Boardwalk news, y'all

There are some nifty plans to revitalize the Carolina Beach boardwalk -- a boardwalk with national acclaim.

CB town officials recently hosted an informational meeting to talk about plans for a $1.5 million renovation.

Now, town leaders are trying to determine how to use the $1.1 million they have in grant money from various different agencies, according to WECT.

Lewis says they've received a lot of help from volunteers, but they want more public input for the final stages of the project before construction begins.

"Our general public here and the residents here are taking ownership," said Lewis. "It adds a little pride to all of us when we get involved so we're looking to get as many people as we can to make this happen."

In other boardwalk news, Labor Day was probably good for biz.

A great, old view of CB -- 'The South's Miracle Beach'

Tip of the hat to the good folks over at Goodnight, Raleigh! for this one. It's an old linen postcard of Carolina Beach -- at night.

An alligator and an 'awesome' boardwalk

Carolina Beach is such a wonderful place that it is loved by human travelers -- and reptilian travelers, apparently.

Jeremy Kelly was enjoying the beach on Sunday and spotted something, uh, interesting in the surf.

A gator.

"Kelly was even able to snap a picture of it, before police and wildlife officers moved the reptile," according to WWAY.

"No word on how the reptile got there, or where it was taken and released."

Of course, this is not that uncommon as alligators can be found in the Cape Fear River region. And there have been gators spotted at Carolina Beach Lake Park. (There are even signs warning people about gators.)

In other "awesome" news, Carolina Beach has been named one of "America's Most Awesome Boardwalks," according to Tuesday's episode of Today. Click here for the complete list.

"Appropriately located on Pleasure Island, Carolina Beach specializes in making you forget your cares," the report reads.

The Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade in Myrtle Beach also made the list, citing the area's history, charm and hospitality, according to WECT.

Some of the other boardwalks on the list include: Atlantic City, Ocean City, and Disney World. 

(Alligator photo courtesy of Jeremy Kelly via WWAY.)

CB leaders discuss expanding the boardwalk - BOARD-WALK!*

*Yes, that's a nod to "Under the Boardwalk." 

Not sure what the outcome was (the meeting was last night), but Carolina Beach leaders were scheduled to discuss a possible boardwalk expansion, according to WECT.

Anybody want to give an update?

Mayor Bob Lewis wants town council members to consider using $2,500 to draw up plans that could double the size of the existing boardwalk.  

"My concept would be to have multi-layered types of decking," said Lewis.  "Maybe a children's area where we might build a wooden pirate ship and play area for children.  This might be a feature that brings year round visitors." 

Lewis says the plan would not use tax payer dollars.  Instead, the town wants to use $1.2 million of leftover grant money from the NC Aquarium Pier Project, which was never built.  The town would first have to get clearance from state legislators.  

Lewis is confident that if plans are drawn first, then the town can get private investors on board in addition to using state grant money. 

"The idea here is, can we replace it with something that is really spectacular and can be a focal point in the community," said Lewis.

Mountains to Coast bike tour to end in CB

From the Star-News:

About 1,000 cyclists will cross the finish line in Carolina Beach Oct. 6, ending Cycle North Carolina’s 14th annual Mountains to the Coast Bike Tour.
The week-long tour starts in Brevard and ends on Carolina Beach’s Boardwalk. It’s the third year that the Wilmington area has been the tour’s final destination. In 2000 and 2005, the rides ended at Battleship Park.
The finish line celebration will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Boardwalk.

Accomplishing something like this is impressive. I can barely lift my head outta bed most days.

CB board: Give boardwalk year-round status

From the Star-News:

The end of the summer season is known to arrive when Britt's Donut Shop serves its last tasty treat and shuts its metal drop-down doors on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. ...

And as the crowds dwindled at the end of September and the last batch of doughnuts were out the door, many other Boardwalk businesses followed suit and decided to close for several months or for certain days each week.

But with the help of the town's Boardwalk Makeover Committee, some have vowed to reach a goal of making the Boardwalk a year-round destination.

The effort faces an uphill battle against perception, however. People don't want to visit the Boardwalk because they don't think any shops are open, while shops don't want to open because they don't think people will visit, said Councilman Dan Wilcox, co-founder of the Boardwalk Makeover Committee.

"To work toward that, what we're trying to do each year is to extend the season a little bit," he said.

The rides are back and a new Thai restaurant has opened

The rides at the Carolina Beach boardwalk are now back, just in time for the busy summer season.

"This year there are about a dozen more rides, including the 'Ring of Fire' which will go 70 feet in the air. There will also be bungee jumping and new kiddie rides," says WECT.

"After last year's success, the Town of Carolina Beach worked with the ride company to expand, which is good news for the bad economy.

"The prices will remain the same, but there will be rides on three different lots near the boardwalk.

"The rides will be open by Friday night and could be open as early as Thursday night if the inspections are complete by then."

Ida Thai now open

Chef Jackie Bongkotmanee’s Ida Thai is now open in CB. The Thai restaurant is named for Bongkotmanee’s toddler daughter, Ida.

"Ida’s menu features easy Thai favorites such as satay, spring rolls, pad Thai, and all the correct curries but also Paradise Ginger, a stir-fry containing ginger, mushrooms, celery, carrots, bell peppers and onion," says the Star-News. "Garlic & Pepper Chicken brings chicken sauteed with fresh garlic and ground pepper topped with cilantro. Prices range from $5 to $10. Take-out is available. Call (910) 458-8136."

Extended hours for the Boardwalk?

"The Ferris wheel and other rides have been gone for months, but a new form of family entertainment is taking shape on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk long before summer's return," says the Star-News.

"An empty lot on the south end of the beachfront business district now holds a 26-foot lighted tree, and more lights are going up all around. About a dozen local businesses are pitching in to decorate the coves leading to the ocean, some with clever themes to combine the holidays and their products.

"It's all part of Christmas by the Sea, the first-ever Christmas celebration on the Boardwalk, an area that in previous years has been all but barren during the off-season.

"The Boardwalk Makeover group, a nonprofit organization started in late 2007 to revitalize the once-booming locale, is hoping to build on the success of the rides last summer that brought to the area a number of visitors unprecedented in recent decades."

Hey, in this economy, if you can capitalize on any momentum, by all means, go for it.

“I wonder if we can fit anymore people on the island than we did this year,” said Dan Wilcox, Carolina Beach town councilman and founder of the Boardwalk Makeover group. “Our goal is to maintain momentum during the peak season and then move on to find ways to enhance our shoulder season.”

Here come the rides!

The new Boardwalk amusement park ribbon cutting will take place on Friday at 4 p.m. The rides are slated to by open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Here's more from the Star-News.

Robert Megerle and his partner Harlan J. Bast II from Megerle’s Magic and Hildebrand Rides of Gibsonton, Fla., have been working on the project for a couple of months.

“Everyone in the city worked at helping get it together,” Megerle said.

Bast said it’s an opportunity to bring family fun to the Boardwalk, in addition to the eateries and bars already there.

“I really feel like it’s going to draw a lot of people to the Boardwalk that haven’t been drawn in the past,” he said.

The eleven rides will include two fun houses -- one for adults and one for children – and a Ferris wheel.

Architect Greg Reynolds, who was hired to help with the process of fitting the rides into spaces along the Boardwalk, said Megerle brought in about $3 million worth of rides that he already owned for the amusement park..

“We started working about three years ago in the big picture, but we started working with this vendor two months ago,” Reynolds said. ...

Bast said the plan is to open the amusement park Friday, but the rides still need to go through state inspections to make sure everything is ready, which he stressed is very important. ...

Tickets will cost $1.50 each, and rides will be worth about two or three tickets.

All-day passes will also be available for $25.

The park will be open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

(Image from the Star-News)

A look back at yesteryear

From CarolinaBeachToday ...

Here come the rides!

According to CarolinaBeachToday ...

On Tuesday, "the Carolina Beach Town Council approved the request to allow amusement park rides at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. A 60' Ferris wheel, with majestic views of the Atlantic ocean, will be the center attraction. Let the fun begin this summer in Carolina Beach!

"And to anyone who might not think this is a good idea or that visitors wouldn't be interested, just check out the comments to this earlier story when it was first hinted that amusement rides might be coming to the boardwalk. The comments are at the bottom of this WWAY March 23rd story."

Yeah!

Carnival rides could be coming to CB

From the Dare Society's blog ...

There have been a couple of reports about new amusement park-like rides coming to Carolina Beach's boardwalk this summer.

CarolinaBeachToday posted about this, and just today so did the Star-News.

"Carolina Beach visitors may be able to get a stunning view of the ocean from atop a 60-foot Ferris wheel as soon as next month," says the Star-News.

"Local business owners and a Florida-based amusement park operator are joining forces to bring carnival rides and food to the Boardwalk this summer, as part of a rejuvenation effort that's kicked into high gear in the past year.

"A conditional use permit is needed for five parcels along Cape Fear Boulevard to accommodate a 'family-oriented carnival consisting of a series of large mechanical rides, kids' rides, funhouses and food stands,' states the permit application to be reviewed by the planning board on Thursday go before the town council on Tuesday.

"In his application, Robby Megerle of Megerle's Magic and Hildebrand Rides of Gibsonton, Fla., wrote the proposal is made 'with a desire to bring back the Carolina Beach of yesteryear.' ..."

(Image of 'yesteryear' from CarolinaBeachToday)