DISPATCH: Outer Banks - Sinking Treasure

It can get cold in the winter, but there's plenty of shelter to go around.

Roadside Attractions

Jockey's Ridge: “It’s this huge sand dune that we used to sand board down it when we were kids. You’d get sand in every crevice of your body rolling down that thing,” recalls Hines.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: Climb all 246 steps to the top of the barber pole while you’re there. Interesting fact: During the Civil War the South removed the light to deter the Union invasion.

Wright Brothers Memorial: “I mean, they flew the first plane,” marvels Hines. “Think about how far flight has come in the last hundred years. We’re in space now. You gotta check that out.”

Fishing: “In the winter, people catch 30-pound striped bass,” says Hines. “Striped bass are really good to eat and they’re really strong fish that are fun to catch.”

Night Life

Half of the island is a nature preserve, so if you're itching to bar hop, don't expect to be slamming body shots. In the Southern Bible Belt, blue laws forbid the service of hard liquor. Nonetheless, do stop by Kelly's Tavern for "Barryaoke" night, Goombays, and the Outer Banks Brewing Station. They brew their own beer. And it is good.

Legends:

Blackbeard: Also known as Edward Teach, the infamous pirate made Ocracoke Island one of his homes toward the latter part of his life. During the 17th century, the Outer Banks' ports provided plenty of booty to plunder. Rough seas and relative isolation made this place a cesspool for eyepatches and wooden legs.

Delbert: "He's just a modern-day surf pirate," says Hines of Nags Heads’ beloved, cartoonish local, Delbert. "All I see him drink or eat is Cobras, 40s, Food Lion lemonade, and fried chicken."

Tom Fearing:Allegedly, the first to ride waves on the Outer Banks in the 1930s. As a result...thank you, Tom.

Lore

In 1587 Queen Elizabeth commissioned ships to venture west, creating the first English-American civilization in the United States. Their legacy didn’t last long—the community disappeared just three years later. The only evidence of its existence was a Croatan marquee etched into a fort left by the Native American tribe. The fate of the community has puzzled historians ever since.

More recently, Hollywood shot a film called Nights in Rodanthe, at a house that overlooks S-Turns. Unfortunately, the shoot coincided with a stint of perfect waves and ruffled local feathers. Hines explains: “They were getting a shot of Richard Gere on the porch looking at the waves and they told us to move down. Everyone was like, ‘F. U. Hollywood! Richard Gere, we don’t give a crap about you…maybe if you give us some pizza and beer we’ll move down. Go back to California!’” Needless to say, the Outer Banks surf community rarely gets starstruck.

Links:

http://www.surfkdh.com

http://www.obxsurfinfo.com

http://www.esa.org

Special thanks to Jesse Hines, Whitney Hines, Mickey McCarthy, and Billy Diggs