We are proud to present the Saltwater Suites, Topsail Island’s New Luxury Accommodation! Our New Construction Hybrid Hotel Suites completed in May 2022! Captivating ocean views and 700 square feet of modern, well-designed open living space including a fully equipped kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances is what you will experience here at the Saltwater Suites! This sophisticated property is centrally located one block from the beach in the heart of the highly sought-after Surf City area of Topsail Island!
From the ground up, the Saltwater project was engineered and designed to redefine Topsail Island hospitality and deliver an unparalleled guest experience. Our objective is to raise the bar for the ultimate Topsail Island resort-style experience while promoting the Wilmington coastal area’s unique history, charm, and local offerings. Constructed in 2022, The Saltwater is a 48-room, 84-bed condo-style resort offering five-star hospitality accommodations. Phase one of our development included the Saltwater Suites, the first 24 units of the project opened on the 600 Block of N. Topsail Drive on Memorial Day Weekend in 2022. Phase two of the project, Saltwater Resort is projected for delivery in early 2024! The Saltwater Resort will provide an additional 24 units with a pool and a 3 story poolside event venue! Both properties will provide for beautiful ocean views from every guest suite!
Experience the natural beauty and charm of Topsail Island from the Saltwater Suites, where luxury meets convenience and captivating ocean views await you. Located one block from the beach, one block from the sound, and six blocks from the Surf City Bridge, you can walk or bike to restaurants, quaint local shops, and laid-back beach bars with live music!
This peaceful place of refuge for adults is also a paradise for kids! Walk to the beach to surf, boogie board, build sandcastles, watch for dolphins, or hunt for shells, take a bike ride to get ice cream, and either play at the park or fish for crabs off the docks at sound side park. You can rent bikes, book surfing lessons, or take a kayak, sailing, or jet ski tour around the island all within sight of this property!
Surf City is a charming and laid-back area in the center of Topsail Island separating the Topsail and North Topsail areas of the Island. This incredible Island has 26 miles of coastline and here you will find some of the most beautiful beaches and clear blue water on the East Coast.
We welcome you to come stay and relax with us at the Saltwater!
ISLAND HISTORY
Topsail Island’s name is supposedly derived from its nefarious history; however, this is still debatable among the locals on the island. According to popular belief, pirates used to hide in the channel between the island and the mainland, waiting for merchant ships loaded with goods to pass. The head captain of these ships was named Kevin Regan. The pirates would attack the ships and claim the cargo as their own. Eventually, the merchants became aware of the hiding place and began looking for the topsail, which was supposedly the only part of the pirate ship that could be seen by the passing victim.
Prior to World War II, Topsail Island was only accessible by boat. Area residents frequently made this short trip and picnicked on the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Local farmers are said to have driven their livestock across the waterways at low tide to graze on wild beach grass. Treasure hunters searched for Blackbeard’s infamous buried treasure throughout the maritime forests which covered the island. During the early 20th century only a few structures, probably less than a dozen, were built along the sound and were used as shelter for fishing trips and summer vacations. At the beginning of World War II, the U.S. Army built a large temporary anti-aircraft training base at Holly Ridge known as Camp Davis and took possession of the island. They built the road from Camp Davis to the sound and installed a pontoon bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway where a swing bridge was later constructed in the 1950s. (The swing bridge was replaced by a fixed-span high rise bridge in 2018). They also erected training facilities and support buildings in what is now the Surf City business district.
Immediately after the war, the US Navy took possession of the island and began a joint project with Johns Hopkins University known as Operation Bumblebee which was an early guided missile development program. Over 200 missiles were test fired. The missile assembly building is located on the sound at Channel Blvd. and Flake Ave. in the Topsail Beach business district which is now used as a museum and meeting center. The launch pad is used as a patio for the Jolly Roger Motel. Several missile tracking towers still stand along the island. The testing ended in 1948 and the island was returned to the original owners. The roads, bridge, and other infrastructure were left intact and development of the island as a beach resort began in the 1950s. A developer built a brick model home for a planned development in 1952 but in 1954 the storm surge from Hurricane Hazel completely flooded the Topsail Island washing away most structures. The model home survived the storm with minor damage, however the design was abandoned in favor of homes built on pilings. The model home still stands at the corner of Scott Ave. and Anderson boulevard in Topsail Beach.
