Overview of Topsail Island

Topsail Island is a 26 mile long barrier island located on the south east portion of the “Inner Banks” of North Carolina. Travel to the area is easy with I 40, I 95, Hwy 17, Hwy 50 and Hwy 210 as well as several airports in the area, New Hanover International Airport (30 miles), Ellis Airport in Jacksonville, NC (25 miles) and several small grass land strips in the immediate area for civilian planes.

The Topsail Island Area is rich in history ranging from Native American Tribes calling the island home, to pirates of yesteryear lending the Island it’s namesake, Civil War Salt Works, German Submarines on patrol & Camp Davis Army Base (100,000 troops) during WWII, Operation Bumblebee (the start of NASA on Topsail Island) and more recently great family vacations on a picturesque and quaint island.

Topsail Island itself is comprised of three towns, Surf City (the main hub), Topsail Beach at the south end and North Topsail Beach at the north end.

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Surf City

Surf City is the commercial hub of the area with its city limits extending to the mainland area corridor of Hwy 17 via Hwy 210. A year round population of less than 1600 call Surf City home although the population swells to approximately 30,000 during the peak summer season.

As you enter the island portion of Surf City, you are greeted by the quaint and antique draw bridge over the intracoastal waterway, one of the last in the state of North Carolina.

The town of Surf City features a public waterside park, sound fishing pier and boat ramp for your enjoyment with a great view of our drawbridge. Surf City also offers many restaurants serving fresh seafood, Italian, Thai, Chinese and several upper scale restaurants serving gourmet with a southern coast appeal.

Surf City also has many coastal family activities for you to enjoy with family in town. There are, of course, the beautiful sandy shores of the town with the waves of the Atlantic lapping for you to enjoy whether you are sunbathing, swimming, shell hunting, bird watching, fishing or just going for a peaceful stroll. Surf City also offers miniature golf, shopping, beauty salons, public tennis and basketball courts, several charter boats that offer fishing or just cruising adventures, kayak rentals, full service marina, Surf City Fishing Pier to name only a few.

Surf City also has a vast infrastructure including public water & sewer, a large police department, a full time fire department and full town hall staff. Surf City is also home to several doctor offices and a dentist as well as a vet for the furry family members.

More information can be found about Surf City at www.townofsurfcity.com .

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Topsail Beach

The Southern End of Topsail Island is home to the Town of Topsail Beach. Topsail Beach boasts a year long population of only approximately 500 people. Although, like its neighbor, Surf City, Topsail Beach’s population grows to near the 30,000 mark during the peak season.

Topsail Beach lends a very quiet and quaint atmosphere with being at the southern end of the island with no bridges directly connecting the town to the mainland. Commercial growth is held small taking its location in account only adding to the charm of the town. Access to Topsail Beach is made only on Hwy 210 East from Surf City.

Topsail Beach maintains a city marina and boat ramp and enjoys the deepest channels on the backside of the island, Banks Channel. Boaters in Topsail Beach have quick access to the Atlantic via New Topsail Inlet.

Topsail Beach is home to the infamous Karen Beasley Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital where injured sea turtles from all over the world are flown to recover from mishaps and sickness. The turtle hospital also takes volunteers for its beach walk searching for nests. Jean Beasley, the director, recently won Animal Planet’s Hero award for her work in benefit of the turtles. The hospital takes visitors on a schedule where you can actually view the turtles in their “hospital beds”. More info can be found at www.seaturtlehospital.org.

Topsail Beach also maintains its own water department & police department.

Nature lovers will enjoy the almost two miles of the unspoiled southern tip of Topsail Beach, in the process of being purchased by a Conservation Organization. At this site is also one of the area’s popular sound side beaches where beachgoers can actually anchor their boats by the beach and come ashore for the day with the family. The beach can also be found at the southern tip of the island by car with parking provided by the city.

Topsail Beach also offers miniature golf at one of the oldest putt putt courses in the country, the Patio Playground, a local favorite for many years. Other activities also include several fresh seafood restaurants, a seafood market, ice cream parlor, some quaint shopping in a village type atmosphere, charter & scuba dive boats, shell and bird watching to name only several. More information can be found at http://www.topsailbeach.org .

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North Topsail Beach

At the northern end of Topsail Island, is the newest city to the island, North Topsail Beach incorporated in 1992. North Topsail Beach is accessed via Hwy 210 over a modern high rise bridge.

North Topsail Beach is much like Topsail Beach at the other end of the island with its quiet environment and near no commercial.

North Topsail Beach is home to several world class resorts, The Villa Capriana & the St. Regis as well as several condominium complexes. The remainder of the town is single family or duplex homes.

North Topsail Beach offers property owners and residents access to public sewer and water, a police department and fire department with some full time firefighters.

North Topsail Beach is also home to the New River Inlet which allows access to the ocean for the northern Topsail Island boats. The northern tip of the island within North Topsail Beach city limits is the only portion of the island where you can still drive on the beach with your 4 wheel drive all year long.

North Topsail Beach's town website can be seen at www.north-topsail-beach.org

The mainland area of the Topsail Island area offers much to our residents and visitors as well all within a short commute to North Carolina’s largest coastal city, Wilmington.

The Mainland area is comprised of the Village of Sneads Ferry and Town of Holly Ridge.

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Village of Sneads Ferry

The Village of Sneads Ferry, located just off the high rise bridge at the north end of the island is a quiet, sleepy village connected to the commercial fishing industry. The local boats head out every morning in search of their catch that ends up on the table of many local restaurants as the freshest seafood you have will probably ever have the pleasure to eat.

There are several marinas in the area offering boat dockage, storage and ramps.

Sneads Ferry has experienced some commercial growth in the past five years. Sneads Ferry is home to several shopping centers, restaurants, and one of the area’s only fast food restaurants, McDonald’s.

Holly Ridge

The Town of Holly Ridge was once a metropolis with a population of over 100,000 in the 1940’s as a result of Camp Davis Army Base!

Today Holly Ridge, accessed via Hwy 17 & Hwy 50 is home to several restaurants and home subdivisions with plans of great future growth to include motels and major shopping areas. There is also a dentist and a 24 hour Urgent Care medical facility located in Holly Ridge.

The Holly Ridge city limits expand to a public small boat landing and sound side fishing pier. Holly Ridge provides public water and sewer, a police department and fire department. Visit www.townofhollyridge.com for more information.

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Greater Topsail Island Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Topsail Island Area has much to offer both island wise and mainland wise. You can learn more about the area by browsing our site and visiting the Greater Topsail Island Chamber of Commerce at www.topsailcoc.com.

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