page_title: Caswell Beach, North Carolina
section_title: Attractions
hierarchical_section_title: Caswell Beach, North Carolina / Attractions
caption_attribution_description: English: Looking southeast towards the Cape Fear Estuary
context_page_description: Caswell Beach is a small seaside town located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in Southeastern North Carolina. Occupying the eastern part of Oak Island in Brunswick County, its population was listed at 398 in the 2010 census. Prominent features include the Civil War era Fort Caswell, the Oak Island Lighthouse co-located with the Oak Island Coast Guard Station, and the Oak Island Golf Club, the sole business in town and one of the few eighteen-hole courses located on a North Carolina barrier island. Along with the Town of Oak Island which occupies the central and west parts of the island, Caswell Beach is considered to be in the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area.
context_section_description: Beach. In way of combating erosion rates ranging from 2-5’ per year, the town's three mile long, south facing beach has been re-nourished three times in the past 17 years as part of the Wilmington Harbor Channel dredging  project.  The beach also serves as a sea turtle nesting area, which has spurred a vigorous dune protection and restoration program featuring sea oats/beach grass plantings. This program not only benefits turtle nesting but protects the town against hurricane storm surge damage. As for public access to the beach, the town maintains a free parking lot and 12 walkways spread out along the strand, most of which have wheelchair ramps.
  Golf Course. The 18 hole, par 72 course at the Oak Island Golf Club is open to the public.  The 6,720 yard course layout has 37 bunkers and water in play on 11 different holes with five sets of tees (back tees are course rated at 73.1 with a slope of 139). The course features ultradwarf TifEagle greens  and Bermuda tees/fairways/rough while Long Leaf Pines, Live Oaks and Yaupon Holly trees border most every fairway. George Cobb, co-designer of Augusta National's par 3 course, is the architect.  A full practice facility is available to the public which includes a putting green, sand traps and a driving range.
  Lighthouse. The Oak Island Lighthouse grounds are open to the public year-round for viewing and picture taking, with limited 30 minute parking provided at the base of the tower from sunrise until sunset.  During the summer months, two types of interior tours are available (the one to the top is by appointment only).  The light is maintained by personnel housed at the adjacent Coast Guard Station, while the structure itself is cared for and managed by a citizens group, Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse (FOIL).  A major exterior rehabilitation project was completed in 2016, notable in that it was funded entirely by contributions.
  Fort Caswell Fort Caswell is accessible by the public to a limited extent per the conditions set forth by the Director, North Carolina Baptist Assembly. Now utilized as a Christian retreat and conference center, during the Civil War it defended Confederate positions on the North Carolina coast. Subsequently, it served as an army training ground in World War I and as a patrol communications base in World War II.  Thus its forts and batteries provide opportunities to view and connect with a significant part of US history. Also a part of the Fort Caswell Historic District but located further west in the Caswell Dunes area is the Fort Caswell Rifle Range used by WW I soldiers for target practice.
  Natural Habitat.  Given its small population and remote location, much of the town's charm rests with its  salt and fresh water marshes and a maritime forest, all of which support a wide range of plant and animal life.  Alligators, turtles, foxes, deer, raccoons, beavers,  eagles, brown pelicans, great white and blue herons, and ibis abound, while an occasional bear has been known to swim across the Intracoastal Waterway to visit the town. As for plant diversity, live oak, Longleaf Pine and Yaupon Holly  predominate in the forest, while Azaleas, American Beautyberry and Sweet Bay Magnolia thrive both in natural and landscaped areas.
  Oak Island.  The Town of Oak Island, which occupies the rest of the island, has a contract post office, a branch of the county library, a Food Lion, an ABC Liquor Store, two fishing piers a few gas stations, numerous small professional offices/retail stores, and a large number of restaurants.
  Southport.  Located just across the ICW is the city of Southport (pop. 3,700).  Founded as Smithville in 1792, it is home to the NC Fourth of July Festival and has been the location for many movies, one of the more notable being Safe Haven (2013). The part  of town known as “Old Southport” has many historic houses and buildings, e.g. Fort Johnston, and situated on its waterfront is the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport and year-round ferry service that provides scenic trips across the Cape Fear River   to the NC Aquarium  and Civil War 
caption: Fort Caswell (Batteries McKavett and McDonough)
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