Just across the water from Bald Head Island and Southport
is Oak Island, a narrow strip of land that includes Caswell Beach and the
Town of Oak Island.
Caswell Beach is the site of Fort Caswell, a military stronghold
that dates from 1827. Fort Caswell is now owned by the North Carolina
Baptist Assembly and welcomes visitors of all denominations each year. The
community has some summer homes, but the area has mostly permanent
residences. The year-round population is 443, but up to 1,200 people can be
staying on this part of Oak Island in the summer. Be sure to check out the
Oak Island Lighthouse, which has guided seafarers since 1958. In 2003 it was
formally declared surplus by the General Services Administration of the U.S.
Government and was deeded to the town. Plans are in the works for use of the
lighthouse and the five acres of oceanfront property deeded along with it
for the public in perpetuity.
As the name implies, Oak Island is famous for its beautiful live
oak trees. Recreational areas include a championship golf course, 65
beach-access points, a picnic area on the Elizabeth River estuary system, a
few restaurants and motels, and three fishing piers. With a population of
nearly 7,300, Oak Island offers a quiet respite for a peaceful family
vacation. For the most part, a visitor will enjoy renting a house for an
extended vacation. In fact, vacation rental is the liveliest business here,
with more than a dozen rental companies operating on Oak Island.
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