Letter to the Editor: "Hospitality" of a Sneads Ferry Business

Submitted by Patricia S.

The area including Topsail Beach, Sneads Ferry, Surf City is a wonderful place to vacation!  I have visited many times.  

Unfortunately, you have a privately owned business in Sneads Ferry that seems to be doing its best to insult and alienate visitors. That business is Topsail Shores Inn on HWY 210 in Sneads Ferry. I believe it is family owned and claims to offer Southern Hospitality to their guests. 

Here is my account of the "hospitality" I experienced upon checking out on Labor Day Monday, September 1, 2025:

After staying for 1 night to attend a family member's birthday party, I was loading the car with my sister starting at 10:40am in anticipation of the 11:00am checkout time. My sister and I are both severely disabled. She uses a can to walk when she doesn't have her wheelchair, and I use a mobility scooter. I was using my scooter to help me carry items to the car.  There was no access to our room, so I had to scooter to the end of the building to use the ramp to get back on the sidewalk and to access my room.  The manager was talking to guests next door who were also loading and checking out.   As I am back at the car loading, he stood in front of my car and held up his phone.  He mumbled something and I asked him to repeat.  He said you have 1 minute to check out.  I'm wondering how I can possibly make that happen, when his phone alarm went off and he said, "It's 11 o'clock, I'll have to charge you for another night." 

I was staring in unbelief. I told him I could not afford another night, and I could give him the keys right then. It was 11:04am when we closed the door and attempted to give the keys to the office person (his wife, I believe). The manager stood outside and continued berating me that I should have better time management. I told him we were both disabled and asked why he had not offered to help us load the car. He said that he has an 80-year-old woman who has had both knees replaced and had not missed a day of work in the past year. He then said that she has a good work ethic. I told him that I did not have to tell him about my disability. I was made to feel that I was being compared to her and that what I deal with every day is inconsequential.   

By 2:15pm, I had a charge of $154.00 on my debit card.  That is money I need for gas, groceries, and medicine! Such an abusive man!  

I am sure that he does not reflect the way the other businesses in your area treat visitors!  He does not deserve to be in business!   

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