Since 1800 when it was built as the summer residence of Benjamin Smith, founder of Smithville (Southport) and tenth governor of North Carolina, this Federal-style mansion has looked out over the mouth of the Cape Fear River, the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. It served as summer residence for Governor Dudley as well. In 1856 the top two floors were rebuilt by Thomas Meares, owner of Orton Plantation around the time of the Civil War.

In 1997 Jim and Judy Clary purchased the building and went to work restoring it to its previous grandeur, including preserving the original heart-pine floors, the plaster ceiling moldings, the cathedral shaped pocket doors, the Southport bows over the door and window casings, and the nine working fireplaces. Judy chose rich, vibrant colors that set off the spacious rooms and play up the interesting architecture. In the middle of the dining room stands a huge antique table, handmade in the mountains, above which hangs a crystal chandelier dropping from the second-floor ceiling, through the rotunda. This is where the full, home-cooked, gourmet breakfasts, including homemade pastries, are normally served. Some mornings, though, breakfast is served in the cozy working kitchen in front of the fireplace.

Each beautifully decorated guest room has a private bath and contains a working fireplace for which the proprietors provide a Duraflame log. A well-stocked library, a parlor and an observatory, including telescope, are all available to guests. Afternoon hors d'oeuvre and wine are served, and guests are encouraged to spend some time on the veranda watching the passing scene.

You will be welcomed by Lizzie Lou, the Sunshine Girl (the resident cat). Don't be spooked by Tony, the whimsical resident ghost who sometimes makes his presence known. Tony was a harpist who played at the inn when balls were common occurrences. He drowned in a boating accident off Bald Head Island in 1882 and has made the inn his home since! More recently, Charles Bronson slept here. The Brunswick Inn was used in the making of several movies, including Summer Catch with Freddie Printz, Jr., The Wedding with Halle Berry and Pirate Kids.

Owned and operated by fourth-generation descendants of the original owner, this beautifully restored 1892 home is near the old harbor pilot's tower and overlooks the mouth of the Cape Fear River. It is a quiet getaway within easy walking distance of Southport's restaurants, river walk, shops and museums. Porches on the river side of the building are ideal for rocking away the time. Two rooms with private baths and two with a shared bath have queen-size, four-poster beds and period furnishings that have been part of the home for years. Rooms to the front of the inn have expansive river views and access to the second floor balcony. Every morning hot coffee is placed in the upstairs hallway followed by a full Southern-style breakfast in the dining room. Afternoon wine and cheese is a nice way to end the day. Special breakfast arrangements can be made with advance notice. Those interested in a bit more privacy might inquire about the Queen Deluxe Suite. Cancellations require a 72-hour notice for refunds.

In 2008 the Robert Ruark Inn opened its doors in the very house where the author spent a good bit of his childhood — his maternal grandfather's home. This elegant, Victorian-style inn offers four rooms, all with private baths and flat-screen TVs. The Captain Adkins Room features seafaring decor and a private balcony. The Robert Ruark Room is decorated to reflect his adventures in Africa. In Charlotte's Room you will find an original stained-glass lancet window. The first-floor Virginia's Room contains a four-poster bed and a gas fireplace. Breakfast may be served in the dining room or on the garden veranda. Located in downtown Southport, the inn is within walking distance of shopping and dining and is surrounded by the natural beauty of the area..