Descendent Buys Orton!
May 14, 2010 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
A direct descendent of Roger Moore, who built the original Orton Plantation home in 1725 is the new owner of the antebellum plantation house and the gardens!
Louis Moore Bacon, who now resides in London but was born in Raleigh, has purchased almost the entire 5,000-acre property – including the historic plantation house and its famous gardens – from the Laurence Sprunt family who have owned the Brunswick County landmark since 1884.
The Plantation and Gardens will close indefinitely on May 31st while plans for the future and other renovations are made. Hurry to see this incredible place while this years gardens are still available to you!
Current Orton manager David Sprunt, will retain that position, said the family has kept the land around the plantation’s pond.
He said he’s excited about the plans for the plantation, but it is hard for the property leave his family’s ownership after all of these years.
A press release states that Bacon is directly descended from Roger Moore, who built the original Orton residence in 1725. Bacon’s mother’s family has strong ties to nearby Wilmington.
Many are relieved to hear that Mr. Bacon has a reputation for buying historic properties such as Orton Plantation and keeping them in their natural state. Also the N.C. Coastal Land Trust holds conservation easements covering much of the Orton property. The executive director of the Land Trust states that Bacon is noted as a conservationist and a supporter of numerous environmental organizations.
Forbes magazine notes Bacon, age 53, is a native of North Carolina who manages several hedge funds and now resides in London, and the London Sunday Times notes that that he is the richest hedge fund manager in Britain having a nearly $1.7 billion fortune.
Orton Plantation, which recently opened for the 2010 season, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the gardens. Extensive renovations were made in the gardens to open up panoramic views to the Cape Fear River, remove competing vegetation, redesign and enhance the flower beds and restore and preserve the colonial rice fields.
Among the predominant species in the garden are live oaks, camellias, azaleas, flowering fruit trees, daphne, hydrangeas, crape myrtles, dogwoods, and colorful spring and summer annuals. Lawns and water gardens lend variety to the lush vegetation.
Plan to come spend a day at Orton Plantation! The gardens are in their glory right now! The historic landscape designed around the 1735 mansion and colonial rice fields overlooking the Cape Fear River and 20 acres of secluded walking trails surrounded by hundreds of acres of rice fields make Orton Plantation Gardens a wonderful place to visit.
One of the oldest plantations on the Lower Cape Fear and the only one with a manor house still standing, Orton has become a privately owned tourist attraction, celebrated for its elaborate gardens. In recent years, the plantation and its grounds have served as locations on a number of motion pictures.
The house and grounds are located at 9149 Orton Road S.E., Brunswick County just off N.C. 133, close to the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site.
Hours are 8am to 5pm March – August and 10am – 5pm September – November (except they close for Thanksgiving Day).
Work Resumes On Park
April 29, 2010 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
Work on the first park in southwestern Brunswick County’s, the five acre Ocean Isle Beach Park located on Old Georgetown Road, has resumed, and it could be open to visitors by late June according to county official.
Originally the county’s plan was to be finished with the park by last by October, but construction on the park came to a standstill when the contractor on the project, Weaver Co. Inc., of Conway, S.C., went bankrupt, leaving the park’s fate hanging in the balance.
Liberty Mutual, the bonding company for the project, took over with Boggs Paving Inc., of Myrtle Beach, chosen to finish the job.
Although most of the park’s amenities have already been completed, including eight tennis courts, playground equipment and a 300-seat amphitheater, the park is still lacking infrastructure.
The new contractor will be responsible for completing the 15% of work that remains to be finished, including paving, landscaping of the entire site and tying sewer into the Ocean Isle Beach sewer system. Boggs Paving recently began work at the park.
According to Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith a town staff member recently met with the new contractor about the park’s wastewater connection linking its restroom facilities to the Ocean Isle Beach treatment plant, an important step in the project. Smith said she was happy the project now has a completion date in sight.
I think it is certainly going to be an asset to this end of the county. It’s got wonderful tennis courts and a wonderful playground for children,” Smith said. “Of course, with the amphitheater and event space it should add some activities in our end of the county.”
The county received a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust grant for the $2.9 million project.
Sunset’s New Bridge
April 27, 2010 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
The Sunset Beach bridge has been more controversial than the Wall Street bailout Read more
Spend An Unforgettable Day!
March 2, 2010 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
Come to the beach and take in some history at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson Historic Site and Orton Plantation. Read more
Local Author’s Books: Huge Hit!
January 3, 2010 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
Local Author and Illustrator Miller Pope has spent a lifetime as an artist Read more
Pirate Captured In Southport!
January 1, 2010 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
The pirate Stede Bonnet was captured at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, right by the nearby town of Southport, NC. He was taken to Charleston, SC and hung along with his crew! Read more
Local Store Big Deals For Xmas!
November 22, 2009 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
The GPS Store is a local business but don’t let that fool you they are the largest online retailer of GPS devices in the country! Located between Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach on Beach Drive (hwy 179), offers Garmin, Magellan GPS and Accessories, Lowrance, Navman, Delorme software and more. … visit thegpsstore.com for all the latest GPS units with the newest maps at low discount Prices.
They are running a $99 special in time for the Holidays:
The Garmin Nuvi 205W Wide Screen Navigation System is an affordable 4.3″ touch screen GPS and is preloaded with Garmin’s City Navigator for the lower 48 states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Order from them and they’ll give you free Second Day Air shipping!
New Year’s Package For Two
November 21, 2009 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
3 Days 2 Nights with breakfast each day, champagne, dinner and a night of dancing and fun at Sharky’s at The Winds Resort Beach Club on Ocean Isle Beach NC – $197 New Year’s Package For Two at The Winds Resort Beach Club! Read more
Ship Wreck Video!
November 17, 2009 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
In 1942 the Hebe, a Dutch merchant vessel collided with the British sub chaser St. Cathan Read more
Let Someone Else Cook!
November 12, 2009 by gary
Filed under Best Kept Secrets
This Thanksgiving you can let someone else cook your Turkey Dinner! There’s no need to get all hot and bothered when it’s this easy so pack up the family and head for Ocean Isle Beach for a Thanksgiving you’ll all enjoy.
The Ocean Aire Market (IGA) on the Ocean Isle Beach Causeway is cooking full Thanksgiving dinners with all the trimmings.
Be sure to place your order by November 22 at 910-579-1229!
Choices are as follows:
Oven Roasted Turkey – $69.99
- (12 – 14 lbs) Oven Roasted Turkey
- 2 lbs of Homemade Dressing
- 2 lbs of Green Bean Casserole
- 1 lb Pan of Turkey Gravey
- 1 lb Cranberry Sauce
- 1 Dozen Dinner Rolls
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast – $59.99
- (7 lbs average) Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
- 2 lbs of Homemade Dressing
- 2 lbs of Green Bean Casserole
- 1 lb Pan of Turkey Gravey
- 1 lb Cranberry Sauce
- 1 Dozen Dinner Rolls
Oven Baked Spiral Ham – $69.99
- (7 lbs average) Oven Baked Spiral Ham
- 2 lbs Sweet Potato Casserole
- 2 lbs of Green Bean Casserole
- 8 oz Honey Mustard Sauce
- 1 Dozen Dinner Rolls
Deep Fried Southern Style Turkey in Peanut Oil – $76.99
- (12 – 14 lbs) Deep Fried Turkey
- 2 lbs of Homemade Dressing
- 2 lbs of Green Bean Casserole
- 1 lb Pan of Turkey Gravey
- 1 lb Cranberry Sauce
- 1 Dozen Dinner Rolls
Contact The Ocean Aire Market by November 22 to place your order!
The Ocean Aire Market – IGA
107 Causeway Drive, Suite #8
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 (Map)
910-579-1229
