With a community that has been around for decades, it’s inevitable for a scandal or two to occur, but the quiet nature of Brunswick County doesn’t typically generate the image of a large-scale drug operation. However, that’s exactly what took place in the small town of Varnamtown, North Carolina, in the 1980s.
“It has always been rumored that drugs were moving up and down the coast,” said secretary Chellie McDowell. “I knew that my parents didn’t want me around the beaches, and now I know why.”
The news of this operation was nothing new, but the story has resurfaced since the recent release of the “Varnamtown” podcast, hosted by actor Kyle MacLachlan and investigative journalist Joshua Davis. The outside take on this situation has caused locals to share their opinions, some feeling as if the history shared in these episodes isn’t the history that the people of Brunswick County know as their own.
“I listened to [the podcast,] my husband and I both did, and we laughed,” said attendance clerk Beth Zettlemoyer. “It’s like they were making something bigger than it really was.”
The locals of Varnamtown feel as though they have been inaccurately portrayed, which is what has led to the debate over the podcast’s reliability. With both hosts unfamiliar with the area and their lack of knowledge about small town etiquette, it’s difficult to take their opinions seriously. Other aspects, such as stories without evidence and interviews with non-locals, have caused it to be questioned even further. Though the truth behind the scandal is extensive and hard to follow, the importance of accuracy in this story is imperative given its personal meaning.
“Remember where these podcasters are coming from,” said Zettlemoyer. “You have to do your own research before you know what’s real and what’s not. There’s a lot of good people that live in Varnamtown, and they made it sound like everyone in Varnamtown was a criminal.”
While there were a handful of people involved in the illegal activities, the ignorant grouping of the whole town has created unexpected tension within the community.
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An excerpt from the Brunswick Beacon’s archived issue of 1999, discussing controversy around Varnamtown’s drug bust.
Photo by Paige Levine
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An excerpt from the Brunswick Beacon’s archived issue of 1999, discussing controversy around Varnamtown’s drug bust.
Photo by Paige Levine
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An excerpt from the Brunswick Beacon’s archived issue from December 1999, discussing Dale Olaf Varnam’s further charges.
Photo by Paige Levine
“Me and my family tried to stay out of it because we do know everybody,” said Varnamtown resident Sarah Ivey. “I guess a lot of people don’t really know about the history.”
Varnamtown has always been a small town, with neighbors tightly knit and many residents being related. In this podcast, there is no recognition of Varnamtown’s spirit outside of the reputation created by this scandal. With a smaller population, the town had a sense of unity that was hard to assimilate by people who weren’t familiar with the community.
“Everybody’s family,” said junior Trenton Galloway. “Most people there all work in the river; the whole economy of the whole town comes from oystering and clamming.”
Because of this town’s location along the banks of the Lockwood Folly River, many jobs and businesses have come from this site such as fisherman, shrimpers, oystermen and clammers. This is still true today, as the seafood market continues to prosper. But in the ‘80s, Varnamtown’s money was coming from more than just shrimps and clams. Legal records titled the ordeal “Operation White Tide” and state the amount of illegal substances confiscated came to a sum of $2.5 million. This story was so large-scale; it’s no wonder everyone’s buzzing to talk about it.
“Even my mom’s listened to the podcast,” said junior Erin Cameron. “I’ve overheard her and the rest of my family upset over the inaccuracies.”
While this podcast definitely brought out the drama of this situation, it’s important to note the factual aspects of it. The history itself is what’s important, and the podcast went above and beyond to get information to share the story by traveling to Varnamtown, interviewing a wide crowd of people, and even reaching out to a DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent.
Alongside the podcast, a book has been announced titled “The Life and Times of Crazy Dale Varnam” written by local author Lynn Betz, assisted by Dale Varnam. The book aims to detail the stories of Varnum and his involvement with the infamous ordeal along with Varnum’s supposed relations with drug lord Pablo Escobar. Hopes for accuracy in this book are high thanks to the author being a local and Varnam himself assisting with the product.
“I ordered the book months ago,” said local Valerie Taylor. ”It’s gotten pushed back a few times but I’m hoping it’ll actually come out in March this time because I’m excited to finally read it, especially having grown up so close to everything that went on.”
The interest in this story does not have any plan of dying down soon, with the podcast plan of eight total episodes and the upcoming release of the book, the controversies and storytelling are more than expected to continue and remind everyone of Varnamtown’s claim to fame.
“The podcast, the book and all of this information coming back up has been really interesting to me,” said Cameron. “Despite all the negatives, it’s been interesting to see how it’s brought the place I’ve grown up in together in a way that I never expected.”
