Topsail Guide 
The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $182 million contract to S.T. Wooten Corp. to complete the final seven miles of the U.S. 17 Hampstead Bypass, running between NC 140 and NC 210. Construction could begin in late August 2025 and is expected to be finished by 2030. View the NCDOT Project Page. Status … Read more
Chief’s Report Marks a Turning Point On July 15, 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the long-anticipated Chief’s Report for the Surf City Coastal Storm Risk Management project. The plan outlines a new dune system and beach nourishment for roughly six miles of shoreline, aimed at improving resilience against storms and sea level … Read more
As of Monday (Aug. 11), the National Hurricane Center is keeping a close eye on Invest 97L in the eastern Atlantic, giving it high odds of development over the next week. If it organizes into a named storm, it would be called Erin — potentially the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season. You can … Read more
Locals and visitors gathered early Wednesday morning to witness something special: the release of six rehabilitated sea turtles back into the Atlantic from the shores of North Topsail Beach. The release, coordinated by the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, brought together community members, wildlife advocates, and beachgoers for a heartwarming sendoff. With … Read more
School starts Monday, August 25 for most Topsail-area students on the traditional calendar. As weekend traffic continues to slow US-17 and back up the island bridges, local parents are shifting focus to school prep. To help, our Topsail Guide team pulled together supply lists from each area school – hoping to save you time, reduce … Read more
Local Updates in 2025 Population 2025: 9,404 (+3.9% YoY) (Source) Median list price (Jun 2025): $533K (Source) Homes sell in ~30-40 days (Source) US-17 Hampstead Bypass fully funded; on track for 2030 opening (Source) New 2-story middle-school wing breaks ground (Aug 2024) (Source) Thinking about moving to Hampstead, North Carolina? As one of the fastest-growing … Read more
Preparing to leave home for college is an exciting milestone for both students and parents. For us at Topsail Guide, it’s also a bit personal, as one of our own is forging past being a Topsail Pirate and is headed to Appalachian State University in a few short weeks! We’ve spent countless evenings discussing what … Read more
On July 10, 53‑year‑old Jason Gurganus died at UNC Chapel Hill Medical Center—11 days after being struck by lightning while boating along the Intracoastal Waterway near Scotts Hill Marina on June 29. Bystanders began CPR immediately and his body was rushed to the marina before being flown to the hospital. The other person on the boat survived, … Read more
Major changes are coming to eastern Pender County students this August. Starting August 25, the school district will implement a three-tier bell schedule for several East-side schools – part of an effort to ease bus shortages, reduce traffic on Hwy 17, and improve instructional time. Who’s Affected & When High School (Topsail High): Bus arrives … Read more
Heads-up, anglers: the 2025 recreational southern flounder season in North Carolina will open on September 1 at 12:01 a.m. and close at 11:59 p.m. on September 14. You’re allowed one fish per person per day, and it must be at least 15 inches long (tip of snout to tail tip) in coastal and joint waters. NC DEQ confirms this … Read more