Coastal Brunswick by Air

Coastal Brunswick County by air OAK ISLAND, BALD HEAD ISLAND & THE Cape Fear River

Howie Franklin, the director of Cape Fear Regional Jetport in Oak Island, has seen much of the world as a chief flight steward on Air Force One, serving five U.S. presidents – from Ford to Clinton. To him the coastal area of southern Brunswick County is a hidden secret, but the expansion of his airport shows a growing demand from wealthy business groups and beach home owners looking for something different -- and more private -- than wealthy getaways like Naples, Florida or the Hamptons.

To Franklin, the coastal area of southern Brunswick County is a hidden secret, but the current expansion of his airport shows a growing demand from wealthy business groups and beach home owners looking for something different — and more private — than wealthy getaways like Naples, Florida or the Hamptons.

He said you had to see the area from the sky to better understand why the area was attracting so much money – so we took him up on his offer.

Oak Island resident and pilot Allen Burr prepares for take-off in his Vans RV-12, a two-seat, single engine, low-wing airplane built in Oregon.

"I flew commercial out to Eugene, Oregon and flew her back across the Rockies, and diagonally all the way to Oak Island," Allan said. "Flying here is probably as fine as anywhere in the country." Allan Burr | Pilot

A boat leaves a long wake as it passes Oak Island just after the Intracoastal Waterway takes a sharp bend to the east.

Bald Head Island

With no bridge access or cars allowed on the island, and beachfront homes sold at a fraction of those found in Florida or California, Franklin said that Bald Head Island represents the area's under-the-radar charm that draws some of the country's wealthiest people.

The oldest lighthouse still standing in North Carolina – Old Baldy (center) – on Bald Head Island.

Beachfront homes along the southern shore of Bald Head Island.

"Some people come in from San Francisco buying a $1.2 million house on Bald Head. The same house is $20 million in San Francisco. And our water temperature’s 84 degrees. San Francisco's is 58 on it’s best day." Howie Franklin | Director, Cape Fear Regional Jetport

The Cape Fear River

Alongside the area's thriving tourism industry is the visible presence of industry and commerce on the Cape Fear River. As we flew around the southeastern tip of Bald Head Island and up the river, we saw a crew dredging the riverbed, a shrimp boat chugging towards the Atlantic, and MOTSU – the country's largest ammunition port.

The country's largest ammunition port, Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, or MOTSU, lies a few miles to the north of Oak Island along the Cape Fear River.

Lying just to the east of the Cape Fear River, the Brunswick Nuclear Plant, where a canal brings in water from the river to cool the plant.

A shrimp boat heads south on the Cape Fear River towards the river's exit into the Atlantic.

North of Bald Head Island at Kure Beach, the dark waters of the Cape Fear contrast with the aqua blue of the Atlantic.

Oak Island & St. James

"I traveled all over the world with Air Force One, all over the United States. This is Santa Barbara, California in 1955. Only their water temperature on the best day of the year is 58 degrees. And our house prices, compared to Santa Barbara, don’t even touch their prices." Howie Franklin | Director, Cape Fear Regional Jetport

The Oak Island Lighthouse with Molasses, Coward, and Boathouse creeks to the north.

The Intracoastal Waterway as it passes through Oak Island. The town of Holden Beach can be seen in the distance.

Crews continue to work on a $7 million rehabilitation project on the Oak Island Bridge, expected to open again in the summer.

Golf courses abound in coastal Brunswick County. Here, the Oak Island Golf Club.

A shrimp boat south of Oak Island in the Atlantic Ocean.

Oak Island, looking east.

"Did you see some of those lots on the beach? Those lots are a million bucks. That same lot in Naples, Florida is $10 million." Howie Franklin | Director, Cape Fear Regional Jetport

Burr turns us towards the gated community of St. James, which recently became an official town.

Every resident of St. James, the town, is also a resident of St. James Plantation, the master-planned, gated development.

As we flew over the gated town of St. James, Burr explained that the houses found here are the area's largest and most expensive.

"This is dicey," Burr said seconds before landing, as 16-knot winds (18-mph) hit his small plane from the side.

Back at Cape Fear Regional Jetport, Howie Franlkin (left, in pictures with former U.S. presidents Ronald Regan, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter) takes a phone call in the main terminal.

In response to increasing demand from primarily wealthy clients landing in private jets -- Franklin showed a picture of a gold-and-purple jet owned by the president of the Minnesota Vikings -- the Cape Fear Regional Jetport is building a new terminal building designed like a southern coastal home. In December, the county approved a $1.8 million grant advance to purchase 45 acres from adjacent lots to build more aircraft hangars.

A new terminal building is under construction, surrounded by 45 acres of wooded land to the west that will be used to build additional aircraft hangars.

Appreciate

Credits:

Port City Daily photos/Mark Darrough

Coastal Brunswick County by air OAK ISLAND, BALD HEAD ISLAND & THE Cape Fear River

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