can you tour oak island

Top Tours in Oak Island, Nova Scotia

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2. Friends of Oak Island Society

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Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse

Welcome to the Oak Island Lighthouse Official Tour Headquarters!

The lighthouse grounds are open year round for viewing and picture taking with free parking provided at either of our two parking lots (small one at the base of the lighthouse and a larger lot 500 feet on the right) from sunrise until sunset.  in addition, the oak island lighthouse volunteer staff offers 2 types of inside tours:.

• Open House Tours to the second level (12 steps up to a solid concrete floor) are ONLY offered during the summer months (from Memorial Day through Labor Day) on Wednesdays from 10 AM until 2PM and Saturdays from 10 AM until Noon. NO reservations are required. Visitors MUST be at least 7 years old to climb to the second level due to government lead based paint restrictions.
• Tours to the top (up 131 steps to an outside balcony) are offered year round in the mornings with up to 6 weeks advance notice during the summer months and around holidays . Top tours from May 1st through September 30th are offered every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday with the first tour starting at 9:30 a.m. Top tours from October 1st through April 30th are only offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. depending on available space.  ALL of our tours are in the MORNINGS. No top tours are offered on the major holidays (New Year’s, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). All top tours depend on guide availability. We are an all-volunteer organization and require prior reservations in order to schedule guides for your tour. We will try and honor last minute requests into any tours that have already been scheduled and are below our maximum. All climbers MUST be at least 9 years of age and everyone MUST wear sneakers to climb. As many as ~20 people may be scheduled at the same time for your tour. More details follow.

All tours are currently free and minimal parking is right at the base of the lighthouse, with additional parking available in our larger lot 500 feet further down the road to the east (on the right and across from the entrance to the Coast Guard Station). No restroom facilities are available on site.

Tours to the Top – Climb to the Top (year-round by appointment only):

• Tours to the top of the tower (up 131 ships steps) to an outside balcony must be scheduled ahead of time with the following conditions:

No top tours will be scheduled on major holidays. During the summer (May 1st through September 30th), top tours are only offered on Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays – all in the mornings. Tours during the off season (October through April) are offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays all in the mornings. Based on volunteer availability. REQUESTING a TOP TOUR – Request needs to be submitted by sending an email to us at (NO phone reservations are accepted)  [email protected] and include: Your name Number of climbers Desired date (ONLY morning tours) Phone number where we can reach you in case we have problems with your email address Phone number where we can reach you the day of the climb. Weather permitting (we can not climb if there is lightning in the area or strong winds). Everyone climbing the tower is required to sign a waiver (responsible parties are required to sign for those under the age of 16). Climbers MUST be at least 9 years old . Sneakers or similar closed toe, rubber sole shoes are REQUIRED – NO sandals, Crocks or flip-flops. Climbers are required to have both hands free for climbing due to the steepness of our steps. Parking is limited so car pooling is encouraged. Complete tour usually takes about 30-45 minutes. There are no restroom facilities on site. Cameras/video recorders are encouraged but must be in a back/fanny-pack or fit in a pocket/on a belt (both hands must be free to climb). Still interested, request a free tour to the top ( HERE ). Please Note: For all tour requests, please include your telephone number so a member of our team can reach you in the case we have problems with your email. ALL scheduling is done online, NO telephone requests are accepted. Additionally, if you send us a top request and do not receive a response within 48 hours please resend the request.

Tours to the second level – view the inside of the lighthouse (only available during the summer season):

• Tours to the second level (up just 12 ships steps) are available only on Wednesdays 10 AM until 2 PM and on Saturdays from 10 AM until NOON starting Memorial Day and running through Labor day.
• Tours usually take about 10 minutes – one of our docents gives you a brief history of the lighthouse and then lets you take pictures and ask any questions you may have.
• No reservation are required or accepted for these tours. Just park in our lot and come up to visit us.
• Only children 7 years of age or older are allowed to climb the 12 steps – NO exceptions. Younger children are allowed inside the front doors and can look up the stairway but not climb due to government regulations concerning lead based paints.
• Any type of foot attire is acceptable for these tours including flip-flops, sandals, Crocks, etc.
• Cameras and/or video recorders are welcome.
• There are NO restroom facilities on site . 

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 He personalized the tour to our wants, and even took us to the pub where the oak island cast eat at often. My grandpa even got to meet Gary Drayton, which made his day!! Jeff was very informative and knowledgeable...Overall, it was an easy and relaxed tour that I would highly recommend!! - Ashley B

• No smoking, eating, or drinking (except water) permitted on vehicle.
• Seat belts must be worn by passengers at all times.
• No over-sized baggage or equipment carriers that would interfere or inconvenience other passengers.
• We do not supply child car seats or booster type seats.
• It is very important that passengers be ready to board on time when being picked up. Failure to do so may result in the passenger missing their chance to board. In the unfortunate case where this may happen, no refund shall be issued.

Friends of Oak Island Society

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Friends of Oak Island Society - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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The Truth About Oak Island: It's So Much More Than One Giant Treasure Hunt

While the actual 'curse' of Oak Island is still out for debate, it's home to plenty more that visitors can see if they know how to get there.

Prior to the filming of  The Curse of Oak Island , not many people knew that this alleged treasure-filled island even existed. Appropriately nicknamed the 'money pit,' this island is rumored to be home to a buried treasure that was hidden on the island prior to the 18th century. There's a long history to follow Oak Island, and it's one that has since brought many self-proclaimed explorers, and even experts, to the island to see what can be discovered.

Despite there being no treasure (as of yet), this island still holds a level of charm that makes it a popular destination in Nova Scotia. And, luckily, for travelers, there's plenty more to do that doesn't involve digging for a buried fortune.

Related:  Here's Everything Visitors Can Explore In One Day On Washington's Bainbridge Island

A Brief History Of Oak Island And Its Legend

The story starts back in 1795 when a teenage boy named Daniel McGinnis stumbled upon a depression in the ground shaped like an oval. From there, the story is really quite simple but intriguing nonetheless; every ten feet or so, he would hit a set of wooden planks the further down he dug. After realizing this unique discovery, McGinnis and friends became convinced that somewhere at the bottom, there would be a treasure awaiting them. With the legend of Blackbeard and Captain Kidd floating around in these mysterious waters, it's not surprising that when a plaque was found that supposedly read, 'forty feet below, two million pounds lie buried,' the secret was out.

From then on, Oak Island became a haven for amateur treasure hunters. To this day, it continues to stump and mystify those who are interested in finding whatever supposedly lies beneath - but that's not all this island has to offer.

What To Do On Oak Island (Besides Treasure Hunting)

When looking down on Oak Island from an aerial view, it's hard to imagine visitors doing anything  but  treasure hunting. Its lush grove of trees and quiet remoteness doesn't leave much to the imagination, but one might be surprised at the various ways they can explore this landscape.

Oak Island Walking Tour

Since Oak Island is privately owned (a fact that not many people know), visitors are only permitted to visit via a reservation spot with Oak Island Tours Inc . Visitors can book tours directly through their website with two expert guides who will lead them around the island, sharing about the mysterious history of the island and its 'treasure.'

*Note: The island is currently closed to visitors until 2022. 

Boat Tour Of Oak Island

Another unique way to tour the island without taking a hike is through Salty Dog Boat Tours. These can be booked through the Oak Island Marina & Outdoor Adventure Centre . Advance booking is recommended, and four tours leave from the marina daily. On the tour, guests will hear about the history of the island as well as the surrounding Nova Scotia area.

Visit The Oak Island Interpretive Center

The Oak Island Interpretive Center is a collaborative effort between Oak Island Tours Inc. and Friends of Oak Island. The center is free to visit, and visitors have the chance to see exhibits unique to the island, its ecosystem, and the wildlife that live on it. Additionally, the center is home to interesting archeological finds and information regarding the long history of the island.

Related:  Fort Gorges: Visiting Maine's Abandoned Island Fort That Was Never Even Used

Where To Stay On Oak Island

The two closest lodging accommodations to Oak Island are the River Ridge Lodge and the Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre. Both are easily accessible and offer great amenities for those staying on the coast.

River Ridge Lodge

The River Ridge Lodge is the perfect, quiet getaway that's within easy access of both Oak Island as well as Mahone Bay. It's also a quick drive to Lunenburg, a town that's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rooms at this B&B feature comfortable en suites with charming rooms, which also have waterfront views. Relaxation and rejuvenation are both parts of a stay at this lodge, and it's the perfect way to soak up the nature surrounding.

• Price/Night:  $129-$159
• Address:  28 Silver Point Road, Martin’s River B0J 2E0

Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre

When it comes to luxe accommodations, the Oak Island Resort has pulled out all the stops. With 102 rooms in total and a variety of room options, there's something for everyone, complete with an on-site eatery, a bar, and events such as bonfires and recreational water activities. Guests also have the option to rent oceanside chalets and seaside villas, offering privacy and proximity to Oak Island.

• Price:  $175 - $419
• Address:  36 Treasure Drive, Western Shore B0J 3M0

Next:  This Nova Scotia Island Is Free To Explore, But Not For The Faint-Hearted

Related Links

The mystery of oak island.

Please Note: Access to Oak Island and the Interpretive Centre are both temporarily closed.

Do you believe there's treasure there?

That's been the question for more than 200 years. A question that remains largely unanswered and it's not for lack of looking.

The only thing for certain is the international spotlight shines brightly on this 57-hectare (140-acre) privately owned island off the coast of Western Shore . That's thanks in great part to brothers Rick and Marty Lagina who led the current team of treasure hunters on the hit HISTORY Channel series The Curse of Oak Island .

 The causeway to Oak Island can be found at the bottom of Crandall Point Road off of Hwy 3 .

Oak Island Boat Tours will allow you to get up close and personal to the mysterious island from the water's edge. Salty Dog Sea Tours  operates out of the Oak Island Resort Marina . Captain Tony Sampson, who was part of The Curse of Oak Island cast, leads the 90-minute tour filled with historical facts and the inside scoop on the series.

And then just right next door,  The Station 20 Shoppe has prints of Oak Island maps.

In the fall of 2018, the Chester Municipal Heritage Society launched a comprehensive website dedicated to the Oak Island Mystery filled with incredible facts, historical photos, and maps, plus detailed timelines, theories and so much more. You can even send a secret message using the famous Oak Island cipher to send an encrypted email!

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• © Municipality of Chester. All Rights Reserved.

Experience The Oak Island Treasure Hunt

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Did You Know You Can Visit The Island?

The island is open for tours on certain dates during the summer! But first let me tell you why you need to come here…

If you’re not familiar with the story let me give you a history lesson:

The McGinnis foundation – where their house once stood. It is an area protected by the province of Nova Scotia because it is culturally significant

Memorial to those who have died searching for the treasure

What’s down there.

As for what the treasure is, no one really knows. It’s speculated to be Captain Kidd’s treasure, or treasure from the Knight’s Templar. Could it be the Ark of the Covenant, or the Holy Grail? Maybe Shakespeare’s lost manuscripts? We don’t know! So far the latest treasure search has found many coins and pieces of pottery, human bones from Middle Eastern and European descent, and even a crude looking lead cross. It seems the Lagina brothers and their team will stop at nothing to find answers, and I am right there with them every week, with every high and low!

So, Can You Visit The Island?

YES! In the summer The Friends of Oak Island Society hosts tours on a few weekends. Tours have been EXTREMELY popular and last year they sold out in 4 hours.

Tours are cancelled for the 2020 season due to Covid-19! Hopefully we’ll be able to visit in Summer 2021

If you can’t get tour tickets, not to worry! Last year we did a boat tour around Oak Island with Salty Dog – Check out our review. 

Oak Island Museum

The Oak Island Interpretive Centre is closed for the 2020 season due to Covid-19

If you miss out on tour tickets, fret not. There is a museum / interpretive centre built on the island where you can see artifacts that have been found, and learn about the history. It is open seasonally and not open to the public when tours are happening.

Currently it is open from 10-5 daily unless closed for tours. It is free to visit, and you can even pick up some Oak Island merchandise!

The War Room is directly over the causeway. It’s where the team meets to debrief and plan

What to expect on the tour.

It is a 2-2 ½ hour walking tour on Oak Island, visiting many of the locations that are central to the mystery, including The Money Pit, Borehole 10X, Smith’s Cove, and The McGinnis foundation. The Friends of Oak Island Society has teased that they are adding new locations to the tour – but it’s a secret for now!

It was exciting to do the tour last time, as we got to see what they were up to (drilling in the money pit) before it was aired on TV, so it was like a sneak peek!

We’ve been lucky, and both times we’ve done the tour we’ve gotten to meet Rick Lagina, and Dan Blankenship. Of course it’s not guaranteed they will be there, but you never know! Rick spent lots of time with us discussing theories. You can tell how much he loves the mystery!

Keep in mind it’s summer in Nova Scotia, you will probably need sunscreen and a bottle of water, and you definitely will need bug spray! Also know dogs on leashes are welcome on the tour.

If you need mobility assistance there is a golf cart you can ride in with a staff member. This is first come first serve on the day of the tour.

Island Historian Charles Barkhouse leading the tour

Looking down borehole 10X. The hole was dug by Dan Blankenship as a “back door” to the money pit

Us with Rick Lagina after the tour

How to get there.

Oak Island is about an hour south of Halifax taking Highway 103. Take Exit 9, and continue toward Gold River. If you’re coming from the South Shore, take exit 10 towards Mahone Bay/ Martins River. Take Crandall Point Road, which will lead you to the Oak Island Causeway. The parking lot and interpretive centre is immediately across the causeway.

Where To Stay

The Atlantica Oak Island is by far the closest place to stay as it is less than 10 minutes from the island. The Atlantica Oak Island is a beautiful resort, with a restaurant and spa. The next closest places to stay would be in Chester or Mahone Bay.

What To Do In The Area

Nova Scotia’s South Shore is a beautiful area. Chester is a beautiful town with a scenic golf course, and has lots of shops and restaurants. It is also where the TV show Haven was filmed.

Mahone Bay and Lunenburg are two of my favorite places in Nova Scotia. Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and you can see the Bluenose II boat. Both Mahone Bay and Lunenburg have the sweetest shops and lots of restaurants. I love spending the day here!

Check Out My Lunenburg & Mahone Bay Itinerary

Looking for other things to do in Nova Scotia? Here are all my Nova Scotia articles!

Lunenburg Nova Scotia

So, what do you think is on Oak Island? Buried treasure? Nothing? Priceless artifacts? I don’t know but it sure is fun to watch them find out!

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6 responses to “experience the oak island treasure hunt”.

I’ve heard of the Curse of Oak Island, but have completely forgotten about it until now. Hopefully there would be no more (mysterious) deaths in the future as they continue to find out what’s in that pit! Probably no one is attempting these days anymore, right? Ha! Very informative post and definitely worth a share! 🙂

They are still digging currently! Hopefully they will solve the mystery!

What an interesting history/legend! It’s so crazy that 6 people have died trying to find the treasure. Everyone loves a good mystery.

yes! The Oak Island story was published in Readers Digest in 1965 so it’s captivated A LOT of people!

I’m a HUGE Oak Island fan! And I’d love to visit and take the tour, but wow, I had no idea it sells out so fast. Good to know! Oh, and I’m a little jelly that you met Rick!

Last year was the first year it sold out that fast! Probably because the TV show has gotten more popular. We went in 2014 and 2016. Hoping to go back this year too!

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How to watch History’s ‘The Curse of Oak Island’ season 11

• Updated: Mar. 19, 2024, 4:43 p.m. |
• Published: Mar. 19, 2024, 4:42 p.m.
• Mallory Dwortz | [email protected]

Tuesdays at 9/8c , stream new episodes of “The Curse of Oak Island” season 11 for free with a Philo 7-day trial .

About the show:

In this History Channel series, brothers Rick and Marty Lagina, Craig Tester, Dan Blankenship, Gary Drayton, Alex Lagina, and Jack Begley work alongside fellow scientists to uncover the archaeological secrets of a mysterious Canadian island long rumored to be the resting place of various riches. “The Curse of Oak Island” follows along as they investigate the area, analyzing artifacts, exploring underground structures, and tracing connections to ancient civilizations.

Watch “The Curse of Oak Island” season 11 every Tuesday night at 9/8c on the History Channel .

Where to watch:

• Philo (start free trial) - For $25/month , ditch cable and unlock 70+ channels of reality TV, movies, and more. Click here to watch.
• Sling (try today) - Save on Sling Orange and Sling Blue . Plans start at $20 (half-off) for the first month (followed by $40/month or $55/month for Orange + Blue ). Register and stream 30+ channels including sports, History , DVR storage, add-ons , and more. Click here to get started.
• DIRECTV Stream (try it free) - With plans starting at $79.99/month , switch to DIRECTV Stream and enjoy 75+ channels , including History , and access numerous entertainment add-ons . Learn more and register here , and click here to explore more DIRECTV options.
• discovery+ (start free trial) - With plans starting at just $4.99/month , get started with discovery+ and watch “The Curse of Oak Island” seasons 8 and 9.
• Rick Lagina
• Marty Lagina
• Craig Tester
• Dan Blankenship
• Gary Drayton
• Alex Lagina
• Jack Begley

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The Curse Of Oak Island Season 11 Templar Viking Team-Up Theory, Explained

"The Curse of Oak Island" Season 11 continues to document Rick and Marty Lagina's long-standing quest to find the treasures hidden deep within the titular island's legendary money pit. In Episode 18, the team's efforts uncover an old wooden wall with two old, nail-like objects that seem to support the theory about the Knights Templar having a hand in the island's past — which they've already entertained earlier in the season. However, the new discovery sees another iconic group enter the theory field: Vikings.

As the theory the team posits on Season 11, Episode 18 has it, Vikings — who had a presence on the east coast of the U.S. before Christopher Columbus — and Templars might have known each other and been on good terms, which opens up the possibility of the two groups working together on Oak Island. 

If true, this would be a fascinating discovery that could potentially overshadow whatever physical Templar-Viking treasure Oak Island may hide, considering that the Viking Age lasted from the 9th to the 11th century. Meanwhile, the Knights Templar organization was founded in 1199, didn't rise to true prominence until the 12th century, and was effectively wiped out by French king Philip IV in the early 14th century — well before Columbus's 1492 voyage to the Americas. 

The Viking-Templar team-up is just the latest strange Oak Island theory

As intriguing as the Viking-Templar theory may be, it's worth noting that "The Curse of Oak Island" and its fandom have put forward quite a few theories over the years. In fact, pretty much all the  treasure found on "The Curse of Oak Island"  can be connected to various outlandish theories. The things rumored to be buried on Oak Island range from pirate treasure to Marie Antoinette's jewels. Though it has by no means been serious about all of them, the show has been known to cover some of the wildest ideas, too — from legendary playwright William Shakespeare's theorized connection to Oak Island to the one about Christopher Columbus and the Ark of the Covenant . 

Of course, season after season of strange ideas with comparatively little payoff has caused the theories to run in the other direction, too. Some fans have put forward a  controversial "The Curse of Oak Island" hoax theory  that posits some of the treasure might be planted to keep the show relevant to the viewers, and academics have called the show "pseudo-history." As such, the theory about Vikings and Templars joining forces for some Oak Island treasure-hiding action might not end up rewriting the history books as we know them ... that is, unless Rick and Marty Lagina actually find solid proof of this historical team-up from the island.  

‘Curse Of Oak Island' Fans Theorize After Latest Discovery

Curse of Oak Island has brought some noteworthy finds in the past and now, the team discovered silver on Lot 5. However, many History Channel fans seem unimpressed with progress, so is it likely to hold their attention for long?

Curse Of Oak Island Fans Want More Treasures

Theories of  Templars and Vikings visiting the area way before Christopher Columbus are interesting. However, there has been a lot of theorizing and nothing concrete enough to solidify anything. History Channel fans want to see some treasure and lots of it, unearthed by Rick Lagina and the various teams.

Curse of Oak Island did unearth a cross, and more recently, a marker that points to something fascinating in the Garden Shaft and other infrastructure. There’s a lot of excitement among the crew that Nolan's Cross might direct them to the treasure, including the Holy Grail . However, there is not a lot of excitement among veteran History Channel viewers.

Silver On Lot 5

Spoilers for the show arrived and they indicate that the teams made a silver find. It’s in the area of the rectangular stone structure on Lot 5. Is it really silver? Should Curse of Oak Island fans get excited? It was identified as authentic, and after archaeologist Jamie Kouba took it to archeo-metallurgist Emma Culligan , it turned out to be fine silver.

Curse of Oak Island fans remain as skeptical as ever, unfortunately. On Reddit , even a piece of silver doesn’t excite them . When the episode titled “Hi Ho Silver” got a teaser, the OP shared:

Gary and Rick continue to dig for a link between The Knights Templar and Nolan's Cross. Then, the team strikes gold with a find that opens a treasure chest of new theories.

Jaded comments arrived, and those History Channel fans who become increasingly bored by theories had a field day:

• Then, the team strikes gold with a find that opens a treasure chest of new theories. LOL oh brother. This is why it’s the best comedy on TV. They strike GOLD with a find that opens a TREASURE CHEST…of theories. Wah Wah. Well it’s about time the show did some “theorizing’. I wonder who’s getting roped in now – the Aztecs?
• What they say: Then, the team strikes gold with a find that opens a treasure chest of new theories….What they really mean: Then, the History Channel strikes gold with a find that opens a treasure chest of new content for several seasons to come.
• Recent cursory and informal research, and casual reading, about Mr. Nolan’s place in all this has left me somewhat skeptical re: the validity of Nolan’s cross–there’s a bit more “Nolan” to it than makes me comfortable…

What are your thoughts about the silver artifact discovered on Lot 5? Do you think it might just be the beginning of a big treasure discovery? Shout out in the comments below, and come back here for all your Curse of Oak Island news .

The post ‘Curse Of Oak Island’ Fans Theorize After Latest Discovery appeared first on TV Shows Ace .

The Curse of Oak Island preview: The guys discover silver treasure on Lot 5

There is great excitement on The Curse of Oak Island this week, as the team finds an authentic silver artifact at the rectangular stone feature on Lot 5.

Tonight’s show is Season 11, Episode 19, of The Curse of Oak Island, and the episode is titled Hi Ho Silver, a not-so-subtle clue that they will find a very important and precious artifact.

The team suspects the location was used as a base for significant activity in the Money Pit area.

The guys have found numerous artifacts, mainly dating to the 17th and 18th centuries, but they have also recovered everything from Roman coins to Venetian beads. And now, they’ve found silver.

In the preview, archaeologist Jamie Kouba appeared to have been the one who found the artifact. In the lab, archeo-metallurgist Emma Culligan confirmed that the item is about 90 percent silver.

Even the normally somber Laird Niven is thrilled by this find and states that in 40 years, he “can’t remember a piece of silver.”

Did Templar Knights hide the Ark of the Covenant on Oak Island?

Meanwhile, the guys are still exploring various theories relating to the medieval order of Templar Knights burying treasure on the island in the 13th century.

The idea was resurrected in recent weeks after evidence emerged suggesting stone monuments on the island, including Nolan’s Cross , were built in alignment with the sun, moon, and stars and were constructed in the 1200s.

The guys believe that only the Templar Knights had the ability and the know-how to do this in the 13th century.

This week, the guys consult another expert who is claiming the Templars buried the Ark of the Covenant on the island. This is not a new theory, but this guy claims he has unearthed a secret code that puts the Ark on Oak Island, and he says he can put an X on the spot.

We will have to wait until tonight for more details, but he has highlighted a passage from a book that reads, “This shall be the sacred mark, Which shall guide us to the skies, Bearing, like a holy ark.” Hopefully, we will learn how this relates to Oak Island.

The History Channel episode synopsis confirms all of the above, reading, “As the connection between Nolan’s Cross and the Knights Templar deepens, the team digs up treasure on Lot Five.”

Oak Island team with Gary Drayton continue investigating the swamp

Also, on tonight’s show, the team is continuing their work in the swamp, where they will try to figure out the origins and the purpose of a wooden wall found last week at the southern edge of the marshy land.

Gary Drayton and Jack Begley are on the hunt again for artifacts, and they always find something!

The Curse of Oak Island airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on History.

The silver artifact looks like a piece from a religious object.

Why Oak Island is looking 18 miles off its coast for sand to nourish its eroded beach

Faced with an eroding beach, oak island wants to pump fresh sand onto its oceanfront. but finding a viable sand source might mean going a long way offshore.

Not for the first time, the west end of Oak Island needs sand.

Hurricane Isaias, which raked the Brunswick County shoreline nearly four years ago, chewed away a lot of the beach. Storms, king tides and gradual sea-level rise has since then added to the pain.

But there isn't enough available beach-compatible material near shore, or sand that isn't already planned for other projects, to support a large-scale nourishment.

That has Oak Island officials eyeing a 250-acre borrow site as far out as where gigantic energy-producing offshore wind turbines are planned to help stabilize and rebuild much of the town's beach even as they also potentially look toward a more permanent solution for the erosion-prone area near Lockwood Folly Inlet − namely a terminal groin.

On Feb. 2, the Brunswick County beach town submitted a permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Wilmington district office seeking approval for a project this winter to stabilize and rebuild much of the beach's dune line. The offshore borrow site would be the primary source for the proposed 3 million cubic yards of material, with sand from the mouth of the Cape Fear River, dredged by the corps as part of the Wilmington Harbor project, as a potential secondary source.

"The proposed project is primarily a berm designed to provide advanced fill for a 6-year renourishment interval," states the town's application.

But what makes this project potentially unique, and expensive, is where Oak Island is eyeing to get the majority of its sand. The island is looking at mining a borrow site roughly 18 miles offshore as the primary source for sand. That will require the sand to be mined and transported close to shore by a hopper dredge before it can be placed onto the beach, a much more expensive method than simply pumping sand via pipes from nearby channels or inlets onto a beach.

To put that in perspective, sand for the federally funded Wrightsville Beach nourishment project that is currently wrapping up came from Masonboro Inlet after a prolonged tug-of-war with federal and environmental officials over using sand from a site in a Coastal Barrier Resources Area (CBRA) zone. If that appeal by the town had failed, it was eyeing a borrow site roughly three miles offshore.

Farther up the coast, Topsail Beach used sand from New Topsail Inlet and nearby channels for its roughly $25 million project this winter.

Because the proposed Oak Island sand source is in federal waters, beyond the three-mile jurisdictional limit of North Carolina's state waters, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is coordinating with the Corps on the application review.

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Continual nourishment

Oak Island's first beach nourishment project took place in 2001 in response to damage from 1999's Hurricane Floyd.

Since then, the town has been reliant on sand-pumping projects to keep its beach wide enough to entice tourists and protect expensive oceanfront property, especially near the 9-mile-long beachfront's western end.

In 2009, material from a corps' project to dredge the Lockwood Folly Inlet crossing of the Intracoastal Waterway was placed on the island's west end. Then in 2015, a town-funded dredging project around the inlet saw more material placed on the beach.

After Hurricane Matthew washed away many of the island's dunes in 2016, a town-sponsored dune restoration project saw fresh sand pumped along 4.4 miles of beachfront. This was followed by another dune-restoration project in 2022 after 2018's Hurricane Florence washed away much of the earlier material.

Yet two years later, the beach is in dire straits again.

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Heavy taxpayer burden

The constant need for sand, which has to be largely funded by town taxpayers with potential help from the state, since Oak Island isn't part of a federal nourishment project like New Hanover County's three beach towns − although town officials would like to see that changed, is grating on town officials.

At the town's annual retreat workshop in January, Oak Island officials lamented the burden on town taxpayers of periodic nourishment projects that seem to be doing little than holding the line on erosion − while offering no long-term solution.

That prompted town leaders to ask members of their engineering firm, Moffat & Nichol , if a terminal groin was a viable, cost-effective option or at least one that should be studied. Ocean Isle Beach and Bald Head Island have built terminal groins, which as hardened structures were illegal along the N.C. coast for decades until 2011, and North Topsail Beach has been mulling one for the severe erosion problems it faces around New River Inlet.

Moffat officials, however, warned that any groin project would take years of studies before construction could begin, and the building and future maintenance of the structure would be expensive.

But Mayor Elizabeth White said simply pumping sand onto the beach to then watch it progressively wash away was frustrating, so maybe studying a terminal groin should be on the table.

"Until we begin that conversation, look forward, we will perpetually be in the sand nourishment business, which is not very satisfying for the taxpayers," she said at the workshop.

This winter's proposed nourishment project is estimated to cost $40 million, with $20 million of that covered by a one-time state grant and the rest funded by Oak Island.

If the town sticks with just pumping sand to keep the encroaching ocean at bay in the future, that cost is likely to balloon dramatically since the most promising sand source for the long-term, 50-year beach nourishment project that the town is looking to implement is Frying Pan Shoals. While a rich reservoir of sand, the wandering shoals − which helped give Cape Fear it's fearsome name thanks to the number of ships the shallow waters claimed − is more than 25 miles offshore.

The shoals also are a rich maritime ecosystem that has never been mined for sand before. That uncertainty around potential environmental impacts prompted BOEM to partner with the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) on a $2 million project to study the idea.

“Our region is at a deficit for sand,” said Dr. Joe Long , director of UNCW's Coastal Engineering program in a release last October announcing the collaborative project. “UNCW is perfectly poised to provide data and models that can be used by BOEM to help determine if Frying Pan Shoals is a viable source for sand mining, and if it can be done safely and effectively without harming the important ecosystem.”

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'Doing nothing equals disaster'

With several studies and beach projects underway or planned, the cost of maintaining Oak Island's beach and the pressure that will add to the town's finances is likely to only increase in the coming years. Yet the Brunswick County beach town, like many of North Carolina's beach communities, is finding itself stuck between a proverbial rock and a financial hard place.

The beach draws people to the town, keeps property values high, and drives the local economy.

But as seas continue to rise as the planet warms and climate change brings more unpredictable weather patterns and powerful storm systems to coastal areas, the cost of protecting the beach and oceanfront homes is expected to increase dramatically. Some communities along the Outer Banks are already struggling with this reality after Dare County said it simply doesn't have the money to fund beach nourishment projects along all of its barrier islands and the federal government has shown little appetite to step into the funding breach.

Even Bald Head Island, a wealthy enclave on the other side of the Cape Fear River from Oak Island which has roughly 300 full-time residents, has had a healthy debate over the rising costs of maintaining its 14 miles of shoreline. Along with receiving sand from the dredging of the Cape Fear River shipping channel every few years, the village performed its own shoreline projects in 2010, 2016 and 2018. It also built an $18 million terminal groin last decade, and voters this month approved funding another beach nourishment project, estimated to cost around $18 million, in 2025.

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Then there's the issue of finding beach-compatible sand, which is becoming its own thorny problem as nearly all North Carolina beach towns explore nourishment projects amid a limited supply of easily accessible material close to shore.

White said changing state law, which largely limits the erosion-fighting tools in the toolbox for beach towns to periodic nourishments, could help provide more options. Educating the public that beach-building projects aren't just to protect rich oceanfront property owners also could help make future costs a little more palatable.

“The damage to infrastructure, homeowners, the loss of property extends far beyond the front row,” White said, noting the widespread damage Isaias caused. 

At the workshop, Councilman John Bach stated the situation facing the town more succinctly, noting that sitting by and hoping for the best isn't a strategy.

"Doing nothing equals disaster," he said. "There is no doubt that this community as we live in it today will not exist if the beach is devastated."

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at [email protected] or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.