National Seashore Updates for the Week of November 21

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) recorded a 5.7 percent increase in total recreational visits in 2018 compared to 2017. Last year’s visitation (2,572,297) made it the busiest year at the Seashore since 2003. Monthly Recreational Visits Calendar Year 2018 January: 60,934 February: 76,818 March: 179,199 April: 175,377 May: 248,423 June: 389,722 July: 405,038 August: 387,698 [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

After dozens of local volunteers and community organizations joined in a massive clean-up effort, the beach in between ORV Ramps 48 and 49 reopened to the public on Tuesday afternoon, per a statement from the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The clean-up was prompted by the wreck of a 55 foot shrimp trawler that occurred at [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Representatives from the National Park Service conducted a thorough examination of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) after the end of the 35-day government shutdown to identify cases of vandalism, violations, and other instances of misuse of the National Seashore’s facilities. During the government shutdown, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) had 7-10 staff members [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is seeking volunteers who would like to help National Park Service staff clear a large debris field that was left this morning by the Big John shrimp trawler wreckage. The beach cleanup will take place tomorrow, February 5, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Individuals interested in volunteering should meet National Park Service [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras National Seashore has extended the public comment period to review the Environmental Assessment (EA) on constructing a new accessible hunting blind and wildlife viewing platform on Bodie Island in Nags Head, North Carolina. The comment period was extended because the National Park Service Planning, Environmental, and Public Comment (PEPC) website was unavailable to [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

With the enactment of the continuing resolution, staff at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial resumed regular operations today. “I wish to thank the local Outer Banks community for offering assistance to federal employees during the lapse in appropriations,” said National Parks of Eastern North Carolina Superintendent [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

As the federal government shutdown affects the cleanliness and responsible use of National Parks throughout the country, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) is apparently not immune to spates of vandalism or park violations. A January 17 social media post by the Outer Banks Preservation Society (OBPA) outlined some of these recent violations, and called [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

On Saturday, January 12, the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (NCBBA) put out a call to its members and volunteers on Facebook and their website that the National Park Service needed help in keeping the Cape Hatteras National Seashore clean and pristine from trash and litter. As it was a last-minute call, 14 hardy folks [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras National Seashore announced that restrooms at Whalebone Junction, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and next to the Ocracoke Visitor Center reopened this weekend using revenue generated by recreation fees (camping, park entrance, and lighthouse climbing fees). Trash will also be removed from trash cans in several visitor areas at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The partial U.S. government shutdown, which entered its 21st day on Friday, January 11, will likely delay two new Cape Hatteras National Seashore projects which were slated to begin in early 2019 – the new parking area at Kite Point, and the new Buxton Beach Day Use Area. As of Friday, the 21-day partial government [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The partial federal government shutdown on Saturday morning at 12 a.m. resulted in closures of all Cape Hatteras National Seashore visitors’ centers and many services, but the beaches remain open to the public. All rules and regulations apply for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore during the shutdown, and a list of what is operational during [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) is planning to construct an accessible hunting blind and wildlife viewing platform on Bodie Island in Nags Head, NC. This project would include a small concrete parking area, interpretive signage, an approximate 260 foot long elevated boardwalk to a partially covered platform over an open pond within the federally authorized [...] Seashore News |  Full Article