Algier Willis Camps and Ferry

Algier Willis Camp and Ferry

“Algier Willis Camp”—Algier Willis operated a vehicle/passenger ferry between Davis, N.C. and the Great Island area in Core Banks where he also provided overnight accommodations for fishermen in one five-plex and two duplex structures (297 overnight stays there) and supported an additional 50 structures held by individuals. In 1976, he transported 865 visitors and 89 vehicles to his camps.

Willis operated two boats —a six-person passenger ferry and a vessel for transporting vehicles.  The five-ples structure was “above standard relative to other structures found in the ‘fish camps’ on core Banks.  His son, Glen, built a sturdy dock to streamline their ferry service.  The numerous abandoned vehicles ddi create an aesthetic and safety problem in that area.

In 1976, Algier Wills was in his 70s but was still active in the daily operations.  He had operated his camp and ferry for over 30 years and had built up a clientele composed primarily of fishermen at his  rental structures or their own “fishing cottages”.  Permits for all of these structures were slated to expire November 30, 1977.

Ammie Willis had the first camps in the Great Island /Shingle Point area for hunting and fishing. Sterling Dixon established his camps in 1949 and Alger Willis and Marvin Murphy began their camps soon after. When Sterling Dixon and Marvin Murphy died, Alger eventually took charge of their concession there. Preceding Alger, E.G. Hamilton carried on the Dixon camps for a while before they were replaced by the Park concession of newer and standardized camps with support facilities.