Described as "North Carolina's best-kept secret," Figure Eight Island is a private and gated community located on the coast of North Carolina near Wilmington.
Figure Eight Island is a place where generations of residents and their families have experienced the wonder of living on a private island, while also enjoying the almost contradictory pleasures of a community that values art and culture as much as boating and tennis.
Let's find out what are the top reasons to become a resident of the exclusive, Figure Eight Island.
1. As a private island, Figure Eight can only be reached by boat or via a guarded causeway swing bridge—the only private bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in the Southeast.
2. The island is privately owned by its homeowners. The island is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Area, and lies between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.
3. Before the turn of the century, the only residents of Figure Eight Island were wild ponies who freely galloped the dunes. Today, this unique destination is home to a select few who appreciate the rare advantages of this completely "non-commercialized" island retreat.
4. The island features roughly 4.5 miles of beaches, which are bordered by skinny inlets on either side. The Atlantic Ocean serves as its eastern water border, while the Intracoastal Waterway separates the island from the Cape Fear mainland.
5. The island has tennis courts, a boat ramp, Yacht club and a marina. The Figure Eight Yacht Club is a private island club for dining and formal events.
6. The majority of the residence of Figure Eight are seasonal. An estimated 90 percent of the homes on Figure Eight Islands are second homes, and fewer than one hundred of the houses are on the rental market.
7. Since Dino De Laurentiis opened his studio in Wilmington in 1983, Figure Eight has been a famous temporary residence for Hollywood actors working on films in Wilmington
8. Land on Figure Eight is often more valuable than the home sitting on it. For example, the most expensive building on the island is former Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack's home, at nearly $3.8 million. The land his house sits on is valued at $3.9 million, according to records.
9. Roughly 475 vacation homes and private residences are found on the island, and - refreshingly -not much else. There are no commercial businesses of any kind on Figure Eight Island, including shopping centers, hotels, or restaurants. The good news for visitors, however, is that ample shopping, dining and attractions are found just across the causeway in the city of Wilmington.
10. Virtually every vacation rental along the "soundside" has a boat dock, which can accommodate smaller vessels like skiffs. Enjoy an easy run to the Intracoastal Waterway, the Atlantic Ocean, and a collection of serene waterways in between.