Beach Driving Permits Required on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Anyone who has followed the National Park Service’s efforts to formulate an off-road vehicle plan for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore knows that far-reaching changes to the traditional use of our beaches are coming. They are changes that will affect the culture and the economy of Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. It’s also been apparent for at least the last decade that one of the biggest of those changes will be the requirement that residents and visitors to buy a permit to drive on the beach. All who want to drive on the beach will have to buy one – whether you have lived here all your life, are visiting for a week, or just passing through for a day.


Park service is making the permits effective on Feb. 15. Permits will go on sale when – or right after – the rule becomes effective in February.

Residents and visitors will have to apply for the permits in person at one of the structure sights. They will watch a 7-minute educational video about beach driving and regulations and sign an agreement that they understand and will abide by the rules. Then they will receive either a sticker for the windshield or a permit that will hang on the vehicle’s rear view mirror, depending on whether they have purchased an annual or seven-day permit. Annual or seven-day permits will be the only choices. There will be no daily permits. If you have more than one vehicle that you drive to the beach, you will need a permit for each one.

Now for the big question: How much will they cost? The Park Service said the cost would be similar to what is charged at Cape Cod or Assateague national seashores and mentions the range of $90 to $150 for an annual permit. Weekly permits are estimated around $30-$50. There is no limit on the number of permits that can be sold, but the Park Service has set carrying capacity for the beaches. When beaches reach the carrying capacity, no more vehicles will be allowed until some leave. In addition, vehicles will be allowed to park only one deep on the beach – stacking of vehicles behind each other will not be allowed. Currently night-driving permits, which are available online, are required for driving at night from Sept. 16-Nov. 15. Under the permit system, night driving times and restrictions will be part of the permit, so you won’t need another one to drive at night in the fall. Also, permits can be revoked if the person who is permitted violates the rules, especially for serious offenses, such as drunk driving or driving in a closed resource area.

All in all, it’s fair to say that the rules about the permits are going to be difficult for some folks to adjust to. For many, the changes will be a shock.

Steve Kaufman Concert on Hatteras Island

Acclaimed World Champion guitarist, Steve Kaufman, is returning to Hatteras Island to conduct his 16th Annual award winning workshop and concert.

The 8 hour- 2 day- hands on- all level Flatpicking Guitar Workshop will take place in the Conference Room at Hatteras Realty's Avon office beginning Friday, January 6th at 7 PM.  Cost for the two day event is $100.00, including dinner and lunch, work books, and all the fun humanly possible!

Hosted by John Couch. For more information call John at 252.995.4955 or email guitarcouch@earthlink.net. 

Course Schedule:Friday January 6, 7 -9 PM  (Dinner Included)
Saturday January 7, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM,  Lunch included

The concert will be held Saturday night at the Cape Hatteras Elementary School at 7:30 PM. January 7, 2012 and will again feature Robin Kessinger. CHES is located at 47500 Middle Ridge Trail in Buxton NC 27920. Ticket prices are $12.00 per person. Kids under 12 are free. All proceeds from concert benefit; Cape Hatteras Elementary School.

Check out 2011's Workshop Video: http://youtu.be/3zJ0JzQQgvs
Wanna Know More about Steve?: http://www.flatpik.com/About-Steve-Kaufman.html
Sample Concert Video: http://youtu.be/enzKDvA8-ik

Call Hatteras Realty for a great Weekend Rate: 800-428-8372

Recommended Motels in Buxton, NC:
Lighthouse View Motel: Oceanfront Lodging 800.225.7651
Cape Pines Motel: 866.995.5666

Results are in: Take More Beach Vacations!

Whether you are planning a trip or involved in any type of travel sales, you will want to know about a new survey: it says that better health may be as easy as taking more trips. More than eight out of ten travelers say they feel energized and productive after returning from a leisure trip, says the American Travel Behavior Survey conducted online by Harris Interactive. So, kick off 2012 by adding ‘take more trips’ to your New Year's resolution list, and take advantage of the long New Year's Eve weekend by booking an affordable getaway at one of our accommodating rental homes!

Weight loss and quitting smoking are some of the New Year's resolutions associated with creating a healthier lifestyle, but now you can complement that list with ‘take a beach vacation!’ Adding frequent travel to the mix offers much more than a few days off from work or away from home; “science has shown that it can also provide substantial health benefits,” according to Hotwire. "Travel stimulates the brain and promotes the growth of new synapses, heightens creativity and may even resist Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Matthew Edlund,, director of the Center for Circadian Medicine and author of The Power of Rest. He added: "Your brain, like the rest of your body, rebuilds itself constantly, but it needs to be given the regular opportunity to do so. Taking frequent leisure trips at regular intervals continually rests and rejuvenates you, increasing your productivity and sense of satisfaction."

With over 570 Hatteras Island beach vacation homes perched in the best locations, Hatteras Realty has the right beach vacation home at the right price for your budget! Call us, we can help you cross items off your New Year’s resolution list! 

Thanksgiving Getaway on Hatteras Island

The Carolinas are a well-known summer destination, but this year it’s fast becoming a much-favored Thanksgiving getaway.  It’s a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving tradition while actually spending time with the family on vacation!

Off season pricing during Thanksgiving week can be astonishingly reasonable. Gather all your family, and extended family, in one of our large accommodating homes and split the cost amongst the members. This can make for a better deal than any hotel. Not to mention, everyone will have real beds, multiple TVs, a large equipped kitchen, and breath taking views. 

Hosting a large Thanksgiving can be overwhelming. In one of our rental homes, everyone is a guest! You can share the exhausting tasks with everyone involved. Not just one person has to be in charge of cleaning dishes, setting the table, cleaning all the sheets and towels, etc. Don’t forget the best added bonus to renting a home, maid service when you leave!

November is a fabulous time to visit Hatteras Island, too! The warm weather is a perfect invite to get out and enjoy activities such as walking the beach, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, or even a nice bike ride through the village. Best of all the beaches are wide open and beautiful! If you ask any local most will tell you their favorite season on Hatteras Island is the fall months.

There are so many reasons why the Outer Banks are becoming a favorable holiday getaway! Why not combined your traditional Thanksgiving feast with a memorable family vacation too?

Browse out our last minute specials
Check out events this month

Hatteras Island Mystery- The Cora Tree

Since today is Halloween, we decided to share with you a very popular story told for generations! From the outer banks, hundreds of stories have stemmed from actual events and local liars, and while some of these stories have museums and landmarks to pay homage to the tale, others simply survive by word of mouth.

The North Carolina coast is home to countless tall tales, legends and haunted stories to accompany its stunning and unique landscape of marshes, maritime forests, miles of beaches and sometimes unforgiving storms. From this locale, hundreds of stories have stemmed from actual events and local liars, and while some of these stories have museums and landmarks to pay homage to the tale, others simply survive by word of mouth.

Few visitors ever hear about or visit the Cora Tree, a sizeable live oak that is in the center of the Brigands Bay community in Frisco, but that hasn't stopped its legend from staying alive.

According to the legend, in the early 1700s, a strange woman named Cora showed up and began living in a crude hut in the forest not far from the Cora Tree. Cora lived alone with no one for company but a baby whom she carried with her everywhere. Folks were suspicious of strangers, but left Cora to her own. After some time, they noticed that Cora was usually in the neighborhood just before misfortune struck. A cow she touched went dry, a little boy who mocked her baby got sick and nearly died, and fishermen stopped catching fish even though Cora always seemed to have an abundance of fresh fish.

Locals were certainly suspicious, but did nothing until a body washed up on a local beach with the digits "666" burned into the man's forehead. Small footprints indicated that someone had fled the scene, most likely a woman.

Eli Brood, a Salem, Massachusetts captain of the brig Susan G., heard the stories about Cora and decided to test her to see if she was a witch. He tried to cut her hair, but was unable to because it was "tougher than rope." Next, he tied her up and threw her into the Sound, but she floated to the top of the surface. These were indications to Brood that she was indeed a witch.

They tied Cora and the baby to a live oak tree with dry kindling at her feet, and while Brood and the locals argued about whether it was right to burn her, the baby suddenly turned into a cat with green eyes and ran away. At that moment, the sunny sky was covered with a giant dark cloud and a bolt of lightning crashed into the tree, covering the tree and the onlookers in smoke.

When the smoke cleared, the kindling was untouched, and ropes were still tied around the live oak, but Cora was gone and never heard from again. Only two signs existed to testify to her existence. The live oak tree was split in two from the power of the lightning bolt, and four letters were burned so deep into the tree that they are still clearly visible today: "CORA." Next time you visit Hatteras Island stop by and see for yourself!

Message From the Owner- CSA

Dear Guests,

 

Amy Helle, Hatteras Realty Vice President, and I traveled to Orlando, Florida and met with two representatives of CSA, your travel insurance providers.

 

We discussed terms of coverage. Those CSA policy holders who purchased policies for rentals from the time of the evacuation, August 25, to the time when it was lifted, September 15, are fully covered. In fact, CSA extended the coverage, according to the terms of the policy, through September 17. Additionally CSA was committed to covering those guests who were under the existing Mandatory Evacuation Order in the Hatteras Island villages of Waves, Rodanthe and Salvo.This evacuation order was lifted on Monday, October 10, 2011.

 

Those holding policies for travel stays after September 17 are not covered by Trip Insurance as per terms of the policy. The policy term has always been from the time when civil authorities say "Get Out" through the time they announce "Come Back."  The cold hard truth is CSA never anticipated the island being cut in two and access being affected for three weeks until a bridge was built.  It was not addressed under the terms of the policy. This sucks, but there it is.

 

However, we are working with CSA, along with the NC Department of Insurance, to come up with a mitigated solution for those who hold policies that were in effect for the time period of September 17 through October 10.

 

Meanwhile, I was told by CSA that for those that have had their claims denied, CSA is now reopening those files and will be getting back to you. Those of you who have not filed, please submit your claims to CSA.

 

I will explain more fully in a video I plan to post on Tuesday afternoon, October 18.

 

Thank you,

 

R. Stewart Couch

Hatteras Realty

hatterasrealty.com

Access to Hatteras Island Restored

NC Highway 12 to Hatteras Island Reopens at 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 10

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will reopen N.C. Highway 12 at 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 10. NCDOT today announced the reopening of the roadway north of Rodanthe that was damaged during Hurricane Irene.

When Highway 12 reopens, the State of Emergency for Hatteras Island will be lifted by Dare County Emergency Management and residents and visitors will be permitted entry to the previously restricted villages of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo. There will be no travel restrictions in effect for any portion of Hatteras Island, including Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras Village.

Motorists are advised that some secondary roads on Hatteras Island may still have storm related debris and should exercise caution. It is recommended that visitors contact their accommodations provider to confirm the availability of their lodging reservation.

The NCDOT Ferry Division will suspend the emergency ferry service from Stumpy Point on the Dare County Mainland to Rodanthe when Highway 12 reopens.

Dare County Bulletins

From Hatteras Island vs. Hurricane Irene:

Incoming visitors please know that Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo and some Avon residents are still dealing with the aftermath...two houses were being torn down even today. You may see some trash along Highway 12. There are huge mountains of debris in the NPS campground just south of Salvo. Emotionally, most people are not even close to recovery; they are still in survival mode.

Thank you for respecting the locals' right to privacy (by not driving down side streets just to look at people's lives being torn apart.) Thanks especially for your thoughts and prayers, donations and good wishes.

Welcome back! :)