope to entice you to come and explore. Spend a weekend…or a forevermore! This publication was created and produced by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce. While all efforts have been made to assure accuracy of all information herein, the Chamber accepts no responsibility for omissions or errors. Copyright 2016, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the Chamber is prohibited. The Chamber logo is a registered Service Mark with the State of North Carolina. Design and Printing Services by Morgan Printers, a Chamber member business. 2 | CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITORS GUIDE The beaches of the Crystal Coast face south, so the sun tracks over the ocean all day long in every season…causing the water to “sparkle like crystal.” This kite is “Big Blue Meanie,” which resembles the Duke Blue Devil mascot with sporty orange sneakers. It was a crowd favor- ite at the Carolina Kite Festival in Atlantic Beach. The two- day festival is held annually in October and sponsored by Kites Unlimited & Bird Stuff etc. Dan Williams Karen Doody, Karen Doody Photography Summer brings Carolina blue skies and warm, radiant sunshine that will invigorate the soul. The sandy beaches of the Crystal Coast extend 26 miles along Bogue Banks from Emerald Isle (shown here) to Atlantic Beach and Fort Macon. Cindy Yount The theme of the 2016 Business Directory & Visitors Guide is“Naturally Yours, The Crystal Coast.” Enjoy the images that follow…and learn about the 11 “natural wonders” of our world at the Crystal Coast. CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 3 VISITORS GUIDE “Naturally Yours, The Crystal Coast.” Amy Nelson Proudly introducing… America’s ‘Best National Park Beach’ Cape Lookout National Seashore wins 2016 contest America has spoken: The best National Park Beach in all the land is our own Cape Lookout National Seashore. In a recent online contest (USA Today/Best10 Readers’ Choice Awards), Cape Lookout National Seashore outdistanced 19 other finalists to claim the title. Perfect timing – 2016 is the 50-year anniversary of Cape Lookout becoming a National Park and the 100-year anniversary of the National Park Service. Cape Lookout National Seashore offers 56 miles of natural ocean shoreline – undisturbed, uninhabited, wild and pristine. The 169-foot tall Lighthouse, with white diamonds facing east and west…and black diamonds facing north and south, is the only one in America that indicates direction. It has stood as a sentinel and navigational aid since 1859. The structure has weathered more than 30 hurricanes…and an assault during the Civil War when Confederate forces tried to blow it up. The Cape Lookout Lighthouse signal light is visible for 19 miles out to sea. It appears to flash every 15 seconds as it revolves. It warns mariners to steer clear of Cape Lookout Shoals – the “Horrible Headland.” Carolyn Temple, Coastal Image Photography 4 | CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “Naturally Yours, The Crystal Coast.” Carteret County’s most scenic view is from the top of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. During the warm-weather months, you can climb it – all 188 spiral steps – the equivalent of a 12-story building. If you need ventilation on the stairway, raise one of the windows. That’s the way they’ve always done it. It’s just a short walk from the ferry dock to the Lighthouse. Wes Daniels Dawn Hoffmann Wild horses inhabit Shackleford Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore. They graze on grasses that grow on the island and drink from natural, fresh water holes. Most scientists believe the herd descends from the Spanish horses of Hispaniola that were brought here by colonists in the 1500s. Others may have swum ashore off sinking ships that were wrecked along the shoals. Carolyn Temple, Coastal Image Photography CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 5 VISITORS GUIDE Old Fort Macon, at right, is a five-sided garrison, originally constructed to protect the U.S. coast from British invasion. Today, it’s a main attraction of Fort Macon State Park at the eastern tip of Bogue Banks. To the left is the Fort Macon Coastal Education and Visitors Center, which opened to the public in 2009. At the top is Beaufort Inlet. Tracey Brinson ‘Keep away from Old Fort Macon’ arteret County has six sites that are on the North from Beaufort Inlet. Today, it’s a popular wreck diving CCarolina Civil War Trails. Start your tour at Fort site.) Macon State Park. On April 14, 1861 – just two days after fighting broke Fort Macon was selected as North Carolina’s State Park out at Fort Sumter in South Carolina – Josiah S. Pender of the Year in 2015, and it is the most-visited state park in gathered 54 volunteers in Carteret County to seize Fort the state, attracting about 1.2 million visitors a year. Macon for the Confederacy. For more than a year, the Rebel soldiers would sing to the tune of “Dixie” – “If Lincoln wants to save his bacon, he’ll keep away from Old Fort Macon.” Then, on April 25, 1862, Union forces mounted their assault to retake the fort, firing from sea and sending in an infantry of more than 1,500 soldiers with heavy artillery from Hoop Pole Creek. Severely outnumbered, the Confederates surrendered the next day. The U.S. Congress gave the fort to the State of North Carolina to be used as a public park in 1934. However, Fort Macon was reactivated as a U.S. military post during World War II to deter German submarines known as U-boats from approaching the U.S. coastline. (The U-352 got too close. It was detected off Cape Lookout in 1942, and the Coast Guard Cutter ICARUS The rocks at Fort Macon State Park are a good place to find promptly ravaged it with depth charges. The U-352 rests young mermaids like Hayley DesLauriers, the granddaughter of at a depth of about 110 feet, located about 26 miles out the photographer. 6 | CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Cheryl Mansfield, Mansfield Photography Civil War reenactments occur regularly at Fort Macon. The confederate cannons successfully drove off the Union naval fleet in the bombardment. All photos on this page by Dan Williams CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 7 VISITORS GUIDE BEAUFORT Beaufort has two “main streets” – Taylors Creek is a thoroughfare for boats and yachts…and Front Street runs parallel through the residential and shopping districts. Here you will find Southern charm with a dash of salty seaside spirit. Tracey Brinson Yachting Magazine says Beaufort is America’s “Best Yachting Destination.” Editors wrote: “Its attractions will be obvious the moment you set anchor in Taylors Creek. The water looks a clear bottle green.” Karen Doody Beaufort became America’s “Coolest Small Town” in 2012 and is just a little bit quirky. You’ll love it here. Bikes for rent at Hungry Town Guided Tours. Norm Kenneally 8 | CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Pirates and other scoundrels linger in Beaufort BEAUFORT Blackbeard, the most notorious Blackbeard’s flagship vessel, the pirate in history, lived in Beaufort.