Throwback Thursday: 1989 Leland incorporation, Pleasure Island debate, and Ninja Turtles in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — This week’s Throwback Thursday revisits a period of rapid growth and cultural change across the Cape Fear region in June 1989, including the push to incorporate a fast-growing community, a debate over coastal identity, and a Hollywood production that brought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Wilmington.

In Brunswick County, residents of what is now Leland were working toward incorporation as the community continued to grow and develop. At the time, some residents said forming an official town would bring more local control and funding for services and development.

“The community’s growing, and then there’s a lot of child abuse going on with this crack and whatnot and stuff like that in the area,” one resident said in a 1989 report.

“I think there would probably be a lot of changes that would help the community,” another resident said.

Leland was officially incorporated on September 12, 1989. Today, it is the largest municipality in Brunswick County.

Also in 1989, residents of Carolina and Kure Beach were discussing efforts to officially recognize the name “Pleasure Island” on maps, reflecting the region’s identity as a tourism destination.

“I like the idea of Pleasure Island. It’s a pleasurable place to live. I’ve lived here for nine years now, and it is a pleasure,” one resident said.

Finally, Wilmington was in the early stages of a major film production when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie began filming in the area. Casting was underway for villain roles, drawing more than 100 hopefuls competing for a limited number of parts.

“I’d probably jump up and hit my head on the ceiling,” one auditioning actor said about the possibility of being cast.

The segment is part of a weekly Throwback Thursday series that features stories from WWAY’s historical news archives. That archive can be accessed here.