Where they accomplished that remarkable feat is now Kill Devil Hills. The name has changed, but the location is the same, and that singular place where that flight took place is now the Wright Brothers Memorial.

Since they built that first aircraft over the summer and fall of 1903, no one else has constructed an airplane on the grounds of the Wright Brothers Memorial.

Or they haven’t until now.

This spring, two and a half years after their project began, a Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS took flight from First Flight Airfield in Kill Devil Hills. Built by the students of the First Flight High School aviation lab, the aircraft left the ground at 9:15 a.m. under near perfect conditions.

The opportunity to build an aircraft on the grounds of the Wright Brothers Memorial was created by a remarkable cooperative effort between the National Park Service and First Flight High School. The school is just to the south of the Memorial.

Dave Hallac, Superintendent of the NPS Outer Banks Group, which includes the Wright Brothers Memorial, has said on several occasions that when Dare County Schools, the local school district, came to him with the idea, he knew the Park Service had to be involved.

Back in 2023 when the program was announced to the public, Superintendent Hallac remarked, “Rarely do we get the chance to tangibly explore the connection between modern flight and the achievements of the Wright brothers,” he said.

And what the Park Service did to help the program along was extraordinary.

On the south end of the grounds, there was an equipment shed—really little more than a lean-to used to house lawn mowers and other equipment for maintenance of the grounds. The Outer Banks Group maintenance crew got to work and, within two months, were able to create a waterproof building capable of housing a small aircraft.

The program would not have been successful without the right instructor, and Dare County Schools hit a home run when they found retired Rear Admiral Joey Tynch to work with the kids.

Tynch, with over 20 years flying helicopters for the Navy and a private pilot’s license, was the perfect fit, and the kids responded, working days, nights and weekends to build an airplane.

“These are the hardest working young men and women you will ever see,” Tynch said in remarks at the first flight of the airplane.

As proud as Tynch may have been of the hard work his students put into the project, he was equally as proud of how well so many of his graduates are doing. In remarks at the first flight, he pointed to students pursuing careers in aircraft maintenance, flight, engineering, and the military.

He seemed particularly proud of a young lady who, he said, ““came from a crafting background, so anything you see electronically working on that airplane, the lights, the navigation suite, the comm gear,” she was directly involved.

Originally planned to be a two year project, delays in getting some of the parts as scheduled pushed the project back about six months. That, and the complexity of assembling an aircraft from scratch, played a part in the delay. The students worked with mentors from the community, but even with the help of experienced advisors, there was a lot of detail work that allowed zero tolerance for mistakes.

A second aircraft will be built. The plans call for the airplane to be sold, with the proceeds from the sale applied to purchasing a second airplane.

And the Park Service will be right there with the students, Hallac assured a local paper, saying, “We’re going to support this program again, and we’re proud to do it.”

The post First Flight High Students Build Airplane at Wright Brothers Memorial appeared first on The Blog.

Is the Outer Banks perfect? Of course not. No place is. For the most part, the weather cooperates. Warm, bordering on hot in the summer, and cool but not quite cold in the winter. But about once every four to five years a hurricane will come close to making landfall or makes landfall. There is nothing good that can be said about that. Nor’easters are much more frequent, two or three every winter, and things can be kind of miserable for two or three days.

For the most part though, it’s eight months of shorts weather, three months of long pants and one month of take your pick.

Of course, the weather is not what makes a place so great to visit, live in, or raise a family. There are certainly other places that have mild winters and warm summers, yet do not have nearly the appeal of the Outer Banks.

What it comes down to for this sand bar by the sea is simple…it’s all about community.

From Carova at the far north end on the Virginia state line, south to Ocracoke Village it’s about 125 miles. There are three counties: Hyde, Dare, and Currituck, although almost all of the Outer Banks is in Dare County. There are maybe 40,000 year round residents, give or take 100, and innumerable villages and towns, large and small.

And the one thing all of those villages and towns have in common is a remarkable sense of community; of watching out for each other and caring about family and friends.

Visiting for a week or two in the summer, along with 250,000 or so other vacationers, it’s hard to get a sense of the small town feel that is so much a part of local life. But come back for a week or two, or even a month, anytime from October through April, and there’s a good possibility that leaving will become difficult if not painful.

A strong community, of course, is more than people caring about neighbors. It’s all those other things that go into creating a vibrant place to live, a place that offers a wide range of possibilities for the people who are lucky enough to call this home.

The beach, of course, has always been a part of Outer Banks life, and for those of us who live here, we love it. The beach, however, is not just a place to spread a towel out in the summer and bask in the sun. It’s much more of a place for surfing in the offseason or throwing a line in the water and seeing what will bite, or sometimes something as simple as searching for sea glass where the waves end.

Away from the beach, though, on the western side of the sandbars, there is a world apart from the shoreline—a place of verdant maritime forests and surprisingly hilly terrain (really Nags Head Woods and Buxton Woods have honest to goodness hills). Or head down to Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (PINWR) for truly world-class bird watching.

Speaking of PINWR, one of the coolest things to do is to head out with the experts in October and again in December for the annual Wings over Water Festival. Of course, Wings Over Water is just one of the many special events tied to Outer Banks outdoor activities. There are spring and fall surfing contests, innumerable fishing tournaments—some offshore and some in the surf.

Those events have become part of the local culture, annual events that celebrate so much of what is best about life by the sea.

The sea, its power, mystery, and abundance are an integral part of what has created the Outer Banks that we know today. The rich heritage of fishing as a way of life reaches far back into our history. Fishing was an integral part of the life of Native peoples even before the 1580s and the Sir Walter Raleigh expeditions, leading the Lost Colony, the failed attempt by the English to establish a permanent presence on Roanoke Island. That is where artist and Governor of the expedition, John White, painted a picture of Native peoples bringing fish to trade for goods.

That fishing culture is celebrated every year at the Seafood Festival, an extraordinary opportunity to try great seafood from local chefs and learn what it means to earn a living working the waters of the sounds and sea.

Cultures everywhere evolve and change over time, and the Outer Banks is no different than any other place in that regard. Hang gliding has been a part of local life for over 50 years, which has led to two truly unique festivals—the Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head and Brewtag, a festival that poses the question, “If man can fly, why can’t beer?”

What makes the Outer Banks such an amazing place is more than the festivals and tournaments—there is a wonderfully vibrant arts and culture aspect to local life. There are hints of that in the summer, when samples of local artists’ creativity are on display in art galleries and specialty stores from Corolla to Ocracoke.

That, however, is just one part of a much larger story. Because life is so hectic in the summer for those of us who live here, it’s really difficult to schedule some of the wonderful offseason cultural events that make life from late fall to early spring so enjoyable.

There are gallery shows at the Dare Arts Gallery in Manteo as well as at other galleries from September through April. The Theater of Dare stages six to seven plays every year. They also offer summer camps for kids as well. There are two nonprofit organizations, the Bryan Cultural Series and the Outer Banks Forum, that bring live music and performances to venues across the Outer Banks. There are also two or three film festivals every year. And that doesn’t even include the food festivals and various cook-offs that happen throughout the offseason.

All of this is a long and winding way to describe what life is really like on the Outer Banks. Certainly far more complex and nuanced than may appear at first, but rich and rewarding for those of us lucky enough to live here. To be clear, we love the summer, but there is so much more to life on these sandbars.

The post Life on a Sandbar appeared first on The Blog.

We’ve gathered some pictures taken over the past few years that show another side of the Outer Banks. All of these pictures are of the northern Outer Banks, but Hatteras Island and especially Pea Island on the north end of Hatteras have so much to see and explore.

Arboretum – A crow guards the entrance to the Arboretum Dune Garden in Kill Devil Hills. An easy stroll through native trees and plants, the paths lead to Aviation Park and the Frog and Turtle Pond.

Cardinal Arbor – A cardinal takes flight at the Arboretum in Kill Devil Hills. Although a frequently seen bird on the Outer Banks, the beauty of this cardinal taking flight was irresistible.

Blue Grosbeak – Blue Grosbeak, Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Photographed in early summer after a controlled burn of the small maritime forest by Roanoke Sound at the base of the main sand dune. A migratory bird that winters in the tropics, it is reported to be common in the coastal plain of North Carolina, although the photographer has never seen one before or since taking this picture.

Jockey’s Ridge – South side of Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Although Jockey’s Ridge is the largest active dune system on the East Coast of the United States, thinking of Jockey’s Ridge as only a gigantic sand dune misses how complex the system actually is.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse Winter – Currituck Beach Lighthouse after a January snowstorm. Corolla, taken from the Whalehead Club pond.

Green Anole – Male Green Anole, Sandy Run Park, Kitty Hawk. Definitely a male green anole. The picture was taken in early summer, and there is one of two possibilities for the extended dewlap—the extended reddish orange skin flap under his chin. Either he’s warning another male that the tree is his territory, or he’s looking for a mate.

Prothonotary Warbler – Prothonotary Warbler, Sandy Run Park, Kitty Hawk. Wintering in the tropics (it’s a neotropical bird) and breeding in the southeast United States, the prothonotary warbler is especially fond of coastal North Carolina. Nonetheless, shy and fast moving, it’s rare to see one.

Snapping Turtle – Snapping turtle reaching for popcorn at Sandy Run Park in Kitty Hawk. Although they look fierce, snapping turtles are not considered an aggressive species, although cornering one will bring a defensive hissing and snapping. Do not put your fingers anywhere near its jaws.

Kitty Hawk Woods – Kitty Hawk Woods along the Birch Lane Trail. At first glance, it’s a swamp, and the colors of the forest become ever more beautiful. Birds flit through the trees calling to one another and the sound of frogs singing a mating song fill the air.

Nags Head Woods Winter – Nags Head Woods in the winter. Ponds and the sounds rarely freeze even in the winter.

Nags Head Woods Road – Perhaps the last maintained dirt road on the Outer Banks. Old Nags Head Road, Kill Devil Hills.

Standoff – An apparent standoff between a boat-tailed grackle and ghost crab. Although by ghost crab standards, that’s a large one, it will lose if it’s really a standoff. Nags Head Beach.

Surf Scooter – Surf scooter off the Kitty Hawk Beach. Although surf scooters are fairly common in the summer, they aren’t seen that often.

Maria Ferribee Watkins – The Freedom Trail at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on the north end of Roanoke Island is a very easily walked 1.25 mile trail (2.5 miles out and back) through a maritime forest. The trail tells the story of the Freedman’s Colony that spring up on the north end of Roanoke Island during the Civil War. Pictured here Annice Jackson and her daughters, Maria and Alice. Annice led her daughters and herself to emancipation and to Roanoke Island.

Virginia Dare – Statue of Virginia Dare, Elizabethan Gardens, Roanoke Island. Created by American sculptor Maria Louisa Lander in 1859, the statue survived an 1879 shipwreck and being stranded beneath the sea for two years. Repurchased salvagers by and restored by Lander, the statue eventually found its way to North Carolina and when in 1955 the Garden Clubs of North Carolina was building the Elizabethan Gardens, the stature found  permanent home.

The post Another Side of the Outer Banks, in Pictures appeared first on The Blog.

It disappeared quickly. Snow doesn’t last long when the ocean is at your doorstep, but for those wonderful three or four days, it was magic.

And with all that beauty, fleeting though it may have been, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore the newest Outer Banks trail.

The Kitty Hawk Town Hall Trail is a one-mile loop trail that wanders through the forest and hills behind the town’s municipal office. Finished about six months ago, the trail includes some moments of stunning beauty and an amazing walk through a dense maritime forest.

At times paralleling Hobbs Creek, a little-known, almost completely hidden, yet beautiful creek, with snow on the ground, the trail is transformed into a winter wonderland.

At the trailhead, a white-throated sparrow pecks at the ground between patches of snow. There’s a woodpecker somewhere close by; its raucous call and steady taptaptap on a tree is unmistakable. It’s in the foliage somewhere, so there’s no hope of seeing it. Same with the songbirds that seem to be everywhere in the trees.

The sunlight, filtered through the tree canopy, dances across the snow that lies deep on the ground. Here and there, fallen branches break the surface of the white. Leaves and limbs have trapped the snow, and white highlights the trees’ different hues of brown and gray.

The first part of the trail leads to a ridge that overlooks a marsh and swale falling off to Hobbs Creek. The trail runs parallel to the ridge line, then emerges by the parking lot, but quickly reenters the forest.

It meanders through the forest until it comes to a bank overlooking Hobbs Creek.

Hobbs Creek is a hidden gem, its still waters and steep banks create an image of a time long gone, when the forest was a true wilderness, before homes and businesses changed the landscape. This may be the most stunning and surprising find of the Town Hall Trail—the waters of the creek creating a perfect mirror to reflect the trees arching from the banks. The image is of a sun-dappled tunnel leading to some unknown forest destination.

It’s been cold, and there is ice in the creek, although it has not been cold enough for the whole creek to freeze over. It’s a real toss-up whether the creek is more stunning with snow on the ground or when the woods are filled with many shades of green that come with spring and summer. The snow is an unexpected gift, but the colors of summer are something from a painting.

There are two bridges that were constructed for the trail—the bridges built by the members of the town’s Recreation Committee and a few volunteers. The bridges span the marsh and allow hikers to walk between ridges and stay on a dry trail.

The town has placed some picnic tables along the path. There is one overlooking Hobbs Creek, but if there is a personal favorite, it is the table by the massive American Beech on a rise by a fork in the trail.

The trail crosses a power company right of way—ok…not the most attractive part of the trail, but then it reenters the forest, and the world surrounding the trail seems to recede, and the sheer beauty of nature reappears again.

Some quick tips about the trail.

The total trail length is about a mile. Depending on how much sightseeing is done along the way, it will probably be a 20 to 30-minute trek.

Bikes and horses are permitted on the trail, but that comes with a bit of a caveat. Some sections are cut into the side of a hill and may be difficult for a horse or bike to navigate. The trail is a minimum of four feet wide, but there are one or two places where it’s a very tight four feet.

It will be buggy in the summer. Insect repellent will be a very good idea.

The post A Winter Walk on Kitty Hawk’s New Town Hall Trail appeared first on The Blog.

There is perhaps nothing as subjective as our sense of taste. Nonetheless, what follows is a list of some favorite places to get a bite to eat on the northern Outer Banks.

In the offseason, November through March (this being the Outer Banks), it’s a good idea to make sure restaurants are open. A lot of them close for a couple of weeks, or even a month, during the slower time of year.

We’ve broken the list out into four categories: Italian (and one Greek), Oriental, Casual and Pub food, and Special Night Out.

Remember, this is a subjective list, and with so many restaurants to choose from, we have not been able to get to all of them.

Italian and One Greek

Josephine’s Sicilian Kitchen

3701 Croatan Highway

Kitty Hawk

252-261-2669

Sicilian is in the name of Josephine’s and Sicilian is what it is. This is the real deal…heaping dishes of lasagna with a rich, savory bolognese sauce, baked with sausage and ground beef.

The menu changes weekly, but the lasagna and Josephine’s Combo always seems to be available. The combo is a gut-busting combination of sausage, meatballs, and a meaty pasta sauce.

Seating? Expect to rub elbows with someone…it’s tight, but worth it and there’s nothing like good food and glass or two of wine to bring people together.  Editor’s Note: Josephine’s is located right next door to Vinny’s Pizza Joint, which has long been a favorite for many of us at Carolina Designs.

Max’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria

1712 N Croatan Hwy

Kill Devil Hills

252-261-3113

Located in the Dare Center where the Food Lion is located, Max’s seems like an improbable place for really good Italian dinner. But don’t let the location, in a strip center, or the booths lined up along the wall fool you.

Owner Grant Sharp is a classically trained chef who happens to love working with Italian dishes.

Check out the linguine with clam sauce. It’s not something that is on every menu, and it’s wonderful. The ravioli of the day changes daily, of course, but it’s always interesting and very tasty.

Oh…and the pizza is very good and the calzones amazing.

Olives A Greek Kitchen

The Waterfront Shops

207 Queen Elizabeth Ave

Manteo

252-423-3322

Sometimes there’s a wait to get a seat at Olives. Be patient—it’s worth the wait.

This is real Greek cooking. The rosemary bread is so good, it’s tempting to make that a meal in itself. But then the spanakopita might be missed. Or the pastitsio—sort of a Greek lasagna.

There are also gyros and some very interesting Greek influenced pizza. And of course baklava for desert.

Weather permitting, there is outside seating in the Waterfront Shops courtyard. If that’s not available, though, indoors it’s light and airy with a wonderful view of the Manteo waterfront.

Oriental

Sanya Sushi Bar Bistro

3919 N Croatan Highway

Kitty Hawk

252-261-1946

There’s nothing really surprising about the dishes Sanya prepares. They are very much traditional Chinese food. There is also a full Japanese hibachi menu as well.

What really seems to set Sanya apart, though, is the quality of ingredients and attention to detail is just a bit better than other places.

There is also a very nice sushi bar and a well laid out dining area. Adding to what sets Sanya apart is full bar service with a very good selection of liquors.

Thai Room Restaurant

710 South Virginia Dare Trail

8 1/2 Mile Post – Beach Road

Kill Devil Hills

252-441-1180

For almost 40 years the Thai Room has been an Outer Banks favorite. Sure…they have some Chinese dishes, and by reputation, they’re quite good.

But the Thai dishes are why patrons keep coming back and for good reason. The family that founded the restaurant was a husband and wife team native to Thailand and their recipes have been handed down.

The Pad Thai is amazing. The stir fried basil and panang curry rate an amazing as well.

There’s a small dining room that is popular for good reason. The service is friendly and excellent.

Be careful with the hot request. Things can get very spicy very quickly.

Single Fin Thai-Sushi

2424 S Croatan Hwy

Nags Head

252-715-3983

Opened in 2017 by the next generation of Thai chefs who learned their craft at the Thai Room, Single Fin is a little more upscale with a wider ranging menu than that first Outer Banks Thai restaurant.

The menu is the most diverse of any Oriental restaurant on the Outer Banks and everything is very well-prepared.

But where Single Fin really shines is the selection and quality of their sushi.

There is full bar service with a nice wine list. The servers are professional and knowledgeable.

Pub Food and Casual

Barefoot Bernie’s

3730 N. Croatan Highway

252-261-1008

In a way Barefoot Bernie’s qualifies as a neighborhood bar—there is a cast of regulars that go there. But that doesn’t take into account the large dining room and the 10 or so tables spread around the bar area.

Featuring an extensive menu—with some nice kids items included, after trying quite a number of what’s available on the menu, the conclusion is, there has never been a bad meal. Never.

The service is always very good; the bar is well-stocked with a good selection of beers on tap.

And the pan pizzas are quite tasty.

In short…it’s everything a pub food/casual restaurant should be.

OB Brewing Station

600 S. Croatan Hwy

Kill Devil Hills, NC

252-449-2739

They brew their own beer, it’s one of the best places on the beach for live music, and—perhaps most importantly—think pub food with a flair.

Sure, there are burgers…and they are excellent…and a soup of the day…which is quite good. But what sets the menu apart are the entrees—the shrimp and grits or beef tenderloin and shishito (mushroom) bites. It’s just not your typical pub food at all.

Weather permitting, there is an extensive seating area in the backyard—where, late spring into early fall there is live music.

Sundays the Brewing Station opens a little earlier for brunch.

Sam and Omie’s Restaurant
7228 S Virginia Dare  Trail

Nags Head

252-441-7366

With a history dating back 85 years or so, Sam and Omie’s is about as local as it gets. From its beginning when Sambo Tillet was running it, it was all about good basic food without a lot of frills.

That is still what Sam and Omie’s is all about.

Lots of seafood dishes, some burgers and sandwiches.

This is also the place to go for a good old fashioned breakfast—pancakes, sausage, eggs bacon. Just the basics but done right.

An Evening Out

Mike Dianna’s Grill Room

Timbuck II Shopping Center,

Corolla

252-453-4336

Of course Mike Dianna’s Grill Room has burgers and handheld sandwiches. The restaurant also has a good selection of salads.

But for anyone looking for an outstanding steak, this is the place. For over 20 years steak dinners have been its specialty. A little pricey? Yes, but it is filet mignon, after all.

We don’t, however, want to denigrate the seafood dishes that are also outstanding.

And bringing all of that together is an excellent wine list.

Finally, for a little fancier breakfast, Mike Dianna’s serves breakfast in the morning.

The Paper Canoe

1564 Duck Road

Duck

252-715-2220

It’s a real toss up whether the food or view of Currituck Sound is more spectacular at the Paper Canoe. Of course the view wouldn’t mean anything if the food wasn’t fantastic. Luckily for both, it is.

Owner Jean-Marc Berruet’s father was a classically trained chef—and an outstanding one, and Jean-Marc was able to get his recipes and recreate them. Since that time he has expanded the menu adding his own very creative touch to the dishes he prepares.

It’s tough to come up with any one recommendation, but the Confit Duck Spring Rolls sure are worth checking out.

The ambiance is Outer Banks casual—dress nicely but don’t go overboard.

NC Coast Grill & Bar

1184 Duck Rd.

Duck, NC 27949

252-248-3211

Located along the boardwalk in Duck, NC Coast Grill & Bar is one of two great restaurants featuring the creative flair of Chef Wes Stepp. The other, Red Sky Cafe, is next to our Carolina Designs offices.

You can’t go wrong in either place, but NC Coast is open year round, so it gets the nod.

The setting couldn’t be much better with beautiful view across Currituck Sound. The food, though, is the reason to go.

The cuisine and presentation is innovative, tasty and tasteful. For something different and perfect to share, try the “Go-Gho” Cauliflower.

Pony and Boat

3712 N. Croatan Hwy

Kitty Hawk

252-715-2991

When longtime Outer Banks restauranteur Tommy Karole opened the Pony and Boat a few years ago, he know what he wanted—a casual dining experience with upscale food.

And he hit a homer run.

Great steaks and seafood at all times, of course, but one of the things that really sets the Pony and Boat apart is how willing the chef and staff are to adjust the menu to seasonal changes.

Still, the shrimp and grits are amazing and the filet mignon superb. And something surprisingly fantastic to try—the homemade cornbread.

Saltbox Cafe

1469 Colington Road

Kill Devil Hill

252-255-5594

Situated on the road to Colington, the Saltbox Cafe sits in a rustic looking old house with a screened porch—which does get used when weather permits.

The menu is an eclectic combination of everything from New Orleans to the Orient—all of it remarkably well-prepared and tasty. Hard to pick out a favorite, but Catch of the Day never disappoints and the grilled pork tenderloin takes the dish to new levels.

Save room for desert. It changes daily as a true desert chef puts her daily touch to it.

Open for brunch and lunch as well as dinner.

Honorable mention

The restaurant choices on the Outer Banks are so varied and as we mentioned, taste is completely subjective, so it’s entirely reasonable to think we missed something.. Here are a few more places that we and our friends have enjoyed. It’s entirely possible, anyone of these should have been part of the list.

Pizza

Cosmos Pizza

The Market Place

5591 N. Croatan Highway

Southern Shores

252-261-8388

Longtime Outer Banks pizza restaurant with some Italian dishes served in a small dining area. Quite good.

Slice Pizzeria

710 S. Croatan Highway
Kill Devil Hills

252-449-8888

Very good pizza with a wide selection of pizza by the slice. Their garlic knots are really good. Outdoor seating in the spring and summer only.

Garden Deli Pizzeria

512 Hwy 64/264

Manteo

252-473-6888

Friendly service. Very good pizza and some tasty sandwiches as well.

Casual

Arts Place

4624 N Virginia Dare Trail

Kitty Hawk

252-261-3233

One of the oldest restaurants on the Outer Banks, Art’s Place, on the Beach Road has some of the best burgers around. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Live music too.

Darrell’s Seafood Restaurant

521 Hwy 64/264

Manteo

252-473-5366

An Outer Banks staple for over 50 years. Good food and generous portions. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Pub Food

Roadside Bar and Grill

Something for everyone. Open kitchen fixing food in front of the inside bar. Some outside seating.

Upscale

JK’s Restaurant
1106 S. Croatan Highway
Kill Devil Hills

252-441-9555

May be the best steakhouse on the Outer Banks. Great wine list.

Winebar

Trio Restaurant and Market
3708 N. Croatan Hwy.
Kitty Hawk

252-261-0277

Probably the most complete wine selection on the Outer Banks…and a lot of hard to find beers ales on tap as well. Which makes sense, since there is a wine and beer market right there. The food is excellent as well.

The post A Dangerous Assignment: Favorite Places to Eat on the Northern Outer Banks appeared first on The Blog.

After playing tour director, host, or organizer for about 30 people at a Carolina Designs beachfront home in Kill Devil Hills, Steve Da’Mes is hurting… physically.

“My knee is killing me every time I just bend it or move it,” he said. “I’m in pain still from when I was doing that stupid…limbo contest. I hadn’t even had that much to drink at the time.”

2025 was the third year Steve had played host to what is really a random gathering of people who have found they have become friends. The formula seems simple enough.

“It’s a time to enjoy other people and appreciate other people and not focus on the little things,” he said.

The idea of gathering a random group of people, renting a beach house, and taking the time to simply enjoy each other was, Steve admits, born of necessity.

“I was a couple of years out of my divorce, hating the dating apps, not really meeting any new people. And I was like, there’s got to be some way to meet people,” he said.

And, as he said, “I wasn’t even a matter of dating people. It was just making friends and meeting people.”

He started thinking about the things he had enjoyed in the past and was no longer doing, and he realized, “I hadn’t been to the beach in years, and I love the Outer Banks.”

Steve, who doesn’t believe in doing things halfway, figured he would “just post an event down at the beach and see what I can get out of it.”

Which was not much at first. There was skepticism.

“I started to post it in more national type groups. But I had to overcome the objection that people think it’s a scam or something. They don’t know me, and I’m asking them to send me money,” he recalled.

Which is where Maria Hammond stepped in to help.

“Maria was the first who really thought it was a great idea, and she helped me a lot,” Steve said. “Especially with wording and things like that.”

For Maria, it was a chance to get back to the Outer Banks. She hadn’t been there for some time, remembering that “when our kids were little, we used to go down to Corolla and Duck every year.”

Organizing a house to bring 30 or 40 people together was certainly different than a family vacation, but the two of them working together were able to reach out to a wide variety of groups. Maria, especially had contacts that were able to move the idea along.

“I’m involved in a bunch of travel groups. So I sent some to my groups (messages),” she said.

That first year, it was surprising how widespread the interest was. Much of that diversity was because of the people Maria knew.

“We do have quite a diverse group, you know. And from different countries and different areas of the United States and all different income levels,” she said. “A lot of my people from my international travel group came the first year.”

It was not just an international and transcontinental group. Outer Banks native Anita Twyne has been part of the gathering for the past three years.

“I was looking for a group to go hiking with,” she explained, “I wanted to get out and meet people. I saw…the OBX extravaganza.”

She followed a link to contact Steve and asked, “Could I just be a part of their outings, to get to know them a little better?”

Steve, who talks better than he writes, convinced Anita it would be a great chance to meet people and have a good time.

“I committed, and then I went in with the group,” she said.

That first year, everyone agrees, was special.

“That very first year was magical because we really came together as a family. People really bonded,” Steve said.

He’s been renting from Carolina Designs for the three years he’s been hosting the week, and that probably won’t change.

“They have probably more of the larger houses than anybody else, so it’s easier to go through on their website,” he said.

That first year was so successful and enjoyable that Steve, especially, decided to go all in for the second year, and he and Maria brought 80 people together at two beachfront homes.

There was a lesson in that.

Steve, who does much of the organizing of trips and outings, admitted “it ran me ragged by the end of the week. And the other thing was, is the group, with it being that big, it wasn’t as intimate. People didn’t get to know each other as well.”

Anita agreed, saying, “It wasn’t as personable.”

This year, it was back to one house and 34 people, and much more like that first year. One of the things that Steve, in particular, believes makes the week so special is sitting down to meals together—especially dinner, which can be a marvelously confusing time of food and camaraderie.

“I think when you’re cooking with people and eating with them, you just get to know them so much better,” Steve said.

Then there are the activities—the times when people gather together and do things they may never have done before.

“I went and saw the (Corolla Wild) horses. I’ve never done that my entire life,” Anita said. “Even though I live here, I don’t get to go to the beach that much. I don’t get to go places because I work.”

And, she added, “It’s just fun to be able to be with friends and have a good time.”

Which, Maria pointed out, is really what it’s all about.

“No matter who you are, how wealthy you are, how poor you are, which nationality you are, where you’re from, basically, people are all the same,” she said.

The post How an Outer Banks Vacation Home Became the Center of a Growing Tradition appeared first on The Blog.

And there is a lot of history to celebrate.

Back in November of 1992, when Currituck County bought the building and 28.5 acres of land, it was a decrepit shell of its former self. The windows were broken and the interior had been exposed to the elements for years. There was six feet of water in the basement. It had become an illicit party house and fires had been lit in its many rooms.

Nonetheless, the county paid $2.8 million for the building and grounds, a move so unpopular with the county voters that every commissioner on the board at the time of the purchase was voted out of office.

The commissioners, though, had done their homework. What they knew was what the National Register of Historic Places had noted in 1978.

“Successfully constructed to withstand the most severe coastal storms, Whalehead Club remains a local landmark and a startling surprise to newcomers unprepared for the presence of such a grand and exotic structure,” the report noted.

It took ten years and more than $1 million to finish the renovation, but the Whalehead Club of today has been restored to its original glory.

Early History

Construction began in 1922 on what would become the Whalehead Club, and when completed three years later, Edward C. Knight and his wife Marie-Louise LeBel had spent $383,000 (approximately $7.1 million in 2025) on their vacation getaway cottage and hunting lodge.

The house was built on an artificial island created by dredging and raising the ground level enough to support the massive building. Its first name, Corolla Island, paid tribute to the moat and hill on which it stood.

For the next nine years, the Knights and their guests were regular visitors to Corolla. Edward Knight, who kept meticulous notes on visitors and daily events, made his last entry on November 24, 1934. At that time his health was failing and on July 23, 1936 he passed away.  Marie Louise died three months later.

In the 1930s, the nation was mired in the Great Depression, and Knights’ heirs had no interest in maintaining Corolla Island and went looking for a buyer for the house and the 2000 acres of marsh and sound.

U.S. Representative Lindsey Warren, representing northeastern North Carolina, informed his colleagues about Corolla Island, and New York Congressman Sirovich agreed to purchase it for $175,000. The closing date was to be December 17, 1939 — the same day Congressman Sirovich suddenly died.

Ray Adams and the Whalehead Club

Ray Adams, a Washington, DC meat packer who seemed to know everyone in the capital was the next bidder and was able to buy the property for $25,000 in early 1940.

Adams gave the property its name.

“According to tradition, in the process of clearing land for the air strip that would facilitate transportation of guests, a whale bone was found, which prompted Adams to rename his estate Whalehead Club,” the National Register of Historic Places notes in their documentation.

Although interested in hunting, Adams had other plans for his purchase, planning on using the 2000-acre estate to woo “government officials who controlled the contracts that provided the bulk of his business.”

Adams saw the Whalehead Club as a business opportunity and, to that end, formed the Whalehead Club, Incorporated and issued 10 shares, eight of them going to himself and his wife.

And then the United States entered WWII. The Coast Guard needed a training and patrol site and business development plans were put on hold. In 1942, Knight agreed to rent the Whalehead Club to the Coast Guard. Barracks were built on the ground—they no longer exist—and at one time up to 300 Coast Guardsmen were on site.

The Coast Guard patrolled the Currituck Beach on horseback. Although it cannot be confirmed, there are persistent rumors the Spanish Mustangs of the Corolla Wild Horse herd were used.

After the war, Adams came up with a new plan for a resort community on the Currituck Banks.

What followed is something that has not been reported on as much as some of the other tidbits of history of the Whalehead Club. Adams was deep into planning an expansive beachside resort…something along the lines of a Myrtle Beach.

At the time, there were no paved roads north of Kitty Hawk, and to make his concept feasible, Adams began using his government contacts to lobby for a beach toll road from Duck to Virginia Beach.

The plans are on file with the Olmsted Archives, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. Listed as Job#10031, Whalehead, the plans for Adams by Olmstead Brothers Landscape Architects show a toll road with a 100-foot right of way, a yacht basin, a shopping center, and a fishing pier.

The toll road, though, was a problem. A Carolina Virginia Turnpike Authority was created as a private company. North Carolina passed legislation that would have allowed the CVTA to condemn property under the authority of eminent domain law. The North Carolina Supreme Court shot that down, ruling that a private company could not be legislatively given the powers of a municipal government.

The CVTA also found there was no appetite for bonds to finance a toll road that would involve two states and two jurisdictions, and by 1956, it was clear the project was not moving forward.

A Boys’ School and the Space Race

Adams died on New Year’s Eve, 1957, and again the property went onto the auction block, selling to Virginia Beach contractors for $375,000. The building and immediate grounds were subsequently leased to the Corolla Academy a”comprehensive summer school for boys…” according to the school’s brochure.

It is unclear why the school failed—it may have been the remote location. Perhaps parents did not see the need for a comprehensive summer school for boys, but after three years, it closed its doors.

What followed was an intriguing footnote to the space race.

As the United States and the USSR were locked in an arms race, Atlantic Research Corporation (ARC) was in the thick of it, working to develop rocket engines for weapons and space exploration.

A powerful fuel was needed and ARC was experimenting with beryllium. As a fuel, beryllium has some real advantages; it’s very powerful and it’s relatively stable. It is, however, extremely toxic.

Isolated from large population centers, the Whalehead Club checked all the boxes for security, preventing prying eyes and the toxic fuel from contaminating critical infrastructure.

ARC signed a lease/purchase agreement in 1961 and exercised its purchase agreement for $1.25 million in 1964.

Beryllium, though, was not going to be a practical fuel and in 1972, ARC sold the property to Norfolk real estate developers Kabler & Riggs for more than $3 million. The developers subdivided the property but left the 35 acres around the Whalehead Club building intact.

The building sat vacant for 20 years, but as the Historic Places noted in its 1978 report, the building, with its I-Beam construction and 18-inch thick walls, had been “successfully constructed to withstand the most severe coastal storms…”

Obligated to pay off the loan for the 1992 purchase of the property, Currituck County was not able to begin a full restoration of the building until 1999, when 25% of occupancy tax collections could be used.

In 2002, ten years after the property had been purchased, the Whalehead Club opened to the public.

Inside was the original custom made Steinway piano. Some of the original Tiffany sconces were still intact, and at other places, exact replicas had been created. Careful research of auction records had enabled the team working on restoration to track down a surprising number of original furniture pieces. By the time it opened to the public, the county had spent over $1 million in restoring the building.

The Whalehead Club is available for tours. Reservations are recommended.

The post Whalehead Club Celebrates 100 Years appeared first on The Blog.

The Basics

The Outer Banks is a string of barrier islands extending from the Virginia border to Ocracoke, about 130 miles.

The northern section of the Outer Banks is Corolla, sometimes called the Currituck Banks, more on that in a moment. To the south of Corolla are the towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head. That area is sometimes referred to as the northern Outer Banks, although technically that would include Corolla as well.

Oregon Inlet, south of Nags Head, separates the northern Outer Banks from Hatteras Island. Hatteras Island is a long, 48 miles, and very skinny barrier island that ends at the Hatteras Ferry dock and Hatteras Inlet. To the south of Hatteras Island is Ocracoke.

When planning a day trip or an excursion to enjoy some of the amazing things to see and do, it’s important to have an idea of the starting point and destination. As an example, for our visitors staying in Corolla, a day trip to Ocracoke would be challenging since it’s at least a three-hour trip. But for a guest staying in Nags Head, the trip is certainly feasible.

Place Names (North to South)

Currituck Banks

The northernmost area of the Outer Banks is often referred to as the Currituck Banks because Corolla and Carova are in Currituck County. It’s probably not important to know that, except it explains why the area is called the Currituck Banks.

The northern 11 miles of the Currituck Banks is referred to as Carova, and there is a small village on the Carolina/Virginia border called Carova. This is the domain of the Corolla Wild Horses, and the area is accessible by 4WD vehicles only.

Corolla is south of the 4WD area to the town of Duck, which is also the Dare and Currituck County line. Dare County is the central county of the Outer Banks.

Duck to Nags Head

Duck:

Its business district borders the Albemarle and Currituck sounds from its northern end to Southern Shores.

Southern Shores:

May be the most residential town on the Outer Banks, although it does have shopping districts. The Marketplace is off US 158 and Southern Shores Crossing is at the intersection of US 158 and NC 12.

Kitty Hawk:

For most visitors, this is the first town encountered when officially arriving on the Outer Banks. It’s a town that has a remarkable number of nature and bike trails, but for now, we’ll continue our trip south.

Kill Devil Hills:

The most populated Outer Banks town. The Wright Brothers Monument, marking where the first controlled, heavier-than-air flight took place, is here. Kitty Hawk gets to claim the first flight because in 1903 the area was called Kitty Hawk, but Kill Devil Hills incorporated in 1954, and that’s where the flight took place.

Nags Head:

South of Kill Devil Hills. One of the oldest resort towns in the United States, today it includes Jockey’s Ridge State Park, one of the most visited parks in the North Carolina system.

Roanoke Island

Manteo and Roanoke Island are to the west of Nags Head and are connected by the Washington Baum Bridge. Although Roanoke Island is not technically part of the Outer Banks, so many events and attractions are there that it needs to be listed. The fishing village of Wanchese is on the south end of Roanoke Island.

Hatteras Island (South of Oregon Inlet)

The Marc C. Basnight Bridge crosses Oregon Inlet, connecting the northern Outer Banks with Hatteras Island.

The northern 13 miles of Hatteras Island is Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, which, for good reason, is an internationally recognized birder’s paradise.

Rodanthe

Rodanthe is the first village in what is referred to as the Tri Villages: Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo.

Avon

Avon is about 13 miles south of Salvo, is close to the center point of Hatteras Island and consequently has the largest shopping plaza, Hatteras Island Plaza, on the island.

Buxton

Buxton is the home of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Frisco, south of Buxton, doesn’t have a clear border, but it is considered its own community. The Billy Mitchell Airstrip is a 3,000-foot airfield located in Frisco.

Hatteras Village

2.5 miles past Frisco lies Hatteras Village, the location of the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and the ferry dock for the Ocracoke Ferry.

The Ocracoke Ferry docks on the north end of Ocracoke Island. It’s about a 15-minute drive to Ocracoke Village.

Other Place Names (Just in Case)

Colington

Colington is an island to the west of the Wright Brothers Monument. It is almost entirely residential, although there are some, very few, but some, seasonal rentals there.

Mainland Dare County

Mainland Dare County is to the west of the Outer Banks. Sparsely populated, the three villages of mainland Dare County are East Lake, Manns Harbor, and Stumpy Point. The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, the second-largest wildlife refuge on the East Coast, is located here.

Mainland Currituck County

Mainland Currituck County is the only peninsula that is west of the northern Outer Banks. The communities of mainland Currituck County do not have clear boundaries, but starting north and working south they are Grandy, Jarvisburg, Powells Point, Harbinger, and Point Harbor.

Some Local Jargon

It can be confusing to visitors when residents use their own terminology to describe how to get places. That’s true of just about every place, and the Outer Banks is no exception.

Most of that local language refers to the three main towns of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head.

Roads

Connecting those three towns are two major highways:

US 158 (Croatan Highway) → locally called “The Bypass”

NC 12 (Virginia Dare Trail) → locally called “The Beach Road”

The Beach Road, which parallels the ocean shoreline from Kitty Hawk to South Nags Head, got its name for obvious reasons.

The Bypass was built in the 1960s to bypass the growing congestion on the Beach Road. Generally speaking, it’s still faster to use the Bypass rather than the Beach Road, although calling the 20 miles from the Wright Memorial Bridge to Whalebone Junction, where US 158 ends, may be a stretch.

Mileposts

One of the most common ways to give a location is to name the milepost. The milepost measurements are from the foot of the Wright Memorial Bridge.

Example: “Be sure to check out the Brewing Station at Milepost 8.5 on the Bypass in KDH.”

Translation—The Outer Banks Brewing Station is 8.5 miles from the foot of the Wright Memorial Bridge in Kill Devil Hills on US 158 or the Croatan Highway.

Which is great advice, since the Brewing Station brews their own beer—and it’s excellent—and the food is very good.

Travel Tips

Even for locals, distances on the Outer Banks can sometimes catch us by surprise.

Google Maps and other map apps do a very good job of giving directions and drive times. Use them.

Local’s Tip: Summer traffic can add 20 to 25 percent onto drive times. Be aware of that, especially if plans call for being somewhere at a certain time.

Example: The drive time from Duck to Waterside Theatre, where The Lost Colony is performed, is listed as 45 minutes. Expect that to be a 55-minute to one-hour drive in the summer.

The post The Outer Banks … How to Know where you are appeared first on The Blog.

And that’s a fair question. Not because there is nothing to do—just the opposite, there is so much to do and see on the Outer Banks that trying to come up with a list is close to impossible.

There are, though, some things that have stood the test of time remarkably well.

Top Attraction – The Beach

The Outer Banks beaches are why so many visitors come back year after year.

Even better—especially in the summer—the water temperature is just about perfect, usually within two to three degrees of 70°F (or 21°C for our international guests).

With over 100 miles of sand, there’s room to spread out. And no matter where you are—Corolla, Nags Head, or Cape Hatteras National Seashore—parking is always free.

An interesting feature of North Carolina beaches is that they are all public use. No one owns the beach, and you’re almost always allowed to be there. The exception: at certain times of year, parts of CHNS may close for sea turtle or endangered bird nesting.

Local’s Tip: Some sections of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore may close during nesting season for sea turtles or endangered birds. Signs will be posted, and it’s important to respect them—fines are steep.

Corolla & the Currituck Banks

In Corolla, beach goers will find plenty of parking available between Duck and the 4WD area of Carova. Currituck County has an excellent map that details all of the parking areas. The map is not to scale, but is very easy to use. An important note for families, perhaps—the parking at the north end of North Beach Access Road and the south end off Yaupon have the most complete restroom and shower facilities.

The 4WD area of Carova, where the Corolla Wild Horse roam, has beach parking only, meaning there are not parking areas or shower or restroom facilities. If the plan is to stop on the beach and park, you must have a beach parking permit. More information is available here.

Northern Dare County

The towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head make up the heart of the Outer Banks.

The beaches here are just as wonderful, but a few local rules apply:

• Duck and Southern Shores: No public beach parking. Access is for property owners and guests only.
• Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head: Plenty of public beach access lots. Look for CAMA signs.

Because these towns are the most populated on the Outer Banks, beachgoers will find quick access to convenience stores, burger joints, and more.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beaches

All beaches on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke are part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS)—the first national seashore in the country, formally dedicated in 1958.

These beaches are spectacular. Ocracoke’s beach has regularly ranked among the top 10 in the nation by Dr. Beach—until it was removed for winning too often.

• CHNS begins in South Nags Head and includes nearly all of Ocracoke Island.
• Coquina Beach, in South Nags Head, offers great parking and full facilities.
• Hatteras Island, stretching from the Basnight Bridge to Hatteras Village, is a 50-mile-long barrier island with world-class beaches.
• Buxton Beach, near the lighthouse, has excellent facilities and parking.

Local’s Tip: While CHNS beaches are public, the National Park Service will close some sections for nesting activity. Respect the signs—citations and fines are enforced.

Driving on the Beach

Driving on the beach is a popular Outer Banks tradition, but there are some rules to know:

• Nags Head & Kill Devil Hills: Driving allowed from Oct 1 to Apr 30 with a permit.
• Other towns: No beach driving permitted.
• CHNS: Open to ORVs year-round, but closures occur for nesting and safety. It’s the driver’s responsibility to know what’s open.

For more details, you can visit our page outlining the rules around driving on the beach on the Outer Banks.

Top Attractions – Nature

The Outer Banks isn’t just beaches. Look soundside and you’ll find dense maritime forests, sand dunes, and incredible wildlife preserves.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park – Nags Head

The largest living sand dune on the East Coast, Jockey’s Ridge is more than just sand. The 427-acre park constantly shifts with winds and storms.

• Hang gliding lessons (since 1974!) still offered by Kitty Hawk Kites
• A top spot for flying kites or catching a sunset
• Soundside beach access perfect for families
• Tracks in the Sand Trail – a 1.2-mile loop into maritime forest and along Roanoke Sound

Local’s Tip: In summer, the sand gets dangerously hot—20–25° hotter than the air. Wear footwear to avoid burns.

Maritime Forests

Hidden behind tall dunes, the Outer Banks’ maritime forests are a step back in time. These are the places where people lived before oceanfront homes lined the beaches.

There are four protected forests:

• Currituck Estuarine Reserve
• Kitty Hawk Woods
• Nags Head Woods
• Buxton Woods

Nags Head Woods

Managed by The Nature Conservancy, Nags Head Woods is the most accessible, with parking off Ocean Acres Drive in Kill Devil Hills.

• Easy and moderate trails
• Great for kids
• Roanoke Trail winds through local history
• ADA-accessible trail to freshwater pond and marsh

Kitty Hawk Woods

The largest maritime forest on the Outer Banks—three square miles of forest, swamp, and marsh.

• Trails and summer kayak tours
• Birch Lane Trail (3.8-mile out and back) starts at Kitty Hawk Park, which offers parking, restrooms, and a picnic shelter

Benches along the way make this an ideal trail for nature spotting and a little peace and quiet.

Currituck Estuarine Reserve

Look for the gate at the trailhead—it keeps the Corolla Wild Horses out of town.

• ADA 0.3-mile boardwalk through maritime swamp forest
• 1.5-mile trail through pine and live oak to Currituck Sound

The parking lot is about 2 miles north of the Currituck Lighthouse on NC 12.

Buxton Woods

At the widest part of Hatteras Island, Buxton Woods is a unique blend of temperate and subtropical ecosystems.

• Lookout Loop Trail: Short, moderately challenging
• Access via Old Doctor’s Road, about 0.5 miles south of Cape Hatteras Secondary School
• Much of the forest is navigable by 4WD on sandy roads

Pea Island – A Birdwatcher’s Dream

Established in 1938, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is a must-see.

• Fall through spring, the impoundments fill with migrating birds—ducks, geese, swans
• Spring and summer bring blue heron, egrets, and songbirds
• Easy trail from the Visitor Center leads to a viewing platform

Pea Island spans the northern 11 miles of Hatteras Island, between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe.

Local’s Tip: Across from the Visitor Center is a small beach. About 200 yards offshore, the shipwrecked Civil War troop carrier Oriental can still be seen. Be extremely careful crossing NC 12—speeding is common.

The Corolla Wild Horses

Small and scrappy, these wild horses are descended from Spanish mustangs brought here by explorers centuries ago.

For their protection, the herd was moved to the 4WD-only area of Carova.

• Horse tours are the best way to learn and see them
• 4WD vehicles are allowed with the following rules:
  • Air down your tires at stations (it’s enforced)
  • Permit required to stop and park on the beach
  • Stay at least 50 feet away from the horses—always

Sandy Run Park – Kitty Hawk

For families looking for a short nature walk, Sandy Run Park in Kitty Hawk is just the thing.

• A half-mile loop with boardwalk and packed earth
• Crosses pond, marsh, and a bit of forest
• Spot ospreys, turtles, woodpeckers, raccoons—and maybe a river otter

Located on The Woods Road, it’s small, peaceful, and perfect for a one-hour adventure into the natural side of the Outer Banks.

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