The 20th anniversary of Wilmington Sharks baseball in 2017 came with somewhat of a reboot, led by new owners and a renewed focus on improving fan experience and increasing community involvement to strengthen the team’s foothold in the Cape Fear region.   A year later, during the team’s May through August season, results are trending upward.   &ldq ...

The new short-term rental regulations recently approved in the city of Wilmington are welcomed by those who want to preserve residential areas; however, some property owners and Realtors believe the rules will have a negative impact on the city. David Billitto, co-owner of hospitality company NachoMammas NC, said the regulations, adopted June 19 by the Wilmington City C ...

Another of the area’s historic attractions that recently underwent renovations was Pender County’s Moores Creek National Battlefield.   The attraction recently reopened its visitor center and Patriots Hall Community Center after several months of repairs.   Construction updates to the visitor center, housed in a 1950s facility, included a new meta ...

One of downtown Wilmington’s few remaining Colonial-era homes – and the only one that operates as a museum – has been largely restored to its original splendor, following an estimated $250,000 renovation. Crews painstakingly refurbished the Burgwin-Wright House over 18 months, returning much of the home’s interior to how it originally looked in the ...

New Hanover County’s travel economy continues to thrive, with visitor spending up several million dollars over the previous year, according to state data. What’s more, local travel officials also released numbers that confirm the industry’s growing impact, in light of the approaching high travel season.   An economic impact study by Visit North Car ...

A former U.S. Coast Guard light station that was turned into an ocean bed and breakfast six years ago is no longer up for auction. But the auction process that he started May 3 led current owner Richard Neal, who bought the tower in 2010 for $85,000, to a decision.  "My understanding from the people that have contacted me for the auction is that individuall ...

New Hanover County's tourism industry is growing and the numbers show it. The amount collected during the first year of room occupancy tax collection in New Hanover County, 1986, was a little over $550,000. Recent totals show how much the industry has grown, with more than $12 million collected last year.  The figures were presented by Kim Huf ...

The Staybridge Suites in Wilmington recently changed hands for more than $13 million and is set to be renovated in the near future. Hunter Hotel Advisors represented TriGate Capital, based in Dallas, and Beacon Investment Management Group in the sale of the 92-room hotel Staybridge Suites at 5010 New Centre Drive in Wilmington, according to a news release from the Atlan ...

Demand for Wilmington-area restaurant and hotel workers is rising and the supply is starting to struggle to keep up.   As new hotels open and the number of local restaurants continue to grow – currently there are 541 Trip Advisor-reviewed restaurants alone in Wilmington – some establishments are finding themselves concerned about being short-staffed. &n ...

The Frying Pan Tower, a former U.S. Coast Guard light station turned ocean bed and breakfast, is up for auction. The auction for the tower, which is about 25 miles southeast of Bald Head Island, began Thursday with a starting bid of $10,000, bid increments of $3,000 and a $5,000 deposit required. The tower is only accessible by boat or helicopter. "It's ...