The new Cape Hatteras Lighthouse multiuse pathway in Buxton was officially opened Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The 1.25-mile-long, 10- to 12-foot-wide, accessible concrete pathway connects Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Old Lighthouse Beach. There are interpretive signs along the path explaining the history of when the lighthouse was moved to its current location in 1999, the seashore’s ecology and its distinction as a watersports destination.
Supporter Spotlight
Outer Banks Forever is the official nonprofit partner of the seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial and began raising funds to build the pathway in the fall of 2022.
Outer Banks Forever and Cape Hatteras National Seashore held the ceremony for the pathway that “quietly opened to the community in the fall of 2024,” and “hundreds of parkgoers have been using it for walking, biking, strolling, dog walking, and more, now safely separated from traffic,” according to the nonprofit.
Outer Banks Forever and the seashore are currently working to build and install an accessible restroom and shower facility at the Old Lighthouse Beach Access, with a target completion date of early 2026.
Donors to the nonprofit, a Tourism Impact Grant from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, and grants from the Federal Highways Administration helped fund the pathway.
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Executive Director Lee Nettles announced that the Dare County Tourism Board was proud to support the project.
Supporter Spotlight
“Dare County tourism is a $2.15 billion industry representing 46% of the jobs within our county, but visitor spending also provides funding for the Tourism Board’s grant programs,” Nettles said in a news release. “The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Pathway project is an example of how tourism can improve safety and the quality of life for both visitors and residents.”
