A 'before' shot

Here is what OBP (Our Beach Place) looked like "before" we attempted to take it out of the 1980s. Stay tuned for the "after" shots.




And here's a shot of the view. Not too bad, eh?

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)

CB gets bike grant

Carolina Beach was one of 12 municipalities across the state to get a bicycle and pedestrian planning grant from the DOT, according to a recent Star-News article (read down). The N.C. Board of Transportation awarded $315,850 to 12 municipalities for bicycle and pedestrian planning. Carolina Beach gets $20,000.

"The DOT anticipates that the municipalities selected will begin the planning process this fall. The department also will be available to provide technical assistance to the municipalities. Since 2004, 92 N.C. municipalities have been awarded grants for comprehensive bicycle or pedestrian plans."

Weekly featured CB photo

(From Trip Advisor)

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!

Chowder Cook-Off this Saturday

From the Cape Fear tourism site ...

The 13th annual Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off will take place Saturday at Carolina Beach Lake Park.

"Attendees can enjoy and vote on chowder from various restaurants and groups. In addition to serving up the area's best chowder, this daylong event includes live music and the Kidz Zone which will have face painting, balloon art, giant inflatable slide and more. There will also be fudge, hotdogs, funnel cakes, luna pops, pizza, bloom'n onions, soft drinks and beer and wine for sale. (No coolers, no pets please!). $5 per person 12 and under free. Park for free at Federal Point Shopping Center and ride the trolley for free to Carolina Beach Lake."

The contestants will be:
Harbor Masters Restaurant (Carolina Beach)
Jack Mackerel's Island Grill (Kure Beach)
Michael's Seafood Restaurant (Carolina Beach)
O'Charley's (Monkey Junction)
Olde Salty's (Carolina Beach)
RuckerJohns (Monkey Junction)
Seaside Grill at Courtyard Marriott (Carolina Beach)
Tangerines Caribbean Grill (Caribbean Grill)