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As most
everyone knows, Hatteras Island was hit hard by Hurricane
Irene in late August. Our only road (NC Hwy 12) unto
Hatteras had been severed in a couple places. Repairs by
the NCDOT to get our road open have been completed and you can now enter Hatteras
Island from the north by Hwy 12 or via Ocracoke Island using
the Cedar Island or Swan Quarter ferries.
You can read all about what
an incredible task this project was and how this road and
bridge
work progressed at the
NCDOT website. To their credit they kept their
webpage updated daily during the entire process. These folks
were our unsung heroes! |
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Quiet little
Buxton is located on North Carolina’s Outer Banks (OBX) and is
well known for two things. Buxton is the location of the famous
Hatteras Lighthouse.
This is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States at 208
feet tall. Also Buxton has some of the nation’s finest ocean
surf fishing at a location affectionately called by the locals
"The Point".
Buxton’s residential winter population of slightly under 1400
residents swells in size as the spring weather brings the
promise of good fishing. From then on, Buxton remains a fairly
active place until the first real sustained cold weather in
early January sends the fish to warmer southern waters. Buxton’s
economy is virtually based on the seasonal tourism that our
local surf fishing and its associated tourism provides us. As
you cruise slowly and happily through Buxton at the posted speed
limit of 25 mph you can’t help but begin to realize that you
have come to a unique and very special place with a rich history
that this area seems to want to share with you. With plenty of
Hatteras Island tackle shops, restaurants, motels and unique Bed
& Breakfasts available, Buxton makes a very inviting place to
enjoy your favorite outdoor activity.
As one of the most family friendly towns in the Outer Banks, Buxton is a popular destination among day-trippers as well. While Buxton itself is not home to many large hotels or
time share resorts, nearby towns like Kitty Hawk provide such accommodations. As such, driving tours of the Outer Banks are also a favorite activity among visitors, including such stops as the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head, Roanoke Island and, of course, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Where Did The Name
"Buxton" Come
From?
Buxton, six miles south of Avon and just north of Frisco, was
listed as "Cape Hatteras Indian Town" on early maps. The first
post office, established in 1873, served a community simply
called “The Cape.” The name “Buxton” was chosen in 1882 after
Judge Ralph P. Buxton (Crumbley and Ertzberger 1988). The name
“Indian Town” came from a population of American Indians that
resided or camped at the Cape. East Carolina University
archaeologist David Phelps recently found large numbers of
European trade items at a site in Buxton, from an Algonkian
village thought to be the capital of the Croatan chiefdom (Ward
and Davis 1999). The native population encountered at European
contact was steadily reduced to poverty. In 1714 the North
Carolina Council ordered that the Hatteras Indians be supplied
with corn, but the group never recovered. The last reference to
Indian inhabitants was in a 1788 deed transferring the “Indian
Town” site and more from “Mary Elks, Inden,” to “Nathan Midyett”
Local Controversy Should Become
A
National Concern!
Whether you
agree or disagree with the politics involved,
Hatteras Island is deeply embroiled in some serious issues for
its survival.
Along with the fuel and housing crunch that all American's are
currently feeling, the local businesses and citizens have been forced to
take an active roll in defending
North Carolina's previously free and open beaches which have always been the
basis of the local economy. To hear our local's point of view please visit
Island
Free Press and also watch this eye opening
[video].
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Driving on the Beach/Beach Access Map
The
National Park Service has instituted their new ORV Plan for
Hatteras Island. This new plan includes a regulation requiring a
special permit for driving on the beach on Hatteras Island.
Visitors can pick up a permit at Coquina Beach, the Cape
Hatteras Lighthouse or the Ocracoke Visitor Center. Two types of
permits are available ($50 for 7 days or $120 for a full
calendar year). You will also be required to watch a very
informative seven minute video in order to get this permit and
we highly recommend everyone watch this even if you have no
plans to drive on the beach because it discusses things like
dogs on the beach and fires, fireworks, kites, frisbees, balls,
etc. You can find this video and also a link to the
most current NPS beach closure and access maps by clicking [HERE].
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Buxton Fishing
Because of
its prime location on Hatteras Island in an area that juts out
easterly into the Atlantic Ocean, the warm waters of the Gulf
Stream come extremely close to Buxton and offer a perfect
environment for the early northern migration of many ocean
species of fish. When the fish arrive it doesn’t take long for
the word to circulate and anglers from all over will line up at
“The Point” for an opportunity to catch their own fish of a
lifetime.
Buxton offers
two well stocked tackle shops (Red Drum Tackle & Dillon’s
Corner) to get fresh bait and excellent advice. Since it is
recommended that you let your tire pressure down to 20 psi or
less if you are going to drive on the beach, it’s a comfort to
know that there are several places in Buxton that you can
immediately air back up when you come off the beach.
Buxton is
also the home of the
Cape Hatteras Anglers Club
with a membership of 900+ strong. CHAC holds an invitational
surf fishing team tournament every fall as well as also sending
its own members to represent it at several tournaments along the
coast. CHAC is a great place for visiting fishermen to make
contact and get the most up to date information on what is
happening in Buxton.
Hatteras Island
Activities Galore!
Here is a list of the many activities available on
Hatteras Island for Buxton visitors.
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Basic Travel Preparation
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I am
often asked to provide a list of things that I might consider to
be basic travel preparations. One of the things that many
visitors are always concerned about is exactly what our area has
available in case of medical emergencies. Rest assured that
Hatteras Island has exceptional medical attention always
available. Please visit this
page
for a listing
of medical and dental facilities that are currently available.
Neighbors and Businesses
Buxton has several small neighborhoods with a
variety of variously priced homes. Beware, even with the
current housing crunch good quality beach property still
doesn’t come cheap. The main highway is State Route 12
which runs through the center of Buxton and has several
motels along it. Many of the homes in and around Buxton
are available for weekly rental. Buxton is Hatteras
Island’s local business hub with gas stations,
restaurants, grocery store, banks, fire station, EMS
station and a small US Post Office. There is also a US
Coast Guard Station located within Buxton.
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"Lone Woman on
the Boat" |
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