Bald Head Island NC - townofbaldheadisland.com

Vacation Planning and Real Estate Guide to Bald Head Island, NC

Archives for 2011

The Tower! Just Too Cool!

Frying Pan Light Tower Oak Island NCEver wanted to stay the night in a lighthouse/tower off of the NC Coast? Well you can! A software engineer from Oklahoma, Richard Neal, purchased the Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower, located just off of Bald Head Island, NC in 2010 and has taken on the immense project of restoring the tower. His intent is to offer overnight stays to charter fishing expeditions and divers who frequent Frying Pan Shoals. Neal is taking donations and is using the help of volunteers to make the restorations.

The tower also offers a safe haven for boaters and a helipad for use in medical emergencies. “Top-end” users could fly in for a week or weekend and enjoy a private fishing vacation according to Neal.

Neal also hopes to have a cell phone tower erected on the platform. Neal, 51, is a licensed pilot who had flown over the structure but had not yet set foot on it when he made the winning bid.

The tower is a modified 80-foot steel oil drilling platform and was used by the Coast Guard from 1966 until about eight years ago as an aid to navigation. The Coast Guard turned the nautical landmark over to the GSA to be sold when the introduction of GPS and buoys rendered the tower obsolete.

A federal General Services Administration spokesman said Neal was the only bidder for the modified 80-foot steel oil drilling platform when it was auctioned off in 2010.

The tower has two floors and 5,000 square feet of living space including five bedrooms, a kitchen, office, storage area, recreation area and toilet facilities.

Prior to beginning life on the tower Mr. Neal admitted to fishing only once in his life but had gained a love of the ocean from many flights taken along the Eastern Seaboard in his small private plane.

Neal currently has the tower accessible and hopes to be “fully functional” by 2012. We are not certain what conditions are at this time but they are taking reservations! Go here to make a reservation inquiry: https://www.fptower.com/inquiry.html

 

Now the story gets more interesting…Neal has written a book, or rather a software program born on the tower has written an ebook available for Kindle download at Amazon, “Hiding In Anonymity (HIA)”all proceeds are donated to the restoration efforts. Rather than trying to explain I offer this video for your consideration.. or in the words of The Twilight Zone “Submitted for Your Approval”…

 

Check out their website and facebook page to get a better idea of what’s going on!

https://www.fptower.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frying-Pan-Shoals-Light-Station/121119241261861

NC Oyster Festival Surf-Off

September 10th and 11th come out and try your hand at surfing the waves. The surf-off will be held between the pier at Ocean Isle Beach and the Monroe Street beach access. The first heat starts at 8am and the contest is open to everyone.

The NC Oyster Fest Surf-Off is brought to you by the ESA/ SNC, Salty’s Surf Shop, Sharky’s OIB, and The Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce.  There will be a cash prize for open shortboard. Raffles and Prizes will be presented by Von Zipper, Quicksilver, and Billabong!

Even if you don’t surf, come out and watch some amazing surf action.

Entry forms can be printed off from esa-snc.com.

 

 

Bald Head Bike Ride Along

Want to tour Bald Head Island from up close, join the Bike Ride Along. Each Wednesday, this summer, from 5pm to 6pm tour Bald Head Island and get some exercise while seeing the coastal beauty of Bald Head.

The group meets at Coastal Urge Bike Shop, 12C Maritime Way, and there is a different theme every week so come every Wednesday for an entirely different tour.

If you are visiting the area or don’t own a bike, Coastal Urge will be glad to lend you one.

For more info on this event contact Coastal Urge at 800-383-4443

Check Out Bald Head Island Magazine