Please join the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society on their 2005 Spring Retreat Friday, April 29-Sunday, May 1st.
This tour will encompass our three southernmost North Carolina lighthouses as well as guided tours of Southport, the NC Maritime Museum, and the USCG station at Oak Island, Fort Caswell, and Bald Head Island.
We will enjoy an ocean side clambake on Friday and barbecue and 'fixins' at the Old Brunswick County Jail (now the Southport Historical Society Headquarters) on Saturday.
We will visit Oak Island Lighthouse and hope to have a peek inside. Bill Brinkley who built the lighthouse will join us. He has some exciting stories to tell about the project!
We hope to have a walking tour of Price's Creek range light. We have asked permission from the private owners and are awaiting their reply. Because of this we have not included ferry price to the mysterious tower that no one has been able to visit. If we are granted permission and you are interested in seeing it there will be an additional fee.
Sunday will be visit to Old Baldy, the oldest standing lighthouse (1817) in North Carolina. There are several ferries to the Island so you can visit at your leisure. Tours will be given at different times. Golf carts and bikes are available to rent if you wish to remain on the island for your own personal tour. (Information available upon request)
$100 will reserve your spot for the three day event. This includes dinner for Friday and Saturday and box lunch on Sunday, ferry to Bald Head Island, and entrance to the lighthouse.
There is a limit of 75 members and a CUT OFF DATE OF April 22nd. Local volunteers, Coast Guard Auxiliary members, representatives of the Maritime Museum, Southport Historical Society, City of Southport, Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse and the Old Baldy Foundation have done a wonderful job of helping make plans for this weekend. They will be invited to join in the activities as well.
Accommodations are on your own and it is suggested to make reservations soon.
Here are some suggestions, as you can see WITH RATINGS, or you may search on your own:
Oak Island Blue Water Point Marina 910-278-1230 about 20 minutes from Southport
Driftwood Motel 910-278-6114
Ocean Crest Motel 910-278-3333
Southwinds Motel 910-278-5442 *
Island Resort and Inn 910-278-5644
Southport Hampton Inn 910-454-0016 may have openings closer to the date **
Comfort Suites 910-454-7444 may have openings closer to the date **
Lois Jane's Riverview Inn B&B 910-457-6701 *** $$
Riverview Motel 910-457-6986
Also, several condominiums and houses are available if you wish to share a 2 or 3 bedroom place. Oak Island Accommodations (
www.rentalsatthebeach.com)
800-234-8132 and Margaret Rudd (
www.rudd.com) at 800-486-5441 will be able to help you.
Shallotte (45 minute travel to Southport)
Comfort Inn 910-754-3044 **
You may reserve your spot for the weekend by sending a check of $100 (for members, $115 for non-members which will include membership or family memberships for $25 should be added), to the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society.
Also available to members are our new brass plated name badges with our logo. These are available for $15.00 (if you prefer a magnetic backing which is easier to use, add an additional $1.50) please include your name as you would like for it to appear. Request for name badges must be made by April 13 and add the additional money to cover the badge to your check and send to:
Bett Padgett
1213 Dixie Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607-6841
Questions? Contact Bett by email
bett@outerbankslighthousesociety.org
If you will not be able to participate in the entire weekend, events average $33/day. Please note in your reservation which days you will be with us.
You will receive confirmation, a detailed preliminary itinerary and a questionnaire within one week.
As you can see, it looks like a very exciting weekend and much planning has taken place to make it so!
Hope to see you in April!
In light and life,
Bett Padgett, PRESIDENT and VP of Special Events
Outer Banks Lighthouse Society
