With 'elegant Top Golf,' Brunswick builder plans to revitalize resort to rival Pinehurst

Robert Hill, co-owner of Riptide Builders, is excited about the future of Sea Trail.

For more than two years, he has been working with the town of Sunset Beach to get approval for a master development plan for 22 tracts totaling about 130 acres in Sea Trail. That approval was granted by the town council in a special meeting last month.

It was approved through conditional zoning, and while Hill noted it “was a long time coming,” he praised the work of the planning board for what he called “a fantastic job.”

“The project came out nicer than when it went in,” he said.

Now, he’s ready to get to work. This fall, Hill said he, along with a group of investors, will purchase the Maples, Byrd, and Jones golf courses and their clubhouses. They plan to renovate them and create a resort that will rival Pinehurst. In addition to the golf course upgrades, the master development plan will include new construction with commercial and multi-family uses.

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One of the biggest projects in the plan is a condo project with 450 units that will be part of a rental program for golf packages.

“It will be a huge benefit to all of the golf courses in southern Brunswick County,” he said.

He added visitors will likely play many of the nearby courses, as well as the ones at Sea Trail.

Other projects include a driving range and a golf practice facility with Top Tracer technology, the same technology used by popular golf entertainment venue Top Golf. But Hill said this facility will be a “country club-style, elegant Top Golf” for avid golfers. However, Hill added after golfing hours, the three-story facility with 26 bays could be used for entertainment.

Also included in the plans is a 150-room hotel with a maximum height of 50 feet. Hill said while they have had some conversations with major hotel brands, he believes the best fit is a boutique-style hotel that’s “experience-driven.” But he noted no final decision has been made.

The master plan also incorporates other commercial areas, and there are plans for restaurants, entertainment venues, and a golf cart rental facility.

Hill said the approval of the master development plan continues a revitalization effort that is already underway. Sea Trail Investments LLC, a sister company of Riptide Builders, purchased a portion of the development earlier this year, including the Sea Trail Convention Center. The facility, which once hosted a variety of events, including weddings, reunions, charity balls, and corporate events, has been closed for several years. But that will soon change.

After acquiring the 40,000-square-foot facility, Hill said they began a major renovation project that included installing a new roof, replacing several HVAC units, replacing ceiling tiles, landscaping, and extensive upgrades to the lobby and restroom facilities. Hill expects the project will be completed in 30 to 45 days, but the convention center may not open until later this fall. Hill said they want to ensure staffing is in place and things are running smoothly.

Riptide Builders has been working to revitalize Sea Trail since July 2020. Past projects have included remodeling the Maples Activity Center, beautifying the entry walls, landscaping the grounds around the community chapel, installing new ornamental signage, completing multiple landscaping projects, stormwater repairs, and a major renovation of the “pink palace” that includes the addition of a new 10-15 person in-ground spa, a remodeled pool, and a three-piece paver pool deck.

Hill looks forward to continuing the revitalization of Sea Trail by making it a place where guests can check in and access everything they need without having to leave the facility.

“Our goal for Sea Trail is to make it a top-of-the-line resort,” he said.

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This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Sunset Beach builder's plans for Sea Trail include a hotel and condos