Retiring on the Cape Fear

Clip clopping gingerly down the street, a mammoth sized Percheron draft horse passes by, as a jovial faced coachman loosely holds the reins and guides a covered carriage full of happy passengers. This isn't a scene from a story book. But an everyday occurrence in the heart of downtown Wilmington. In this episode we speak with John Pucci, owner and operator of Springbrook Farms, the fine folks that bring us the horse drawn trolley and carriage tours. As seen in Southern Living   magazine, these tours offer a unique adventure along the riverfront and past stately mansions of historic Wilmington with rescued horses. Springbrook Farms, Inc. is committed to rescuing as many abused and unwanted Percheron draft horses from the uncertain fate of the auction block as possible. They have been saving horses since 1987 and are very proud to have saved 18 Percheron draft horses so far. Their goal is to provide the horses with the best care and lifestyle possible. And thanks to the tour customers, it provides them the means to save more horses.John, shares the charming story about how a surprise carriage ride with his new bride on their wedding day thirty-six years ago in Ohio was the unintentional kick-start of their career. After working with a horse drawn tour company in Pittsburgh for a while, they decided to strike out on their own. Being one of the few southern cities with historic buildings intact, they decided their horse tours would be a perfect addition to downtown.John also talks about what you can expect on one of their daily tours, themed holiday carriage rides, private carriages and their special event offerings.Check out this episode and make plans to experience downtown like you would have 150 years ago with Horsedrawn Tours Wilmington, NC. Located right where market street meets the Cape Fear River right in the heart of Downtown Wilmington. For more information call 910 251-8889or email horsedrawntours@hotmail.com. Enjoy the Podcast!Check out our website https://retiringonthecapefear.com/ for resources you heard about in our podcast and to learn more about our show's host and mission.

Clip clopping gingerly down the street, a mammoth sized Percheron draft horse passes by, as a jovial faced coachman loosely holds the reins and guides a covered carriage full of happy passengers. This isn’t a scene from a story book. But an everyday occurrence in the heart of downtown Wilmington.  In this episode we speak with John Pucci, owner and operator of Springbrook Farms, the fine folks that bring us the horse drawn trolley and carriage tours. As seen in Southern Living magazine, these tours offer a unique adventure along the riverfront and past stately mansions of historic Wilmington with rescued horses. Springbrook Farms, Inc. is committed to rescuing as many abused and unwanted Percheron draft horses from the uncertain fate of the auction block as possible. They have been saving horses since 1987 and are very proud to have saved 18 Percheron draft horses so far. Their goal is to provide the horses with the best care and lifestyle possible. And thanks to the tour customers, it provides them the means to save more horses. John, shares the charming story about how a surprise carriage ride with his new bride on their wedding day thirty-six years ago in Ohio was the unintentional kick-start of their career. After working with a horse drawn tour company in Pittsburgh for a while, they decided to strike out on their own. Being one of the few southern cities with historic buildings intact, they decided their horse tours would be a perfect addition to downtown. John also talks about what you can expect on one of their daily tours, themed holiday carriage rides, private carriages and their special event offerings.Check out this episode and make plans to experience downtown like you would have 150 years ago with Horsedrawn Tours Wilmington, NC. Located right where market street meets the Cape Fear River right in the heart of Downtown Wilmington. For more information call 910 251-8889 or email horsedrawntours@hotmail.com. Enjoy the Podcast!

In this very first installment of Retiring on the Cape Fear, we speak with Doug Springer, owner of Wilmington Water Tours. Doug and his wife founded Wilmington Water Tours, so they could share the rich history and beauty of this region. Once a bustling harbor, did you know our port city used to be the main economic engine in the state of North Carolina? Possible, in no small part, because of the Cape Fear River, the largest navigable river in the state. During colonial times, goods, produce, and naval supplies, including turpentine, rosin, tar and pitch were sent down river to be exported, while manufactured goods were imported and sent north. And that's just the beginning!Their passion for sharing stories such as these lead to acquiring “The Wilmington,” a state-of-the-art, fully enclosed and handicapped accessible motorized catamaran. This delightful watercraft can accommodate up to 49 passengers. Now in their 10th year of operation, they offer a wide range of daily tours, kids activities, sunset trips with live music, private events and much more! They even have a water taxi called the Bizzy Bee that takes passengers to four major stops along the Cape Fear River, including the Battleship North Carolina.Whether you're looking for a quiet getaway, eco-tours and water excursions, or exciting nightlife, the Greater Wilmington area offers it all and you can experience it from the water on Wilmington Water Tours! Check them out at https://wilmingtonwatertours.net/. In the meantime, enjoy the podcast! Doug shares the story of how he started all those years ago by leaving the corporate world behind and putting his 6 passenger vacation boat to work. We also talk about the special history of the river including one of the oldest shipwrecks on the east coast, the rich ecology, and how a historical themed riverwalk on Eagle's Island from the Battleship to Cape Fear Memorial Bridge could bring in a ton of tourism and a resurgence to that area.Check out our website https://retiringonthecapefear.com/ for resources you heard about in our podcast and to learn more about our show's host and mission.

In this very first installment of Retiring on the Cape Fear, we speak with Doug Springer, owner of Wilmington Water Tours. Doug and his wife founded Wilmington Water Tours, so they could share the rich history and beauty of this region.