The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is one of Carolina Beach’s most iconic locations, drawing both locals and visitors alike for decades. During the summer months, the Boardwalk is bustling with crowds who flock there for seasonal amusement rides, live entertainment, local restaurants and unique shops – a tradition cherished for generations.

A Wilmington native who grew up in nearby Wrightsville Beach and later became a schoolteacher, Elaine Henson developed an interest in Carolina Beach history after her family purchased a vintage cottage as a summer rental. For several years, she served on the board of the Federal Point Historic Preservation Society, an organization dedicated to preserving Carolina Beach’s history. She also served as the society’s president for 8 years. During her tenure, Elaine was instrumental in developing the Historic Boardwalk Tours. With an impressive collection of more than 1,000 vintage postcards featuring nostalgic scenes, showcased in her book Carolina Beach: A Post Card History, and a unique passion for vintage women’s swimwear, Elaine is a true expert in local island history.

 

Travel back in time with Elaine as she delves into what the Boardwalk was like in its heyday and how it has evolved into the beloved local landmark we know today.

When was the Boardwalk originally built and what was happening in Carolina Beach at that time?

The Carolina Beach Boardwalk was first developed in the summer of 1887. Captain John W. Harper, who had been sailing steamers from downtown Wilmington to Southport for years and passed the Federal Point peninsula (now the tip of the nearby Fort Fisher State Recreation Area), built a pavilion, hotel and restaurant along the route to attract visitors.

Excursionists would travel down the Cape Fear River by steamer, disembark at a dock and board a small passenger train along present-day Harper Avenue. The train, known as the Shoo-Fly train, dropped them directly onto the Boardwalk, which led to the pavilion entrance. In its first year, the Boardwalk on the pavilion's ocean-facing side connected the Railroad Station Restaurant and Oceanic Hotel. Over time, additional bathhouses, amusements and homes were added along the Boardwalk. The Shoo-Fly train is now depicted on a mural outside Celtic Creamery, located at 201 N. Lake Park Blvd.

 

What was its original purpose?

Boardwalks were like sidewalks. They connected the various buildings, from the pavilion to shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. It allowed visitors to walk from one spot to another without sinking in the sand.

What was it like during its heyday?

The original Boardwalk’s center was the pavilion, where various activities took place, from orchestra-led nightly dances in the summer to beauty contests and sporting competitions. There was also a bathhouse where beachgoers could rent a bathing suit and shower after a dip in the ocean. As time passed, the Boardwalk grew to include more hotels, restaurants, bingo parlors, arcades, a movie theater and bowling alley. It also had essential services like town hall, a fire department, grocery stores and an ABC Store that stayed open year-round. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and World War II began, the area came to life with military personnel and defense workers who flocked to the beach. Soldiers from nearby Camp Davis, Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune and an Army installation at Fort Fisher visited on leave. After the war, they returned for some rest and recreation. Dancing was a big part of the Boardwalk scene; even after the pavilion burned in the 1940 fire, jukeboxes were in most other establishments. And Ocean Plaza, built in 1946, offered a ballroom for dancing and social gatherings.

 

What are some significant events in history that helped the Boardwalk evolve into what we see today?

Carolina Beach’s Boardwalk has transformed over the years. It has been rebuilt and repaired numerous times as a result of passing time and weather. In the 1930s, it was extended. By 1940, it had become the heart of the community and was packed with local businesses. But disaster struck when a fire started in the pavilion and spread quickly in September 1940, leveling two blocks of the Boardwalk. The last building to fall was the Bame Hotel, just south of where the Boardwalk gazebo is today. It damaged the area stretching between today’s Hampton Inn & Suites and Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront.

Despite the setback, local business owners were determined to rebuild in time for the 1941 summer season, and they did. Storms, including Hurricane Hazel, caused more damage over the years, but the community always came together and rebuilt. Fast forward to the 1960s and 1970s, when beach erosion led to sand berms blocking the ocean view and changing how people accessed the beach. In 1978, the rides left the Boardwalk; many saw that as the beginning of a decline. By 2002, the development of the new Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront and many local groups working to bring change led to improvements and new landscaping. The return of carnival rides in 2009 brought back the family fun atmosphere the Boardwalk has today. By 2014, a major renovation made the Boardwalk longer and wider with swings, seating areas and more accessibility.

 

These days, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk is buzzing with crowds all summer long. People come for the seasonal amusement rides, unique shops, local restaurants and Thursday night concerts and fireworks. It’s even been ranked one of the best boardwalks in the country several times!

What are your favorite memories of the Boardwalk?

As a child, teenager and young parent, my family and I would make trips to the Boardwalk for a fun night, enjoying the rides, games, arcades, bumper cars and other amusements, along with cotton candy, snow cones and classic beach food – especially Britt’s Donuts

 

Carolina Beach is celebrating its centennial in 2025. Is there anything you can tease about centennial plans that may involve the Boardwalk?

Yes! I’m actually a Carolina Beach Centennial Committee member and am working to create a self-guided walking tour of historical sites along the beach and Boardwalk. The tour will feature pictures and descriptions, and it’ll be available as a free app to download on your phone. Each site will have a QR code for easy access. The Centennial will kick off with an event at the Carolina Beach Marina on March 6, 2025, and run through Sept. 7, 2025.

 

As a collector of vintage bathing suits, I’m especially excited about the upcoming exhibit of bathing suits spanning 1880 to 1980 at the new Fort Fisher State Historic Site Visitors Center, which opens April 25, 2025. There’s also going to be a 10-decade car show, a special float in the 2025 Azalea Festival parade and lots of other fun events set to be revealed in 2025.

 

In your opinion, what makes the Boardwalk and Carolina Beach unique?

Carolina Beach is a town full of color, fun and people who truly reflect its vibrant character. At the heart of it all is the Boardwalk, the perfect place to spend quality time with family and for visitors to experience both the excitement and rich history of Carolina Beach in one spot. A visit to Carolina Beach and our Boardwalk promises to be memorable!