By George Simonton

A hidden island off of the southeast corner of North Carolina, accessible only by boat: Bald Head Island. Bald Head originally served as a military base in both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Its next purpose was to aid the navigation of nearby vessels with the Cape Fear Lighthouse, whose remains you can still visit today. However, in the latter-half of the 20th century the island began to undergo development and began to transform into what you see today. Nowadays, it is a populist tourist destination. The island is ruled by golf carts; passenger cars are banned from the island, and every house on the secluded getaway has their own golf cart as transportation. It is the perfect retreat from the bustle of everyday life, and it is certainly unlike any other traditional beach destination.  

Sunset on BHI. Photo credit: George Simonton.

I have been to Bald Head several times for family vacations, and I have yet to be disappointed by what it has to offer. My family and I made our first journey to the island based purely off of word of mouth. Our ears instantly perked up when we heard of such an unconventional yet captivating vacation, interested as to how we could mix up our summer with something new. When I first stepped off of the ferry, I was enthralled by the energy of the island. Hopping onto the tram, a small electric car that tows you and your luggage along in the back, our necks were strained as we were looking every which way at the scenic views, the lighthouses, or the island’s singular grocery store. The views were breathtaking.

There is something for everyone on this island. A popular tourist attraction my family always makes an effort to check out is the Bald Head Island Conservancy. The locals have made a tremendous effort to keep the island suitable for loggerhead sea turtles to return to in order to lay their eggs. Every year, there are a number of hatchings, which the public can come and watch. It is always a spectacular sight to see the baby turtles venture down a man-made runway to the ocean. This is a system where the volunteers rope off and flatten a path to the ocean from the nest so the baby turtles can easily reach the water without harm. The volunteers also go back and excavate the nests in an attempt to retrieve any stragglers who could not quite make it out of the sand to the surface. Additionally, in an effort to help the turtles, the island only allows you to use a red flashlight on the beaches at night. This prevents the nesting sea turtles and hatchlings from becoming disoriented, as bright lights can lead them astray. Red lights are much less intrusive on the turtles. The volunteers at the turtle conservancy will even hand out red flashlights for free so you can enjoy the beach without disrupting any of the turtles. There is also a weekly Turtle Trot 5k on the island to help fundraise for the conservancy. Runners are able to enjoy the island’s ancient maritime forest and beach views while supporting the turtles.

Bald Head Island Club Golf Course Photo credit: George Simonton.

A second popular attraction for both island residents and visiting guests is the Bald Head Island Club. I have enjoyed all the club has offered on a number of occasions, whether that is the tennis courts, pickleball courts, dining at the restaurant, swimming in the pool, or playing the very challenging golf course. I have played this magnificent course a number of times, and while I am by no means an experienced golfer, I can confidently say this is one of the most difficult courses I have ever played. The heavy beach gusts, combined with a plethora of sand traps and water hazards, makes it so only the most experienced of golfers can navigate this course well. I once had such a poor performance on this course that I took a two-month break from the sport afterwards, because I figured it was just not for me. It was quite humbling. However, not everyone has been discouraged from the course. The annual George Cobb Golf Tournament every November and the Bald Head Island Cup every August draw a number of avid golfers who love competing on this course. 

What makes Bald Head so special to me is not the variety of attractions it has, but the memories and experiences I have from my stays here. There is nothing like meeting random people on East Beach and playing spikeball with your friends until your shoulders get pink from the sun, or pushing your golf cart like a bobsled while it is pitch black out after it dies right before you reach your house. Unfortunately, this is something I have had to deal with. There is a sense of freedom that comes with being separated from the mainland, free from any worries and being able to explore all of the hidden gems the island has to offer on your own golf cart. It is something that can not be found anywhere else. 

Bald Head is the perfect destination for someone from Richmond who wants a getaway that will have them thinking about anything but being at home. It is an easy four-and-a-half hour drive that will seem like nothing, and the ferry service is seamless and easy to navigate. If you are interested in going, I would recommend bringing along friends and family to share the fun. You will be amazed by the simplicity of the island and the freedom of living in a place that feels far from home. 

Featured image credit: Gareth Raspberry via Wikimedia Commons.