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Historic Corolla Park

Signature Events

Yoga in the Park Thursdays • June 5-September 4, 2025 • 7:30am to 8:30am

60-minute Yoga class for all-levels. Every session includes guided meditation to re-center you, breath work to calm you, and a series of seated and standing postures to make you feel like your best self.

Classes are held outside in front of Whalehead overlooking the sound. Please bring a yoga mat, beach towel or tapestry, plenty of water and sun protection. In the event of rain or inclement weather, classes will be canceled. And best of all, it’s FREE to participants! So Relaxing…

Under the Oaks Art Festival Tuesday & Wednesday • June 17 & 18, 2025 • 10am to 5pm

This popular festival brings together a collection of talented artists and visitors can expect to find paintings and prints, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodworks, and much more. Free for all attendees, local food concessions are available as well as a silent art auction that is open to the public.

Independence Day Celebration Friday • July 4, 2025 • 5pm to 9pm

What better way to celebrate America’s independence than with free live music and a spectacular firework show on The Northern Outer Banks! Come out to Historic Corolla Park for the Independence Day Celebration with loads of fun family activities and food provided by local vendors.

Activities and live music begin at 5:00 pm with fireworks at dusk.

Admission is free and free parking is available at the park until lots are full. Please note that no coolers, alcohol, or on-street parking is permitted. The Historic Corolla Park boat ramp and air-up stations are closed this day with no docking allowed. Dogs are permitted on leashes.

Corolla Cork & Craft Wednesday • August 6, 2025 • 12pm to 8pm

Local wine, beer, and craft cocktails, live music and curated local craft artisans in the breathtaking and peaceful setting of Historic Corolla Park. Admission to this event is free. Beer, wine, food, and crafts will be available for purchase. Adults over 21 may purchase wine, beer or spirits by the glass or by the bottle. There will be no free tastings at this event. Please bring a photo ID if you are interested in purchasing alcohol.

For more information on these events and more, Call 252.453.9040 or visit our website

NorthernOBXEvents.com

6 | SU M M ER 2025

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 7

19 57 38

68

Summer 2025

10

FROM THE DESK

12

BUT FIRST...

14

SUMMER EVENTS CALENDAR

16

TOWN REPORT

19

TRUST THE PROCESS

47 50 52

ACROSS THE SEAS

57

PLAY BALL!

60

BEACONS OF THE OUTER BANKS All about our lighthouses

38

FRESH OFF THE VINE Unlikely watermelon dishes

44

FOUR IF BY SEA

SHINE ON ASK AN EXPERT Pro tips for pool owners

62

FIGHT FOR THE NIGHT New techniques in the battle against light pollution

Summer league baseball returns to the Outer Banks

34

HOME SPOTLIGHT

Replicating a first-order Fresnel lens

Cultural exchange through the J-1visa program

31

BUSINESS BRIEFS The historic Midgett House on Hatteras Island

The colorful works of artist Jackie Tury

26

A WAY FORWARD

Tracking bloodlines in Corolla's Banker horses

64 68

SUN SALUTATIONS NOTES FROM HOME Sending postcards to the Nags Head Post Office

70

FIVE FACTS Jockey's Ridge

The Golden Rules ABOUT THE COVER: A hang glider takes flight over Jockey's Ridge. Photo courtesy of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

THIS PAGE: Images courtesy of the National Park Service (left), Jackie Tury (center top), Brooke Mayo (center bottom), and Ryan Moser (right).

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FROM THE DESK

STAFF STAFF PUBLISHERS Adam & Cathy Baldwin

Sunrise Sky by artist Jackie Tury.

Build your villages.

THESE DAYS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF EXTRA ATTENTION to the goal of being “connected.” But what exactly does that mean? It might just depend on who you ask.

For self-help gurus it can be largely metaphorical, while professionals of all different stripes may be more focused on career advancement. In more specialized terms, it could refer to the functionality of certain machines or data sets, and even frequent flyers might simply be debating their ability (or lack thereof) of making it from one side of a terminal to the other.

Connections – or, at least, the possibility of them – are everywhere.

Perhaps one of the biggest things pushing us toward this idealized notion of being connected, is, of course, our gadgets. Without unnecessarily vilifying our devices – technology can be wonderfully beneficial in a lot of ways – it can start to feel as though everywhere we turn there’s a new product or appliance that purports to let us stay connected like never before. Our phones are probably an overly obvious culprit in this department, filled as they are with a tantalizing array of apps that go well beyond placing calls to making videos, taking and sharing photos, organizing group chats and surfing virtually endless waves of social media.

We’re often told that “it takes a village,” so why – with all of this innovative technology available at the touch of a finger – are so many of us left wondering where those proverbial community safety nets are exactly?

The truth – as plenty of others have been quick to point out – is that villages, very often, are not ready-made, and they certainly don’t exist in a vacuum. Building a village takes work and the energy of active participants who show up for each other even (and maybe especially) when it isn’t terribly convenient.

That our gadgets are useful tools is undeniable, but interacting with – and supporting – each other deeply requires more than screen time. It takes being there, present in the moments and prepared to both listen and learn about others who can regularly seem different than ourselves. It’s the type of work that can feel uncomfortable at times, confusing even, but it can also open our eyes to surprising new ideas and approaches that we might not have realized otherwise. That, too, is where connections begin.

And villages don’t have to be singular. Friends, family, colleagues, neighbors and fellow travelers can form all sorts of cooperative spaces that resist isolation and reinforce our sense of what it means to be a part of something larger in this world. Even the people who you meet in the pages of this magazine can become part of that experience, particularly if their passions and motivations resonate with you in unexpected ways, offering you the opportunity to reflect on your own normal patterns and desires – and giving you the chance to imagine a future where truly anything is possible.

As always, we hope you enjoy this issue!

Publisher 10 | SU M M ER 2025

Editor

EDITOR Amelia Boldaji ART DIRECTOR Dave Rollins WRITERS CONTRIBUTORS Cathy Baldwin • Emmy Benton Cathy Baldwin AmeliaAmelia BoldajiBoldaji • Steve Hanf Catherine Kozak • Jessica Manack Steve Hanf Amanda McDanel • Arabella Catherine Kozak Saunders Emmy Trivette Michelle Wagner Jessica• Manack Ryan Moser PHOTOGRAPHERS Arabella Saunders Lori Douglas Brooke Mayo Emmy •Trivette RyanMichelle Moser • Wagner Wes Snyder GRAPHIC GRAPHIC DESIGNER DESIGNER Dylan Dylan Bush Bush SALES SALES MANAGER MANAGER Helen Helen Furr Furr ACCOUNT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES EXECUTIVES Jessica Jessica Beaman Beaman Ron Ron Chamberlayne Chamberlayne The North Beach Sun is published quarterly by The North Beach Sun is published quarterly by Access Media Group. All works contained herein are Access Media Group. All works contained herein are the property of the North Beach Sun. the property of the North Beach Sun. The views expressed in the articles contained herein The views expressed in the articles contained herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor or Access Media Group. The published editor or Access Media Group. The published material, advertisements, editorials and all other material, advertisements, editorials and all other content is published in good faith. Access Media content is published in good faith. Access Media Group and North Beach Sun cannot guarantee and Group and North Beach Sun cannot guarantee and accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any kind caused by errors, omissions or the accuracy of kind caused by errors, omissions or the accuracy of claims made by advertisers. claims made by advertisers.

NORTH BEACH BEACH SUN SUN NORTH 115 West Meadowlark St. 115 West Meadowlark St. Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 252.449.4444 252.449.4444 editor@northbeachsun.com editor@northbeachsun.com

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istock.com/quintanilla

BUT FIRST...

Heal Thyself !

Fact or Fiction?

OUCH, THAT HURTS! Although no one wants to get stung by something swimming nearby, it’s not an uncommon occurrence when we’re sharing the seas with jellies, rays and urchins – and contrary to that one episode of Friends, urine will not help you out in a pinch (it could even make it worse!).

The likely origin of this enduring myth is the idea that urine contains compounds like ammonia and urea, which can be helpful for some stings if used alone – the only problem is that your urine’s too diluted to do much good. Other things to avoid? Fresh water, alcohol, baking soda, shaving cream and meat tenderizer – all of which have been touted in the past, but debunked by medical science. Your best bet for most stings is to gently wash the wound with saltwater and carefully remove any visible spines or tentacles with tweezers before soaking the affected area in hot water for about 30 minutes – oh, and find your nearest lifeguard!

Maritime Medicine APPROXIMATELY 71 PERCENT of the Earth’s surface is covered in water – mostly thanks to the world’s oceans – but according to some estimates, we’ve only fully explored around five percent of what lies beneath those depths. When it comes to scientific developments, this could very well mean that many important medical breakthroughs are swimming, crawling or floating just off our shores.

While most marine-derived medicines currently being studied are tied to cancer-fighting research, there have already been several promising advances in experiments using everything from microscopic bacteria to sea sponges and phytoplankton, and a clotting agent found in horseshoe crab blood has been in use to develop safe vaccines since the 1970s.

In more recent news, a pain reliever that’s potentially 1,000 times stronger than morphine has been identified through work with venomous cone snail species, while many scientists believe that sea stars and jellyfish could eventually deliver a wider variety of antiinflammatory options – and some groundbreaking new research using sterilized tilapia skin on burn wounds suggests that your whitefish entrée may one day double as a band aid. Welcome to the future!

Talk Therapy PRIOR TO THE WIDESPREAD

USAGE of electricity in rural areas

of the southern U.S., burns were a highly common ailment, which gave rise to faith healers known as “fire talkers.” According to lore, practitioners of this old country cure were individuals who could communicate with a burn – typically by reciting a set of secret scriptures – in order to extinguish the flames that remained inside the wound and banish the pain.

While the custom has been around for centuries – and is even believed to date back to the Middle Ages in Europe – the practice really took hold in the Appalachian areas of North Carolina, where it wasn’t viewed as magic but rather as a more divinely inspired gift that could only be passed down to members of the opposite sex.

It was also believed that the cure wouldn’t “take” if a fire talker was paid for their services or even simply thanked, and that a healer would lose their gift forever when and if they revealed the process to others, creating a culture of secrecy that makes it difficult to know how prevalent this tradition is in modern times – though rumors persist that a few conjurers still possess these talents in some more isolated communities around mainland Dare’s Alligator River.

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 13

SUMMER EVENTS SOUNDSIDE FUNFAIR June 5 – 8 BUTTERFLY RELEASES Wednesday and Fridays through September Discover butterflies up close as they take flight from the grounds of the beautiful Elizabethan Gardens.

elizabethangardens.com

DOWNTOWN MARKET Saturday mornings throughout the summer Buy fresh local fruits, veggies and crafts at this farmers’ market every Saturday in downtown Manteo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

manteonc.gov

VUSIC SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Selected dates throughout the summer Rock out on Roanoke Island with the Vusic summer concert series, which features major national and regional performers.

livefromobx.com

MUSTANG MORNINGS ON THE FARM May 28 – August 27 Meet rescued wild horses up close and hear their stories at the Wild Horse Fund's farm in Grandy.

corollawildhorses.org

THE LOST COLONY May 29 – August 23 This fascinating drama – the longestrunning outdoor historical drama in the United States – brings to life the mystery of what happened during the first permanent English settlement attempt right here on the Outer Banks.

thelostcolony.org

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF JOCKEY’S RIDGE STATE PARK June 5 – 8 This four-day celebration of the iconic state park’s 50th anniversary includes live entertainment, educational and recreational programs, a sunset toast and more.

facebook.com/friendsofjockeysridge 14 | SU M M ER 2025

Kick off the summer at this festive carnival to benefit Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County at The Soundside event site.

darekids.org

43RD ANNUAL ROGALLO KITE FESTIVAL June 5 – 6 This free kite festival at Jockey’s Ridge honors Francis Rogallo, inventor of the flexible wing. Festivities include stunt kites, kite displays, kite instruction, kite coloring for kids and more.

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FIRST FRIDAY June 6, July 11 (changed for the holiday) & August 1 Downtown Manteo comes alive on the first Friday of each month from 6–8 p.m.

darearts.org

DARE DAY June 7 Spend the day celebrating Manteo’s rich history with music, crafts and food vendors.

manteonc.gov

DOWDY PARK FARMERS’ MARKET June 12 – August 21 (Thursdays) Stop by Dowdy Park in Nags Head between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. each Thursday during the summer for fresh fruits and veggies.

nagsheadnc.gov

CONCERTS ON THE GREEN Every Thursday from June 12 – September 11 Enjoy a free live concert with music ranging from country to covers on the Duck Town Green.

townofduck.com

UNDER THE OAKS ARTS FESTIVAL June 17 – 18 This free two-day art festival features talented artisans on the waterfront grounds of Historic Corolla Park.

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FIRST FLIGHT FARMERS’ MARKET Every Tuesday morning, June 17August 12 Shop more than 65 local vendors and food trucks as you stroll around the pond at Aviation Park in Kill Devil Hills.

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SOUNDSIDE SUMMER MARKET Every Wednesday from June 18 – August 20 Buy one-of-a-kind pieces made by local artisans at the Soundside Market in Nags Head every Wednesday through the summer.

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ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY PARADE AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATION July 4

COROLLA CORK & CRAFT August 6 Enjoy local beer and wine tastings, live music and curated craft artisans in the scenic setting of Historic Corolla Park.

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OUTER BANKS PIRATE FESTIVAL August 14 – 15 Learn pirate lore, take pictures with mermaids and enroll the little ones in Scallywag School during this fun festival at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head.

kittyhawk.com

WRV OUTER BANKS PRO August 27 – September 1 (Tentative)

Cheer on this festive parade in Duck followed by a celebration with live music at the Duck Town Park.

Top-rated surfers from around the world compete in this Men’s Qualifying Series event at Jennette’s Pier.

TOWN OF MANTEO’S 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION July 4

OBX ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL September 3 – 4

Celebrate the national holiday with festivities in downtown Manteo.

This annual show at the Hilton Garden Inn features paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, glass artwork and more.

A portion of artists’ entrance fees are donated to local charities.

townofduck.com

manteonc.gov

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 4

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facebook.com/obxartfestival

Marvel at fireworks on the lawn of Historic Corolla Park while listening to free live music and enjoying family-friendly activities.

BEER GARDEN AT THE ELIZABETHAN GARDENS October 4

47TH ANNUAL WRIGHT KITE FESTIVAL July 18 – 19

elizabethangardens.org

northernobxevents.com

Learn to fly stunt kites for free and watch large kite displays during this event at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills.

kittyhawk.com

OBX SKIM JAM July 25 – 27 Watch talented skimboarders glide across the shoreline as they compete in this regional tournament at Jennette’s Pier.

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19TH ANNUAL OUTER BANKS WATERMELON FESTIVAL August 1 There’s plenty for the kids to do during this summery event at the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Nags Head, including face painting, crafts, watermelon-themed competitions and more.

kittyhawk.com

Savor a few brews on the lawn of The Elizabethan Gardens in this inaugural event this fall.

DUCK JAZZ FESTIVAL October 11 – 12 This free, all-day event features national, regional and local acts at the Duck Town Park.

duckjazz.com

OUTER BANKS SEAFOOD FESTIVAL October 18 Enjoy fresh local seafood, cooking demos, mullet tossing, live music and more during this family-friendly event at The Soundside event site in Nags Head.

outerbanksseafoodfestival.org

ROANOKE ISLAND OYSTER SHELLABRATION November 2 Slurp down a few salty oysters at Safe Harbor Marina in Wanchese during this inaugural fundraising event for The Lost Colony.

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by Currituck Travel & Tourism visitcurrituck.com N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 15

TOWN REPORT

Nags Head

What’s happening in your town? Here’s a report from all over the Outer Banks.

Kitty Hawk

COM PIL ED BY C ATH ERI N E KOZ A K

Currituck County A groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 25 at the Maple Commerce Park, which is adjacent to the Currituck County Regional Airport. Through a partnership between Currituck County and Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), a classroom facility and airplane hangar will be constructed at the commerce park as part of ECSU’s new Currituck Flight Training Center.

According to a press release, the venture establishes the first hub for the university’s popular Aviation Sciences Program outside of Elizabeth City. ECSU is the only school in the University of North Carolina system to offer a four-year aviation sciences degree.

The project – which is expected to be complete in 2026 – includes a 4,800 square-foot classroom and office facility, a 6,600 square-foot airplane hangar and a direct taxiway for its airplanes into the airport property.

Duck The Advice 5K Turkey Trot, an annual run held for 25 years in Duck on Thanksgiving morning, will be revived in 2025. Originally organized by Nancy Caviness, the informal philanthropyfocused race was retired after the 2021 event, but the Turkey Trot’s permanent charitable endowment to help local nonprofits – which was established in 2013 – is still being managed by the Outer Banks Community Foundation, and donations are still accepted on the

16 | SU M M ER 2025

Advice 5K Turkey Trot Fund’s Facebook page.

Gray Berryman, representing the First Flight Track Club that launched in 2024, told the town council that the club would like to build on Caviness’ success, and run a similarly family-friendly race through parts of Duck. On March 5, the town council agreed to co-sponsor the renewed race this November, and to provide both fire and police support for the event.

Southern Shores At its April 1 meeting, the Southern Shores Town Council authorized the town to move forward with renovations on the community’s town hall, which is located on Virginia Dare Trail.

The proposed project will convert the conference room into a receptionist area, remodel the planning and administration entrances, and install three new interior doors as well as a new front door equipped with recently replaced electronic access equipment, according to town documents.

The original bid was lowered by removing square footage for file storage, and a contract with Sussex Development Corporation and KDH Fire & Security for the renovation work calls for the amount not to exceed $231,690. Separate work covered by the total $380,000 budgeted by the town for the renovation includes the construction of a new front porch and additional electronic door equipment replacement, leaving about $16.4 million unspent.

According to a March announcement from the town, new solar lights have been placed at 12 beach road crosswalks in Kitty Hawk. The lights, located at Byrd, Maynard, Bennett, Luke, East Eckner, Wilkins, Bleriot, Hawks, Balchen, Starfish and Lillian streets, as well as at Kitty Hawk Road and the Kitty Hawk Bath House crossing, were installed to enhance safety and visibility along NC 12.

The town explained that the lights are set to dim at 11 p.m. in order to minimize light pollution. They will remain on a dimmer setting until motion sensors detect a person approaching, at which point the lights will automatically brighten. “These lights are designed on shorter poles with directional light in order to not interfere with wildlife including turtles and birds,” the town said. The project was made possible with a Tourism Impact Grant from the Dare County Tourism Board.

A $500,000 grant from the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund was awarded in late February to the town of Nags Head in order to finance the repairs and replacement for about 400 malfunctioning residential septic systems, the governor’s office announced. It is the first award from the Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System Pilot Program, and Nags Head was one of 203 eligible applicants.

“This funding aligns with our Todd D. Krafft Septic Health Initiative, which has helped Nags Head residents maintain their septic systems for over 20 years,” the town said. “By offering free septic inspections, low-interest pump-out loans, and financial assistance for system repairs, this initiative plays a vital role in protecting our water quality.”

Manteo An application for a special-use permit for Dare County Schools’ Early College was approved by the Manteo Board of Commissioners on April 2 after a quasi-judicial hearing. Plans for the new 26,000-square-foot structure, to be built at the existing College of the Albemarle Dare campus in Manteo, will include an additional 92 parking spaces.

Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the fall of 2026.

The Early College program provides local children the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and a college associate degree simultaneously.

Kill Devil Hills

Dare County

The Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners has agreed to apply for a grant through the North Carolina Land and Water Fund that could allow town-owned land in Nags Head Woods to be permanently protected for passive recreation. If the grant is approved, the town could receive funds in exchange for a perpetual conservation easement for The Nature Conservancy, which would manage the property on the town’s behalf. The town’s land in the Nags Head Woods Preserve – one of the largest remaining maritime forests on the East Coast – and the adjacent Fresh Pond area are currently under conservation management through a memorandum of understanding between Kill Devil Hills and The Nature Conservancy.

Updated property appraisal notices that were mailed to all Dare County property owners by the county Property Appraisal Department in late March reflected an eye-popping increase in the tax base. According to a presentation by the county assessor at the Dare County Board of Commissioners’ March 3 meeting, the 2025 county-wide revaluation totaled $27.5 billion, a 67% jump in the 2024 assessed value of $16.4 billion. In the prior 2020 revaluation, the county’s tax base was $15.9 billion.

County officials later said that the new county tax rate for the annual budget will be “revenue neutral” when it’s officially set in June, with the current rate of 40.5 cents per $100 of value expected to drop 35% to 26.32 cents per $100 of value.

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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 17

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18 | SU M M ER 2025

Trust the

Process

BY ARABELLA SAUNDERS

JACKIE TURY DIDN’T SET OUT TO BECOME AN

ARTIST. She took some art classes as a child, and again in

college, but only as a hobby while she pursued a degree in psychology. Following graduation, she primarily stuck to the same path, becoming a social worker and then earning her master’s degree in clinical social work. From there, she developed a career as a therapist, and later, as a stay-athome mom.

Then, at a birthday celebration one year, she and a few friends created a bucket list of “40 things to do at 40.”

“Taking an oil painting class was at the top of my list,” Jackie says.

So, she signed up for a class at her local Michaels craft store in Northern Virginia.

“Everyone there was painting realistic paintings from photos, and I was just painting my own thing, from my own imagination, in these bold, wild, crazy colors,” Jackie says with a laugh. “The teacher kept going, ‘Wow, Jackie. It usually takes people years to come up with their own style.’”

From that moment on, Jackie was hooked.

She switched to acrylics and began experimenting with mixed media. The work she was creating brought her so much joy that she felt compelled to share it with others. She began making connections in her local art community and showing her pieces at galleries in the Washington, DC, area.

“I didn’t even know that being an artist was a dream for me,” Jackie says. “Then 40 hit – and once I got a little taste of that, and picked up a paintbrush, I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is what I want to be.’”

Now 59, Jackie lives in Kitty Hawk, where she creates colorful, ocean-inspired works from her in-home studio.

Her connection with the Outer Banks runs deep: Her mother first introduced Jackie to the barrier islands during family vacations, gradually renting homes for longer and longer periods until making the move permanent. Jackie had always dreamed of following in her mother’s footsteps.

“The beach is where I feel most alive, most myself, most inspired and most connected to something other than myself,” Jackie says.

Pictured here: Beach Blossoms (top) and Tiptoe Through the Tulips (bottom).

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 19

Artist Jackie Tury at her solo show that opened this past April at the Duck Gallery in Scarborough Lane.

Photo by Lori Douglas.

It took a bit of time to convince the rest of her family, but four years ago, Jackie and her husband finally made the move from Virginia. She had already transitioned to being a fulltime artist a few years prior by teaching workshops, leading artist retreats and selling her work. Today, her pieces can be found in several Outer Banks galleries, including the Dare Arts Gallery in Manteo, the KDH Cooperative Gallery in Kill Devil Hills, and the Duck Gallery in the Scarborough Lane shopping center, where her most recent solo show opened this past April.

Even before relocating, Jackie’s paintings were often infused with ocean themes – abstract seascapes and flowing compositions inspired by the rhythm and energy of the water. But now, living by the sea, that influence is stronger than ever.

“Probably 90 percent of my paintings have something to do with the ocean,” she says.

Jackie’s work is deeply personal and spiritually grounded. As part of a process she calls “painting from the inside out,” Jackie doesn’t use reference images or start with an outline. Instead, she paints sentence-style affirmations or mantras directly onto her canvases before layering a series of bold colors, textures and strokes on top of those humble beginnings until a composition begins to emerge.

“I just show up and let the painting unfold,” she explains. “Some paintings come together quickly. Others, I set aside and come back to. Some, I paint over completely. There are a lot of paintings under my paintings.”

For Jackie, her approach is as much about the process as it is about the finished product. The result is a body of work that feels both spontaneous and deeply considered.

“It’s about joy,” she adds. “It’s about freedom. It’s about embracing the unknown.”

Jackie’s affinity for spontaneity can be seen in her personal life as well. She calls her career pivot her “artful awakening” or her “midlife metamorphosis.”

Prior to picking up a paintbrush, Jackie feels as though she was happy with her life, but she often found herself dedicating the majority of her time to doing things for others without reserving space to take care of herself.

“Painting became what I was doing for me,” she says. “It wasn’t to please anybody. It was just to please myself…and it made me happy and inspired.”

2 0 | SU M M ER 2025

Paintings pictured here, clockwise from top: Beach Picnic, Good Vibes Only, Mountain View and Lavender Skies and Twilight Tides.

“It’s about joy.

It’s about freedom.

It’s about embracing the unknown.”

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 21

“I want my paintings to feel like sunshine, for them to be a bright spot in people’s days. ”

Pictured here, clockwise from top left: Iris Fields, My Heart is Full and Sorbet Sunset.

2 2 | SU M M ER 2025

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Pictured here, clockwise from top: To Thine Own Self Be True, Spring on the Saltmarsh and Make a Splash.

Now in her dream career in her dream locale, Jackie spends most mornings walking along the beach at sunrise before doing a bit of yoga or meditation.

Some days she journals or takes photographs. In the afternoons, when the light is right, she paints barefoot in her studio.

“You know that saying, ‘Stay close to people who feel like sunshine’ – I want people to think about my paintings like that,” Jackie says. “I want my paintings to feel like sunshine, for them to be a bright spot in people’s days.”

For the next iteration of her career, Jackie envisions keeping things mostly the way they are.

She’s a highly prolific painter – last year, she completed 50 pieces and sold 40 of them – and she wants to continue focusing on the ocean as a common thread throughout her work. She’s also interested, however, in exploring other landscapes, honing her skills as a photographer and collaborating with her husband, who is a papermaker.

“And I want to keep living life to the fullest at the beach,” Jackie adds with enthusiasm.

Her advice for people looking to pursue an art career later in life?

“It’s never too late,” Jackie says firmly. “If you just keep showing up, doing the work, trusting the process and seeing what unfolds, you can, very often, create magic.”

2 4 | SU M M ER 2025

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ACROSS THE

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The J-1 visa program provides cultural exchange — and a needed boost to our summer workforce.

SUMMER ON THE OUTER BANKS can mean many things to many different people, but for some, it’s a season of living overseas. With just under 1,400 exchange visitors in 2024, the Outer Banks is pretty familiar with having students from outside the United States fill the nearendless openings for seasonal employment.

“We’re really lucky here on the Outer Banks in that the world come to us every summer,” says Jamie Banjak, director of the Outer Banks’ International Student Outreach Program (ISOP).

The exchange visitor visa category (designated by the letter J) of the BridgeUSA program was started in 1961 under the Fulbright-Hays Act, which was created to foster goodwill and cultural exchange between nations during the Cold War. It is a nonimmigrant visa handled under the U.S. Department of State, with many different categories, including becoming an au pair, a camp counselor or a professor.

BridgeUSA’s Summer Work Travel Program is for students enrolled fulltime at colleges and universities outside the U.S. to come to America for the duration of their summer break on what’s known as a J-1 visa. It allows them to share their culture with Americans while experiencing a thoughtful exchange of knowledge and customs, ensuring person-to-person interaction.

Though there’s no upper age limit, participants are typically between the ages of 18 and 26, and they’re responsible for paying everything from program fees to visa application processing fees. They must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English, go through various interviews and provide proper documentation before being accepted to the program.

They work temporary, seasonal jobs during their time in the U.S. to offset the cost of travel, and they build their resumes by practicing English, working in Western hospitality, and gaining experience outside the country. They’re paid the same as a domestic worker and must work at least 32 hours a week.

The Outer Banks ranked seventh last year in the number of J-1 exchange visitors across the nation, and has historically ranked number one in the state of North Carolina, with the majority of participants hailing from areas like Jamaica, Turkey, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Romania and Ecuador.

The rigorous application process is competitive, with only about 100,000 people a year being chosen for the Summer Work Travel Program. Participants can opt to be located in a multitude of tourism-fueled hotspots like Disney World, Martha’s Vineyard and Ocean City, but the Outer Banks continues to be one of the most popular destinations.

The program gained popularity on the Outer Banks in 2014 after the area invested resources and began encouraging people to understand the ways in which the initiative could help the community.

All J-1 visa holders must obtain a social security card to be paid for their employment while in the U.S., so ISOP began working with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to offer these services. About once a week, the SSA set up a temporary office at the Nags Head YMCA and it turned into an informational fair for participants to get acquainted with the area. They learned about bike

2 6 | SU M M ER 2025

From top to bottom: Multiple-time Summer Work Travel Program participant Sutanya from Jamaica at Cups and Cones in Avon; Friends Summer (from Thailand), Sergio (from Columbia) and X (also from Thailand) all met while working seasonal jobs at the Ramada in Kill Devil Hills; J-1 visitor Katherine traveled from Columbia to greet an array of people at Kill Devil Hill’s Awful Arthur’s. Photos courtesy of Jamie Banjak.

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safety, how to swim out of a rip current, and the importance of using crosswalks, among other things.

With resources like that in place, the number of participants coming to the Outer Banks almost doubled, and the beach quickly earned its place in the top 10 program destinations across the country.

Employers first recognized the need for seasonal staff in the mid-2000s, so some have been involved in the program for almost two decades now. Many students come back year after year, and word of mouth seems to be the biggest driver of interest – particularly as participants see how valued they are when employers push for access to things like increased housing units, better sidewalks, bike safety and free recreational equipment.

“I talk to people all the time, and I’m like, you have no marketing budget in Serbia, but people in Serbia are talking about the Outer Banks,” Jamie says. “We have 100% control over what they go home and say based on the experiences that we offer.”

In many ways that starts with visa sponsors, who are different from the visa holder’s employer, and are chosen by the U.S. Department of State to work with agencies in the students’ home country. Sponsors must be available for 24-hour emergency support and be able to provide assistance with housing and transportation if those things are not provided by the employer. The students have to check in at least once a month with their sponsors to verify where they’re living and working, that they’re taking part in cultural activities, and that they’re safe, well and healthy.

As a practical matter, visa sponsors tend to place participants in areas where organizations like ISOP – which was founded in 2013 – are present to advocate for essentials such as safety, transportation and housing.

ISOP is what the U.S. Department of State calls a “community support group,” according to Jamie, and they make a big Many students come difference for exchange visitors from back year after year, overseas. These groups identify issues or and word of mouth concerns in their communities that may be seems to be the biggest hindering the program’s success, and work to find solutions by hosting forums to foster driver of interest. engagement.

Local churches and rotary clubs are just a few community groups that volunteer with ISOP to help with meals, donate bikes or scooters, and even offer supplemental English classes – while groups like Outreach Ministries OBX offer free dinners and gatherings for J-1 participants throughout the summer for them to get settled in their home away from home. Events like these draw dozens of people who are excited to meet other exchange visitors and participate in group activities.

Aside from these perks, Jamie says that the Outer Banks is a popular destination for students because it’s centrally located on the East Coast and has attractions that the students wouldn’t normally get to see, like lighthouses and the Atlantic Ocean.

There are also lots of opportunities for picking up second or third jobs, with more than 3,000 positions being filled at times by J-1 students.

J-1 visa holders typically work retail, hospitality and restaurant jobs because they must be placed in jobs that don’t displace American workers. Corolla employed the most exchange visitors on the beach last year with 395 workers, while Nags Head employed 307, and Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and Avon followed closely behind. Duck, Southern Shores, Buxton and Manteo were among the towns with the smallest groups of J-1 workers.

Prior to Covid-19, the number of J-1 visa holders working on the Outer Banks was just under 1,800. At the height of the pandemic, that number decreased by about a thousand, but it’s been slowly growing since then. This was hindered slightly when Jamie moved away from the area, but she says that things have gotten back on track, and ISOP will start to have regular meetings and community forums from now on.

For Jamie, this means so much more than just filling empty job positions. Over the years, she’s watched students arrive to the Outer Banks introverted and reserved, and leave more outgoing, adventurous and confident. Shyer students in particular seem to come out of their shells when they’re working and socializing with others from places all around the world.

“It’s really fun watching them grow into themselves,” Jamie says. “And to see all the ways they help shape our community, too.”

2 8 | SU M M ER 2025

From top to bottom: Lucas from the Dominican Republic and Shawn from Jamaica bonded over a summer season at Kitty Hawk’s Hilton Garden Inn; Jamaican traveler Tamoya was all smiles as she set up for a season at the Outer Banks’ Ramada; For two years in a row, Awful Arthur’s staff favorite Luis said goodbye to his home country of Columbia to work with U.S. team members like General Manager Karen Overby. Photos courtesy of Jamie Banjak.

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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 2 9

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albemarlecontractors .com • 25 2-26 1-1 080 3 0 | SU M M ER 2025

Summer league baseball makes its return to the Outer Banks with a new club and the same fun spirit.

istock.com/rbstevens

BY STEVE HANF

PLAY BALL

!

WHEN IT COMES TO SUMMER TRADITIONS, both going to the beach and playing baseball have stood the test of time. This season, these two American pastimes will be linked once again on the Outer Banks.

A new summer league team, the Outer Banks Flying Dutchmen, will compete in The Old North State League throughout this June and July, bringing summer collegiate baseball back to the Outer Banks after a brief hiatus. Following a 21-year run with the Outer Banks Daredevils team that was disrupted by Covid-19, and a shorter one-season stay for the rebranded Outer Banks Scallywags in 2023, baseball fans will again be able to cheer on a local squad of college players honing their skills in a wooden bat league.

The effort is being led by Flying Dutchmen General Manager Tom Hoggard. The team, coached by Mason Berne, includes several home-grown talents as well as players from across the country. The action itself will get underway at First Flight High School’s baseball complex the first week of June and end with playoffs in late July.

“I’m very much looking forward to bringing the college wood bat summer league atmosphere and experience to this community,” Tom says. “I’m so excited – I wish the season started tomorrow.”

A native of Windsor in nearby Bertie County, Tom visited the Outer Banks for years while he was growing up, and has now lived here fulltime since 2011.

He played college baseball before eventually turning his love of sports into a radio gig, which included more than a decade of hosting his own show and broadcasting an impressive number of games with 98.1 The Score Sports Talk for East Carolina Media.

When Tom’s son started showing an interest in playing baseball, Tom also turned to coaching local youth teams in his spare time, further cementing his spot in the community as a baseball aficionado.

So, when officials with The Old North State League determined that the Outer Banks was the perfect spot for one of its summer teams, it was perhaps unsurprising that Tom’s name came up more than once.

“I got a call out of the blue from the CEO of the league and he goes, ‘Hey man, nice to talk to you. I just want to say I don’t know anything about you, but you should be flattered to know that I’ve had about six

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 31

Outer Banks Flying Dutchmen General Manager Tom Hoggard is ready to go to bat this summer season. Photo by Brooke Mayo.

different people tell me that if I’m going to put a team here, you’re the guy that needs to run it,’” Tom recalls with a laugh.

Now a stay-at-home dad, Tom admits to being a little concerned about the time commitment at first, but after chatting things over with his family, he decided to swing for the fences. It’ll certainly be a busy summer, and planning things since the team was created in January has taken up plenty of his attention, but Tom’s still thrilled to be back out on the field again. He formerly worked with the Edenton Steamers when they were part of the Coastal Plain League – the same high-level league the Daredevils competed in for 14 years – and also volunteered a little with the Outer Banks’ old team.

“It was probably my experience in Edenton that played a big role in [taking this job] because it’s a fairly small town, but they really rallied around the Steamers. It was a community thing, a hub of activity,” Tom explains. “The local businesses and residents really supported it, and when this opportunity came up, I looked back on that time in Edenton and thought how cool it would be to do that same thing here.”

Mason Berne, currently an assistant coach with First Flight High School, also has summer baseball experience courtesy of the Coastal Plain League. He grew up in Southport outside of Wilmington, played two years at Spartanburg Methodist College and finished up at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington before being drafted by the Atlanta Braves and spending several years in the minors. Mason was a member of the Wilmington Sharks’ Coastal Plain League team for two years as well, and saw firsthand how those summer days could help players develop their skills…or simply drag on.

“The two summers that I played, I had one coach who was like, ‘This is supposed to be fun. You live here at the beach. You’re a kid.’ It was easy, and some of the best ball I ever played,” Mason says. “The other summer I played for a coach who was the exact opposite. I’m excited about bringing back that original mentality of just coming out here, having fun and getting quality reps in.”

The summer leagues that have sprouted up across the country – from famous ones like the Cape Cod Baseball League that was featured in the 2001 film Summer 32 | SU M M ER 2025

Catch to newer outfits like The Old North State League, which was established in 2018 – are designed to help young players improve their chances of playing professionally. Mason, a first baseman for most of his career, saw action with the Sharks in a variety of positions while also getting more comfortable making that transition from college baseball’s aluminum bats to the much less forgiving wood used by the professionals.

-Flying Dutchmen Tom and Mason mostly busied General Manager themselves over the spring with filling the Tom Hoggard new team’s roster. The Old North State League likes to focus on players from this region, but the Flying Dutchmen is shaping up to be a diverse group in their inaugural year. First Flight High’s Gabe Kelly will come home from Lenoir Community College and fellow Nighthawk Greer Farr will return from Hampden-Sydney College.

Manteo High’s Taylor Granitzki is in a more unique position with the team since he’s graduating from high school in June before heading to Guilford College, so he’ll take the field this summer with no prior college baseball experience.

Other incoming players include a pair from Division I High Point University in central North Carolina, a couple from Mason’s old stomping grounds of Spartanburg Methodist in South Carolina, and a few from more than a thousand miles away, including a pair from Texas A&M-Texarkana, along with others hailing from schools in Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota and California.

“I think we’re going to have a lot of fun as a group,” Mason says. “We’ve got some great guys who are competitive and talented, and I think it’s just going to be really exciting to watch some good, clean baseball.”

“I’m so excited – I wish the season started tomorrow.”

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34

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Built & Lit: December 16, 1870 Daymarks: Spiral black and white bands Light Visibility: Up to 20 nautical miles Height: 198 feet Number of steps: 269 Climbing Availability: Not currently due to restoration efforts, though climbing is expected to resume in 2026 Fun Fact: Like many of its ilk, today’s Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was not the first to bear the name – that honor goes to a 90-foot sandstone version that was lit in 1803, extended to a height of 150 feet by 1853, and irreparably damaged in the 1860s during the American Civil War. That original tower was commissioned under the inaugural U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1794, which gave rise to many (mostly unsubstantiated) rumors that Hamilton nearly died in a shipwreck off the Cape Hatteras coast while he was a teenager, and went on to earn it the unofficial moniker “Hamilton’s Light.”

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Outer Banks’ lighthouses measure up? From straight statistics to fun facts, these seaside sentinels are the mightiest monuments around – and they’ve got the chops to prove it.

EVER WONDER how the

Beacons of the outer banks

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse Built & Lit: September 25, 2004 Daymarks: N/A Light Visibility: Up to 15 nautical miles Height: 37 feet Number of steps: N/A Climbing Availability: No Fun Fact: Unlike its other local counterparts, Roanoke Marshes is a much squatter screw-pile river lighthouse, not a towering coastal one – and it’s a modern replica to boot! While three other lighthouses previously bore the name Roanoke Marshes, the current replica is based on its 1877 predecessor, which was decommissioned in 1955 before being sold to an individual who was attempting to transport it by barge when it toppled overboard in choppy seas – and was ultimately laid to rest at the bottom of the Croatan Sound.

Built & Lit: August 15, 1824 Daymarks: Fixed white Light Visibility: Up to 15 nautical miles Height: 75 feet Number of steps: 86 Climbing Availability: No Fun Fact: Ocracoke might be home to NC’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse, but even this golden oldie had a precedent. Prior to its construction in 1823, Ocracoke had one of the Eastern Seaboard’s busiest inlets, which spurred two entrepreneurs to purchase a 25-acre group of oyster beds they dubbed “Shell Castle Island” – on which they established wharves, warehouses, a tavern and (in 1798) a 55-foot-tall wooden, pyramid-shaped tower known as the Shell Castle Island Lighthouse. Unfortunately, that structure was relatively short-lived; within about 20 years the main channel had migrated so much that the whole Shell Castle Island experiment was lost beneath the waves of the Atlantic.

Built & Lit: October 1, 1872 Daymarks: Horizontal black and white bands Light Visibility: Up to 19 nautical miles Height: 156 feet Number of steps: 214 Climbing Availability: Yes, seasonally Fun Fact: Third time’s a charm for the Bodie Island Lighthouse!

Pronounced “body,” the first iteration of this tower was completed in the late 1840s just south of Oregon Inlet by an overseer who knew virtually nothing about lighthouses – and when that 54-foot structure almost immediately began to lean over, it was replaced with a second, 80-foot version that was purposely blown up in 1861 by Confederate troops who feared it would fall into Union hands during the American Civil War. Due to administrative hurdles, initial construction on the third (and current) tower in its present, slightly more northern, location was delayed by a decade until 1871.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

COMPILED BY AMELIA BOLDAJI

Ocracoke Lighthouse

Built & Lit: December 1, 1875 Daymarks: Unpainted red brick Light Visibility: Up to 18 nautical miles Height: 162 feet Number of steps: 220 Climbing Availability: Yes Fun Fact: Twin power for the win! As unlikely as it might sound, Currituck Beach does indeed have a doppelganger: the Morris Island Lighthouse in Charleston, South Carolina.

Although their daymarks are a bit different, and Morris Island was decommissioned in 1962 after most of its surrounding outbuildings were destroyed by coastal storms, their original designs are nearly identical – enough so that Morris Island was tapped for the spotlight on Netflix’s hit series Outer Banks with an entirely fictional moniker, the “Redfield Lighthouse.”

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 35

Downtown Books

An award-winning bookstore and literary landmark featuring Manteo’s largest selection of books, Outer Banks titles, greeting cards and more! Author signings every First Friday!

1 103 Sir Walter Raleigh Street 252-473-1056 duckscottage.com

OBX Tiki Time

Watch wild dolphins, enjoy stunning sunsets, and take in the beauty of the Outer Banks aboard the only TIKI BOAT of its kind. Designed for relaxing, exploring, and making memories, it’s a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else on the OBX. 2 Waterfront, Slip 8 obxtikitime.com

Charlotte’s

Full-service ladies’ boutique specializing in fashions that are traditional with a contemporary flair. Seasonal makeup events with Trish McEvoy and designer trunk shows. Check website for details.

3 103A Fernando Street 252-473-3078 shopcharlottes.com

Sleeping In, Ltd.

Apparel for her, including sleepwear. We offer jewelry, handbags, Thymes fragrances, gifts and home textiles.

4 101B Fernando Street 252-475-1971 Like us on Facebook

The Pearl Hotel

A boutique hotel in historic downtown Manteo, close to shops, restaurants, and concerts.

The Pearl's rooftop offers a private greenspace for our guests with 360-degree views.

5 100 Old Tom Street 252-305-8048 thepearlhotelmanteo.com

Laughing Lollipop

Take a walk down memory lane in this little mom and pop sweet shop! Birthday parties, ice cream, throwback candies, chocolates, homemade cotton candy, fun gummies, bulk candy and more!

6 101 Budleigh Street 252-473-2579 laughinglollipop.com Like us on Facebook

Town of Manteo

Join in the fun this summer with these fabulous town events: Downtown Market (every Saturday, starting May 17), Dare Day (June 7), and the One-Design Regatta (July 27).

7 407 Budleigh Street 252-473-2133 info@manteonc.gov

DISCOVER

36

Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream

Satisfy your cravings at "The Sweetest Place on the OBX"!

Enjoy irresistible homemade ice cream, handmade fudge, hand-dipped cones, Belgian chocolate, espresso drinks, smoothies, shakes, sundaes, ice cream cakes, and Dubai bars.

8 207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue 252-423-3118 bigbucksobx.com

nest

Distinctive clothing by CP Shades, Frank & Eileen, Juliet Dunn, Wilt and other niche brands. Sophisticated accessories, jewelry and fragrances for you and your home.

9 Magnolia Lane 252-473-5141 nestobx.com

Kitty Hawk Kites

Discover adventure and fun in Manteo at Kitty Hawk Kites!

Check out new kites, stylish OBX apparel, wind art, and other unique gifts. Or take an adventure on our dolphin tours, parasailing, sailboat cruises, ghost walking tours, kayak rentals, and more!

10 307 Queen Elizabeth Street 1-877-FLY-THIS kittyhawk.com

Bloom Boutique

The Tranquil House Inn & 1587 Restaurant & Lounge

The Manteo House

A fashion-forward boutique offering unique, high-quality women’s clothing and accessories. Pop in for an enjoyable, personalized shopping experience.

14 107 Fernando Street 252-305-8638 bloomboutiqueobx.com

Visit the 1587 Restaurant & Lounge, featuring locally sourced dishes that complement the breathtaking views of the bay, and enjoy all that downtown Manteo has to offer.

11 405 Queen Elizabeth Avenue 252-473-1404 tranquilhouseinn.com

The Manteo House is a piece of Roanoke Island history with a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Located in downtown Manteo, it's a picturesque location for a weekend getaway, private event, or even an ideal destination for a corporate retreat.

17 210 Sir Walter Raleigh St 252-305-8222 themanteohouse.com

Sam & Winston

A family-owned lifestyle shop featuring home and garden goods, fine art, books, jewelry, and high-design adornments for ladies, gentlemen, children, and pets.

15 108 Sir Walter Raleigh Street 252-475-9764 @shopsamandwinston

Silver Bonsai Gallery

As you enter the island, pop in and enjoy the Outer Banks’ premier gallery of fine art, fine craft, unique gifts, bonsai trees and home to our Modern Heirloom® goldsmithing studio. Celebrating 25 years.

12 905 US Hwy 64 252-475-1413 silverbonsai.com

The Wheel House Lounge

Located within Outer Banks Distilling, we offer crafted cocktails featuring Kill Devil Rum. Our bar, nestled within the distillery, is your destination for premium rum cocktails. Explore our distillery gift shop or grab a drink from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., excluding Sundays and Mondays.

18 510 Budleigh Street 252-423-3011 outerbanksdistilling.com

Untucked

Untucked is the exclusive men's resort retailer on the Outer Banks, bringing fresh brands to traditional coastal attire.

16 101 Budleigh Street, Suite E 252-423-3020

The Pioneer Theater

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Founded in 1918, The Pioneer Theater is known as the oldest family-owned small theater in the country! Be sure to check out our website and make plans to join us for a live show or movie.

13 109 Budleigh Street 252-305-8578 thepioneertheater.com

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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 37

C E L E B R AT I N G O U R 3 6 T H Y E A R

Fresh Off WHAT’S SUMMER WITHOUT

WATERMELON? Sweet and juicy, this fair-

weather fruit is an undeniable favorite – and for good reason. Refreshingly hydrating and simply packed with nutrients, it’s easy to serve raw and eat it right down to the rind, or give it a quick blend for a satisfying smoothie. But that’s not all this superfood can do. If you’re willing to go a bit beyond the basics with a few extra ingredients and some common cooking techniques, you’ll be amazed at how these berries can transform into something so savory you won’t be able to stop at just one bite.

AwfulArthursOBX.com

PHOTOS BY BROOKE M AYO ST YLED BY CHEF DAN LEWIS

2100 N. Virginia Dare Trail • Kill Devil Hills 252-449-2220

38 | SU M M ER 2025

FORGET THE FISH! While poke bowls are typically made

with raw tuna or salmon, those who prefer to go meatless won’t want to miss out on the intense flavors that come from compressing watermelon in a vacuum sealer. Marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, ginger, chili garlic and mirin (a type of sweet rice wine), this delicately cubed watermelon has been served over a bowl of sushi rice and garnished with wasabipickled watermelon rinds, scallions and fresh edamame.

ff the Vine Watermelon Poke Bowl

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 39

GREAT FOR A LUSCIOUS APPETIZER or

a heart-healthy dessert, this dish combines blocks of watermelon topped with feta crumbles that are lightly torched and garnished with shredded mint and watermelon molasses. (Pro tip: To make the molasses, strain the pulp of one large watermelon to mix with four ounces of lime juice – plus a pinch of salt – before reducing the mixture down to two cups over low heat.

Similar to a balsamic glaze, this molasses is equally delicious drizzled over caprese salads!)

Watermelon & Feta Brûlée 4 0 | SU M M ER 2025

e

Find Something Unexpected You never know what you’ll uncover at The Cottage Shop! From Tidewater Sandals for exploring the shore to handpicked coastal décor, gourmet treats, and unique gifts, every visit is a new adventure.

Sip, Serve & Celebrate Coastal Living Stock up for the season with a huge selection of drinkware, that keeps your beach-side drinks chilled, and cocktail glasses that elevate your summer soirées. Hosting this year? Fiesta Tableware brings vibrant color to your home, while coastal-inspired serveware adds the perfect mix of elegance & ease.

What’s New? A Boutique You’ll Love!

This season, The Cottage Shop in Nags Head is turning up the style with a brand new boutique, and trust us, it’s worth the visit. Featuring Umgee clothing, this collection is all about breezy, boho-inspired fashion that is effortlessly chic and perfect for those sun-soaked days and breezy Outer Banks nights.

The ones for the best results Stacey Baittinger BROKER, REALTOR®

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Ken Baittinger BROKER, REALTOR®

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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 41

CALLING ALL VEGANS: If sushi hasn’t been part of your palate in a while, try marinating slices of watermelon in a combination of soy sauce, ginger, chili garlic and mirin before slowroasting the slices at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes until they’re only slightly pliable. Once they’ve cooled a bit, drape your oven-dried watermelon slices over oblongshaped balls of sushi rice and wrap the two parts together with a strip of nori for the perfect presentation pleaser.

Watermelon Nigiri Sushi 42 | SU M M ER 2025

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 4 3

FOUR IF BY SEA

The Golden Rules

By Amanda McDanel

OUR VISITORS HAVE DOZENS of options when gave the note a cursory glance before swatting my they’re spending time on the Outer Banks – from behind, starting her stopwatch, and stoically clocking 36-bedroom oceanfront compounds to cozy cabins the excruciating pace of a 12-year-old running a 16.05nestled in the woods, the possibilities run the gamut. minute mile. I still remember the feel of the pavement While some families traditionally rent the same home against my cheek as I collapsed into a heap of flaming for the same week year after year, other groups prefer dumpster fire on that oval path of torture. Rule number to bounce around between northern and southern one was born: no running. locales.

The second rule was never hard and fast since I Like the latter group, I consider myself an easy-going genuinely love spending time outside – I’m often found type of traveler, generally speaking, though I only walking barefoot through mud, grass or sand, and I experienced my first hostel five years ago since I never spent most of my grade-school years climbing around in backpacked through Europe post-college. There is, trees. No, this rule didn’t truly come into existence until however, one location you won’t find my me resting college, the summer after my freshman year, when I my silk-encased memory foam pillow. I have two met a handsome blue-eyed, blonde-haired frat boy who fundamental ground rules in my life: I don’t run, and I was very much the outdoorsy type, and we agreed to don’t camp. keep dating throughout the upcoming summer months.

I feel these beliefs so firmly that I actually founded Blissfully unaware of what was in store, I hopped into my a club in college. It’s a fairly exclusive group, but mother’s red Subaru station wagon when June rolled the members of WACAR (Women along, and headed up to Delaware for Against Camping and Running) are my birthday weekend, which was sure steadfast enthusiasts who live with the I have two to be packed full of summer romance. conviction that “every outside should fundamental Upon my arrival, I met my also have an inside.” That said, a few significant other’s doting mother and exceptions are gracefully permitted. ground rules in father, who proceeded to welcome me The rules may be broken ONLY if: 1.) my life: into their living room for a glass of iced someone/thing is chasing you, or, 2.) I don’t run, and tea and a projector slideshow featuring there is a sale.* their previous year’s Eagle Scout trip I established the first rule against I don’t camp. to Alaska in a series of 420 slides.** running in middle school. I was born After his mother finally escorted me with a collapsed lung and spent several to my room, while accidentally calling of my early days confined to an incubator per my me by his ex-girlfriend’s name, my beau, who we will mother’s hazy recollections. Growing up, I participated call Bean,*** informed me that he planned to wake up in competitive gymnastics for years, but any type of at five a.m. in order to attend a local hardware sale and continuous strenuous exercise would pierce my lungs stock up on batteries, but would be back to celebrate like a hot knife cutting butter. So, when Mrs. Murphy, my birthday the following evening. the middle school gym teacher, announced that we Fast-forward through all of those red flags to that would be completing the Presidential Physical Fitness evening’s date, which started with a long drive to a Test – which included pull-ups, sit-ups, a toe-reach and a nearby lake in the steamy June humidity. For my birthday one-mile run – I knew I needed to come down with the celebration, Bean had planned an old-school Boy ScoutFerris Bueller flu on that appointed day. worthy campout, complete with a bonfire, a pitched First, I begged my mom to write me an excuse, and tent and sleeping bags. Despite my reservations about distinctly remember pulling on my dark blue polyester the heat, the suffocating confinement of the proffered shorts and green poly-blend t-shirt before handing the sleeping bags, the lack of restroom facilities and any get-out-of-jail-free letter to Mrs. Murphy – who promptly real ability to brush my teeth, I (somewhat) cheerily

4 4 | SU M M ER 2025

complied with the out-of-my-comfort-zone escapades… until the subject of dinner came around.

With what can only be described as misplaced pride, Bean presented me with a cooler stocked full of hot dogs, pork and beans, Ruffles potato chips and Milwaukee’s Best Light. Though we’d only been dating around six months at the time, my confidence that he’d recognized me for who I really was – an outdoorsy-ish vegetarian who enjoyed air conditioning and non-swill beer – was instantly incinerated in the stifling heat. After a dinner consisting entirely of salty chips, my dreams of a romantic evening were further dashed as I was lulled to sleep by the gentle snores of a man-boy who was feeling the effects of rising early and encountering a disappointed, misunderstood girlfriend. Our relationship dissolved shortly thereafter, but only after cementing rule two in my life’s playbook.

For what it’s worth, I have been told that I just haven’t “camped with the right people.” While I wholeheartedly agree that’s possible, and I’m no longer a strict vegetarian, I’m still not sure I’m quite ready to skip the comforts of a climate-controlled hotel room and take another chance on sleeping al fresco.

But who knows? As they say, most rules were indeed made to be broken. * The exception to the second rule (see: there is a sale) was added when the majority of said membership group accompanied me as bridesmaids to the “Running of the Brides 2005: Filene’s Basement DC Edition” in which we had to race against 1,500 other women to secure discounted designer wedding gowns in a cutthroat battle of will and determination. ** If you are under the age of 25, please try to imagine an Instagram post that cobbles together 420 slightly out-of-focus pictures that have no cohesive connection, does not feature music and comes with six-minutes' worth of commentary per slide. *** Names have been changed, not to protect the innocent, but to preserve the novelty of an astounding “Market Price” lunch bill at a disappointing Red Lobster date to be told in another edition.

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A Way Forward Banker horse Bullwinkle enjoys grazing in the relative wilderness of the northern Outer Banks.

Photo courtesy of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

Making sense of bloodlines is a crucial part of caring for the Banker horses of Corolla.

BY EMMY TRIVETTE

THE SLEEPY SAND DUNES of central Corolla and the unpaved areas of Carova aren’t all that dissimilar from their sister beaches throughout the southern Outer Banks. With the same sea oat sprinkled shorelines, seagulls salivating over cast-aside Doritos, and stilted-houses dancing cheek-tocheek with the tides, it’s possible to feel both lost in the wilderness and yet also completely at home.

The residents who have actually been at home in these northern stretches for the past 400 years, however, are the wild Banker horses.

“I think people can take them for granted a bit,” says the Corolla Wild Horse Fund’s Herd Manager Meg Puckett. “Not in an uncaring or disrespectful way, of course, but people tend to think the horses are always going to be here because they’re so tied to this area.”

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund (CWHF) was established in 1989 after Highway 12 was extended to connect Duck and Corolla, which was

convenient for motorists, but also resulted in a number of collisions that threatened the future of the herd. In order to protect the ponies from development as much as possible, the majority of the herd was relocated behind a fence at the end of the paved road in Corolla, where they now have about 7,600 acres to roam free.

Over the past few decades, the folks at the CWHF have made it their mission to keep the herd as genetically healthy and diverse as it’s been throughout the centuries – and as technology has advanced, so have the fund’s breed conservation methods, which have historically included a delicate mix of public education, direct herd observations and a bit of science.

“It’s important to understand that the Banker horses are what’s known as a landrace breed,” Meg says. “Landrace breeds are any species of animal that have been isolated in a particular region and developed physical and behavioral adaptations in reaction to that region. Habitat matters, but it’s also cultural, too, because a landrace breed can become part of an area’s history.”

The Corolla wild horses – along with an equally sizable population on the Shackleford Banks in Carteret County – are the last of the Banker horse breed. In many ways, as Meg points out, the breed’s genetic uniqueness is N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 47

Pictured above: Darting the Banker horses to collect DNA samples is a fairly simple process (above left), and the small tissue sample they retrieve is then put into a stabilizing solution until it can be processed in a lab (above right). Photos courtesy of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

a direct result of leaving them alone, but when it comes to ensuring that the breed doesn’t eventually die out – especially since the Corolla herd is still subject to so much surrounding development – collecting information like individual DNA samples is an increasingly valuable tool for promoting conservation efforts.

“Collecting DNA allows us to create an ancestry that will show us how all of the horses are related to each other,” Meg explains. “If we identify a family line that’s very well-represented in the herd – especially if they all live in the same territory – we could eventually decide to To date, the Corolla use birth control on mares in Wild Horse Fund has that family so that those genes aren’t over-represented. And documented 122 this can be temporary, too. We partial pedigrees can decide to dart a few mares with contraceptive a few years and 44 full in a row, and then stop and let pedigrees. them start producing foals again.

Or we may decide not to do anything and let nature maintain the balance itself. Having DNA on file just gives us a fuller picture so we know exactly how those family lines are being perpetuated – it’s a fine balance between breed conservation and not interfering with nature.”

It’s also not anything new. The CWHF have been gathering DNA samples from the Corolla harems since 1995, and establishing an ancestry of the herd has been an action item on their management plan since the early 2000s. But it wasn’t until Covid-19 hit in 2020 when the CWHF – like much of the rest of the world – had a little extra time on their hands to spend it filling in some blanks.

4 8 | SU M M ER 2025

To date, the CWHF has documented 122 partial pedigrees and 44 full pedigrees. There are about 200 horses on file, and that includes all of the CWHF’s records dating back to at least 2007, including horses that have since passed away or have been relocated to a 31-acre farm the CWHF maintains in Grandy on the Currituck mainland for horses that have become severely ill or injured. DNA collections have only been taken from about a third of the total wild population so far.

Partly, this is due to the generally hands-off approach the CWHF takes to caring for the wild herd. While the CWHF monitors the Corolla population seven days a week, using everything from perimeter drives around their habitats to sightings reported by the local community, all of this tracking is based on physical and behavioral observations without tags or microchips.

“No one ever brought in domestic stock to ‘improve this breed,’ and they have existed this way for several hundred years,” Meg says of the herd’s ability to mostly fend for themselves. “They have physical and behavioral adaptations not seen in other horses, learning to live in places, and eating things other horses can’t – even the shape of their hooves is unique.”

And, in some ways, the more DNA the CWHF collects, the more complicated all these puzzle pieces begin to seem.

“Sometimes the science disproves things you were certain were true, and sometimes it shows you connections between horses that you never imagined,” Meg adds. “What the DNA has taught us is that we can’t assume anything – only the science can tell the real story.”

Still, the benefits of knowing as much about the Banker breed as possible – through physical observations or cutting-edge technology – is a worthwhile pursuit because of all the different perspectives it allows us to start weaving together, including oral histories and even the various legends that have sprung up around the locally beloved herd.

“These horses are truly irreplaceable,” Meg says. “And they’re infinitely worthy of all these efforts to protect them and their habitats.”

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BUSINESS BRIEFS COM PIL ED BY C ATH ERI N E KOZ A K

New Leader of Park Service Fundraiser

Local Aquarium Recognized Nationally

Outer Banks Forever, a nonprofit fundraising partner for the local National Park Service locations, has announced the selection of Bryan Burhans as its new director.

Burhans has more than 30 years’ experience with nonprofits, including executive roles with The American Chestnut Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation, according to a March press release. He has also worked for wildlife agencies in Virginia, Florida and Pennsylvania, and as a researcher and wildlife instructor at The Pennsylvania State University.

Burhans succeeds Jessica Barnes, who led the organization since its founding in 2019 by Eastern National, the nonprofit that supports the parks through gift shops and educational services. As its philanthropic branch, Outer Banks Forever is focused on supporting the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island has been chosen for a top award by Newsweek magazine, according to an April announcement by the aquarium.

After a public vote on nominees from across the United States, the top 10 winners were named on April 3, which is when the Roanoke Island facility learned it won the 2025 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards contest for best aquarium.

“Known for its stellar sea turtle rehab center, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island has something for everyone, from the alligators and turtles of the Outer Banks to the Atlantic’s sharks, jellies and of course, sea turtles,” the panelists of magazine contributors and travel experts said, as quoted in the news release. The nationally circulated magazine also lauded the aquarium’s “impressive” 285,000gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit that features a model of the American Civil War–era USS Monitor and the sharks and other fish that inhabit it. Aquarium Director Larry Warner said the award is a validation of the Roanoke Island team’s “pride and passion.”

Luxurious Update for Classic Resort In celebration of its 40th anniversary, The Sanderling resort in Duck, beloved for its private setting alongside the Currituck Sound, has undergone a “top-to-bottom transformation,” featuring updated interiors, bespoke furnishings and a new restaurant from award-winning North Carolina chef and author Vivian Howard, according to its website.

Accommodations are available at six residences with vacation rental homes for up to 16 guests that provide spectacular views, a private beach access and exclusive resort amenities.

The revamped onsite restaurant is now called Theodosia – in honor of Theodosia Burr, former Vice President Aaron Burr’s daughter who was lost at sea off the Outer Banks – and it offers refined coastal cuisine with a Southern flare reflecting Howard’s roots.

“With a focus on fresh locally sourced ingredients and the rich traditions of eastern North Carolina cooking, her menu speaks of salt marshes and fishing boats, of recipes passed down and flavors inspired by the Outer Banks,” The Sanderling’s website says.

Changes at the Chamber

Real Estate

Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Karen Brown intends to retire by the end of May 2026 according to an announcement made by the chamber’s board of directors in April.

The board will develop and release a plan

by June for filling the position, and Brown will work with the search committee in that process. “While this is a bittersweet time for me, I am looking forward to assisting with plans for a successful transition in mid-2026,” said Brown, who has served as president for the past 12 years. “My time at the Outer Banks Chamber has been the highlight of my 25-year Chamber of Commerce career and I know the future is bright for this outstanding organization.”

Data from the Outer Banks Association of Realtors First Quarter 2025 MLS Statistical Report, which was released in March, reflects lukewarm news for the local market, with total residential sales down 3% and lot/land sales down by 9% in the first quarter compared with 2024.

Meanwhile, the total active inventory in the same period climbed 23% over last year, the report said. The median sales price for first quarter single family residential homes in 2025 increased 13% over 2024, up from $550,000 to $621,250.

Residential unit sales in Outer Banks communities were a mixed bag, with Ocracoke village spiking 800% in year-to-date sales, from one unit sold in 2024 to nine in 2025. The town of Nags Head followed suit with an 87% increase, from 23 units sold in 2024 to 43 in 2025.

Corolla saw the largest percentage decrease in year-to-date sales, from 66 units sold last year to 39 in 2025, a 41% drop. The Currituck County coastal community also saw the largest decrease in median sales prices, from $887,000 in 2024 to $780,000 in 2025, and that 12% drop was only marginally lower than several other communities.

Hatteras Island, however, not only had the highest increase in median sales price, from $515,000 to $655,000 – a 27% spike – it also saw a healthy 19% increase in year-to-date sales, from 47 units sold in 2024 to 56 units in 2025.

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HOME SPOTLIGHT

The historic Midgett House has hosted generations of visitors to Hatteras Island.

Photos by Ryan Moser Story by Arabella Saunders

Home Away from Home

HOME SPOTLIGHT

The two-story Midgett House is one of five structures located at the Chicamacamico Life-Saving Station Historic Site in Rodanthe (above). One of the Midgett House’s four bedrooms, which were reserved for out-of-area visitors (top right).

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PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION of helicopter technology within the United States Coast Guard, a shipwreck off the coast of the Outer Banks meant that a small team of surfmen would launch a 3,000-pound rescue boat into treacherous waters, when necessary, in order to venture forth and save a crew in peril.

Those surfmen were – and still are – regarded as heroes. But like most Outer Banks residents in this modern century, those early surfmen faced everyday issues that still plague several parts of this sandbar. One of the most prominent? Where to house out-of-area visitors.

Enter: The Midgett House at the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station.

“As a rule, out-of-town visitors did not stay with the surfmen at the station,” explains the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site Manager Dinah Beveridge. “They had to stay in a different facility, so Cornelius Midgett [the brother of station Keeper John Allen Midgett, Jr.] built a house in 1907, which we call the Midgett House.”

The Midgett House is one of five structures located at the Chicamacomico historic site in Hatteras Island’s Rodanthe. The site also features the original 1847 lifesaving station alongside the updated 1911 station. But the Midgett house – with its original furnishings, decorations and kitchen items that can transport one to the days of yore – is a favorite amongst visitors.

“It’s a point of curiosity about how local families started out with their little homes and then expanded to lifesaving stations and making provisions for out-of-town visitors,” Dinah says.

The Midgett House was assembled from a Sears, Roebuck and Company kit, meaning that it’s one of approximately 75,000 homes Sears sold to families around the country from around 1908 to 1940.

The company advertised the prefabricated houses in their widely popular catalogs and then shipped everything needed for the build – from nails and screws to staircases and mantelpieces – to the railroad station located closest to the buyer.

The two-story Midgett House features four bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room and both a front and side porch. Also still intact is what Dinah refers to as a “man cave” – the back room where guests hung their fishing gear, rods and nets.

In 2006, nearly a century after the home was built, local residents Bette Gray and Trish Midgett paid to have the home moved from its original location near a Rodanthe beach access to the Chicamacomico

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 53

“It’s an ongoing project.

We use volunteers to help us get out there and tackle each room, one at a time.”

-Dinah Beveridge, Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site Manager

Life-Saving Station Historic Site. The house was then donated to the Chicamacomico Historical Association.

The Midgetts continue to have a rich family history on Hatteras Island. Since the 1800s, 200 members of the Midgett family have served in the U.S. Coast Guard or in its predecessor, the U.S. Life-Saving Service. One of the most prominent rescues in maritime service history was even led by John Allen Midgett, Jr., who was the keeper of the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station during the first decade of the Midgett House’s existence.

In 1918, Captain John Allen Midgett, Jr., oversaw the rescue of 42 British sailors after the Mirlo was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Hatteras. Despite the waves breaking nearly 20 feet high, surfmen serving under his command repeatedly launched rescue boats until the majority of the tanker’s crew was safe ashore.

In recognition of their service, the U.S. and British governments awarded Captain Midgett and his crew – many of whom shared his last name – medals of honor.

“We have a lot of descendants who live down here and abroad, and that is the history of their lives, their ancestors and what they did to serve,” Dinah says.

“During World War I and World War II these men had to go out and save lives because of all the ships sinking.”

But the complications of that history – and the structures left behind – didn’t end there. On a July evening in 2017, the Midgett House was struck by lightning during an otherwise unremarkable summer 5 4 | SU M M ER 2025

Pictured above: The Midgett House’s kitchen and living room area, both of which feature various furnishings and other utensils that date back to the early 1900s. Above right: In 2017, the Midgett House was badly damaged by a lightning strike that chipped all the paint on the building’s walls and banisters.

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storm. The effects were felt throughout the building – the face plates on all the electric sockets were blown off and scattered across the floors, the painted walls were chipped, and the original brick chimney was completely destroyed.

The Chicamacomico Historical Association worked quickly to repair the damage as best they could, which included installing a new roof, in order to reopen to the public as fast as possible. Years later, however, the effects of the lightning strike are still evident, and the association is in the process of completely restoring the home. Because the house is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and therefore can’t receive federal grant money, the association has been focused on private donations to finance the repairs.

“It’s an ongoing project,” Dinah explains. “We use volunteers to help us get out there and tackle each room, one at a time.”

Some of those volunteers come from the same crop of maritime service members that the Midgett family has a proud history with. A few times a year, members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary out of Elizabeth City and the Chief’s Mess out of Chesapeake, Virginia, visit the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site to help with restoration projects.

“We’re fortunate to have a really great group of volunteers,” Dinah says, “and we just want to continue fixing it up so people can enjoy touring it.”

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Shine On BY STEVE HANF

M

ost people who have spent decades working as an engineer at Walt Disney World would be viewed as having one of the coolest and most interesting jobs in the world.

Then there’s Dan Spinella. Turns out helping millions of people have a good time at an iconic theme park is – just maybe – the second-coolest and most interesting thing he does. That’s because Dan’s developed a truly one-of-a-kind hobby that’s grown into a fulltime job of its own: He reproduces and restores the Fresnel lenses that appear in lighthouses across the country.

His current undertaking is the lens that will once again serve as a beacon over the Graveyard of the Atlantic in the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

In a phone conversation this spring from his Florida home, Dan was able to take a break after completing work on several prisms that will make up the massive reproduction. When asked how someone gets started with such a specialty, he laughs.

“I get that question a lot, because it’s a very unique hobby/business, and I don’t think there’s anyone else who really does the exact thing I do,” Dan says. “There are lampists who restore historic lenses, but building full-scale reproductions? I don’t think there’s anyone else who does that.”

Engineer and preservationist Dan Spinella stands by his latest work-in-progress: A replica of the mammoth first-order Fresnel lens that was originally installed at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1870. (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.)

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 57

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest in the nation at 198 feet and perhaps the best-known lighthouse in the country, visited by some 500,000 people annually. The National Park Service began a restoration project of the site last year and will cap it all off with this spectacular new light modeled after the Fresnel lens used when construction was completed in 1870.

“Cape Hatteras National Seashore is pleased with the progress being made to fabricate a replica first-order Fresnel lens as part of a largescale project to restore the inside and outside of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse,” says Mike Barber, spokesman for the National Park Service’s Outer Banks Group. “We look forward to having the finished product placed atop the nation’s tallest lighthouse near the end of this multi-year project. Once activated, its beam will be visible from roughly 20 nautical miles.”

Lighting up the inky blackness of a seashore has never been an easy job, but the exacting details needed to recreate the style of lens created by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel in 1819 certainly appeals to an engineer. Dan grew up in Wisconsin, and earned his degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering without having any kind of connection to coastal lights.

After moving to Florida to look for work, Dan found himself exploring the state and discovering the historical wonders of St. Augustine. He had friends who were restoring the city’s lighthouse grounds so he started volunteering as well, and one day they let Dan climb to the top of the lighthouse so he could take a look at the lens.

“I do mechanical design, so I have to know how things work. I got up there and I stood inside that huge lens – it’s 10 feet tall, six feet in diameter, and has about a thousand prisms in it,” Dan says.

“I’m looking through the prisms, and I can see the ocean, but everything’s kind of upside down, and I thought it was really, really neat that something like that could be built in the 1800s.”

This, of course, is where Dan and the rest us diverge a bit. He “The Fresnel lens is almost of simply had to know more.

When the Coast Guard a perfect combination announced that they were of history, art and going to remove the St. Augustine Lighthouse’s lens engineering, and that’s after parts of it had been how I got involved.” vandalized, locals rallied to save their piece of history, and Dan volunteered to make it happen. He took measurements and made drawings of the assembly, found lighthouse engineering books from the 1850s to ensure the accuracy of his designs, and saw the light shine again after a manufacturing firm was able to create new glass prisms.

“I was hooked after I realized just how much engineering went into it, and how these

58 | SU M M ER 2025

things worked,” Dan says. “The Fresnel lens is almost a perfect combination of history, art and engineering, and that’s how I got involved.”

That was the early 1990s. By around 2004, Dan was being called upon to help with numerous other reproductions, from smaller sixth-order lenses that could fit in a grocery bag to more common fourth-order lenses that measure about three feet high and two feet in diameter, and the mammoth first-order lenses, which are the largest of the bunch. Over the years, he’s worked on projects from Maine to California through his company Artworks Florida that he runs out of his home.

Dan calls the Hatteras light “a monster.” It’s the first first-order reproduction he’s been tasked with, and he’s also restoring the mechanical pedestal that rotates the light.

He remembers hearing back in 2009 that there might be interest in a new light at Hatteras, and Dan knew lampist Jim Woodward, who was the one who discovered the remains of the original lens and put what was left of it on display at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras.

Dan got photos of the frame and created a three-dimensional model of what a recreation might look like. He also made some prisms – out of a lighter and less-expensive acrylic material that he’s perfected over the years – to show National Park Service officials, who seemed interested in the project. After years of waiting, the restoration was finally green-lit. Dan started finalizing his designs in 2023 and doing the production work in early 2024.

The Hatteras light has 24 flash panels made up of a near-endless number of prisms that have to be shaped to exacting standards and fit inside the frame perfectly. That includes 264 prisms in the upper section, 96 in the bottom, and even more in the center – each of which takes about an hour to produce according to Dan’s estimates.

Still, he’s excited to have finished the new pedestal mechanism that will rotate the light in a way that looks authentic to the 1800s, but in fact runs on modern technology that will be low-maintenance going forward. While other restoration work is still underway on the lighthouse grounds, Dan thinks that the station will be completed around October, with the new lens arriving onsite by the end of the year. The final installation of the lens in the lantern room could happen as early as next summer.

Considering Dan’s still working his fulltime job at Disney, jobs like the Hatteras light consume his evenings and weekends, but the importance of the work and enjoyment he gets from preserving history makes all the hours worth it.

“It’s probably one of the most famous lighthouses in the United States, and it’s one of the earliest lenses that came to the United States, too,” Dan says. “I’m just really looking forward to seeing it all put together.”

906 LIGHTHOUSE DRIVE | COROLLA | SOLD $3,350,000

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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 59 *Based on information from the Outer Banks Association of REALTORS® MLS for the period 1/2020 to 5/2025

ASK AN EXPERT

MAKE A We asked an expert for some tips on maximizing your poolside paradise this summer.

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Pick Smart Products

If your pool is taking a week or more to clear when you open it for the season, it may be time for a new filter, or new filter media. While the majority of homes use silica sand-based filters – an economical choice that’s also fairly low maintenance – other filter media like glass (which can last 10-plus years) or diatomaceous earth (which is one of the most efficient types of filter media on the market) can provide superior filtration along with other benefits.

Being savvy about what you introduce to your poolside environment goes beyond all the bells and whistles of technology – sometimes it’s as simple as thinking about skincare. While many people love the convenience of spray-on sunscreens, those types of protectants can shed in the water more easily than other lotions, which can put an increased burden on your filters. For the best results, consider covering up with a rash-guard-style suit to minimize sunscreen in the pool.

Invest in the Future Area homes are aging, and so are our pools. Fiberglass liners may be in need of resurfacing after 20 years, while the lifespan of plaster pools is slightly shorter. When you start to notice small imperfections in your lining, remember that the overall costs to address the issue will only increase as you delay. Putting off fixing a small leak to save some money today won’t matter if the imperfection degrades into a larger crack, or if your water bill increases exponentially.

Rent It Right Sensitive skin? There’s an option for that! Particularly for those maintaining rental homes, Tommy recommends installing a salt purification system since many people tend to experience skin irritations from too much exposure to chlorine. And if your pump room will accommodate one, you can go a step further with an ozone UV purification system, which can readily handle any germs and bacteria without using a lot of harsh chemicals.

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Outrun Economic Uncertainty Like many other products, the costs of pool and spa supplies have risen over the past few years, and, as Tommy points out, once an item increases in price, it doesn’t tend to decrease. With new tariffs being implemented in a variety of sectors, the costs of goods will likely trickle down to most industries at some point, even though it’s hard to predict specifics. To get ahead of the game, prioritizing your pool’s maintenance now will almost certainly pay off later.

Lastly, a Reminder “What you put in the pool is so important to the pool’s longevity,” Tommy advises. “If you can manage it, consider investing in an energyefficient pump. While they cost more initially, they can last up to five years longer, are quieter, and will save you money over the long run.”

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Updated light fixtures installed along Jennette's Pier in Nags Head cast an amber hue that's less intense than traditional lighting. Photo courtesy of Wes Snyder.

FIGHT FOR THE Advocates are looking beyond regulations in the battle against light pollution.

By Michelle Wagner

THERE’S LITTLE QUESTION that looking at the night sky can evoke a sense of wonder and peace – and the Outer Banks undoubtedly offers a unique place on the edge of the sea to gaze at the stars. But, much like many other places on the planet, light pollution has made the night skies on our barrier islands significantly brighter over the years. In fact, a study published in the January 2023 issue of Science found that the average night sky has gotten brighter by nearly 10 percent from 2011 to 2022 – which is equal to a doubling of sky brightness every eight years.

Several local entities, however, are joining a worldwide campaign to reduce light pollution by taking crucial steps to keep the skies above the Outer Banks dark – not only for people who find solace in peering up at night, but for the wildlife that benefit from naturally

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darker environments. One of those entities is the town of Nags Head, which has embraced the campaign by adopting non-regulatory approaches to minimizing residential lighting impacts, including educating the public on the importance of championing our nocturnal environment.

“Many of our residents appreciate Nags Head’s natural environment and are dedicated to preserving our dark night skies,” says Nags Head Planner Chris Trembly, while adding that the town’s dark sky initiatives originated as a result of town staff and elected officials receiving complaints about the negative impacts of residential lighting.

“Light pollution not only obscures our view of the night sky, but it also disrupts ecosystems, affects wildlife and impacts human health,” Chris says before explaining that there are several fairly easy steps that people can take to lessen their lighting footprint. “Property owners can simply start reducing their lighting impacts by buying timers, sensors or dimmers to ensure lights are

only on when needed. There are many other ways to correct this issue, but this is an easy, inexpensive start.”

As part of its 2024 Strategic Plan, the town of Nags Head’s “Dark Skies, Bright Stars” initiatives include educating the public on the benefits of dark skies to nesting sea turtles – which can become disoriented or even deterred entirely from nesting due to artificial light sources – and to introduce ways individuals can safeguard the town’s starry skies.

Chris and other dark sky proponents say that the growing use of LED technology has intensified concerns about protecting the night landscape since these lights tend to be much brighter than traditional incandescent bulbs.

“The complexity of new lighting terminology such as lumens, color temperature and intensity can be confusing, making it challenging for property owners to fully understand how their lighting choices affect not only their own properties but also their neighbors’ and the broader community,” Chris says.

NIGHT To gauge the impact of lighting efforts in Nags Head, town staff – with the help of the nonprofit Network for Endangered Sea Turtles – have collected sky-quality data, and they’ve found that areas of south Nags Head have ideal readings, while areas farther north experience a more pronounced glow. Chris explains that their findings are now being used to educate the public in targeted areas where the lighting issues are more problematic.

Chris also notes that the town is working with Dominion Energy to convert several of the town’s beach access lighting to amber-toned bulbs – which have longer light wavelengths and lower intensities than LEDs – and they’ve already begun replacing old burned-out beach access bulbs with amber ones whenever possible.

And Nags Head isn’t the only local municipality that’s actively trying to protect the night sky. Last fall, the town of Duck created a video about its dark sky initiatives that includes some non-regulatory efforts to reduce light pollution through dark sky friendly lighting and education.

The North Carolina Aquariums’ Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head has also made changes to its lighting to become more wildlife friendly. Last summer, with the financial support of the North Carolina Aquarium Society, 200 brand-new exterior light fixtures, bollards and lampposts were installed at the state-of-the art pier. According to Jennette’s Pier Communications Manager Daryl Law, the pier is slated to replace more than 20 fixtures and bulbs in the parking lot by this summer season so that they’ll emit a shielded amber glow as well.

And just to the south, Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) has sought to darken the skies above the federally protected seashore by taking steps to become certified as an International Dark Sky Park.

According to Meaghan Johnson, chief of resource management and science with the National Parks of Eastern North Carolina, the process began in 2018 when night sky friendly lighting fixtures and bulbs were installed at all CHNS facilities.

The National Park Service’s Division of Natural Sounds and Night Skies has since conducted night sky readings in CHNS to determine how bright certain locations are throughout the seashore – which has essentially created a lighting inventory of the area.

The next step, Meaghan says, is the development of a light management plan and the continued education of visitors on the many benefits of keeping the skies about the seashore more muted. While the application to become an International Dark Sky certified park is a process that will likely take roughly two years, Meaghan reports that CHNS is fully committed to earning such a distinction.

Commitments like these, and the recognition that we can all play a part in combating light pollution in straightforward ways like turning off outdoor lighting when they aren’t in use, can go a long way toward ensuring that the Outer Banks’ dark skies are preserved for both wildlife and humans alike well into the future – even if it means making that change just one light at a time.

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SUN SALUTATIONS Beach Realty & Construction Beach Realty Welcomes New Agents Rick Drumm and Chad Vaphides

Rick Drumm was licensed in 1993 and is an experienced veteran in the Outer Banks real estate community. Sales Manager Beth Urch says, “We are thrilled that Rick chose to partner with Beach. His expertise in the business is unsurpassed and his customer service is top notch.” Rick can be reached at (252) 305-3999 or rick@outerbanker.com.

Chad Vaphides came to the Outer Banks via Colorado with a background in insurance and design. Chad is passionate about pairing people with their ideal home. At the core of Chad’s work ethic is an unwavering commitment to his clients.

His goal is to deliver the best value possible throughout the entire transaction. Chad can be reached at (252) 489-0120 or chad@homesinouterbanks.com.

Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales Congratulates the Top Two Sales Agents, 2025 Year-to-Date: Winston Hawkins and Edith Rowe

Winston Hawkins is a graduate of UNC-Charlotte and earned a bachelor of science in business administration with a concentration in finance and small business management.

He has worked in sales and consulting since graduating from college, but he began his career as a commercial real estate broker in Charlotte, NC. Since 1994, Winston has made real estate his fulltime career with experience in commercial property, residential real estate, and vacation home real estate brokerage. Winston can be reached at (252) 202-2002 or winston@brindleybeach.com.

Edith Rowe has earned the Top Sales Agent Award based on closed sales volume for the past eight years. She holds a broker’s license and has been in sales on the Outer Banks since 2000. She brings to the table a degree of sales acumen and a familiarity with the area found in few agents. Contact Edith at (252) 202-6165 or edithroweobx@gmail.com.

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Announces Brook Sparks as Listing Agent of the Quarter

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is pleased to announce Brook Sparks as the 2025 Top Listing Agent for the first quarter of 2025. Brook was also the top listing agent of the year in 2024. “If you want your house sold in a timely manner for top dollar, hire Brook!” said a recent five-star review. Brook can be reached at (252) 619-1177 or brooksparks@cbseaside.com.

The Sakers Team is the Top Team in Units and Sales Volume

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is pleased to announce that Heather Sakers, along with team members Ann Taylor Lusk and Charles Gill, are the Top Producing Team for the first quarter. The Sakers Team was the number one ranked team 6 4 | SU M M ER 2025

in both sales volume and units sold. This impressive team also ranked number five in the Outer Banks Association of Realtors’ MLS for the period of January 1 through March 31.

Team leader Heather can be reached at (252) 599-6814 or heather@cbseaside.com.

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Announces Cameron Griggs as the Top Selling Agent

With an impressive sales volume in the first quarter of 2025, Cameron Griggs earned the prestigious Top Producing Agent Award at the firm, a distinction based on closed sales performance. Cameron holds the number one spot within the company and ranks among the top 15 of more than 300 producing agents in the Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS for the period of January 1 through March 31. This achievement is a testament to Cameron’s expertise, dedication and commitment to delivering exceptional results for her clients. Cameron can be reached at (919) 390-4537 or cameron@cbseaside.com.

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Announces Emily Bray as the Leader in Closed Transactions for Q1

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty proudly recognizes Emily Bray for her outstanding achievement as the firm’s top agent in closed transactions for the first quarter of 2025. Emily’s success extends beyond the firm – she ranks among the top 20 for quarter one closed transactions out of more than 300 producing agents in the Outer Banks Association of Realtors’ MLS for the period of January 1 through March 31. Emily can be reached at (252) 412-5991 or emily@cbseaside.com.

The VanderMyde Group Named Top Listing Team for Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty proudly recognizes the VanderMyde Group as the firm’s Top Listing Team for the first quarter of 2025. This award, based on listings taken from January 1 through March 31 reflects their unmatched dedication, expertise and commitment to delivering outstanding results. For more than eight years, the VanderMyde Group has consistently led the firm’s teams in listings, setting the standard for success and excellence. The team consists of team leader Heather VanderMyde and team members Kiirsten Farr, Will Gregg, Trish Berruet, Kasey Rabar and Saksa Zivkovic. Team leader Heather can be reached at (252) 202-2375 or hvandermyde@gmail.com.

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Welcomes the M&M Team

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is thrilled to welcome Michael and Madonna VanCuren to the sales team in the Kill Devil Hills office. Known as the dynamic M&M Team, Michael and Madonna bring more than 30 years of expertise in Outer Banks real estate, consistently ranking as top producers with an unmatched depth of local knowledge. “We provide service, and our clients stay with us. We work hard and are always available for our customers. We don’t just sell real estate – we buy real estate. Our motto is: ‘If we don’t buy it, you don’t buy it,’” says Madonna. Michael and Madonna can be reached at (252) 202-6702 or Madonna@sellingobx.com.

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Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates Joe Lamb Jr. Acknowledges Three Standout Agents

With 40-plus years of real estate leadership, Myra Ladd Bone blends deep market expertise with true community care. A trusted local icon, she’s the one you want by your side when it’s time to buy or sell. Contact Myra at myra@joelambjr.com or (252) 202-5689.

Smart, compassionate and fiercely committed, Shelley O’Grady brings legal know-how, clear communication and heart to every deal. She’ll guide you home with confidence and ease.

Contact Shelley at shelley@joelambjr.com or (252) 722-2786.

Local knowledge, decades of success and a calm, confident guide in any market, Bobby Williams’ 40-plus years in Outer Banks real estate make him a pro who buyers and sellers trust to get results. Contact Bobby at bwilliams@joelambjr.com or (252) 207-9075.

Resort Realty Resort Realty Announces New Business Development Manager

Resort Realty of the Outer Banks is pleased to announce the addition of Sara Marques to the role of business development manager for the northern beaches and Hatteras Island. Sara is a seasoned real estate professional with more than 10 years of experience working directly with homeowners as an investor/ property manager. “We’re very happy to welcome Sara to the Resort family,” Resort Realty COO Tom Stewart says. “Sara’s experience as a property manager and her passion for the industry are valuable assets for Resort and our property owners as we grow in all the villages on Hatteras Island and the towns of the northern beaches.”

Landmark Sotheby’s International Realty Sotheby’s Acknowledges Brad Beacham

A native to the area, Brad has deep roots on the Outer Banks. For more than 20 years, he has used this local knowledge of the area to assist buyers and sellers in their real estate journey. This experience, combined with the power of the Sotheby’s International Realty brand, allows Brad to continue to produce results for his customers. Brad can be reached at (252) 202-6920 or brad@bradbeacham.com.

Sotheby’s Acknowledges Melanie Day and Stephanie Blosser

Melanie Day and Stephanie Blosser of the Melanie Day Real Estate team ushered in 2025 as the number one team in sales volume (for January) on the Outer Banks. With 22 years of Outer Banks experience, Melanie proudly serves clients including $34 million of transactions in 2024 alone. Dedicated and dynamic, Melanie and Stephanie are committed to expertly helping clients achieve their goals. Contact them at (252) 207-6138 or melanie@melanieday.com.

Sotheby’s Acknowledges Heather McLay and Mandi Jones

With a shared passion for coastal living and a deep commitment to their clients, Heather McLay and Mandi Jones of the OBX Homes Team bring exceptional knowledge and expertise to Landmark Sotheby’s International Realty. Led by Heather McLay – a real estate professional since 1996 – this top-performing team is known for its professionalism, insight and results-driven approach. The OBX Homes Team was one of the key reasons Landmark Sotheby’s International Realty established a presence on the Outer Banks, helping to build the firm’s trusted reputation in this distinctive coastal market. They can be reached at (252) 202-3409 and team@obxhomes.com.

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Sun Realty The Michael Davenport Team Named January Agent of the Month

January's Agent of the Month is the father-daughter team of Michael Davenport and Hannah Magee. The Michael Davenport Team provides extensive area knowledge and local expertise in the current Outer Banks market conditions. Michael and Hannah are excited to assist you with all your real estate needs, with service, knowledge and experience you can trust since 1985.

Achieving the Platinum Award from Sun Realty in 2024, they are excited to continue serving their clients and community.

You can reach Hannah at (252) 305-8424 or Michael at (252) 202-6113.

Richard Hess Named February Agent of the Month

Earning Agent of the Month honors for February was Richard Hess, who also earned the top spot in the company for the month of October. Richard made the Outer Banks his home more than 30 years ago, and he quickly became a leader in the real estate and business community. Richard will go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals of home ownership or investment. You can find Richard at the Sun Realty KDH office or call him directly at (252) 256-2112.

Paul Sabadash Named March Agent of the Month

The March Agent of the Month was Paul Sabadash. Paul moved to the Outer Banks in 1988 and has been providing excellent results for buyers and sellers ever since. He works out of the Sun Realty Corolla office and primarily focuses on the northern beach areas. You can reach Paul at (252) 722-3120.

Twiddy & Company Twiddy & Company Celebrates OBX Legacy Home Sales Team’s Impressive Sales Numbers

Ranked as the number one real estate team in Corolla for 2024 with more than $45 million in real estate sales, the OBX Legacy Home Sales Team offers unmatched local expertise and a proven track record of success. Whether you’re buying, selling or investing, Hunter Davis and Martha Springer provide personalized guidance and dedicated support every step of the way. With their strong expertise in the Outer Banks market and a commitment to client satisfaction, you can trust them to deliver a smooth and rewarding real estate experience.

Connect with the OBX Legacy Home Sales Team today at obxlegacyhomesale@gmail.com or call (252) 457-1427.

Twiddy & Company Acknowledges Matt Preston

With more than $18 million in real estate sales in 2024 and deep roots as a native of the Outer Banks, Matt Preston brings unmatched local insight to every real estate transaction. Backed by more than a decade of experience at Twiddy & Company, and by working closely with both guests and homeowners, Matt offers valuable expertise of the ins and outs of owning and managing an investment property. His clients consistently praise his strong work ethic, his market knowledge and his commitment to delivering results. Contact Matt today at mpreston@twiddy.com or (252) 207-6143 to start your Outer Banks real estate journey.

Ashley Ladd Celebrates Ninth Year with Twiddy & Company

Ashley Ladd is celebrating her ninth year with Twiddy & Company this summer, marking nearly a decade of dedication and excellence. As a valued member of the real estate sales team, Ashley blends strong industry knowledge with a personalized, client-focused approach. Her ability to navigate today’s competitive market with skill and care leads to smooth transactions and rewarding experiences for buyers and sellers alike. Connect with Ashley at aladd@twiddy.com or (919) 592-7346 to start your real estate journey.

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NOTES FROM HOME PHOTO BY RYAN MOSER COMPILED BY AMELIA BOLDAJI

r post offices – t package deliveries offer more than jus bors igh ne r ou ying hello to they’re hubs for sa to s ion at -tech salut and sending off low stuff de. It’s the sort of wi d an far loved ones gs Na e from, and at the traditions are mad s’ nk Ba r one of the Oute Head Post Office – ve ha s m – those custo smallest outposts glossy l decades’ worth of ra ve se evolved into ng their walls. missives tacked alo have t of postcards that With an assortmen ec, eb ung locales like Qu traveled from far-fl of p ou , to a small gr London and Sydney Post tings, the Nags Head ee gr homier holiday ents sid re r fo ule ps time ca Office is a bit like a g complete with smilin and visitors alike – ting correspondence da family photos and wer ne as ll d ‘90s, as we back to the ‘80s an y all dic rio pe e to arrive notes that continu arted he dkin d an ds frien from both treasured strangers. rld e? Wherever the wo Want to contribut essed dr ad stcards can be might take you, po et, Nags re St ing at 100 Deer to the postmaster ta pu to et rg fo t don’t Head, NC 27959 – jus stamp on it!

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FIVE FACTS

Photo courtesy of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

JOCKEY'S RIDGE WHEN CAROLISTA BAUM FIRST TOOK A STANCE against bulldozers positioned on the north edge of a burgeoning residential

BY EMMY TRIVETTE

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development in Nags Head, there was no way of knowing that her small act of defiance would lead to the creation of an area protecting our nation’s largest living sand dunes: Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Formally established in 1975, the park is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer, with plenty of tributes scheduled to mark that historic milestone – including this walk down memory lane to some lesser-known aspects of the park’s past and present legacy.

Plant Attack

Watch where you step!

Though carnivorous plants tend to sound more exotic, all five of the world’s main carnivorous plant types are native to North Carolina. Of those five, three types can be found growing naturally in Dare County, including sundews, which were once native to the maritime forest understories of Jockey’s Ridge. Two species of the sundew family – Drosera capillaris and Drosera intermedia – were last seen at the park near the Soundside Road beach access in 2005, but have been missing from the ecosystem ever since.

Rangers are hopeful, however, that prescribed burns – which help clear overgrowth and allow more sunlight to reach the sandy soil – are the key to helping these small insect eaters reemerge in their natural habitat.

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Down in the Dumps

Once upon a time, Jockey’s Ridge Crossing – the westside bypass building that now houses shops like Kitty Hawk Kites – was known as the Nags Head Casino. The wildly successful joint attracted stars ranging from Duke Ellington to Louis Armstrong from the 1930s until a storm damaged it beyond repair in 1970s. While the sandsubmerged mini golf course is often the highlight of objects buried under Jockey’s Ridge, the casino actually has some underground history there as well. Thanks to the casino’s poor waste disposal practices while it was in operation, ridge rangers are still removing the musical hotspot’s garbage from beneath the dunes’ silky sands – and turning up everything from cans and bottles to dishes and even old car parts.

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Sands of Time

Like many state parks across the country, Jockey’s Ridge has a plan – well, a land management plan, at least.

What makes this park site a bit different from some other locales, of course, is approximately 30 million tons of sand, which park rangers have to account for when the wind has its way with this granular material.

Given enough time, the park often begins to drift over onto U.S. Highway 158 and the surrounding areas, so, in the early part of 2019, about 200,000 tons of the park’s sand was relocated from the southeast corner of the dunes to the park’s northwest corner – an undertaking which cost about a million dollars and took 120 days to complete.

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Ridge Reenactments

Within the valleys of Jockey’s Ridge, you can find yourself encircled by waves of fine sand dunes up to two stories tall. As the sun sets on those sandy crests, and the wind tickles your hair as it stirs up patches of those loose, grainy particles, it’s not uncommon to feel as though you’ve been transported out of this world and into alien territory. Sound familiar? If so, it turns out that Star Wars nerds across the country feel the same way. Every May 4 – which is known as Star Wars Day – members of the fandom gather on the ridge to reenact costumed scenes from the canon’s planet Tatooine – with hopes that the fourth will always be with you.

Fast as Lightning

When lightning strikes sand it leaves behind a partially crystallized mineral formation called fulgurite – but not all of these fossil-like clumps are created equally. And as it turns out, fulgurite located on Jockey’s Ridge is wildly different from fulgurite you might encounter at one of the Outer Banks’ local beach accesses. Why? The sand particles found on Jockey’s Ridge are ultra-fine, while the minerally heavy coastal sand particles are much denser.

According to state park documents, the largest piece of tubular fulgurite discovered on Jockey’s Ridge was an astounding six feet long – though that record-setting mixture of fused silica and rocks ultimately broke as it was being removed from the ridge due to its brittleness.

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Trust the team that delivers results, year after year.

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*Based on information from the Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS 1.1.14-3.31.25

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