Town of Sunset Beach

The Town began in 1955 a year after Hurricane Hazel struck the surrounding area but left what was then called Bald Beach, the southernmost island in North Carolina, unscathed. The smallest of the South Brunswick Islands, Mannon C. Gore purchased Bald Beach from the Brooks family, who dated its ownership back to the 1700s. Gore was impressed by the beautiful sunsets and renamed the island Sunset Beach. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Gore purchased 500 acres of mainland property along the Intracoastal Waterway from International Paper Company and began making his vision a reality. In 1963 the North Carolina General Assembly ratified an Act to Incorporate the Town of Sunset Beach and established the governing body as a Mayor and five (5) Commissioners. The Mayor had no vote and served primarily as the Town signatory. The Commissioners established the rules, regulations and policies. The Town boundaries were established as the island, the strip from Park Street to the bridge along the Intr...