CHNS Beaches Open After Government Shutdown, But Visitors Services are Closed

The federal government shutdown ended on Monday night with the passing of a bill that reinstated federal funds until February 8.

The beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) will remain open for visitors after the federal government shutdown that occurred at 12 a.m. on Saturday, although visitors’ services will be closed until the shutdown is over.

Typical visitors’ services include local visitors’ centers, permit offices, and restrooms, which will be closed during the shutdown. The https://www.recreation.gov  website, where online permits can be obtained, has been temporarily disabled. The Wright Brothers National Memorial will also be closed.

The beaches will remain open, and all park roads and parking areas will be open.

“We’re doing everything we can to allow the public to utilize areas of the park that don’t require staffing this time of year,” said David Hallac, Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent.

The park will operate with a very small number of staff – just law enforcement personnel – until the shutdown is over.

The Oregon Inlet Fishing Center was open on Saturday morning, and it appeared that the fishing center would be able to stay open for the duration of the shutdown.

The last time a government shutdown affected the Cape Hatteras National Seashore was in October 2013, when parking areas and ORV ramps were barricaded, in addition to the shuttered park facilities.

This time, the parking areas and beaches will not be blocked off, however there will be no visitors’ facilities open within the seashore.

It is not clear how long the shutdown will last, however several U.S. lawmakers have stated that they expect the shutdown to continue until at least early next week.

The Island Free press will continue to post updates on potential closures and openings during the shutdown.