A packed Ocean Isle Beach on Sunday, May 3. Source: Glenda Reeves
Beachgoers in Southeastern North Carolina flooded Ocean Isle Beach this past Sunday, May 3, as the town decided to reopen public beach accesses and public parking on April 30.
Many residents and tourists celebrated the reopening by having a beach day.
Kayla Norris, an Ash resident, compared the crowds to what she sees on the 4th of July.
“It was packed. There were cars lining the streets and all of the public parking was full by 11 a.m.,” she said. “That usually does not happen until summer.”
The beach was not the only place on Ocean Isle that was busy on Sunday. Boats, jet skis, and canoes were out in full force on the Intracoastal Waterway.
People on the water said it resembled Interstate 40 in Raleigh.
Elizabeth Lewis, a Shallotte resident, was on her boat on Sunday with her husband.
“For the first time, I was afraid to be out there. It honestly scared me to death,” Lewis said.
Lewis had some strong opinions for people not taking safety precautions while on the water. “If you were not taught how to have respect on the waterway, stay off of it.”
As for social distancing concerns, Norris said it simply could not be followed in some areas.
“We stayed at the far end of the beach, so it was easy for us to have distance between us, but the crowds toward the pier and middle of the island made it impossible to sit 6 feet apart from each other.”
Check out a drone shot of the beach on Sunday.
The reopening of public beach accesses and public parking comes just nine days after Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith opened the beach for walking, jogging, bicycling, or other exercise activities.
Other beaches in the area have begun reopening operations as we move closer and closer to returning back to normal for the summer.
Related story: Some beaches begin to reopen
