Fort Fisher: Where History & Recreation Meet Together

Once known as Federal Point, this isolated tip of Pleasure Island was home to few people, lots of natural wildlife, little resources, and a harsh winter that was difficult for the population that lived there.

Historic Carolina Tribes & Languages that may have been in the area before Federal Point settlement.

Today, Fort Fisher is not only a historical site, but a refuge for tourists wishing for a slower pace on vacation.

Fort Fisher Historic Site is located at 1610 Ft. Fisher Blvd, Kure Beach. The fort was built as fortification and protection of the Cape Fear Inlet. The inlet provided the only means to get vital supplies into Wilmington's port during the Civil war and it was highly important that the inlet was protected as much as possible.

Guests are about to visit about 30 acres of the 500 state- controlled & leased land, some along the Cape Fear River. A two- story visitors center allows guests the opportunity to learn about Federal Point, the development of the Fort, and life after the civil war.

The visitors center has a 15 minute video about the creation of Federal Point, the envolvement of Lumbee and slaves in the development, and of course about Fort Fisher's battles. This video does provide context to the paved loop, pointing out various defense mechanisms and key events.

The displays in the center highlight the history of the historic site and provide some great narratives or quotes from people who lived there; both when it was Federal Point and when it was Fort Fisher.

Just a side note- Carolina Beach and Kure Beach weren't even developed yet during the Civil War!

Things I loved about visiting this site:

It's free, even parking! The gate does close and lock in the evenings though, so be aware of timing.
The visitors center offers a great historical perspective of the property. A video, various displays, and first-hand stories of our past ancestors makes this a worthwhile visit.
The visitors center AC is AMAZING. This is great when you need to get out of our heatwave summers.

There is a .05 mile paved loop to walk the fort. The original fort was 1.5 miles long, but mounds have been restored to give guests an idea of what life might have been like defending the point. This is a dog-friendly loop too.

The Fall of Fort Fisher occurred during the cold January of 1865. While the fort managed to defend itself during the first battle in December 1864, it's defenses were weakened because General Bragg believed the point wouldn't fall; thus refusing to send extra resources to aid those on-grounds.

The union army won the second battle of Fort Fisher, thus allowing them access to the port. They took over Wilmington within a month of this battle.

It's believed that the fall of Fort Fisher led to the demise of the Confederate army, as the import line was cut off. Supplies could no longer come into Wilmington and travel up to VA to General Lee. Lee surrended three months after the fall of Fort Fisher.

Walk across the street and walk the paved path along the ocean, or sit a while. Imagine what defending from the ocean side would look like for those soldiers.. or just sit and admire the beauty of this earth.

This portion was originally part of the Fort as well, but coastal erosion has elimated most remnants. There is no beach in this area, although people will "makeshift" beaches out of sandbars below the rocks. It's not recommended though.

I would recommend actually going down further to the parking site and utilize the real beach!

Now, the historic site is different than the Fort Fisher Recreation area. While this particular area is still protected both state and federally, further down the point is recreation!

Currently, the Fort Fisher Aquarium is closed for renovation (at least two years), but you can visit their displays in Wilmington's Independence Mall if you go into the city at all.

Want to stay on the island though? Head down to Fort Fisher's Recreation area, or park. The Sout Beach Trail offers 4WD Driving, but be careful and only go out if you know how to drive on sand and what to do about your tires. Causing getting a tow out there is expensive! Daily or annual permit required.

Want to play it safe? Head to the beach and utilize the area's only free parking. With a small visitors center, bathhouse, and a shaded pavilion (with grills), your family will have the best beach day ever. Tip= if you go during high season (I have a tendency to avoid the high island during high season, which is likely now through later July), go out early cause I've heard the lot fills up. I've never experienced it though.

Beach isn't your thing and want some movement? Check out the 1,1 mile Basis Trail. Birding, wildlife watching, and marsh will be your main attractions there.

Have your own gear and boat/kayak? Utilize the Federal Point Boat Launch & Basin Dock. I believe there's also an area out there for Marsh Fishing. This leads into Zeke's reserve and is a lot calmer for kayaks but extremely difficult for boating, so do your research.

There's also a pier located in the Fort Fisher Air Force recreation area too. The public can access it, but just can't stay in the nearby lodging or utilize nearby amenities.

Finally, the Fort Fisher Ferry will take your family to Southport for $7! This is a vehicle ferry and does land a bit outside Southport, so you will either need a vehicle/bike, unless you wanna walk into town for a while. Boarding is first-come, first-served and lines can get long, so if you want to be on the ferry at a specific time, you better enter the line around 30 mins beforehand!

Next time you are on Pleasure Island, venture past the attractions of Carolina and Kure beach to a smaller pace of life. While the areas can be quite busy, they are still quieters (except maybe the 4th July weekend) than other parts of the island!

Happy beaching!