Topsail Beach
The southern portion of Topsail Beach (also known as “The South End” or “The Point”) is a special place, a nonpareil site of profound natural beauty. The property features more than 1.6 miles of sound-to-sea frontage along the Atlantic Ocean, New Topsail Inlet, and Banks Channel and hosts an expanse of pristine dunes, beach, estuarine wetlands, and maritime shrub forest providing habitat for a diversity of coast-centric wildlife. Loggerhead sea turtles annually make their epic crawl up the beach to lay their eggs, Wilson’s Plovers nest among the dunes, and Willets skitter and forage along the intertidal flats. Seabeach amaranth, a rare sand-binding coastal plant, dots the open beach. More than 30 different priority (declining) bird species have been documented there.
The South End represents one of the last remaining undeveloped, privately owned sites on any North Carolina barrier island. This property is UNPARALLELED in terms of coastal conservation values AND it is UNPROTECTED from future residential development. However, the property owners have given the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust a window of opportunity to buy and protect the property—forever.
The Coastal Land Trust has recently negotiated and signed a contract with the owners to purchase the property. Read the full press release here. This is exciting news to the many people who enjoy the unfettered beauty of the South End and want to see it permanently conserved. However, the Coastal Land Trust has a daunting task ahead, to raise more than $7.8 million to complete the purchase. While the Coastal Land Trust will request several state and federal grants, we also need private contributions to save the South End. We need your help!
We have made incredible progress toward our fundraising goal! As of December 6th, more than $6.6 million has been secured in support of the Save the South End campaign. This total includes grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, North Carolina Land and Water Fund, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s North American Wetlands Conservation Act as well as $1.3 million in private funding from 700 donors.
We’ve also applied for a $1,000,000 grant that we are hopeful to receive in December. If successful, we have just under $200,000 left to raise in private funds to make the dream of saving the South End a reality.
The time is now to Save the South End forever. LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN!
* View a recording of the May 11th, 2024 Save The South End community meeting held at The Assembly Building in Topsail Beach by clicking HERE. Feel free to view some of our frequently asked questions or submit additional questions below.
Photo above thanks to Wilton Wescott.
Photos top L to R: Black skimmer – Walker Golder, Seabeach amaranth – Dale Suiter, Green turtle – NCWRC
Photos bottom L to R: South Topsail Beach dunes – NCCLT, Loggerhead sea turtle – Mellissa Dionesotes, Oystercatcher – Mellissa Dionesotes
Frequently Asked Questions
The contract between the Coastal Land Trust and the owners provides for closing on the purchase on or before March 31, 2025.
No. The Coastal Land Trust cannot pay more than fair market value for the property based on an appraisal completed by a state-certified appraiser, and the appraisal(s) obtained by the Coastal Land Trust will be subject to review and approval by state and/or federal grant funders.
If the Coastal Land Trust’s fundraising efforts are unsuccessful, the Coastal Land Trust will not be able to buy and ensure permanent conservation of The South End. While the Coastal Land Trust has already started working hard on various public grant requests, nothing is guaranteed, and even if all grants are awarded, significant private contributions will still be needed to ensure fundraising success. These private contributions, together with anticipated private foundation, state, and federal grant funds are needed for the Coastal Land Trust to complete the purchase of The South End. Please Help Us Make It Happen!
The Coastal Land Trust plans to retain ownership of The South End until all awarded grant funds are received and then transfer the property to the State of North Carolina to be managed by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management.
Yes. The South End will remain open to the public for traditional uses like beachcombing/walking, swimming, fishing, etc. The existing parking area will remain available for public use. Since it is anticipated that public conservation dollars will be used to fund the purchase of The South End, there will be efforts to protect the conservation values of the property including nesting shorebirds (e.g., through signage and roping areas off). Existing local rules and regulations adopted by the Town of Topsail Beach will continue to be in effect, i.e., dogs must be on a leash from April 1st to Sept. 30th (versus May 15th to Sept. 30th in other areas of Topsail Island) because South Topsail Beach lies within Unit L07 of the Coastal Barrier Resources System.
Yes. The use of any public conservation funding requires permanent conservation restrictions. If the fundraising for the acquisition of the Topsail Beach tract is successful, the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management will seek to have the property dedicated under the State Nature Preserves Act. Articles of Dedication will be prepared by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Articles of Dedication are similar to a permanent conservation easement on private property. In general, the state’s dedication process expressly allows for public use but tries to balance it with protection of conservation values. Examples of state-owned coastal lands that have been dedicated under the State Nature Preserves Act include Hammocks Beach State Park and Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve. Many state game lands and state parks have also been dedicated. While the Division of Coastal Management also manages the ten NC Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve sites, the Division does not intend to add this property to the Reserve system.
The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management will develop a management plan after the property is transferred to the state. The Division of Coastal Management hopes to partner with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission staff to assist with the identification, management, and monitoring of shorebird nesting areas. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission staff already identify, mark, and monitor sea turtle nests all along Topsail Island including South Topsail Beach and that work will continue. Additional details on future management will be forthcoming but the pressing need is to raise the necessary funds to purchase and permanently conserve The South End. Let’s Make it Happen!
Donations can be made online or by mail. If you want to speak to someone about supporting this project, please contact Eric Vreeland (910-790-4524 x2100, eric@coastallandtrust.org).
Checks should be made out to North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and mailed to 3 Pine Valley Drive, Wilmington, NC 28412.
Yes. The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS under Section 501(c)(3). Our Federal tax ID number is 56-1791849.
Yes. For more information, please contact the Coastal Land Trust at (910) 790-4524 x 2100 or Eric@coastallandtrust.org.