Home Care In Burgaw, NC

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is moving forward with a road-widening project in the middle of downtown Burgaw.

The project will affect several roads in Burgaw but is centered around the intersection of East Wilmington Street and North Walker Street, which borders the Pender County Courthouse.

NCDOT's project focuses on widening this intersection, and there are also plans for landscaping work, as well as adding a new traffic signal to the intersection of East Wilmington Street and North Wright Street.

Here's what to know.

Why is NCDOT widening intersections in Burgaw?

Trevor Carroll, the division engineer for NCDOT's Highway Division 3, outlined the project to the Pender County Board of Commissioners at a recent meeting.

Dubbed Project R-5701, the project will increase the radius of the intersection of East Wilmington Street and North Walker Street. The intersection carries traffic from U.S. 117 Business and N.C. 53, making it among Burgaw's busier intersections.

The wider intersection will help support the flow of traffic through a central part of Burgaw, particularly by allowing large tractor-trailer trucks to turn more easily, Carroll said.

Carroll said he'd watched the traffic flow through the intersection and seen large trucks swing far wide on the turn.

Project plans also show a proposed traffic signal for the intersection of North Wright Street and East Wilmington Street.

What are the project impacts?

NCDOT was requesting right-of-way acquisition for several properties adjacent to the project at the Jan. 5 board meeting.

Some of these properties are on the historic registry, which Carroll acknowledged.

"We have vetted that," he said. "We are minimizing the impacts. We will do limited tree trimming and we will do tree protection on the historic properties."

"There was an option, or an alternative, to have a roundabout there," he added. "This particular design moves traffic just as efficiently and it reduces the footprint, therefore reduces the right-of-way that's necessary."

According to the timeline presented at the meeting, utility relocation will begin in February 2026, followed by the project being let for construction bids in June 2027. The current estimated completion date is October 2028.

NCDOT is acquiring right-of-way and/or temporary construction easements across several adjacent properties, including the Pender County Courthouse and Magistrate's Office for a total of around $30,000. NCDOT will have to take similar steps for properties owned by the town of Burgaw.

Charlie Kingree is the Pender County and trending topics reporter for the StarNews. He can be reached at [email protected].

BURGAW, N.C. (WECT) - The winner of the 2023 Own Your Own competition has opened their restaurant in downtown Burgaw.

Patty’s Place had its official ribbon-cutting on Monday. The restaurant made national news before it even opened its doors. Khristen Hunter, head chef and owner of Patty’s Place, won the Own Your Own restaurant competition after the first winner backed out.

Hunter competed against 500 other chefs. After taking home the win, she was given a million-dollar budget to design the restaurant of her dreams, a process that took about two years.

“Some days, I don’t feel like this is real. Like, what is the catch? There has got to be something, but no, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Hunter.

Neighbors voted on the restaurant’s name during the 2024 Blueberry Festival. Patty’s Place is named after Hunter’s mother, Patty. Hunter says her mom inspired her to start cooking when she was a child.

“I grew up with a big family on a farm,” said Hunter. “A lot of the recipes are going to be family recipes that she passed on to me that she taught me at a young age,” she added.

Own Your Own helps support entrepreneurs and community building. One of the goals of the competition is to help revitalize historic downtown areas.

Hunter says she is thankful to be where she is today and that the community’s support has been overwhelming.

“It’s the kindest community I have ever been a part of and ever even visited,” Hunter said. “Just the people are so welcoming and so supportive. They are offering any kind of help and support as needed. It has been a phenomenal feeling just to know that I will be here forever, that I am building a legacy for myself and my family, and I am getting to do it in a really amazing place.”

Patty’s Place is located at 106 W Courthouse Avenue in Burgaw. The restaurant serves breakfast and brunch. More information on Patty’s Place can be found here.

In the quiet, tree-lined streets of Burgaw, North Carolina, history isn’t just something you read about in books—it’s something you walk through every day. Known for its picturesque town square and its role as the backdrop for numerous Hollywood films, Burgaw has long been a “hidden gem” of the South. However, as we enter 2026, the town’s leadership is making a vocal and strategic push to move from “hidden” to “highlighted.”

The challenge? A complex puzzle of funding and legislative constraints that has historically limited how much the town can invest in its own promotion. But Burgaw isn’t backing down. Through a combination of grassroots initiatives, grant seeking, and a re-evaluation of its Tourism Development Authority (TDA), this small town is proving that it has big-city ambitions.

Understanding the Funding Hurdle

To understand Burgaw’s current situation, one has to look at how tourism is funded in North Carolina. Most tourism promotion is fueled by an Occupancy Tax—a small fee added to hotel and short-term rental stays.

The was established back in 2006 under specific North Carolina General Assembly guidelines (Senate Bill 1431). While this allowed the town to collect funds, the “catch” is that Burgaw has fewer hotels compared to coastal giants like Wilmington. This creates a circular challenge: without massive occupancy tax revenue, it’s harder to fund the very projects that would bring in the tourists who stay in hotels.

To break this cycle, Burgaw is getting creative. The TDA is actively inviting local entrepreneurs and organizations to apply for Tourism Grants. Between January 1st and March 31st each year, the town opens its doors to project proposals that can prove they will attract out-of-towners and stimulate the local economy.

America 250: A Catalyst for Growth

One of the most exciting developments for 2026 is Burgaw’s participation in the America 250 NC initiative. Pender County recently received a $10,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Burgaw, as the county seat, is at the epicenter of these celebrations. From historical exhibitions at the Moores Creek National Battlefield to community festivals in the town square, the America 250 events are being used as a “test case” for how Burgaw can handle larger-scale, multi-day tourism events. As Tourism Director Olivia Dawson noted, this milestone is a “monumental occasion” that allows the town to showcase its rich heritage to a national audience.

You can’t talk about Burgaw without mentioning the North Carolina Blueberry Festival. This annual event is the town’s largest tourism driver, and preparations for the 2026 season are already in full swing.

Events like the Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser (set for February 21, 2026, at the Burgaw Fire Station) aren’t just local traditions—they are vital fundraising engines. These grassroots events prove that Burgaw’s strength lies in its community spirit. When the town lacks “top-down” state funding, the residents step up to fill the gap.

The Burgaw Board of Commissioners is currently in the midst of public hearings for the FY 2026-2027 budget. A key theme of these discussions is “early citizen input.” By involving the community in the budget process as early as January, the town aims to prioritize projects that residents actually want to see—whether that’s improved signage, beautified parks, or more “film-friendly” infrastructure.

Burgaw is also leaning into its identity as a “fast-growing” hub. Pender County’s visitor spending reached nearly $200 million in recent years, a 5% increase that shows the region is trending upward. By aligning Burgaw’s historic charm with modern marketing (like the revitalized Visit Burgaw website), the town is ensuring that it doesn’t just stay in the past—it builds a future on it.

For travelers, Burgaw’s attempts to secure funding means an overall better experience. Investors in Burgaw can expect to see:

Event Improvements: Burgaw will host more festivals and cultural events throughout the year and not just summer.

History: Burgaw will create new experiences to learn about their history, and will include guided tours and upgraded museum displays.

Local Businesses: Burgaw will continue to support the small businesses, boutiques, and restaurants that provide the town with its character.

The town of Burgaw has captured its own value. It is the type of town that provides a quiet place to escape that feels both ancient and alive. By working to address funding issues, Burgaw will, hopefully, secure a place on the list of charming towns in North Carolina getaways for travelers.

Tourism within the town of Burgaw is growing, and the industry could have a promising future. But as of now, that future is somewhat out of the town's control.

Boosting tourism requires investment. But in Burgaw, officials say the town doesn't have full control of the funds it needs.

Burgaw -- the county seat -- gives away half of its occupancy tax revenue to Pender County's tourism development authority. It's the only municipality in Pender County to do so.

For Burgaw Mayor Olivia Dawson, the goal is to make a change and retain the full revenue.

"This conversation is rooted in ensuring that occupancy tax dollars generated in Burgaw are used in ways that most directly benefit our town, local businesses, and visitors," Dawson said.

What is occupancy tax?

Occupancy tax is levied on things like room rentals at hotels and motels, as well as tourist campgrounds and bed and breakfasts. This tax revenue is a direct byproduct of tourism, seeing as it comes from short-term rentals often used by tourists. In turn, this revenue generally gets reinvested into the tourism industry.

Across Pender County, the occupancy tax rate is 6%.

In the case of Burgaw, the sum is split between the town and the county. Surf City and Topsail Beach both retain the full 6%.

Burgaw's resolution

The town of Burgaw passed a resolution in November 2025 supporting a request for the town to retain the full sum of its occupancy taxes.

In Burgaw, occupancy tax funds are administered by the Burgaw Tourism Development Authority. The resolution stated that the Tourism Development Authority would use at least two-thirds of the proceeds to promote travel and tourism and the remainder for tourism-related expenditures.

Burgaw's request is being sent before North Carolina's state legislature, Dawson said.

Tourism in Burgaw

Tourism in Pender County's coastal region has long thrived, with the beaches being popular vacation spots. But the tourism industry is growing in western Pender County as well.

Burgaw, in particular, attracts visitors for the town's special events as well as the nearby agritourism opportunities. Agritourism centers around things like camping, farm activities and weddings/events.

According to Dawson, Burgaw could use the additional occupancy tax revenue for marketing, highlighting Burgaw on a larger scale outside of just individual events the town holds, such as the N.C. Blueberry Festival.

But Dawson stressed that the tax funding was not all about bringing tourists into town. The efforts would also support current residents and Burgaw's economy.

"It's our events, our activities, it's people day tripping, it's supporting small business," Dawson said. "If you want more people to open up more stores or restaurants, you need more people coming into the communities to support it."

Dawson hopes that by Burgaw controlling the full 6%, the town could guide tourism growth in a responsible way.

"This resolution is about stewardship, transparency, and ensuring that tourism growth strengthens our community while preserving what makes Burgaw special," Dawson said.

Charlie Kingree is the Pender County and trending topics reporter for the Wilmington StarNews. He can be reached at [email protected].

BURGAW, N.C. (WECT) - One project for the local initiative ‘Own Your Own’ will have its grand opening next month.

Breakfast diner Patty’s Place, owned and operated by Chef Khristen Hunter, has announced its grand opening for Monday, Jan. 5, at 106 West Courthouse Street.

Chef Hunter was a finalist in the Own Your Own (OYO) Competition in 2023, and the diner is the fourth restaurant project from the initiative’s founder, Richard Johnson.

The two partnered to build the diner, which is located in a 2,800-square-foot renovated building with new modern dining amenities and historic charm.

Chef Hunter said she built the diner with the hope that every guest who walks through the door will feel the warmth, care and connection she experienced growing up.

She said her passion for cooking began in the kitchen alongside her mother, Patty, where she learned family recipes and discovered the joy of creating meals that bring people together.

“Patty’s Place will offer a wide range of classic diner breakfasts, including hearty omelets, fluffy pancakes, biscuits, breakfast platters, and homestyle sides,” a spokesperson with the project wrote in a press release. “The restaurant provides ample seating for diners to enjoy a relaxed sit-down meal with family and friends, while grab-and-go options will also be available soon for those on the move.”

Hours of operation are the following:

OYO was founded in 2022 as a culmination of Johnson’s work helping entrepreneurs and giving back to the community.

“OYO is designed to give hopeful entrepreneurs the opportunity to connect with investors, open small businesses and help revitalize historic downtowns,” the press release stated.

OYO launched a nationwide restaurant challenge at the end of 2022 with a $1 million budget to design and build a restaurant in Burgaw as the prize.