Wheelchair Access Beaches, Beach Accesses, Communities

[Paula]

I had someone ask me about wheelchair access along 30A, especially for longer-term stays such as for people staying for a few months in the winter? Which are the easiest communities in terms of access to the rentals themselves (ramps or no more than one step to entryway, one-story, paved sidewalks/roads, wide-enough doors inside, etc.) for people with wheelchairs? Also, which beaches/beach accesses are reasonable for wheelchairs (e.g., accesses that are hard rather than sandy) - both "public" and "private" beach accesses?

Grayton Beach State Park seems very wheelchair friendly, right?
Grayton Beach would be wheelchair friendly-enough wouldn't it, though it would be hard to get from the end of the boardwalk to the water area, but the pond would be a nice place to set up.
Any good beach accesses that are hard rather than soft in Seagrove?
Is Ed Walline beach access near Gulf Place wheelchair friendly?

I think it would be good to have this information in general, and perhaps the TDC has some of this information.

 

[Truffle Anne]

Hey, Paula- The Ed Walline access at Dune Allen has the nice wheelchair access you see on sowal's homepage, but it's a good point that the access ends in soft sand, and it's a distance of 20 yards or so (?) to the water. View is lovely, and Dune Allen's accomodations, shops, restau's are accessible, that is, Gulf Place across the street from the beach access.

 

[SGB]

The access in Dune Allen (don't know official name, but we call it Fort Panic) also has a wheelchair ramp. Also, just read in the paper that Topsail is doing a lot of improvements and including additional ADA access. Apparently there is a motorized beach chair there available to guests.

 

[jensieblue]

I am confined to a wheelchair and vist the 30A area often. Grayton Beach has board walks with good beach access and I have had luck with renting a beach wheelchair to allow me closer access to the water. I am so glad to hear people are interested in improving access. It is the kind of thing where you really need to know someone to advise you. I have learned the hard way that handicap accessible means vastly differt things to different people. Let me know if there is anything else I can give you information on. I can tell you that the B & B Hibiscus located in Grayton. has a room called the Big Easy that is complety wheelchair accesible. Ramps, rails in the shower, a shower that alows you to ride into the shower on your chair and transfer to a teak bath bench. Also Hibiscus has a fabulous coffee shop/cafe. I can also tell you that the owners and staff at Cafe 30 A are fabulous. We ate there last Thanksgiving and the staff sat up a table for my family that was easily accessed by the out door ramps. Good luck and keep on trucking....

 

[ameliaj]

So glad to hear about the B & B in Grayton. My brother-in-law is also confined to a wheelchair and we are always looking for good places for him to stay. He stays in a condo at HighPoint resort that is handicapped accessible. There is no beach access for him, but he enjoys the pool and the tiki bar there overlooks the ocean.

Let me know of any other places you have found and I will try to keep you informed as well.

 

[jensieblue]

Another thing that I really love about the Grayton area is that it is realitively protected...No through traffic. Most of the roads are paved with respectful drivers who travel at a slow pace. I get out several times a day and just cruise in my wheelchair and I love it. Roads that aren't pave are packed sand with hard pack and easily manuverable in a chair. The ramps to the beach often have a 1-2 foot expanse of sand. I have learded through frequent trips to Grayton the best and easiest solution is to send my husband to buy a small slab of plywood to bridge the gap. FYI the hard/ soft aspect of the beach sand is determined by whether there has been rain or not. Rain...firm; no rain ..soft and fluffy. The creek out of Western lake runs by Grayton beach and creates the prettiest tidepool. That sand is always firmer. Also...the residents and owners of property at Grayton can buy permits to drive their cars on the beach. These fabulous people have transported me on more than one occasion back and forth from the beach. We go every Thanksgiving..This year we have a house with an unobstructed view of the ocean. I go to Hibiscus as often as I can...I love the place and the people. The owner is a great woman named Cheri. She goes out of her way to make you comfortable. Check it out and maybe I'll see you on the Grayton boardwalk for the most beautiful sunset...

 

[Smiling JOe]

Paula, closer to your house than the other accesses mentioned, is the public access at Inlet beach at the end of South Orange St, located about three blocks east of the eastern end of 30A. Parking for maybe 40 vehicles, three public accesses, water spigot, one portajohn, lifeguard stationed, and the middle access has a ramp down to the beach.

 

[Matt J]

Paula, closer to your house than the other accesses mentioned, is the public access at Inlet beach at the end of South Orange St, located about three blocks east of the eastern end of 30A. Parking for maybe 40 vehicles, three public accesses, water spigot, one portajohn, lifeguard stationed, and the middle access has a ramp down to the beach.

Isn't it still on a bluff stairs?

 

[BeachSiO2]

Paula, closer to your house than the other accesses mentioned, is the public access at Inlet beach at the end of South Orange St, located about three blocks east of the eastern end of 30A. Parking for maybe 40 vehicles, three public accesses, water spigot, one portajohn, lifeguard stationed, and the middle access has a ramp down to the beach.

Isn't it still on a bluff stairs?

SJ is right. It is the closest one to Inlet, but only the middle one at S. Orange. You might be thinking about the other two at the Inlet Beach Regional Access, or the ones at the S. end of Wall Street or Winston Lane. Parking will accommodate over 100 though.

Here's the link to County/TDC accesses and the map shows the amenities. Just note the restroom at BMB isn't quite open yet. SJ accurately mentioned the amenities at Inlet.

http://www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com/accesses.asp

 

[Smiling JOe]

Isn't it still on a bluff stairs?

No stairs on the middle of the three public access there, but I will note that the portajohn isn't a handicapped version. Maybe it should be, if they are going to have one, and say that it is a handicapped access. ;-)

Here's a pic of the ramp to the beach. Now, getting past the shoes is another matter. Most people think the landing is a shoe locker. If we could just teach people some basics.