Cape Carteret, NC

Cape Carteret was created by William Britton McLean on property he purchased from Anita Fort Maulick in the early 1950's. One of the main streets in town is named Anita Forte, in memory of Mrs. Maulick.  The “e” inadvertently added to her maiden name, “Fort”, by the surveyor and remains unchanged to this day.  In 1958 this became the first residential subdivision recorded in Cape Carteret, extending from Anita Forte Drive west to highway 58.

With the incorporation of  Cape Carteret in June 1959 and continued development on Emerald Isle on Bogue Banks, a way across Bogue Sound became a priority for businesses and residents alike.  The only access to Emerald Isle was through Morehead City and across the Atlantic Beach Bridge.  Requests to the State for a ferry service went unfulfilled.  Mr. McLean, never known for his patience, began dredging a channel from Lejeune Road in Bayshore Park across Bogue Sound to what is now Island Harbor Marina on Emerald Isle.  In 1961 the State of North Carolina began daily ferry service to and from Emerald Isle.  What is now the Harborlight Bed and Breakfast was built as a restaurant to serve the ferry traffic.  Ferries ran on the hour in the winter and on the half-hour during the summer.  Ferry service continued until the Cameron Langston Bridge was completed in 1971.  All that  remains of the ferry service is the bulkheads at the end of Lejeune Road, a few pilings, and the channel that is still regularly used by boaters to get to the Intracoastal Waterway.

In 1960 McLean bought a farm from C.C. Dennis and his wife in the area that is now Bayshore Park. Following this acquisition, Mr. McLean and his long-time partner, George F. Spell, acquired the parcels that are now Star Hill and Country Club Point. They were later joined by a third partner, William A. Shackleford, Jr. in a venture to develop the golf course, which opened as an 18-hole course in 1968. The grass landing strip, running through the middle of the golf course, was used by locals and weekend visitors and, at one time, had tie-downs for twenty-two airplanes and night landing lights.

 

Best Things to Do in Cape Carteret, NC

1. The Golfin Dolphin water and amusement park.

2. Carteret County Speedway

3. MacDaddy's for bowling, fun and games

4. Star Hill golf course for a good walk spoiled

5. Bogue Sound Distillery for small batch vodka, gin and bourbon and tours

6. Escapology Crystal Coast

​