See you at Bill’s! Capt’n Bill’s Backyard Grill is a restaurant that serves beer and has sand volleyball courts. This is your next must-see stop when in the Wilmington, North Carolina area with its one-of-a-kind facility.
This hidden gem offers fun for all ages with three bars available, craft beer, delicious food, and plenty of courts to play volleyball on year-round.
Capt’n Bill’s is also a filming location for the hit show The Summer I Turned Pretty. Gavin Casalegno, who plays Jeremiah in the show, frequents Capt’n Bill’s and plays on the courts.
If you have a single extroverted bone in your body, you’ll make friends within the first two visits.
Gavin Casalegno
What is Capt’n Bill’s?
The Musser family opened their facility originally as a seafood restaurant over 30 years ago but decided to add volleyball courts in the open space behind their restaurant in the ’90s.
In the 2010s, the family created Bill’s Brewing Co., using the front building on their property to include a taproom in addition to their restaurant and courts.
Capt’n Bill’s recently underwent some renovations, so their Cabana bar in the center of the sand courts turned into two additional courts.
In turn, they opened a Warehouse facility that has plenty of space for hosting events and has a fully equipped bar.
Since opening, the Mussers have expanded their facility to now include 12 volleyball courts.
Their company consists of Bill’s Taproom, a restaurant, a Deck Bar, a Tiki Bar, a Warehouse, Bill’s Brewing Co., and Bill’s Catering.
Running the office work during the day, Brookes Musser is the daughter of John and Erin Musser and is often seen in the evenings helping with odds and ends, including hopping in with the kitchen staff or floating to ensure everything runs smoothly.
I grew up in this. My parents built Capt’n Bill’s when I was like seven or eight, so my sister and I would come to work with them.
Brookes Musser
The Warehouse
After you’ve perused the two other bars, also known as the Deck Bar and Tiki Bar, you can stop in the brand-new Warehouse facility for a delicious craft brew or seasonal seltzer
Inside is a full bar and plenty of seating for space for your friends to sit back and watch others play.
The Warehouse also has a covered outdoor porch area to stay cool during breaks from playing.
Check out their brand new ’80’s-themed mural inside while grabbing some food and drinks.
Bill’s Brewing and Beers
The Musser family entered the brewing community in 2016 with the opening of Bill’s Brewing Company.
Bill’s produces small, specialty craft beers and signature brews.
Donnie Stone, husband of Brookes Musser, oversees the daily operations of brewing.
Some of their top, flavorful beers include their Wave Break IPA, Pillow Talk Pilsner, and Honey Drip Brown Ale.
Brookes Musser’s favorite beers are the New England IPA and the seasonal Mungo Berry Blonde Ale.
Good eats
Fun fact – Gavin Casalegno’s favorite food order is the Bill’s wrap with grilled chicken and BBQ tossed!
They offer a wide variety of food and even have a catering business – Bill’s Catering.
At your next party, Bill’s can be there for you with their delectable food. With a full kitchen on their property, Bill’s can also host parties in their various buildings that can fit plenty of people for small gatherings or large events.
Their tater tot skillets are filling and delicious, and their wraps are a great meal to grab on the go for breaks while playing league.
The courts
Beer and food aren’t the only things Capt’n Bill’s offers. There are 12 outdoor sand volleyball courts to play on while enjoying refreshing brews.
This may be the only place where drinking on the courts is nearly encouraged.
You can take a timeout to take shots, like your referee gets it.
Brookes Musser
They offer a wide variety of events and clinics for any skill level as well. If you’re looking to join a league, it’s an easy process to find others who are the same skill level as you.
Leagues are Sunday through Friday, and coed teams can consist of two, four, or six players. There are two rounds of games each night, the first starting at 6:15 p.m. and the second at 8:45 p.m.
A referee is posted on each court to help facilitate playing, and the fun also follows beach volleyball regulations.
Sundays are arranged to only host charity events and Volley America tournaments.
If you’re looking to just have a bit of fun, playing pickup can be an easy way to have a few hours of fun without the requirements of joining a tournament or league.
Capt’n Bill’s is always hiring referees, so if playing isn’t your forte, getting involved doesn’t have to be a struggle of playing like a pro.
You may also hear a friendly voice over the loudspeaker announcing the start of the league each night. Jonny Carolina oversees everything pertaining to league playing and is the man to talk to for anything volleyball.
Sports are always good for getting out and socializing too. A lot of the referees that work here also play.
Jonny Carolina
Events
Capt’n Bills works with the local YMCA, East Coast Volleyball Academy, and U.N.C.W.
Clash-O-Mania is an ’80’s-themed tournament that isn’t too competitive. Teams are coed and require four players, with three separate divisions playing based on skill level.
There are prizes for division winners and for those who are best dressed for the theme.
Capt’n Bill’s also has an annual Hit it the Ottaway charity tournament to fundraise and provide fun for volleyball players.
All proceeds go to the Nicole Ottaway Scholarship Fund. Furthermore, there are raffles and prizes for the winners of each division.
If you’re looking for an event that isn’t volleyball-focused, Bill’s also hosts a Mullet Pageant for those who want to show off their locks.
The money raised from ticket sales and a Silent Auction goes to Wigs for Kids.
How to get involved
The Capt’n Bills community is welcome to all!
Leagues are easy to join and run throughout the entire year. If you’re looking to play on a team, information can be found on their website.
Tournaments also run on weekends for those who have busy schedules and may not be able to hop on the courts during the week.
The various events and fundraisers at this sand volleyball facility also give people ample playing opportunities, so you can play with friends and contribute to a good cause.
You can find DJ Shaun, aka DJ SBZ, playing all your favorite hits on Thursday nights while out on the courts. Volleyball doesn’t have to be all about rules and regulations, and Capt’n Bills ensures that while you get fair playing time, you can get an atmosphere of entertainment and dancing on and off the courts.
If these aren’t enough options for you, you can join the Capt’n Bill’s team. They’re always looking to hire more refs or kitchen staff.
Other positions that you can apply for are bartending, serving, and food running. One of the perks of working there is a discount on food and league prices.
Regardless of whether you just stop by to try a drink or fully immerse yourself in the community, there’s an option for everyone to have an amazing time. See you at Bill’s!
