Town of Holly Ridge                
           North Carolina
                                                 
                                                 
                                                    Welcome to the Town of Holly Ridge
                                             “The Gateway to Topsail Island”



Another two years have passed and another election.  All of the
incumbents who ran for office were elected for another term.  
Jerry Wright is our new Councilman and we look forward to
working with him and are eager to experience more “growing” in
our area.  The Town Council is dedicated to the growth of the
town as well as the welfare of its citizens, and will continue to
make Holly Ridge the best hometown a person can live in.

The Parks and Recreation Committee is back up and running
again with the enthusiasm spearheaded by Chairperson, Anita
Dingler and her very dedicated committee members.  In the
year that Anita has been Chairperson, the committee has held a
very successful Mother and Daughter Tea, a great Talent
Show, and held the Holly Festival once again in November 07.  
Our hats off to Anita and the Parks and Recreation Committee…

The Town is in the process of applying for a PARTF (Parks and
Recreation Trust Fund) Grant in the total amount of $200,000
to build a Community/Recreation Building.  The Town sent out
surveys to the citizens and had some very positive feedback on
this.  If our application is approved, the facility will be an asset
to the community.  

If you have visited our neighboring beach towns, you have
probably driven through Holly Ridge.  Holly Ridge was the home
of Camp Davis that was located here in 1941 during WWII.  The
population of Holly Ridge exploded from 28 residents in 1940
to 110,000 at peak in 1943.  Prior to construction of Camp
Davis, Holly Ridge had just a couple of store, filling station, and
half a dozen homes,  The Camp was named for Major General
Richmond Pearson Davis who was born in Statesville, NC in
1866.  Located on base was Farnsworth Hall which attracted
such boxing greats as Joe Louis and over 5,000 fans jammed
bleachers and ringside seats.  Another entertainment spot was
the Paradise Night Club which drew celebrities such as Betty
Grable, Tommy Dorsey Band, and Betty McGuire and her all-girl
orchestra.  The majority of the buildings from Camp Davis have
been removed and the remaining ones are a reminder of the
“boom town” that was located here in the 1940’s.  

Elmer Padgett,
Mayor of Holly Ridge