National Seashore Updates for the Week of April 4
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) announced several recent updates and news items related to recreational activities and seashore conditions on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.
News items and events related to the National Seashore for the week of April 4 include the following:
Seashore Updates
- On Tuesday morning, the Federal Highway Administration began a one year, $6.9 million project to preserve many of the paved roads and parking areas within Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial. The Seashore will regularly publish progress updates, notifications of temporary construction closures, and project photos to a new webpage dedicated to keeping the public informed during this complex project. The webpage is located at: https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/fhwa_2019_2020_preservation_project.htm
- Seashore maintenance staff are putting the finishing touches on a project to widen and convert Devil Shoals Road on Ocracoke Island from a soundside off-road vehicle (ORV) route to a road that can be used without an ORV permit. At the end of the road, there is a parking area large enough to accommodate 3-5 vehicles. The road and parking area are now open to the public
- The Kite Point parking area project in between Avon and Buxton is progressing well. It is anticipated to open in the coming weeks, in time for the unofficial start of the summer season.
Upcoming Events
- 2018 Year in Review Presentations
- Date: Apr 10, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
- Location: Ocracoke Community Center, Ocracoke
- Description: Superintendent Hallac will review 2018 visitation patterns and park activities at Cape Hatteras NS, Fort Raleigh NHS, and Wright Brothers NMEM.
- Opening Day of Camping Season
- Date: Apr 12
- Location: Oregon Inlet, Cape Point, Frisco, and Ocracoke Campgrounds
- Description: The park’s four campgrounds open for the 2019 camping season.
- Beach Cleanups on Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke Islands
- Date: Apr 13, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Opening Day of Lighthouse Climbing Season
- Date: Apr 19, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Description: Climb the Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras Lighthouses for free on opening day of the 2019 lighthouse climbing season. Free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be obtained in person, that day, on site.
- Special Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Move Interpretive Program
- Date: May 3, 10:30 am to 11:00 a.m. (daily through October 14)
- Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center Pavillion
- Description: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move, park rangers will present daily interpretive lighthouse move programs beginning May 3 and continuing through October 14. Additional interpretive programming and a special anniversary event will be held between June 17 and July 9, (the same dates as the lighthouse move in 1999). More details to be announced soon.
- 1st Annual Surf Fishing Heritage Celebration
- Date: November 2
- Location: Fessenden Center, Buxton
- Description: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, along with partner organizations, will celebrate the area’s strong surf fishing history at the 1st annual Cape Hatteras Surf Fishing Heritage Celebration. More details about this event will be available soon.
due to the road paving and parking lot paving projects, now is the time to add at least 5′ shoulders to Lighthouse Rd. from Hwy. 12 to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse parking lot. Its a safety issue–can’t believe no one has been hit-killed by a vehicle. There never has been a shoulder.