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Wilmington's Airport a Hot Entry Point for the Rich and Famous
Forget Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill. There's another source of the Port City's reputation as the "Hollywood of the East" - Wilmington International Airport.
It's not often talked about - and certainly not celebrated - but countless movie stars, athletes and politicians stop at ILM on North 23rd Street.
Ensconced in personal or chartered jets, suntanned and relaxed, they touch down fresh off weekend getaways in tropical destinations, such as the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts or South America.
But don't expect to see them on the street or in the line at the grocery story. For them, the Port City stopover is one of convenience.
They're here mainly to refuel their planes and go through U.S. Customs, so they can return to their fabulous lives in New York or elsewhere.
While ILM doesn't offer direct commercial flights internationally, Wilmington is one of the few places on the East Coast where incoming corporate and private aircraft can land to clear customs.
