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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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◄ Welcome to Rodanthe
/ Waves / Salvo, North Carolina
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While traveling to Hatteras Island from the
north you will first cross over the Oregon Inlet bridge on Rt.
12 and then enter the Pea Island US Fish and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Peaceful Rodanthe will be the first Hatteras Island village at
the north end of the island.
Although these three villages are each separate, it will be
difficult to tell when you leave one and enter the next. One
thing that can be said for sure though is that all three of our
little villages have always been outdoor enthusiast friendly and
they are as peaceful and quiet as you will find anywhere.
Whether you prefer fishing, surfing, beachcombing, jogging,
kiteboarding, shell hunting, sunbathing or just plain sitting on
your lounge chair sipping a drink and relaxing, this is a place
that you can do it.
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Our Village Names:
This area of Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo were
three distinct early settlements once referred to as the
Chicamacomico Banks. Believe it or not, this area was heavily
wooded and these three settlements were separated by small
creeks and bridges only. As of 1850 the census reported the area
with 37 families with a total of 205 people.
The villages of Rodanthe and Waves were the more closely knit of
the trio. The original name for Rodanthe was North
Chicamacomico and for Waves it was South Chicamacomico. At that
time Salvo
was originally Clarks and sometimes Clarksville and although the
three villages were close knit Clarks functioned more
independently then its northern neighbors.
After that..........
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Rodanthe: In 1874 the US Post Office refused to
use many of the long Indian names that were common for Outer
Banks villages. No one is sure why North Rodanthe was chosen but
it is theorized that it is named after a non-native flower “Rodantha.”
Some of the other names Rodanthe has gone by in early years are
Big Kinnakeet, Chichinock-Cominock, Chicky, Midgett Town,
Northern Woods and even Northard Woods |
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Waves: First named South Chicamacomico and then
South Rodanthe, villagers accepted the name Waves P.O.
which was proposed by local postmaster Anna Midgette
with an eye toward tourism in 1939. Villagers wanted to
keep P.O. in the name to show their strong reluctance of
changing the name and giving up the original
Chicamacomico designation. Soundside mariners often
referred to Waves simply as “the hump in the middle.”
Salvo: Salvo was originally named Clarks or Clarksville
and received its village name very strangely indeed. A Union
ship's commander passing the Island asked his crew what
was the name of the village that he was seeing. While looking
at his chart, the crewman said that he could not see any
name. The commander ordered, “Give it a salvo anyway,”
(salvo = a simultaneous cannon firing). The crewman then
logged “salvo” on the chart which was noted and used on
future charts and actually stuck as the official Union
name. |
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Surf
or
Sound
Realty |
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Premier Hatteras
Island Vacation Homes |
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As might be expected, the Chicamacomico Banks
had many historical ties to the Manteo and Wanchese areas. Also,
despite the reputation of being people from a very isolated
area, the locals from this area were actually well traveled
because of the area’s close connections with the US Coast Guard
and their relocations all up and down the east coast. In many
decades of the mid-twentieth century, Rodanthe was the
northernmost stop of the Manteo-Hatteras Bus Line using sand
roads. This bus line helped familiarize the southern Hatteras
Island villagers with their northern neighbors.
Rodanthe had the distinction of having the
areas only man made refuge for boats in the region. In 1936 the
US Coast Guard built a channel and T-shaped harbor named the
Blackmar Gut built for the US Chicamacomico Coast Guard Station.
Today, nearly all remnants of the earlier villages have all but
disappeared along with much of the original natural landscape.
Visitors will be interested that there was once a wetland area
called Aunt Phoebe’s Marsh in the current area now covered with a
theme park, waterslide, go-cart tracks and campgrounds. |
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Driving on the Beach / Beach Access Maps
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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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.
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We Have
Activities Galore! |
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Of course there is never a shortage of recreation for you to do while you
are visiting this area. Click on an activity: |
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Optician's Choice Sunglasses |
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Our
Local Controversy Should Be 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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Interesting Statistics: As of the
2007, the Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo area is listed as having a
population of 1734. The median home cost was a whopping $750K.
The per capita income is listed as $23,800 and the per household
income is listed as $48,000. Of course these statistics
are very misleading after the economic crash of 2008. |
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"Lone Woman on the Boat"
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Resources
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Sitemap |
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