SOAR
is
a
non-profit,
no-kill,
animal
rescue
shelter.
It
accommodates
lost,
abandoned
and
injured
dogs
and
cats,
giving
our
animal
friends
a
chance
at
life,
an
opportunity
to
be
loved,
and
hopefully
a
new
and
loving
adoptive
family.
We
provide
safe
shelter,
medical
treatment,
healthy
food,
love,
and
daily
care
to
cats
and
dogs.
Please
help
this
beautiful
animals
by
donating
your
tax
deductable
donation!
Click
here
to
Donate-:}>
Thank
you
for
your
Support.
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The
Indian Trail Tree in
Keziah Memorial Park
is estimated to be over
800 years old and was
used by the Cape Fear
area Indians. |
Smithfield
cemetery
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Southport
is located
between
wilmington
and Myrtle
Beach
Our Location
couldn't
be better.
Southport
is 5 minutes
from Oak
Island and
Caswell
Beach, 10
minutes
from St
James ,
15 minutes
(via ferry
or private
boat) to
Bald Head
Island,
and 20 minutes
to Holden
Beach &
Ocean Isle.
Airports
are 30 minutes
north and
south, as
Southport
is equidistant
from historic
Wilmington,
N.C. (25
minutes
north),
and the
entertainment,
dining and
golf capital
of the world,
Myrtle Beach,
S.C. (40
minutes
south).
Southport
is located
in the southern
part of
Brunswick
County via
US Highway
17 to Highways
87 and 211.
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View
a live cam
of Oak Island
beach
Imagine
a lazy afternoon
spent strolling
the beach
in search
of the perfect
shell, the
glimpse
of a dolphin
in the water
or watching
the setting
sun melt
into the
ocean at
twilight.
Oak Island
can make
these images
become a
reality.
Along 8
miles of
pristine
shoreline,
this island
offers countless
opportunities
for unwinding.
Guests
have a variety
of comfortable
accommodations,
including
motels,
roomy condominiums,
rustic beachfront
cottages
or more
modern
rental homes.
Oak Island
is home
to several
championship
golf courses
and free
tennis as
well.
The
island provides
the total
resort experience.
Watersports,
golf,
miniature
golf,
a water
slide, 3
piers and
deep sea
fishing
are only
a few of
the attractions
that make
Oak Island
a popular
but quiet
vacation
destination,
life on
the Island
is a balance
between
the calm
seclusion
of the beaches
and the
easy proximity
to the mainland
entertainment
and recreation.
There
are many
things to
do at, and
around,
this charming
beach community
including:
Golf
Oak Island
boasts 30
golf courses
within 30
minutes!
Watch for
Brunswick
County
to become
the golf
capital
of the coast.
Several
area courses
include:
The Gauntlet,
The Players
Course and
The Members
Course all
at St. James
Plantation;
the Freddie
Couples
course;
Carolina
National
at Winding
River Plantation;
Lions Paw
and Panther
Run at Ocean
Ridge Plantation;
The Pearl;
Oak Island
Golf Course.
Boating,
Fishing,
& Beaches
Boating
- For both
the sail
or power
enthusiast,
the beautiful
Cape Fear
and Lockwood
Folly Rivers,
Intracoastal
Waterway,
and the
Atlantic
Ocean are
available
for boaters.
Offshore
- Charter
and private
boats
take you
to your
prize catch,
including
marlin,
sailfish,
dolphin,
king and
spanish
mackerel,
wahoo, bluefish
and more.
Inland
waters -
Fishing,
crabbing,
shrimping
and clamming
are abundant
in tidal
creeks and
along the
Intracoastal
Waterway.
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Southport
Lifestyle
A quaint
fishing
village
on the mouth
of the Cape
Fear River,
Southport
is place
you come
to visit
and end
up never
wanting
to leave.
Beautiful
Victorian-style
homes grace
the sidewalk-lined
streets
under huge
sweeping
oak trees,
hundreds
of years
old. Cool
ocean breezes
keep temperatures
mild year
round. And
Southport’s
midway point
between
Wilmington
and Myrtle
Beach make
it close
to all of
the action,
yet with
an ambiance
that feels
worlds away.
Self-guided
walking
tours provide
a wealth
of discovery.
Stroll down
Moore Street
and visit
the many
colorful
gift shops,
art galleries
and antique
dealerships.
Stop and
rest at
Waterfront
Park where
you may
see huge
cargo ships
making their
way up the
Cape Fear
River to
the port
city of
Wilmington.
Enjoy fresh
seafood
overlooking
the Southport
Yacht Basin
and Marina
where sailing
vessels
stop on
their way
along the
Inter-coastal
waterway.
The
many historic
sites like
the old
Southport
Jail, St.
Philips
Episcopal
Church and
Smithfield
cemetery
are all
easily accessible
on foot.
You can
also learn
about the
colorful
history
of Southport
and real
life legends
of the famous
pirate Stede
Bonnet at
the Southport
Maritime
Museum.
The Southport
Visitor
Center provides
maps, brochures
and self-guided
walking
tours.
Just
walking
underneath
the huge
sprawling
oak trees
that line
the avenues
leading
to beautiful
historic
homes takes
you back
to a gentler,
friendlier
period of
time. Although
a laid back
lifestyle
exists,
Southport
is a bustling
city.
Southport
has lot's
of antique
shops, historic
sites, the
Southport
Maritime
Museum,
wonderfully
diverse
restaurants,
art galleries
and relaxing
parks. The
most popular
park in
Southport
is Waterfront
Park. From
the park
you can
watch large
transoceanic
ships from
every country
pass on
their way
up the Cape
Fear River
to the State
Ports, creating
remarkable
photographic
opportunities.
Southport
is so photogenic
that a number
of motion
pictures
and TV films
have been
made here.
To truly
understand
the history
and to experience
Southport's
touch, one
must pay
a visit
to our town.
Begin your
visit at
the Southport
2005 Visitor's
Center,
where maps,
brochures
and self-guided
walking
tours can
be found.
Just around
the corner
is the Southport
Maritime
Museum,
where visitors
can travel
through
Southport's
maritime
history.
Take time
out from
sight-seeing
to enjoy
Southport's
historic
business
district.
The many
antique
and fine
shops along
Howe and
Moore Streets
give visitors
a chance
to walk
and browse
at their
leisure.
Also, be
sure to
walk along
the Southport
Riverwalk
and visit
the shops
around the
Yacht Basin
and near
the Marina.
Finally,
take time
to enjoy
wonderful
local food
at the many
restaurants
around town
and pick
up some
fresh seafood
from the
fish houses
along the
Yacht Basin.
Southport
History
The
first
Spanish
explorers
to the
region
arrived
in 1521,
but it
was further
up the
Cape Fear
River
that the
first
settlement,
Brunswick
Town was
formed
in the
mid-1700s.
Between
1745 and
1754 Fort
Johnson
was built
as quarantine
service
for incoming
seamen
and to
protect
settlements
further
up the
river.
Located
at the
mouth
of the
Cape Fear,
Fort Johnson
attracted
a small
community
of river
pilots
and fishermen
and the
area began
to thrive.
In 1792,
the NC
General
Assembly,
at the
request
of Joshua
Potts,
commissioned
a new
township
and what
is now
known
as Southport
was born.
The new
town was
originally
named
Smithville,
after
Benjamin
Smith
who served
under
George
Washington
in the
revolutionary
war. Cool
summer
breezes
soon made
Smithville
a popular
summer
resort,
and its
strategic
location
made Fort
Johnston
important
in every
United
States
war. In
1808,
Smithville
became
the county
seat of
Brunswick
County.
After
the Civil
War, entrepreneurial
and visionary
businessmen
saw opportunity
to create
a major
southern
port city
by combining
the city’s
river
transportation
with the
new railroad
system
which
was changing
the face
of the
United
States.
As part
of their
strategy,
Smithville
was renamed
Southport
in 1887.
Telegraph
service
and a
coaling
dock for
steamships
were added.
Although
Southport
never
became
the major
port city
they dreamed
of, railroads
served
the town
from 1911
to World
War II
and it
was on
the river
steamer
routes
until
1925.
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The
North
Carolina
Maritime
Museum's
North
Carolina
Maritime
Museum,
Inc.,
is
the
museum's
private
non-profit
support
group.
It
provides
supplemental
financial
support
to
N.C.
Maritime
Museum
sites
in
Beaufort,
on
Roanoke
Island,
and
at
Southport,
through
a
membership/donation
program
and
logistical
support
through
its
elected
board
of
directors.
Visit
the
Museum:-} |
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