Preserved from development by Carolista Baum, a mother of young children, who blocked a bulldozer, declared a National Natural Landmark and made a state park 50 years ago, an occasion recently celebrated by officials and throngs of visitors.
parks-refuges
Tabb’s Trails: Jockey’s Ridge State Park celebrates 50 years
The 426-acre state park in Nags Head is a harsh environment but rewards with self-guided trails taking hikers through dunes, foliage and by flowering plants swarmed by pollinators.
Take a hike Saturday to celebrate National Trails Day
There are trails across the state one can hike as part of National Trails Day, observed annually the first Saturday of June.
Outer Banks Forever opens sea turtle nest adoption program
For a $100 donation, supporters can symbolically adopt a sea turtle nest this summer on Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Core Sound readies for annual summer Parlor Talk Series
Cape Lookout National Seashore’s wildlife biologist Dr. Sue Stuska is to speak during the July 3 summer Parlor Talk Series at Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center’s Morehead City location.
State reminds visitors to maintain distance from wild horses
As tourism season ramps up, visitors to coastal areas where wild horses roam are reminded to keep a safe distance.
Officials urge Dare, Hyde beachgoers to sign up for alerts
Beachgoers to Hyde or Dare counties during the busy season can sign up for ocean and beach condition text alerts from Outer Banks lifeguards, ocean rescue agencies and the National Weather Service.
Tour highlights importance of state’s coastal reserves
State officials and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality staff took a tour Friday of Masonboro Island Reserve in Wilmington that highlighted the special coastal site.
Cracks in lighthouse walls will stall, increase restoration costs
Halfway into the $19.2 million project to restore Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, potentially dangerous cracks were discovered in critical structural components of the tower’s ironwork, creating inevitable project delays and unbudgeted cost increases.
Ferry service to Bear Island resumes next week
After being suspended since April 2024, ferry service from Hammocks Beach State Park to Bear Island resumes May 14.
Coastal Commission rejects effort to drop rules lawsuit
Coastal Resources Commissioner Jordan Hennessy garnered only two other votes last week for his effort to withdraw from the commission’s successful lawsuit challenging the state Rules Review Commission, which is set to appeal the ruling.
Hearing set on removing buffer zone around Buxton Woods
A public hearing is set for Monday on the proposed text amendment to remove restrictions on multifamily dwellings in the half-mile buffer around the 1,007-acre Buxton Woods Reserve.
Protective zone around Buxton Woods may be unenforceable
Dare County officials are now questioning the legality of the “zone of influence” buffer district the county enacted in 1988 to protect Buxton Woods Reserve from development.
Hatteras windsurfing spot mirrors US-Canada tensions
A windsurfing and kiteboarding destination off Hatteras Island known as Canadian Hole and the businesses that support visitors from up north have become a microcosm and barometer of a newly fraught international relationship.
Sandy Run Park: Town trail an overlooked Outer Banks gem
Tabb’s Trails: In our new photo-essay series, coastal reporter, photographer and hiking enthusiast Kip Tabb takes you along, starting with this easy half-mile loop around a pond and marsh in Kitty Hawk.
Bodie Island Lighthouse to open for climbing this month
Beginning April 18, tickets will on sale to visitors who want to climb the Bodie Island Lighthouse’s 214-step spiral staircase.