Wrightsville Beach just got its glow-up moment, and honestly, it was overdue. For sixty years, the Blockade Runner Beach Resort sat at 275 Waynick Boulevard like the town’s favorite worn-in beach chair: familiar, beloved, and a little dated around the edges. Now it’s back as Trailborn Surf & Sound, and the transformation is the kind locals actually talk about at the coffee shop.
This isn’t a teardown-and-rebuild story. It’s a love letter to a landmark, rewritten in a fresher font.
What Is the New Name of Blockade Runner?
Let’s get the headline fact out of the way first. The Blockade Runner Beach Resort is now Trailborn Surf & Sound, part of the boutique Trailborn hotel brand. The name shift happened in early 2025, following a phased renovation that kept the resort open through construction. Guests barely missed a beat between eras.
Trailborn didn’t erase the old identity, though. Inside, the poolside Blockade Surf Bar keeps the original name alive as a nod to the property’s history. Locals appreciate that detail more than they’ll admit. Nostalgia sells, but authenticity earns loyalty.
Who Owns Blockade Runner Wrightsville Beach?
Here’s where the story gets interesting. The Baggett family owned the resort since 1971, when Joseph Baggett bought the hotel on the Cape Fear Coast just seven years after it first opened. For over five decades, it stayed a proudly local, family-run operation.
That changed in late 2022, when Castle Peak Holdings, a New York-based hospitality investment firm, purchased the property from Mary and Bill Baggett. Castle Peak also owns the Trailborn brand itself, along with sister properties in Estes Park, Colorado, and Highlands, North Carolina. Surf & Sound marks Trailborn’s fourth hotel overall and its very first beachfront resort. That’s a meaningful debut for a brand built around outdoor-focused travel.
Local’s take:
Wrightsville old-timers were nervous when the sale first hit the news. Would the new owners gut what made the place special? So far, the reviews suggest otherwise. Staff who worked there for years stayed on, including longtime general manager Nicolas Montoya, and that continuity matters more than any fresh coat of paint.
What Is Trailborn Surf & Sound Known For?
Ask any Wilmington local why this resort matters, and you’ll hear the same answer: it’s the only hotel on this stretch of coast with both ocean and sound access. The Atlantic Ocean sits on one side. The Intracoastal Waterway sits directly across the street. Few East Coast properties can claim that dual waterfront setup.
The site itself dates back to 1897, when the original Seashore Hotel first opened its doors here. Over the decades, the property cycled through several names and identities before becoming the Blockade Runner in 1964. That’s more than 125 years of hospitality history on one small stretch of sand. Meanwhile, the resort’s oceanfront gardens and sprawling lawn have survived every renovation phase completely intact.
Southern Living even named the resort’s pool one of the 29 dreamiest in the entire South. That’s not a small claim in a region full of stunning pools.
What most visitors don’t know:
The resort’s Great Lawn isn’t just decorative. It hosts sunrise yoga, cornhole tournaments, and evening firepits, functioning as the social heartbeat of the property. Skip the room and head straight for the lawn at golden hour. That’s where the real Wrightsville magic happens.
What Amenities Does Blockade Runner Offer?
Trailborn Surf & Sound didn’t skimp on the reinvention. Guests now get access to a genuinely impressive lineup of water-forward amenities:
- Dual coastline access to both the Atlantic Ocean and Banks Channel sound
- La Duna Paradiso, a fresh-catch-forward Italian and Mediterranean restaurant with oceanfront seating
- Bar Duna, a lobby bar with brass accents and a distinctly retro-coastal vibe
- Blockade Surf Bar, poolside cocktails, live music, and cabana rentals
- Surf lessons, sailing, kayaking, and eco paddle-board tours through the property’s Soundside dock
- Sunset and island-hopping cruises aboard the Carolina Runner, which ventures out toward Masonboro Island
- Outdoor pool with hot tub and sauna, plus a fitness center and complimentary bike rentals
- 6,300-plus square feet of event space, including the renovated Tides Ballroom
Rooms got a full overhaul too. Expect walk-in showers, plush new bedding, and Juliet balconies with water views from nearly every angle. The exterior’s white brick accents give the whole place a breezy, mid-century coastal look, courtesy of design firm Post Company.
What Is the Nicest Hotel in Wrightsville Beach?
Plenty of solid options exist along this barrier island, but Trailborn Surf & Sound has quickly claimed the top spot for travelers seeking boutique polish without losing beach-town soul. Its combination of dual waterfront access, elevated dining, and genuine historic weight sets it apart from the area’s chain resorts and standard oceanfront motels.
That said, “nicest” depends on what you’re chasing. Families craving a full-service, activity-packed stay will love Surf & Sound’s programming. Travelers wanting quiet, low-key charm might still prefer smaller inns further down the island. Either way, Wrightsville’s hotel scene just got a lot more interesting, and that competition benefits everyone who books a room here.
Insider tip:
Ask at the front desk about the Beach Closet. It’s stocked with rentable beach toys, umbrellas, and games, and most first-time guests never even know it exists.
Why This Renovation Matters for the Carolina Coast
Wrightsville Beach isn’t the only Carolina destination getting a hospitality refresh, but this project carries extra weight. It proves a historic, family-run resort can modernize without losing its soul. That balance is rare in coastal tourism, where “renovation” often means demolition in disguise.
For a coastline built on multigenerational vacations and decades-old traditions, that distinction matters. Trailborn Surf & Sound didn’t just update a hotel. It preserved a piece of North Carolina’s beach culture while making it ready for the next sixty years.
The Outer Banks has its lighthouses. Charleston has its cobblestones. Wrightsville Beach now has a landmark resort that respects where it came from while confidently stepping into its next chapter. That’s peak Carolina coast, through and through.
FAQ
What was Trailborn Surf & Sound called before its renovation? It was known as the Blockade Runner Beach Resort, a name it carried since 1964.
When did the Blockade Runner rebrand to Trailborn Surf & Sound? The rebrand was announced in September 2024, with renovations completing and the new name debuting in early 2025.
Who currently owns Trailborn Surf & Sound? Castle Peak Holdings, a New York-based hospitality investment firm, owns the property and the broader Trailborn hotel brand.
Does Trailborn Surf & Sound have both ocean and sound access? Yes. It’s one of the few East Coast resorts offering direct access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.
What dining options are available at Trailborn Surf & Sound? Guests can choose between La Duna Paradiso for Mediterranean-Italian fare, Bar Duna in the lobby, and the poolside Blockade Surf Bar.
Is the historic Blockade Runner name gone completely? Not entirely. The Blockade Surf Bar keeps the original name alive as a tribute to the resort’s six-decade legacy.
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