The historic Wrightsville Beach resort emerges from dramatic renovations creating an enhanced guest experience with modern and locally-inspired spaces, new food and beverage concepts, and curated programming.
Trailborn, one of the fastest-growing brands in outdoor hospitality acclaimed for its beautifully designed boutique hotels, destination dining and bars, and curated experiences in extraordinary locations, announced the official opening of Trailborn Surf & Sound, a revitalized property creating a new hospitality landmark in one of the country’s best surf towns. Marking the brand’s fourth property, Trailborn Surf & Sound has emerged as an exceptional waterfront escape, featuring breathtaking ocean and sound views from every room and direct access to a variety of water activities along with curated programming and brand-new food and beverage concepts, including La Duna Paradiso, a destination restaurant serving seafood and house-made pasta; Bar Duna, the hotel’s lobby bar and gathering point for drinks and light bites; and a new beach and poolside retreat, Blockade Surf Bar featuring frozen drinks and tropical cocktails alongside a menu of comfort foods.
Upgraded Public Spaces and Guest Rooms
As part of Trailborn’s extensive renovations, the team worked with the award-winning design firm, Post Company, to breathe new life into the public spaces, guest rooms, and food and beverage concepts to create an on-property experience deeply inspired by Wrightsville Beach and the hotel’s unparalleled location. Renovation highlights include a refreshed arrival, with the exterior enhanced by white brick accents and Juliet balconies offering stunning views of the coastline and sound. A new wood-accented entryway with a minimal wood and stone-clad desk warmly greets guests as they arrive at the hotel. The property’s dynamic lobby space is furnished with an abundance of comfortable seating areas, spanning French doors leading to the beach, and artwork inspired by the surrounding coast and beach town. The lobby serves as the heart of the on-property experience and channels guests to the hotel’s extensive boardwalk and the property grounds’ expansive lawn and beautifully landscaped gardens – where guests can enjoy curated programming exclusively offered by Trailborn. The lobby’s new retail market serves as a brand new storefront that brings the property’s eclectic and playful spirit to life with thoughtfully curated items like goods from North Carolina brands such as Big Spoon Roasters, Carolina Chips, and local beer brands, as well as limited edition merchandise and custom frisbees and pool and toys. Each of the 151 guest rooms has undergone a meticulous redesign intended to encourage relaxation after a day in the sun, and all include either full balconies opening up to the ocean or picturesque Juliet balconies providing views of both the ocean and sound sides. Inspired by the maritime location, rooms feature rattan-accented benches, ceilings with blue detailing, blue-hued tile flooring in the spacious bathrooms, a subtle wave motif at the minibar, and locally curated artwork.
New Food & Beverage Concepts
Trailborn Surf & Sound will unveil a variety of new dining options opening this spring that will serve as new spaces for travelers and locals to gather and enjoy seaside dining. Guests will be able to indulge in Italian and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine at La Duna Paradiso, the resort’s destination restaurant, featuring fresh seafood and house-made pasta. Menu highlights will include Grilled Prawns with lemon, olive oil, and red pepper crema; Bucatini Carbonara with double-smoked bacon; and Halibut served with creamy polenta, Brussels sprouts, squash, and sage brown butter. The restaurant’s beverage program reflects the heritage of the cuisine, with a variety of Old World wines and aperitifs. The vibrant atmosphere, adorned with natural materials, patterned fabrics, oak floors, patinated leather, and ocean views, creates the perfect backdrop for festive brunches and dinners. For events and gatherings, La Duna Paradiso will also include La Costa, a private dining room capable of seating groups of up to 14.
Bar Duna, the hotel’s forthcoming lobby bar, will offer both bar and lounge seating and serve as a perfect spot to grab a coffee or pastry in the morning, take a break from the sun for a casual lunch in the afternoon, or have a laid back cocktail before or after dinner. Bar Duna is a centerpiece of the hotel experience – a nexus between restaurant and lobby, guest and community, detail and style. The space will feature a wooden bar detailed with tile and a surrounding lounge space outfitted with brass accents, textured terracotta flooring, vintage armchairs, ceramic wall sconces, natural leather lounge chairs, plush seating, and wood wall paneling to impart a sense of warmth and timeless design meant to look better with age as the space is frequented over time.
The property’s renovated Blockade Surf Bar, a nod to the previous resort, will serve a selection of crowd-pleasing bites and dishes for lunch and dinner, along with a full bar featuring a selection of tropical cocktails, frozen drinks, and a selection of local beers on draft. One of the few bars in Wrightsville Beach offering direct beach access, Blockade Surf Bar is an ideally situated conduit between the resort and beach welcoming all who are looking for a respite from the sun, a social gathering spot, to refuel with delicious food and drinks, or even catch a game on the bar’s flatscreen TV. The space was created to encourage effortless poolside dining and libating that perfectly pairs with new, ultra-comfortable reservable cabanas, pool loungers, ample bar seating, and lounge areas perfect for groups to gather and enjoy ocean views.
New Experiential Offerings
Central to the Trailborn experience and to ensure guests can make the most of Wrightsville Beach, Trailborn Surf & Sound provides a variety of exclusive experiences and programming, such as surf lessons, boat cruises, fishing trips, and sailboat, surfboard, paddleboard, and kayak rentals. At the resort, guests can also rent complimentary bikes or reserve pool cabanas, beach chairs and umbrellas. The property will also host a variety of events for guests and locals, such as live music, yoga, bonfires and s’mores, beachside barbecues, and culinary events. For families, Trailborn Surf & Sound hosts kids’ programming like treasure hunts and partners with North Carolina Aquariums on an educational series. A pillar of the Trailborn brand’s commitment to sustainability through its “Keep Extraordinary” initiative, the property will donate a portion of every direct stay booked on trailborn.com to the NC Coastal Federation to support the organization’s efforts on cleaning coastal waters, living shorelines, thriving oysters, effective coastal management, and marine debris removal.
Enhanced Event Spaces & Capabilities
Trailborn Surf & Sound included newly updated event venues, including The Tides Ballroom with capabilities to host up to 200 guests; the Sunset and Sunrise Rooms which can be adjusted to accommodate various meeting sizes; The Great Lawn providing an airy setting for cocktails parties, team building events, wedding ceremonies, and seated dinners; and the Promenade which can host versatile outdoor events next to the property’s oceanfront gardens. Across the street, Soundside provides an intimate lawn and dock for additional gatherings, as well as access to private cruises and water activities. For event inquiries, please visit the property’s wedding inquiries or meetings inquiries pages.
Trailborn Surf & Sound signals the next step forward for the historic property, which has existed since 1897. The property has seen several chapters, from initially opening as the Seashore Hotel, then reopening as the Ocean Terrace Hotel in the mid-1900s, and most recently, operating as the Blockade Runner Beach Resort. Throughout each iteration, the hotel has continued to rise as a top destination for locals and travelers. The debut of Trailborn Surf & Sound marks a new era for the hotel that celebrates the charm of its past while introducing modern luxury, elevated design, and an upgraded experience for both guests and locals. Trailborn Surf & Sound is located 15 minutes from Wilmington International Airport (with direct flights from cities including New York City, Miami, and Atlanta) and downtown Wilmington, and approximately a 2.5-hour drive from the Raleigh-Durham area, making it the perfect getaway for beach lovers returning to Wrightsville Beach or looking to explore a new destination.
Visit www.trailborn.com/surf-sound for more information, book a hotel reservation, or to sign up for emails, and follow Trailborn Surf & Sound and La Duna Paradiso on Instagram. Stay current with the Trailborn brand on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Trailborn’s latest curated playlists can also be found on Spotify.
Hotel website
Trailborn Surf & Sound275 Waynick BlvdWrightsville Beach, NC 28480United States
+1 866-884-5781
