Station/Boat Location~
Station Oak Island
Date there~
since 2002 - current
Weather~
overall nice, mild winters/hot summers, spring and fall are perfect
Military facilities~
Coast Guard Station Oak Island is a small boat station that primarily handles SAR. Since 9/11 they do more escorts and boarding ships that come into the Cape Fear River. The station is newly built to replace the old Station that burned in 2002. Duty varies but average is port and starboard or one in three.
Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune is about 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive. Has exchange and commissary
Medical~
Dosher Hospital in Southport, NC (about 15/20 minutes from the station) PCM on Oak Island, NC about 5/10 minutes from the station.
Brunswick Hospital is Shallotte (about 45 minutes from station) also New Hanover Hospital in Wilmington, NC (about a 45 minute drive) Traffic is seasonal so drive times may vary.
Housing~
BAH is good for the area. We lived on Oak Island for the first two years, our house was one block from the ICW and 4 or 5 blocks from the beach. We lived in a 3 bedroom 2 bath home with a fenced in back yard in a nice area for around $650.00.
We now live in Boiling Spring Lakes, NC. The area is very nice and you can get more house for your dollar vs. Oak Island. If you don't mind trading the ocean for a lake! Our home is across the street from a 253 acre lake.
We are about 20 minutes from Wilmington, NC and 20 minutes from the Coast Guard Station on Oak Island. In all BSL has 52 lakes. BSL is nice because the traffic can be bad on Oak Island during the tourist season (may-sept) which can make it hard to get anywhere on time! Its very convenient to Southport also.
BSL has great boating and fishing. Most of the homes are nice and newly built. Currently we have a two story home built in 2002 with a 2 car garage 3 bedrooms 2 baths and a loft office/bonus room within our BAH. Its about 8-10 minutes from Southport, NC ALSO the mailing address for BSL's is still considered Southport.
Shopping~
Southport has a small Peebles (similiar to a Belk's or JC Penney) a bunch of small touristy type shops, a Wal-Mart, a Lowes Home Improvement, and some Dollar Stores.
Adult Schools~
Brunswick Community College is about 25/30 minutes from Oak Island, 15/ 20 minutes from Southport and 10/15 minutes from Boiling Spring Lakes.
Fun Activities~
The Beach/Lakes, Go Carts Racing, Putt Putt, Nature Trails, Movie Theater, Camping, Boating, Fishing, & Shopping.
Additional Info~
I have enjoyed our time here so far. Overall we have a friendly community that loves the Coast Guard. If you like city life Wilmington and Myrtle Beach are close by. Wilmington is a great college town with lots of nightlife. Myrtle Beach is a popular vacation destination.
They have tons of shopping, restaurants, theater, musicals, and concert venues.
Homeport NC
Station Oak Island
Date there~
since 2002 - current
Weather~
overall nice, mild winters/hot summers, spring and fall are perfect
Military facilities~
Coast Guard Station Oak Island is a small boat station that primarily handles SAR. Since 9/11 they do more escorts and boarding ships that come into the Cape Fear River. The station is newly built to replace the old Station that burned in 2002. Duty varies but average is port and starboard or one in three.
Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune is about 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive. Has exchange and commissary
Medical~
Dosher Hospital in Southport, NC (about 15/20 minutes from the station) PCM on Oak Island, NC about 5/10 minutes from the station.
Brunswick Hospital is Shallotte (about 45 minutes from station) also New Hanover Hospital in Wilmington, NC (about a 45 minute drive) Traffic is seasonal so drive times may vary.
Housing~
BAH is good for the area. We lived on Oak Island for the first two years, our house was one block from the ICW and 4 or 5 blocks from the beach. We lived in a 3 bedroom 2 bath home with a fenced in back yard in a nice area for around $650.00.
We now live in Boiling Spring Lakes, NC. The area is very nice and you can get more house for your dollar vs. Oak Island. If you don't mind trading the ocean for a lake! Our home is across the street from a 253 acre lake.
We are about 20 minutes from Wilmington, NC and 20 minutes from the Coast Guard Station on Oak Island. In all BSL has 52 lakes. BSL is nice because the traffic can be bad on Oak Island during the tourist season (may-sept) which can make it hard to get anywhere on time! Its very convenient to Southport also.
BSL has great boating and fishing. Most of the homes are nice and newly built. Currently we have a two story home built in 2002 with a 2 car garage 3 bedrooms 2 baths and a loft office/bonus room within our BAH. Its about 8-10 minutes from Southport, NC ALSO the mailing address for BSL's is still considered Southport.
Shopping~
Southport has a small Peebles (similiar to a Belk's or JC Penney) a bunch of small touristy type shops, a Wal-Mart, a Lowes Home Improvement, and some Dollar Stores.
Adult Schools~
Brunswick Community College is about 25/30 minutes from Oak Island, 15/ 20 minutes from Southport and 10/15 minutes from Boiling Spring Lakes.
Fun Activities~
The Beach/Lakes, Go Carts Racing, Putt Putt, Nature Trails, Movie Theater, Camping, Boating, Fishing, & Shopping.
Additional Info~
I have enjoyed our time here so far. Overall we have a friendly community that loves the Coast Guard. If you like city life Wilmington and Myrtle Beach are close by. Wilmington is a great college town with lots of nightlife. Myrtle Beach is a popular vacation destination.
They have tons of shopping, restaurants, theater, musicals, and concert venues.
Homeport NC
