ShoreList › Wilmington & the Beaches › Kure Beach
Pleasure Island · Southern NC Coast
Kure Beach, NC
Where the Cape Fear Meets the Atlantic.
The quiet one. Wild dunes, undisturbed coastline, the site of the Civil War’s largest sea-land battle, and a stretch of beach that feels like it belongs to a different era. The NC Aquarium is undergoing a once-in-a-generation $65M expansion — meaning the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to Pleasure Island now have every reason to discover what ShoreList knows: there is plenty more here.
Fort Fisher Historic Site
Coastal Nature Walks
Cape Fear Kite Festival
Wild Atlantic Beach
Aquarium Expanding
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Kure Beach, NC
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NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher — Closed for $65 Million Expansion
The main aquarium at 900 Loggerhead Road closed May 26, 2026 for a major renovation estimated to take approximately 30 months. When complete, it will be the largest aquarium in North Carolina. During construction, the aquarium team has opened Discovery Cove — a satellite location at Independence Mall in Wilmington with animal encounters, marine life habitats, and education programs. Free admission. Check ncaquariums.com for current details ↗
ShoreList Experiences at Kure Beach
Book a Local Experience
The aquarium is closed for renovations — ShoreList has everything else Kure Beach and the Fort Fisher area has to offer. Every operator is one we know personally. Bookings open June 1st.
Coastal Carolina Nature Walks
The Fort Fisher and Kure Beach area sits at one of the most biologically rich points on the East Coast. Guided walks through maritime forest, coastal dunes, and tidal wetlands reveal an extraordinary diversity of species. Wild Venus flytraps at nearby Carolina Beach State Park are included on select tours. Coming soon on Shorelist — operator joining shortly.
From $35 per person
Join Waitlist →
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Fort Fisher was the last major Confederate fortification to fall in the Civil War, defending the Cape Fear River’s supply route until January 1865. The site contains original earthworks, a museum, and sweeping Atlantic views where the Union fleet assembled for the war’s largest combined naval and land attack.
Free Admission
Visit Site ↗
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Four miles of wild, undeveloped Atlantic beach at the southern tip of Pleasure Island. Protected nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles and imperiled shorebirds. No development, no crowds — just the Atlantic the way it looked a hundred years ago.
Free Beach Access
View on Map →
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach · Closed for renovation & expansion
Under Construction
The Fort Fisher Aquarium closed May 26, 2026 for a $65 million renovation and expansion expected to take approximately 30 months. During this time, visit Discovery Cove at Independence Mall in Wilmington — the aquarium’s satellite location featuring animal encounters, marine life habitats, and education programs. Free admission. ncaquariums.com ↗
When it reopens, the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher will be the largest aquarium in North Carolina — featuring a 400,000-gallon sand tiger shark habitat, a Pacific live coral reef, an interactive shark and ray touch pool, a state-of-the-art education center, and a rooftop sky deck overlooking the Atlantic. Its first major renovation in 20 years. Worth coming back for.
Fort Fisher Location Status
Closed from May 26, 2026
Reopening approx. late 2028
Reopening approx. late 2028
Discovery Cove (During Renovation)
Open at Independence Mall, Wilmington
Animal encounters · Free admission
Animal encounters · Free admission
What the Expansion Includes
400K-gal shark habitat · Live coral reef · Rooftop sky deck · NC’s largest aquarium
Latest Official Updates
ncaquariums.com ↗
Always check before visiting
Always check before visiting
Visiting Kure Beach while the aquarium is closed? ShoreList has the best experiences on Pleasure Island right now — nature walks, Fort Fisher history, wild beaches, and more.
See What’s Open →
By the Numbers
Kure Beach at a Glance
1865
Fort Fisher falls, ending the Civil War
4 mi
of wild undeveloped Atlantic beach
$65M
Aquarium expansion investment
Free
Fort Fisher Historic Site always
20 min
from downtown Wilmington
Late 2028
Aquarium reopening as NC’s largest
Upcoming Events
What’s Happening at Kure Beach
For the full events calendar with 75+ events, visit our Events Guide covering all of Wilmington & the Beaches.
Cape Fear Kite Festival
Fort Fisher Civil War Living History
America’s 250th Birthday — July 4th, 2026
Discovery Cove — NC Aquarium at Independence Mall
Explore the Whole Coast