 Holden
Beach’s history as a prospering commercial fishing
center gives it its unique flavor still today. Eleven
miles of tranquil beaches are connected to the mainland
by only one two-lane elevated bridge. The peaceful unhurried
ambiance found here make it a romantic vacation spot
with a variety of cottages and condos for rent. If your
beach plans include fishing, Holden Beach is also known
for its surf and off shore fishing. A full service fishing
pier provides a great diversion for the both amateur
and expert fisherman.
The
island is also home to a couple small stores, fresh
seafood store, post office, restaurants, clothing store,
fishing pier, tour boat/fishing boat charter, and video
store. Holden Beach is also close
Holden
Beach is just one half mile wide at its widest point,
so most of its homes have spectacular ocean views from
most sides. Oceanfront properties almost always include
marsh and / or canal views from the front decks and
windows.
Holden
Beach Facts:
The
island is about eight miles long and has about 900 permanent
residents. The tourist season, which produces much of
the town's income, has grown longer over the years and
now lasts from about May to August, increasing the town's
population to approx. 15,000.
A
fishing pier, two fish houses and several charter boats
operate in the town. Holden Beach has a handful of businesses,
including a pizza restaurant, two general stores, an
apparel store and real estate agencies, but the unincorporated
mainland area leading to the island's bridge continues
to grow with restaurants, novelty and T-shirt shops,
ice cream and cappuccino stands, and convenience stores.
Oceanfront
property owners and the town paid for a $1.2 million
dune-replacement project finished in 1998. The 8-foot-high
dune stretches from the beach's east end to the 800
block of Ocean Boulevard West - about 4.5 miles. But
erosion continues, and town leaders are trying to come
up with ways to fund future dune repair and beach renourishment.
Holden
Beach also has laid an eight-mile sidewalk along its
main road.
The
town has one of the county's regional beach access points,
a 90-space parking lot with handicapped-equipped restrooms
and showers. A ramp to the beach, paid for by a state
grant, provides handicapped accessibility to the shore.
Last
year, three Brunswick County couples donated 29 acres
in Holden Beach to N.C. State University for the Drew
Griffin Environmental Research Facility.
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