800 Acres on Highway 70 East and Highway 101, Beaufort, NC
$7,500,000
Property Description / Location
This property is an 800 acre parcel located in Carteret County, NC, north of the Town of Beaufort. The tract is divided into approximately 340 acres of farmland, approximately 320 acres of woodland and the remaining approximately 140 acres tidal salt marsh. The property is owned by Wysocking Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc. (herein afterwards referred to as Wysocking), a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of wildlife. Wysocking has been in operation since 2007 and is based in Engelhard, NC. Wysocking has approximately 7,500 acres of conservation land assets in Hyde County. This asset is being liquidated in favor of the Hyde County core conservation land assets. This tract has not been encumbered by any owner enacted conservation easements.
​
The property joins two major roads in the area. Highway 70 abuts the parcel to the southeast and Highway 101 abuts the tract on the west. Highway 70 follows the southeast portion of the southern property line and is the only route serving the Down East communities.
Zoning / Environment
The property is under Carteret County administrative jurisdiction and is currently zoned R15M. This zoning classification allows residential development on 15,000 SF lots where water and sewer are available. Public water is available; however, the property is not currently served by sewer. If development is proposed on septic tanks, that will require 20,000 SF lots.
The owners are presently having a soil scientist study the property for a wastewater treatment system. serviced by a centralized wastewater drain field. The permitting of this system is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2026. Soils are predominately classified as fine sandy loam consistency, with Deloss, Araphoe and Tomotley being the dominant map units of the parcel. The tract has various flood zone classifications on different portions of the property.
Community
The Town of Beaufort was incorporated in 1723 and is the fourth oldest Town in North Carolina. Beaufort is the county seat of Carteret County. Historically, Beaufort was a colonial seaport and capitalizes on that unique history, with waterfront marinas and cultural celebrations surrounding artifacts and historical events. The Town of Beaufort has the Michael J. Smith Airport, waterfront hotels, the NC Maritime Museum, along with high-end shopping and other amenities. These venues attract an affluent clientele seeking the laid-back, relaxed Beaufort lifestyle.
The Town of Beaufort is the elder entity in a closely connected group cities and communities that include the Town of Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Salter Path, Emerald Isle and the Town of Newport.
The Town of Morehead City is home to one of the two NC State Ports and hosts the hugely popular Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament that occurs in the early summer. The Town of Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Salter Path and Emerald Isle are oceanfront vacation spots. Atlantic Beach and Bogue Banks are also the home of historical Fort Macon that overlooks Beaufort Inlet.
In addition, the subject property anchors the entrance to the Down East fishing communities of Bettie, Otway, Gloucester, Straits, Harker's Island, Marshalberg, Smyrna, Williston, Davis, Stacy, Sea Level, and Atlantic. The Down East area terminates in the community of Cedar Island at the Cedar Island to Ocracoke Ferry Terminal.
Down East includes the Cape Lookout National Seashore with the historical Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Core Banks beaches, along with Core Sound, with its hunting, fishing and other sporting activities. The Outer Banks Scenic Byway designation begins adjacent to the property and includes all the major roads of the Down East communities. The Outer Banks Scenic Byway extends from the subject property to Whalebone Junction in Nags Head on the Outer Banks in Dare County.
The recent NC Department of Transportation completion of the Beaufort By-Pass, and new Grayden Paul Bridge crossing the Newport River, took the Town of Beaufort off the beaten path and contributes to the quiet, peaceful character of the Town. Since completion of the By-Pass, Beaufort has been undergoing a development renaissance. Numerous “deadwood” properties are being redeveloped within the Town, with new buildings that give nod to the characteristic indigenous Beaufort architecture.
​
An interesting real estate fact is that properties with a Beaufort address command a significantly higher value than similar comparable properties in neighboring communities. A measurable preference is being shown by incoming buyers to the 28516 zip code.
Current Transportation Situation
Highway 70 is the primary four-lane route to the Town of Beaufort at this time. Highway 70 enters the county from the west and is routed through the Morehead City business district for several miles before reaching the Town of Beaufort. The entry into Beaufort is from the Morehead City/Beaufort Causeway, over the Grayden Paul (high rise) Bridge. Highway 70 has several major out-of-county improvements to the west, both completed and underway, necessary to improve the connection of the Morehead City State Port to the major transportation arteries of the State.
​
Conclusion
The subject property, with its large acreage, is positioned to profit from this unique coastal setting and property conditions.