Blockade Runner Beach Resort, a Wrightsville Beach landmark for 55 years, announced today it will remain closed at least until the spring of next year because of damages sustained from Hurricane Florence. 

“We made the decision following several weeks of analysis and assessments with engineers and experts,” said Mary Baggett, co-owner and operator of the resort with her brother William Baggett, in an announcement Wednesday evening. “The target date for re-opening is early spring 2019.”

Hurricane Florence made landfall Sept. 14 near Wrightsville Beach, damaging numerous homes and businesses in the Wilmington area with wind and rain, including the Blockade Runner, 275 Waynick Blvd. in Wrightsville Beach. 

At one point, resort officials had hoped to open the property by Nov. 1, but that plan has now changed as extensive renovations are underway.

“The major cause of damage was the loss of the roof on the Balcony building and more limited roof damage on the Tower,” said Nicolas Montoya, Blockade Runner general manager, in a news release. “In the areas penetrated by heavy rain, operations shift from cleanup to restoration.”

Mary Baggett said her family has owned and operated the Blockade Runner for half a century.

“Over the years, we were honored to host thousands of weddings, vacations, getaways, meetings, conventions, fundraisers, and major events," Baggett said in Wednesday's release. "We look forward to renovating and improving the Blockade Runner and resuming operations in the early spring.”