The occasional concrete-block tower along the highway on Topsail Island is a missile observation tower built by the navy in the 1940s. Photo by Lois Carol Wheatley.

Topsail Beach, NC

Topsail Beach, home to a variety of history and the The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital, is also home to a very small collection of permanent, year-round residents, a number somewhere around 500. The attractions found in Topsail Beach include public beach access areas, a bike path, a roller rink, a miniature golf course, a handful of restaurants and shops, all of which are more for the amusement of the tourists, many of whom make annual pilgrimages to visit the island's rich history and the sea turtles who live here.

Some unusual sights along the Topsail beach strand catch the eye. What was that lone 30-foot tall white tower that looks to be made of concrete block, now aged and crumbling, standing on the side of the road? It has very unusual design features for a beach condo, you think as you drive by the structure. The question fades out of your mind, unresolved, then flares up again when you pass another one.

The year was 1946 and while World War II had just ended, the Cold War had just begun. In its search for a remote spot to test missiles, the U.S. Government settled on Topsail Island, at that time known generally as "the sand spit." Named such because it was comprised of a long, narrow finger of land that could be reached only by boat and was inhabited by only a handful of ramshackle fishing shacks, Topsail Beach was perfect for a top-secret classified military operation.

Eight concrete-block towers were built as missile observation points, and the Assembly Building was constructed to build the missiles. The partners in this venture were the U.S. Navy and Johns Hopkins Research Laboratories, but the missile-testing program was relatively short-lived - it packed up and moved out in 1948.

Operation Bumblebee was the code name because, according to an exhibit in The Missiles and More Museum, "a bumblebee cannot fly because of the shape and weight of his body in relation to the total wing area. But, the bumblebee doesn't know this so he goes ahead and flies anyway." Missiles also apparently suffer under similar delusions. The buzz at the time was that Topsail Island was to jet flight development what Kitty Hawk was to propeller flight.

Strange and vague similarities exist between the Missile Assembly Building and the The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital. The two facilities are located about a block apart and, whatever emerges through their doors as a finished product is (or was) trundled by hand or by cart from the sound side over to the beach and then sent off to sea on a wing and a prayer to its uncertain fate, under the intense scrutiny of a sea of spectators.

The beaches and attractions of Topsail Island are a scenic 1-hour drive from the Crystal Coast beaches of Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Salter Path, Indian Beach and Pine Knoll Shores. When you purchase a beautiful Crystal Coast home from Bluewater, you will be a fun day trip away from all that Topsail Island has to offer.

To view more Crystal Coast, NC real estate listings, visit the pages below:

Agency:	All AgenciesBluewater Real Estate
Class:	Any ClassBoat SlipCommercialCommercial RentalIncome PropertyLandResidentialTimeShare/Fractional
Type:	All TypesAcreageBoat SlipCommercialCondoDuplexFarm/RanchLotsMobile HomeQuadplexResidentialSingle Family ResidentialTownhouseTriplex
City:	All CitiesAtlantic BeachEmerald IslePine Knoll Shores
Location:	All LocationsCanal FrontGolf CourseOcean SideOcean ViewOcean FrontRiverSound FrontSound SideSound View
Min Price:	All Prices $ 100,000 $ 200,000 $ 300,000 $ 400,000 $ 500,000 $ 600,000 $ 700,000 $ 800,000 $ 900,000 $ 1,000,000 $ 1,100,000 $ 1,200,000 $ 1,300,000 $ 1,400,000 $ 1,500,000 $ 1,600,000 $ 1,700,000 $ 1,800,000 $ 1,900,000 $ 2,000,000 $ 3,000,000 $ 4,000,000 $ 5,000,000 $ 6,000,000 $ 7,000,000 $ 8,000,000 $ 9,000,000 $ 10,000,000 $ 11,000,000 $ 12,000,000 $ 13,000,000 $ 14,000,000 $ 15,000,000 $ 16,000,000 $ 17,000,000 $ 18,000,000 $ 19,000,000 $ 20,000,000
Max Price:	All Prices $ 100,000 $ 200,000 $ 300,000 $ 400,000 $ 500,000 $ 600,000 $ 700,000 $ 800,000 $ 900,000 $ 1,000,000 $ 1,100,000 $ 1,200,000 $ 1,300,000 $ 1,400,000 $ 1,500,000 $ 1,600,000 $ 1,700,000 $ 1,800,000 $ 1,900,000 $ 2,000,000 $ 3,000,000 $ 4,000,000 $ 5,000,000 $ 6,000,000 $ 7,000,000 $ 8,000,000 $ 9,000,000 $ 10,000,000 $ 11,000,000 $ 12,000,000 $ 13,000,000 $ 14,000,000 $ 15,000,000 $ 16,000,000 $ 17,000,000 $ 18,000,000 $ 19,000,000 $ 20,000,000 $ 21,000,000 $ 22,000,000 $ 23,000,000 $ 24,000,000 $ 25,000,000 $ 26,000,000 $ 27,000,000 $ 28,000,000 $ 29,000,000 $ 30,000,000
Sort By:	Date Added: New FirstDate Added: Old FirstDate Updated: New FirstPrice: High to LowPrice: Low to HighArea
Then By:	Date Added: New FirstDate Added: Old FirstDate Updated: New FirstPrice: High to LowPrice: Low to Higharea

Topsail Island, North Carolina
When you purchase a beautiful Crystal Coast home located in Emerald Isle, Salter Path, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores or Atlantic Beach, you will be within mere driving distance of the following Topsail Island, NC area locations and attractions.

• Topsail Island, NC
• Topsail Beach, NC
• Sea Turtles
• Missiles & More
• Surf City, NC
• N. Topsail & Sneads Ferry
• Hampstead & Holly Ridge
• Hurricanes
• Crystal Coast Real Estate Listings
• Topsail Island Long Term Rentals

Featured Real Estate Listing

MLS: 12-2056

Lots

Listed For: $149,500

Click Here for More Details »

Featured Real Estate Listing

MLS: 12-2062

Lots

Listed For: $149,500

Click Here for More Details »

Featured Real Estate Listing

MLS: 12-2164

Lots

Listed For: $169,900

Click Here for More Details »