Town Hall

My family has loved coming to Holden for many years. We always rent a house with a pool and we are usually just 1 road back from the ocean so we would pack all our beach chairs and supplies on to the golf cart (which we pay to rent).ride over and unpack it all to enjoy 3-4 hours of the ocean. We never had a problem parking the golf cart in prior trips. We arrived yesterday (9/9/23) & find out the following: 1) beach access is very limited now. 2) No parking your golf cart at any access. 3) We found 2 places for parking: the pier OR 1 small gravel area (near Sailfish Drive) that holds max 8 cars or golf carts! THATS IT! 4) And, now its $4/hr to park in 1 of 2 places!?!?! We feel that visitors arent welcome here anymore. And, locals would have to pay this as well?! We feel like packing your families food, beverages, beach chairs, towels and beach bags up and lugging them over (this house is at the end of the road on the marsh)..at best in a huge wagon or multiple wagons is outrageous. And finding public beach access anymore feels impossible and ONLY 1 PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS HAS PARKING & limited parking at that.& youre not even actually at the beach access as its a couple blocks down! I will no longer tell the nurses and doctors I work with to visit here as I always tell them Its a family friendly beach with plenty of room to spread out. Unlike Myrtle!!!!! Well, I wont be telling anyone to visit anymore nor will my family likely want to return. We have so many great memories made here. Breaks our hearts ! Lastly, what about families that rent homes here and cant afford a house with a pool???? Did anyone in authority making these changes think of them? What a shame! Those families only have the option to cool off at the beach. And what if they spent a majority of their hard earned $ on renting the house & food for a week? I am literally in disbelief.
Sep 7th, 2023

Been coming here for years with my family, never had a problem to park a golf cart to visit the beach if it was for the day or for just one hour. Now having to pay outrageous fee to park and most of the beach accesses dont have any parking even near them. This is a sad day for me, no longer can refer the beach to friends and family. Will rethink coming back. Who knows might have to take my vacation business down into SC. Being an NC residence so so sad!
Aug 22nd, 2023

Stupidity at it finest! Took a perfect beach and ruined it!! NOT HANDICAP FRIENDLY AT ALL!! Hope when the next election rolls around I will be able to change this comment
Aug 2nd, 2023

So disappointed in the town and whoever made these ridiculous changes! We have come here for years but recently had children so skipped 2 years..... Well we have finally come back and everything is about money now! This used to be such an oasis for us. The pier is owned by the city and just rotting. The diner is closed. You pay $4 an hr to park anywhere for beach access and IT'S ONLINE ONLY (No Cash) which is crazy. I had to order a new card because of fraud and wouldn't you know it didn't get here in time and they don't accept cash! Everywhere that makes you pay for parking should have the pay machines that accept both cash/card (which most places do because (money is money). The only reason for a star is because we love the locals and the local shops.
Jun 23rd, 2023

While traveling on my sailboat along the ICW I had the option to stop at their Municipal Dock for a lunch break. Was told I couldn't unless I paid for a whole night at $1.25 per foot. Apparently they don't want anybody patronizing local restaurants or shopping local groceries. Plus the "Dock Master" was a woman with the IQ of a 6th grader at best and seemed like she couldn't be bothered to answer the phone, much less oversee the small task of being in charge of the tiny Dock. Not worth a stop here.
Nov 14th, 2022