Rediscover Your OBX National Parks this Public Lands Day

by | September 16, 2020 | Cape Hatteras, Fort Raleigh, News & Events, Wright Brothers

It’s back to school season, which means it’s time for a pop quiz: Can you name all 3 of your OBX National Parks?

(Don’t worry if you’re drawing a blank—most people can’t name them all! Your secret’s safe with us.)

We are lucky to have three National Parks—Wright Brothers National Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Cape Hatteras National Seashore—within the more than 100 miles of our barrier islands.

Here’s what our Board member, Trip Forman, co-founder of REAL Watersports, has to say about living on Cape Hatteras National Seashore:

“It’s so neat to be able to live here and be completely surrounded by a national park. I’ve been living here for 30 years, and there’s not really one day that’s the same. Every day, there’s different elements or different atmospheric conditions or different waves or different wind. I mean, you’re living in a place that is so natural and so wild, among the elements with no filter. It’s unique.”

This year, celebrate Public Lands Day with us and the National Park Service, on September 26th by rediscovering your OBX national parks. 

While your OBX National Parks will not be hosting Public Lands Day events this year, all three parks are open and are ready for visitors—and on September 26th, entrance is free at Wright Brothers.

Come on out and rediscover your OBX National Parks!

What’s Open at Wright Brothers National Memorial

Wright Brothers National Memorial is located in Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The park was established by Congress in 1927 (then as Kill Devil Hills National Memorial) in celebration of Orville and Wilbur Wright, two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, who taught the world to fly. 

  • The Visitor Center Museum is open at reduced capacity 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., seven days a week (last entry at 4:30pm).
  • The Park Store is open at reduced capacity and certain merchandise can be purchased online.
  • Restrooms are open.
  • Ranger talks and activities are canceled, but Rangers provide roving info throughout the day outside the visitor center and camp buildings.
  • The airport and pilot facilities are open.
  • The First Flight Bronze Sculpture is accessible for viewing.
  • Outdoor areas are open.

In addition to paying by credit card at the park’s entrance kiosk, visitors can purchase digital entrance passes for Wright Brothers National Memorial before arriving. Click here to purchase standard entrance passes and annual passes online. Both the standard entrance pass and the annual pass are still available at the park’s ticket booth.

What’s Open at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is located on Roanoke Island overlooking the Albemarle Sound. The park, established in 1941, marks the site of the first attempted English settlement in the new world—which is known as the “Lost Colony” for having mysteriously disappeared. Prior to the arrival of the English, the island was the home of the Carolina Algonquian Indians.  

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site was also the site of the Freedmen’s Colony, which was established by members of the Union Army for former slaves during the Civil War. Following the end of the war, the colony was disbanded, but some brave men and women joined together to buy plots of land and establish a community on Roanoke Island. Today, descendants of those men and women still live on the island.  

  • The Visitor Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., seven days a week. 
  • The Park Store is closed, but some merchandise can be purchased online. 
  • Ranger talks and activities are canceled, but Rangers will be present on the park grounds seven days a week to answer questions.
  • The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama’s 2020 season has been canceled. 
  • Outdoor areas are open.
  • Elizabethan Gardens are open.
  • Park Trails are open. 

What’s Open at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is America’s first national seashore, established by the National Park Service in 1953 to preserve 70 miles of beautiful coastline that stretches from Rodanthe to Ocracoke Island that make up part of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Seashore comprises three islands—Bodie Island, Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island—and is home to abundant and diverse flora and fauna and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world each year. 

Bodie Island 

  • Whalebone Junction Information Center is open.
  • The Park Store is open at reduced capacity.
  • Lighthouse climbing is closed for the season, but the grounds of the lighthouse are open!
  • Ranger talks and activities are canceled, but Rangers provide informal information near the Double Keepers’ Quarters daily. Junior Ranger books, maps and information are also available outside the Double Keepers’ Quarters.
  • Beaches are open, and beach fires are allowed in specific areas with a free permit. Click here for Beach Access Status. 
  • Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) accesses are open (Click here for ORV information). The ORV permit office is closed, but permits can be purchased online!
  • Lifeguards are on Coquina Beach, 9am-5pm, seven days a week.
  • Oregon Inlet Campground is open (reservations must be made online).
  • Oregon Inlet Fishing Center is open.
  • Boat Ramp Parking is open.
  • Bodie Island Marsh Blind is open.

Hatteras Island 

  • The Park Store is open at reduced capacity.
  • Lighthouse climbing is closed for the season, but the grounds of the lighthouse are open!
  • Ranger talks and activities are canceled, but Rangers provide informal information near the park store daily. Junior Ranger books, maps and information are also available outside the Park Store.
  • The Museum of the Sea is open 9:30am-4:30pm, seven days a week.
  • Beaches are open, and beach fires are allowed in specific areas with a free permit. Click here for Beach Access Status.
  • Lifeguards are on Old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach and Frisco Beach, 9am-5pm, seven days a week.
  • Avon Pier is open.
  • Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) accesses are open (Click here for ORV information). The ORV permit office is closed, but permits can be purchased online!
  • Sound-Side Accesses are open (Salvo, Haulover, Kite Point, Sandy Bay, and sound-side ORV ramps).
  • Airport is open.
  • Cape Point and Frisco Campgrounds are open (reservations must be made online).
  • Buxton Woods Trail and Open Ponds Trail are open.

Ocracoke Island 

  • The Visitor Center is open with staffing for slips and trailer parking permits. Window is open 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., seven days a week. 
  • Pony Pens are open.
  • Beaches are open, and beach fires are allowed in specific areas with a free permit. Click here for Beach Access Status. 
  • Lifeguards are at Ocracoke Beach Access, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week. Restroom facility is open.
  • Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) accesses are open (Click here for ORV information). The ORV permit office is closed, but permits can be purchased online!
  • Sound-Side Accesses are open (Devil Shoals, S. Bitterswash, and sound-side ORV ramps).
  • Airport is open.
  • Boat slips/ramps are open.
  • Boat Ramp Parking is open.
  • Ocracoke Campground is open (reservations must be made online).
  • Ranger talks and activities are canceled, but Rangers are informally providing information at Ocracoke Lighthouse grounds and visitor center Wednesday and Saturday (subject to change).
  • Hammock Hills Trail is open. 

When you visit your OBX National Parks, please remember to #RecreateResponsibly. As you are able, follow all park Covid-19 safety protocols: maintain social distance of six feet or more from others, wear a face mask and wash your hands. For Dare County Covid-19 information, click here. 

We look forward to seeing you in the parks!