A general round-trip ticket on the Bald Head Island ferry costs $23 this fall. Children 3 to 12 ride for $12, and a same-day "no-frills" round trip without tram or luggage service costs $14. The $23 fare comes from a 2010 rate case before the North Carolina Utilities Commission. In October of that year, StarNews reported a settlement raising the general fare from $16 to $23 starting the following year. The ferry operator's own 2022 testimony said fares had gone up only once since 1993, in that 2010 case.
For a buyer adding up what it costs to own on the island, that history matters more than the ticket price. The fare stayed flat because a regulator set it and parking revenue has helped cover the difference. A public authority is now negotiating to buy the whole system, and its leaders have said in writing that a one-time fare increase is needed for the purchase to work.
What getting to the island costs this fall
Every trip to a Bald Head Island home starts at Deep Point in Southport. Ferry, parking, and barge charges are part of owning there, even though they never appear on a listing sheet. As of October 2026, the published rates are:
| Item | Current rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry, general round trip | $23 | Set in the 2010 rate case |
| Ferry, ages 3 to 12 | $12 | Ages 2 and under ride free with a ticket |
| Deep Point daily parking, General Lot | $13 | Effective January 1, 2025 |
| Deep Point daily parking, Contractor Lot | $11 | Effective January 1, 2025 |
| 2026 annual pass, Premium | $1,540 | Valid Jan. 2, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027 |
| 2026 annual pass, General | $1,260 | Same validity period |
| 2026 annual pass, Contractor | $745 | No overnight parking in contractor lot |
| Barge deck space | $60 | One six-foot allotment, one round trip |
Parking has gone up a little at a time. In the operator's 2022 testimony, the General Lot day rate was $12, and the only increases since 2009 had been $1 steps in 2019 and 2021. At $13 a day, the $1,260 General pass pays for itself at about 97 days of parking. The ferry fare hasn't changed at all in that time.
A fare held in place by the parking lot
The ferry has carried its losses for a long time. In the 2010 case, StarNews reported that Bald Head Island Transportation said the service had operated at a loss since 1999. Port City Daily later reported a $500,000 loss in 2016, a figure it attributed to Bald Head Island Limited's CEO.
Parking fills the gap, and the regulator writes that into its numbers. When the Utilities Commission approved the 2023 transfer order, it required $523,725 a year in parking revenue to keep counting toward the ferry and tram's revenue requirement. In other words, the money a regulated fare has to cover is reduced by revenue from cars parked at Deep Point.
The Bald Head Island Transportation Authority, known as BHITA, put it more bluntly at a May 18, 2026 public forum. Its presentation says the ferry "has run consistent operating losses" and "has been subsidized by revenue from parking and by capital investments by the Mitchells." It describes the barge and the parking operation as profitable. The same presentation says consumer prices have risen 52 percent since December 2010 and that operating costs have "increased substantially" since the last rate case. Its conclusion reads:
"A one-time increase in ferry fares is required for the ferry – and the system as a whole - to be financially feasible."
Why a public purchase changes who sets the price
Today the passenger ferry and tram are public utilities regulated by the Utilities Commission. A fare change takes a rate case, and the forum presentation calls rate cases "costly." That cost and the slow process are a big part of why $23 has lasted so long.
A purchase by BHITA would change who sets the price. The 2017 law that created the authority takes ferry service in its area out of Utilities Commission jurisdiction. Under that law, the authority sets its own rates, fees, and charges and gives at least 30 days' public notice before changing them. On the day it takes over, it starts with the same rates, routes, and schedules already in place.
The forum presentation lays out what would come next. In 2027, the authority would decide on a one-time increase "based on financial feasibility modeling and public consultation." After that, ferry, barge, and parking rates would rise no faster than inflation, with possible temporary fuel adjustments up or down. The only figure on record is from the authority's earlier attempt: its 2020 model assumed a 20 percent increase. At today's $23, a 20 percent increase would come to about $27.60. No new fare has been proposed or adopted.
The way the deal is paid for explains why the fare matters so much. Under the earlier plan, revenue bonds would have been repaid only from system revenue, meaning tickets, barge charges, and parking. The 2026 presentation says the system "must generate net operating revenue sufficient to service the debt, build reserves, and make necessary infrastructure improvements." It also lists the capital needs: a new ferry vessel that was planned for 2022 or 2023, an aging barge called the Brandon Russell, uncovered waiting areas, and parking that runs short at Deep Point on peak days. The authority plans to lease the land and terminals instead of buying them, which it says means "our bond issue would be much smaller." Lease payments still have to be paid every year, though, and the riders crossing the river are the main source of that money.
The barge is the other half of the cost
The ferry fare is what a buyer sees. Construction and renovation costs depend more on the barge, and the barge is regulated differently. In October 2024, the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that the Utilities Commission could regulate the sale of the parking operation but erred in treating the "non-utility Barge Operations" as ancillary to the ferry. Carolina Journal reported the decision. BHITA's 2026 presentation describes the barge as "entirely unregulated." It says the Commission's role in parking rates is "limited and somewhat unclear."
There is a limit on paper. In its 2023 transfer order, the Commission capped combined parking and barge rate increases at CPI-U inflation for six years after closing, whether or not its jurisdiction ruling held up on appeal. The six years run from closing, and the transportation system sale to SharpVue has not closed. That means the cap has no calendar end date anyone can point to yet.
Village rules add their own costs at the landing. New permit fees for gas-powered vehicles, collected through the barge office, took effect July 1, 2026. They run from $40 a day or $250 a year for vehicles under 15 feet up to $500 a day or $4,500 a year for vehicles 33 feet and longer. On September 23, the Village Council held a first reading of trailer rules that would set a 21-foot length limit and separate width limits for trailers with external wheels and for deck-over trailers. Council made no decision and sent staff back to review contractor input. For anyone pricing a renovation, the barge and the trailer rules shape what contractors bring to the island and what they charge for it.
Where the purchase stands in October 2026
This is the authority's second try at buying the system:
- July 2017. The legislature creates BHITA with an 11-member board.
- December 2020. BHITA approves a $47.75 million purchase. Coastal Review reported that the bond approval never reached the Local Government Commission's agenda after valuation concerns.
- 2022. SharpVue Capital agrees to buy the transportation assets for $56 million as part of a $67.7 million package. SharpVue has since closed only on the Deep Point barge landing, which it leases back to Bald Head Island Transportation.
- December 2025. Bald Head Island Limited, Bald Head Island Transportation, BHITA, and SharpVue sign a memorandum of understanding to explore ownership options.
- September 16, 2026. A BHITA status report says the draft purchase agreement is under legal review. The price and land lease terms are still open, and lender requests are waiting on alignment with Local Government Commission staff.
- End of November 2026. Target for presenting the final agreement to the BHITA board, with financing and regulatory requests to be filed by year-end.
The public record doesn't line up on one point. According to the Village's September 23 meeting recap, a BHITA board member told Council that "negotiations have not started yet." The authority's report from a week earlier describes discussions with the seller and landlord as active. The recap also says the authority plans to launch a website and send monthly reports to the Village agenda packet. Those reports are the clearest place to see when a fare decision gets close.
Frequently asked questions
Has a ferry fare increase been approved? No. BHITA has said a one-time increase would be needed after a purchase, set in 2027 through financial modeling and public consultation. No amount has been proposed.
Would fares change the day a sale closes? Under the 2017 law, the authority starts with the rates in effect on the day it takes over. After that, it must give at least 30 days' public notice before changing them.
Who owns the system today? Bald Head Island Transportation owns and operates the ferries and trams. Bald Head Island Limited owns and runs the barge and parking, except for the Deep Point barge landing, which SharpVue owns.
On Bald Head Island, every closing comes with a ferry ticket, a parking pass, and barge fees for any contractor who works on the house. The Suzanne O'Bryant Group follows the transportation authority's monthly reports along with the market itself. If you're weighing an island purchase or planning a renovation, we're glad to go through what crossing the river costs today and what is still being decided.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
