Lumina on Wrightsville Beach, a Holiday Inn Resort

OTO, which is part of The Johnson Group, acquired the Holiday Inn Resort Wilmington E-Wrightsville Beach in December 2020 and completed its transition to Lumina on Wrightsville Beach on Tuesday, June 21. The new name draws on the storied history of an iconic pavilion constructed in 1905 to showcase the wonder of electricity while beckoning people out to the beach.

Built by a pioneering utility company at the final stop of its electric trolley line, that three-story structure — housing a dance hall, bowling alley, movie theater and promenade — literally glowed with more than a thousand incandescent lightbulbs. The original Lumina was so bright that sailors navigated their ships by it and generations of beach-lovers navigated their social lives around it.The introduction of today's Lumina on Wrightsville Beach follows an extensive renovation comprising a complete interior redesign - lobby, event space, F&B venues and guest rooms have all been fully refreshed — plus major behind-the-scenes improvements to HVAC and mechanical systems. The renovation was concepted by design firm DLR Group with construction work completed by The Allied Group.

At seven stories tall, Lumina on Wrightsville Beach comprises 184 rooms and suites, some redesigned with bunkbeds to better accommodate families and all with storage cubbies to stow beach gear. The property offers three pools, two hot tubs and direct beach access. A new hammock garden and event lawn are among the many upgrades to recreational spaces.