Friends of Wrightsville Beach

06/15/2026

WB local Campbell Carter wins the USA Surf National Championships in Oceanside, CA. Campbell will represent the USA for the 5th year in a row & hold a top 10 ranking in 3 disciplines! Congrats Campbell! 🤙🏆

04/30/2026

01/27/2026

An update on the planned Wilmington Aquatic Center (WAC) providing Olympic Class facilities on the Northside of Wilmington! 🤙

We have an update on funding plans for a new aquatic center in Wilmington. Read more details below.

01/26/2026

Don Hansen and Rusty Miller. Two of the most influential people on my surfing in the 1960's. Don gave me the opportunity to rep Hansen Surfboards in 1964, and in 1966 Rusty and I traveled up the east coast together demoing Hansen's surfboards. One memorable trip was to Atlantic Beach Surf Shop, owned by Tommy Morrow. Tommy had the lifeguards pull everyone out of the water near the Atlantic Beach fishing pier and the three of us paddled out into 3 foot beach break and people stood in knee deep water and cheered and clapped for us. Most of these North Carolina "inlanders" had never even seen a surfboard, much less a national champion surfing. Rusty was the points winner in the US Surfing Championship in 1965. Today Rusty lives in Australia and continues to surf at 82.

12/13/2025

Each nesting season, the N.C. Coastal Reserve and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission staff monitor the nine miles of Masonboro Island Reserve’s beach for sea turtle nests. During the 2025 season, the reserve documented 41 nests and 22 false crawls. Four nests were lost entirely to a king tide event (2), Hurricane Erin (1), or the October Nor'easter (2).

🐢 Of the 41 nests documented, all of the nests and false crawls were made by loggerhead sea turtles. Loggerheads are the primary nesters in North Carolina and on Masonboro Island, but Masonboro will occasionally see nesting green sea turtles depending on the nesting season. Check back in next year to what species nest on the island!

This conservation work for protected sea turtles at Masonboro Island is authorized by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

10/21/2025

10/11/2025

10/10/2025

A WB landmark! 🤙👍💪

Craft American Hardware celebrates 50 years mixing old-school charm with modern service; treats customers like family. Magical, old-time feeling at Craft Hardware on Wrightsville Ave.