Bald Head Island is a place of natural wonders where history and nature take center stage. The home of Old Baldy, the state’s oldest lighthouse, it’s also a nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles.

Here, the cares of daily life seem to slow down. Families spend time soaking in the sun on 14 miles of beaches or take to the water for a sightseeing or sunset cruise.

The Sail Shop

The Cape Fear River runs past one last piece of land before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean - the private island of Bald Head Island. The island is home to 14 miles of beaches, tidal creeks and marshes as well as a maritime forest. A short ferry ride from Southport or a private watercraft brings you to the exclusive community of BHI where a variety of Bald Head island recreation opportunities await.

Families are welcome here, even those with young children. There are home-schooling families living on the island and a plethora of kid friendly activities. The Club offers a safe and individualized summer camp program along with golf and tennis lessons for children of all ages.

The onsite 18-hole Championship George Cobb designed golf course challenges even the most seasoned player as it winds its way past salt marshes, dune ridges and the beach. Tennis players love the courts and lessons and clinics are available. The lush greensward at the Club also serves as the venue for United States Croquet Association tournaments and is the home of many top ranked croquet players in the country.

Mike’s Bites is the place for snacks and drinks on a bike ride or after a day at the beach. The shop is conveniently located near the leisure pool and is a great place to buy ice cream, snacks, sandwiches, bottled waters and bicycle accessories.

The Shoals Club

Fourteen miles of pristine beaches are the main draw on Bald Head Island, but the island’s landscape stretches far beyond these sandy swaths. Tidal creeks, pristine marshes and a rich maritime forest cover 10,000 acres of the island. The work of the Bald Head Island Conservancy protects and enhances this special natural area and its wildlife.

While the Conservancy’s most notable work centers on monitoring loggerhead sea turtle nests along our beaches, the organization’s mission extends far beyond that. Its Barrier Island Study Center serves as an invaluable resource for scientific research and educational programs of national significance. It also preserves Old Baldy lighthouse, North Carolina’s oldest lighthouse, built in 1817.

Golf

A golfer’s paradise, the 18-hole championship George Cobb designed course at The Shoals Club is a top pick for national tournaments. A well stocked pro shop and private lessons and clinics are available year round.

Tennis

The Shoals Club’s newly resurfaced MondoTen courts welcome players of all levels for daily clinics, social activities and lessons with one of the club’s United States Professional Tennis Association pros. The club’s Tennis Pro Shop offers men's and women's apparel, Babolat tennis racquets, balls and accessories as well as racquet stringing services.

The Conservancy

The Conservancy is a non-profit organization founded on November 7, 1983 devoted to barrier island conservation, preservation and education. The Smith Island Complex, including Bald Head Island, Middle and Bluff Islands bounded by the Cape Fear River and Atlantic Ocean in Brunswick County, North Carolina is unique and ecologically significant.

The organization’s mission is to create a viable premier island community preserving the island’s natural environment. It champions the sustainability of barrier islands through environmental research programs and island wildlife stewardship. It also educates visitors about the value and vulnerability of island ecosystems and preserves island land to support these fragile environments.

In addition to beach walks, turtle watches, birding and nature hikes, the Conservancy conducts numerous intern-created and led summer activities for kids of all ages. Budding Naturalists, for children age 4-6, gives kids the chance to catch bugs and critters and make island-oriented arts and crafts. For rising 2nd-6th graders, Junior Scientists is an exciting way to explore the natural wonders of Bald Head Island’s unique island ecosystem through kayaking and nature hikes.

The organization is nationally known for its efforts to protect sea turtles on the island. The Coastal Discovery Center houses the Island’s only sea turtle hospital and hatchery, and is home to thousands of baby sea turtles each year. Located on the island near the Marina dockside and barge landing area, the Coastal Discovery Center is open 24/7/365 to allow guests to experience this incredible coastal resource. The facility also features a small lending library with current hardback and paperback books. The “take one, leave one” lending policy is supported by donations from BHI residents and island visitors.

The Beach

Located at the southern tip of North Carolina’s cape islands and bordered by the Atlantic Gulf Stream, Bald Head Island offers a rare mix of oceanfront sand and coastal maritime forest. Walk along a private boardwalk that extends from the Shoals Club directly to South Beach, or explore East Beach—known as the "Frying Pan Shoals" for its large sandbars that emerge and retreat seasonally. While the beaches are a focal point, Bald Head Island is also home to abundant wildlife. The Conservancy runs a range of birding walks and other programs to help guests observe native species, including sea turtles.

The Bald Head Island Club’s Rec Team organizes camps, workshops, pool parties and holiday events for children of all ages. Its Turtle's Den also stocks swim goggles, sunscreen, chap stick, tennis balls and pickleball apparel.

The island's tidal creeks are natural treasures, perfect for kayaking and paddle boarding. You can hire a guide to get the most out of the experience, or learn on your own by exploring with a kayak rental from the local surf shop. You can even sign up for a kayak tour of Old Baldy Lighthouse, North Carolina’s oldest lighthouse. For a more hands-on experience, sign up for a class at All About Art, which offers drawing, photography and basked weaving classes for all ages.