Help Create Lockwood Folly River State Park — Before It’s Too Late

Brunswick County is at a crossroads. As one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina, we are witnessing our remaining natural and cultural treasures vanish before our eyes—replaced by sprawling development with little regard for the public good.

We believe it’s time to protect what makes our region special. We’re calling on NC State Parks and the NC General Assembly to invest in a public state park campground on the Lockwood Folly River, or close by with the same waterfront access. It should be modeled after the beloved Kimball Point Campground at Kerr Lake where I have vacationed for over 15 years. Countless memories made.

This is more than a campground—it’s a chance to:

Preserve our coastal heritage and Gullah Geechee culture

Provide affordable, equitable access to nature for working families

Protect critical wetlands, tidal marshes, and estuarine habitats

Boost local health, mental well-being, and sustainable recreation

Create economic opportunities through eco-tourism and education

Why Now?

Our proposed site sits at the heart of Supply, Varnamtown, and Holden Beach—areas where undeveloped, waterfront land is quickly disappearing to private interests. These are some of the last viable parcels for a state-managed public park in southern Brunswick County. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.

Meanwhile, local families have few options. Carolina Beach State Park stays booked months in advance, and the nearest comparable campgrounds are hours away. Despite rapid population growth, southern Brunswick County has no state park, no public-access campground, and very little waterfront nature preserve. 

Our Vision for Lockwood Folly River State Park:

50+ primitive tent sites and 30 RV hookups with electric and pull-through options

15 hike-in-only wilderness campsites for immersive, low-impact nature experiences

2 ADA-accessible boat ramps, kayak launches, and fishing piers

Four solar-powered, eco-friendly bathhouses

Two public park areas with a nature playground, picnic shelters, and a Gullah Geechee heritage trail

A community amphitheater for music, storytelling, and cultural events

A 2-mile wildlife hiking loop, native landscaping, and stormwater-controlled parking to protect the river’s fragile ecosystems

This is an opportunity to create not just one state park—but possibly two. With community momentum and a demonstrated need, Brunswick County could become home to the next jewels in North Carolina’s park system.

Let’s Build Something That Lasts

We can’t let short-term development destroy long-term opportunity. With the right investment and community pressure, this park can serve our residents for generations—a place to fish, camp, explore, and reconnect with our roots.

Here’s How You Can Help:

Sign and share this petition with your neighbors, friends, and local groups

Contact your representatives and demand they act before the land is lost

Spread the word on social media using #SaveLockwoodFolly

Help us show that Brunswick County is ready—and deserves—its own state park

We’re over 400 strong—and growing. Let’s keep building. Let’s protect what matters. Let’s make history.

With gratitude and urgency,
Josh Kirby