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History - Town of Kure Beach

The History in Kure Beach is rich and well worth telling about. In 1997 an article written by Sheila Davis appeared in the Island Gazette for the Town's 50th Anniversary Celebration which tells in essence the birth of Kure Beach. Thank you Sheila for allowing the story to reappear here. 

Pictures herein are from the family archives of Punky Kure and greatly
appreciated. Thank You Punky!

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By-SHEILA S. DAVIS Feature Editor— Island Gazette 

 


Great grandson Andrew "Punky" Kure sits on car
in downtown Kure Beach.

KURE BEACH - Down on the south end of Pleasure Island you will discover the most unique little village in the whole wide world. 

Now that may be a little exaggerated ... but to us who live here Kure Beach is the plus place to live, visit, and vacation.

The tiny town is growing by leaps and bounds. It's main avenue, "K." in the heart of town is unique in that you can walk from restaurant to restaurant, shop to shop, and even on the beach strand, or out on the Kure Beach Fishing Pier, without moving your auto. One parking place will do it.

Another asset of Kure Beach is once you park your auto in the parking lot of the cottage or motel you have selected to spend your vacation you can walk anywhere in town and not be too far from your auto.

This is the convenience factor of Kure Beach ... but, folks, there is much, much more to Kure Beach.

It is close to the North Carolina Civil War Museum, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the North Carolina Ferry, and many, many other places of interest and entertainment.

You will find the merchants very friendly and always glad to welcome you to the island.

This neat little town was incorporated in 1947 when it was a “T” city...K Avenue down the center from east to west, and U.S. 421 going north and south creating the "T" town as many of the old timers used to call it.

The T has grown many branches, same as a family tree, since it was incorporated in 1947; The family tree is now growing by leaps and bounds spreading out from the river to the ocean and to the end of the island.

Kure Beach was a major part of the Civil War battle fought at Fort Fisher in 1865. Hans Kure purchased 900 acres at Federal Point back in 1885 and in 1923. 

L. C. Kure built the first public fishing pier on the island. 

In the 1930's the Dow Chemical Plant was built and functioned in Kure Beach for many, many years.

During World War II the Shipyard in Wilmington increased the population of Kure Beach. The Fort Fisher Air Force Base was to the South of the town and served as an Anti-Aircraft Training center in the 1940's.

When the war ended in 1946 vacation homes began being constructed in the area forcing Kure Beach to seek Incorporation of the tiny Town.

This sleeping little giant of a town was just waking up during that time.

However, today it is wide awake with some of the most sought after homes and lots on the North Carolina Coast. With the opening of I-40 in the late 1980’s tourists flooded the area and haven’t stopped coming yet.

With the opening of I-40 Raleigh residents found we were closer than they thought and many of the residents in that area started driving down to the beach every weekend.

The beautiful Kure Beach Village kicked off the first phase of some of the most prestigious homes on the island.

The Town fathers of Kure Beach had their zoning in order and land use plan in effect. If you drive around and look around in the town limits of Kure Beach you see nothing but beauty. Clean streets, free of trash and garbage. The dress up was town-wide with merchants outdoing each other.

This tiny town was way ahead of other coastal communities in their cleanup after the hurricanes. The night Fran hit the town crews were out the next morning at day break cleaning the debris and sand off the town's streets, helping residents find their homes and belongings. Many homes were not where they were the night before, but today you cannot tell the town was hit as hard as it was.

Many ask the question "how did they do it so quick". It's called working and pulling together, helping one another and caring for one another. Written by - SHEILA S. DAVIS  

Story and Photographs used with permission.

More photo's will appear as they become available.