Topsail Island is a long barrier island that runs from the south end of Camp Lejeune for 26 miles, which puts the south end slightly east of Hampstead. Highway 210, Island Drive, and New River Inlet Road cover the length of the Island making the beach accessible from one end to the other. There are three communities conjoined on Topsail Island; Surf City, Topsail Beach and North Topsail Beach.
The tale that is told regarding the origination of the island’s name has a common thread links many of the barrier towns and islands; it’s based on a pirate’s tale. So it goes that the very top of a three mast schooner is called a topsail (tops’l). This ship was the one of choice for the pirates of the 17th century. The coast of North Carolina was very popular with these groups of thieves because the bays and jetties up and down the coast from Corolla to Wilmington offered not only protection from the elements but also protection from discovery. Rumor has it that pirates hid behind Topsail Island waiting in anticipation to surprise and rob the merchant ships sailing the coast. If there was a sharp eyed hand in the crow’s nest of a passing schooner he could easily see the topsail of the pirate ship and the captain would hopefully be able to evade any possible attack.
Considered to be the fastest growing town in Pender County, Surf City is the largest of the three towns with a population of 2,000 permanent residents, more or less. North Topsail and Topsail provide an additional 1,400 full timers. All of this changes during the “season” which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. During the summer months the population swells to 60,000+. These two holidays traditionally mark the beginning and end of summer.
Topsail Island is not heavily commercialized with large beach stores and high rises but it still offers privately owned tourist shops, antique boutiques and many restaurants with fares that include Calabash style fried seafood, burgers, and international cuisine. Once you decide to visit our island for a week or two you will see how relaxing it is to just sit back and embrace the sun and the shore without feeling crowded.
Almost everything on Topsail Island is driven by the water. You can body or board surf, swim, or rent a runabout boat and cruise the waterway and jetties. Fishing is easy and the fish are in abundance—if you know where they are. For that reason, many tourists enlist the aid of guides for inshore or off shore fishing. The thrill of hanging a big tuna out in the Gulf Stream is an experience that lasts a life time.
Once you come to Topsail Island you’ll be back. You can’t do or see everything these towns have to offer.