Editing Caswell Beach, North Carolina (section)

==Attractions==
'''Beach'''. In way of combating erosion rates ranging from 2-5' per year, the town's three mile long, south facing beach has been re-nourished three times in the past 17 years as part of the Wilmington Harbor Channel dredging  project.<ref name="Wilmington Harbor Project">{{cite web|url= https://stateportpilot.com/news/article_32cc019e-4e24-11e8-82be-a72053f9d5ea.html |title=Harbor Dredging Project|website=StatePortPilot.com|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref>  The beach also serves as a [[sea turtle]] nesting area,<ref name="SeaTurtleWatch">{{cite web|url= http://www.seaturtle.org/nestdb/?view_beach=19 |title=SeaTurtleWatch|website=SeaTurtle.org|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> which has spurred a vigorous dune protection and restoration program featuring sea oats/beach grass plantings.<ref>Rogers, Spencer; Nash, David (2003). The Dune Book. North Carolina Sea Grant. {{ISBN|978-0-9747801-1-5}}</ref> This program not only benefits turtle nesting but protects the town against hurricane storm surge damage. As for public access to the beach, the town maintains a free parking lot and 12 walkways spread out along the strand, most of which have [[wheelchair ramps]].
{{wide image|Caswell Beach–2011 View looking East.jpg|700px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of Caswell Beach in 2011 looking east with the Oak Island Lighthouse in the background}}
[[File:Oak Island Golf Club–18th Hole.png|thumb|View looking north at the OIGC 18th green]]
[[File:Oak Island Lighthouse View.jpg|thumb|View from the Oak Island Lighthouse looking west]]
[[File:Fort Caswell–Battery McKavett & McDonough.jpg|thumb|Fort Caswell (Batteries McKavett and McDonough)]]
[[File:Caswell Dunes WWI Rifle Range Painting.jpg|thumb|Caswell Dunes Rifle Pits]]
[[File:Caswell Beach Wildlife.jpg|thumb|Intrepid alligator enjoying the surf]]

'''Golf Course'''. The 18 hole, par 72 course at the [[Oak Island Golf Club]] is open to the public.  The 6,720 yard course layout has 37 bunkers and water in play on 11 different holes with five sets of tees (back tees are course rated at 73.1 with a slope of 139). The course features ultradwarf TifEagle greens <ref name="UltraDwarf Bermude">{{cite web|url= http://gsrpdf.lib.msu.edu/ticpdf.py?file=/article/lowe-lessons-1-11-13.pdf |title=UltraDwarf Bermuda|website=MSU.edu|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> and Bermuda tees/fairways/rough while Long Leaf Pines, Live Oaks and Yaupon Holly trees border most every fairway. [[George Cobb (golf)|George Cobb]], co-designer of Augusta National's par 3 course, is the architect.  A full practice facility is available to the public which includes a putting green, sand traps and a driving range.<ref name="OIGC">{{cite web|url= http://www.oakislandgolf.com |title=Oak Island Golf Club|website=OakIslandGolf.com|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref>

'''Lighthouse'''. The [[Oak Island Lighthouse]] grounds are open to the public year-round for viewing and picture taking, with limited 30 minute parking provided at the base of the tower from sunrise until sunset.<ref name="NRHP Listing">{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/13001025.htm|title=NRHP Listing|website=NPS.com|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref>  During the summer months, two types of interior tours are available (the one to the top is by appointment only).  The light is maintained by personnel housed at the adjacent Coast Guard Station, while the structure itself is cared for and managed by a citizens group, Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse (FOIL).  A major exterior rehabilitation project was completed in 2016, notable in that it was funded entirely by contributions.<ref name="Oak Island Light">{{cite web|url= http://www.oakislandlighthouse.org |title=Oak Island Lighthouse|website=OILight.org|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> Located across the street slightly to the east of the lighthouse is the historic [[Oak Island Life Saving Station]].

'''Fort Caswell''' Fort Caswell is accessible by the public to a limited extent per the conditions set forth by the Director, [[North Carolina Baptist Assembly]].<ref name="Fort Caswell">{{cite web|url= http://www.fortcaswell.com/about |title=Fort Caswell|website=FortCaswell.com|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> Now utilized as a Christian retreat and conference center, during the Civil War it defended Confederate positions on the North Carolina coast. Subsequently, it served as an army training ground in World War I and as a patrol communications base in World War II.  Thus its forts and batteries provide opportunities to view and connect with a significant part of US history.<ref name="Herring">{{cite book |author1=Herring, Ethel |author2=Williams, Carolee | title=Fort Caswell in War and Peace | location=Oak Island, NC | publisher=NC Baptist Assembly | year=1999 | ISBN=978-0-9671897-1-0}}</ref> Also a part of the Fort Caswell Historic District but located further west in the Caswell Dunes area is the [[Fort Caswell Rifle Range]] used by WW I soldiers for target practice.<ref name="Rifle Range">{{cite web|url=http://www.caswellriflerange.com|title=Rifle Range|website=RifleRange.com|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> ''Brunswick County in the Great War''<ref name="Eckard">{{cite book |author=Eckard, Amy |author2=Eckard, Norma |author3=Eckard, Ron |title=Brunswick County in the Great War|location=Oak Island, NC|publisher=SlapDash, Wilmington NC|year=2020|isbn=978-099-841-15-6-9}}</ref> published in 2020 contains a 25-page section with numerous rifle pit photos and diagrams along with biographic sketches of all known Brunswick County NC WW I service members.

'''Natural Habitat'''.  Given its small population and remote location, much of the town's charm rests with its  salt and fresh water marshes and a maritime forest, all of which support a wide range of plant and animal life.  Alligators, turtles, foxes, deer, raccoons, beavers,  eagles, brown pelicans, great white and blue herons, and ibis abound, while an occasional bear has been known to swim across the Intracoastal Waterway to visit the town. As for plant diversity, [[Quercus virginiana|live oak]], [[Pinus palustris|Longleaf Pine]] and [[Ilex vomitoria|Yaupon Holly]]  predominate in the forest, while Azaleas, [[Callicarpa americana|American Beautyberry]] and [[Magnolia virginiana|Sweet Bay Magnolia]] thrive both in natural and landscaped areas.<ref name="Coastal Planting Guide">{{cite web|url= https://www.fws.gov/raleigh/pdfs/nativeplantscoastalnc.pdf |title=Coastal Planting Guide|website=FWS.gov|access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref>