Dare County up in tourism but likely to lose 4th-place spot to Asheville

After another solid year of tourism, Dare County is on pace to see even more increases in tax and occupancy collections in 2017.

Dare County recorded a 7 percent increase in rental revenue during June with $79,240,527 in occupancy income compared to June of 2016, Lee Nettles, the managing director of the Dare County Tourism Board, said.

The total, he said, does not reflect variables among individual business, some of which saw seasonal ups and others, downward or break-even trends.

While that puts revenue so far this year 11 percent above 2016, Dare County is likely to lose its standing as fourth among the state’s 100 counties in tourism dollars, Nettles said in a presentation to the Dare County Board of Commissioners last week.

Buncombe County, which includes Asheville in the western mountains, is right on Dare’s heels and will soon move into fourth place primarily because it added about 25 percent more hotel rooms in the past two or three years, Nettles said.

With limited land and environmental restrictions under the Coastal Area Management Act, “we simply don’t have the potential for expansion,” Nettles said. “And, you know, some would argue that’s a good thing. It keeps it what we are and keeps people coming back for that experience.”

July of this year will likely show returns a little under last year, primarily because of a record jump of 18 percent in July 2016 over the same month in 2015 and this year’s power outage on Hatteras Island, Nettles said.

Power was off for about a week after transmission cables were cut in a construction accident at the site of the Bonner Bridge replacement project. A common misconception was that the outage had affected the entire Outer Banks, Nettles said. Hatteras represents about 25 percent of the county’s tourism traffic and only areas south of Oregon Inlet were affected.

When power was restored, the Bureau produced a video “Hatteras is On” featuring local businesses that drew 383,000 views and reached 791,313 people, Nettles said.

Social media have provided a big boost in exposure, Nettles said. People tend to gravitate to social media sites they trust, and the Visitors Bureau has focused on marketing on the more popular sites.

Shelly Island, the sandbar off the Point on Hatteras Island, has been a draw in itself, if not in actual tourism dollars, at least in interest. Nettles said a feature produced by the Bureau was its top video, with a reach of 1.5 million people.

In 2016, the county saw a 4.5 percent increase in tourism dollars. According to state figures, the economic impact was $1.1 billion, producing $102.31 million in state and local taxes.

Mecklenburg, Wake and Guilford counties are the state’s top three.

Charter boat nearly capsized crossing Oregon Inlet ocean bar

Five people escaped after their charter boat rolled over while crossing the Oregon Inlet ocean bar Saturday evening.

The Synergy, a 54-foot charter based at Pirates Cove, was returning to the inlet when it turned sideways, or broached, while coming down a wave and filled with water.

The boat nearly capsized but stayed afloat, according to multiple sources.

Three people were in the salon when the incident happened around 5:30 p.m. and were trapped after the hatch slammed shut. They were able to escape through a side window.

After abandoning ship, the passengers and crew were rescued by a Coast Guard boat crew from Station Oregon Inlet. Two people were injured, according to sources.

One woman was flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, according to a Coast Guard spokesperson, and injuries were non-life threatening.

The Synergy washed ashore before sunset on the north shore of Oregon Inlet, salvage efforts were ongoing through the night and a towing service was dispatched to refloat the vessel.

 source: Outer Banks Voice

Nat’l Hunting and Fishing Day events statewide TODAY!

On Saturday, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will host or support family-friendly outdoor skills events across the state to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day.

The events, most of which are free, offer activities and exhibits that highlight the state’s rich hunting, fishing and wildlife conservation heritage.

Activities and exhibits vary for each event; however, all provide opportunities for participants to improve their outdoor skills and increase their knowledge of wildlife in North Carolina.

This year, Richard Childress, NHFD’s Honorary Chairman, is asking hunters and anglers to help create the next generation of conservationists by participating in a new NHFD challenge, “Take the Pledge.”

By “pledging” to take someone hunting, fishing or target shooting from Aug. 14 through Sept. 23, 2017, participants will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a Richard Childress Racing VIP race weekend package or the Ultimate Outdoor Experience.

Visit http://www.nhfday.org/ for more information.

National Hunting Fishing Day occurs every fourth Saturday in September and is a nationwide grassroots effort that promotes outdoor sports and wildlife conservation.

Event locations and times are:

• Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge in Currituck County. Event begins at 8 a.m. Fishing, archery and birding opportunities will be available for all participants. The Guilford Chapter of the N.C. Bowhunters Association is offering archery lessons. For $25 each, anglers ages 4 to 14 receive a rod and reel combo, bait, a t-shirt, Fish for Fun bags and a Greenwing membership. Lunch and beverages are provided for participants and their families. Pre-registration is required by calling 252-619-0575 or 252-453-0221 ext. 8.
• Rose Hill Farms in Nashville. The Tar River Chapter of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation is hosting its free 16th Annual Jakes Day. The event begins at 9 a.m. Activities include an air rifle range, Labrador retriever demonstrations, rock climbing wall, zip line, a rope bridge, reptile display, shark tooth dig and more.
• John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville. The Wildlife Expo, which is free, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A few activities include: air rifle shooting, fishing, kayaking, a live animal display, fishing lure making and more. Participants can pre-register online or show up the day of event. For more information, contact Thomas Carpenter, center director, at 910-868-5003.
• Durham County Wildlife Club in Morrisville. This free event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A few activities include: air rifle shooting, archery, boating safety, fishing, game recovery, tree stand safety, turkey calls/hunting tips and hunting dogs. No pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Kris Smith<mailto:kris.smith@ncwildlife.org> at 919-707-0175.
• Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Pisgah Forest, near Brevard. This free event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hands-on, interactive exhibits and demonstrations include fishing, outdoor cooking, fly casting, fly tying, wild game taste sampling and more. Exhibits in the center include five aquatic habitats with live fish, frogs, salamanders and snakes. For more information, contact Lee Sherrill at 828-877-4423.
• McKinney Lake State Fish Hatchery in Hoffman. Richmond County Ducks Unlimited will host its annual Greenwing Fishing Event at the Commission’s fish hatchery. Along with fishing, participants can shoot an air rifle, test their wildlife identification skills and more. Tickets are $20 per participant. For more information, visit Richmond County Greenwing Day.

source:OuterBanksVoice

Planning Board OK’s new design for Lidl store at Kelly’s site

A new plan for a 36,000-square-foot Lidl grocery store won the endorsement of the Nags Head Planning Board Tuesday and now heads to the town’s Board of Commissioners.

Significant changes were made to the store’s design after town planners and the Board of Adjustment rejected a proposal that included the discount chain’s signature wall of windows on the east side facing U.S. 158.

The new site plan shows the east wall now covered by 39 percent glass, below the 40 percent maximum allowed by the town’s design standards.

Dormers were added to break up the roof line, and a porch runs along the length of the building’s front side, a feature intended to give buildings more of a coastal Nags Head look.

While the new plan included preserving several of the mature live oaks on the site, the Planning Board urged the company to try to save as many as possible.

It also concurred with a recommendation by the North Carolina Department of Transportation that Carolinian Circle on the north side of the site be limited to right turns only onto U.S. 158. One of the entrances to the store would be on Carolinian Circle while the main entrance would intersect with U.S. 158.

In June, after the planning staff turned down plans for a Lidl similar to those in other areas, the Board of Adjustment said that putting louvers over the windows was not enough.

Under the latest design, the north and south walls would be made of stucco and brick. The west wall would be primarily stucco with 11 percent coverage in windows.

The store would be built on two lots totaling 10.5 acres that include Kelly’s Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern and Kelly’s Professional Building.

Lidl is aggressively expanding in North Carolina and has built a distribution center in Mebane near Burlington. It would join Publix, which is building a store in Kill Devil Hills, in expanding the grocery choices on the Outer Banks.

 

source: Rob Morris, Outer Banks Voice

Hurricane Irma builds bridge between Hatteras Point and Shelly Island

Rough surf from Hurricane Irma brought more than just great waves to the popular Shelly Island sandbar. It also brought some dramatic changes to the long formation off of Cape Point.

Most noticeably, it appears that the sandbar is finally connecting to the rest of Cape Point at low tide, at least for now.

“It appears that at low tide there is no water anymore between the sandbar and Cape Point,” Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Dave Hallac said last week. “What happened is over the past few days, the sandbar has moved further and further to the west, and last night it curved around and made an area where it connected at low tide.”

The part where Shelly Island is connecting is at the southwest corner, or the westernmost part of the sandbar, although it appears as if the entire formation is noticeably closer to the rest of The Point.

In addition to the new low tide connection, visitors to the Shelly Island sandbar over the past several days also caught another unique change to the landscape. A pond that was located on the edge of the Point and which was close to the ocean opened up, pouring water into the channel that separates the sandbar from the rest of Hatteras Island.

Changes to Shelly Island have been common over the summer, with the sandbar steadily growing in size since it was first identified in the spring of 2017.

However, the multiple days of high waves and surf brought the most dramatic changes in recent memory, and has inevitably led to its connection at low tide.

“Here’s what we know,” says Hallac when asked what will happen if the connection becomes permanent. “We know whether it’s connected or not connected, it’s either National Park Service property, or the property of the State of North Carolina. Our current understanding is that it belongs to the state of North Carolina.”

“From the Park Service perspective, it really doesn’t matter right now [who owns it],” he says. “We have a wonderful relationship with the State of North Carolina … In the end, we may end up with an agreement to jointly manage it, if it’s still there next summer.”

There’s no way to know how Shelly Island sandbar may change in the coming months, weeks, or even days, but for now, frequent visitors are surprised to see such a dramatic difference to a sandbar that has slowly changed all summer long.

“Every time I go out there, it’s different, but it’s still amazing,” says Hallac. “It’s just so beautiful to see the bar, the water in between, and all the families enjoying it. It’s a very happy place to be.”

 

 

 

Source: Island Free Press

Latest beach work in Kill Devil Hills

Duck Beach Renourishment First Milestone

The first small step toward completion of this summer’s $38.5 million dollar beach nourishment project from Duck to Kill Devil Hills was taken early Monday, when crews finished the northernmost area of widening.

While the first dredge to arrive for beach nourishment in Duck was down for repairs over the weekend, the Padre Island and Dodge Island focused on the northern area and were able to complete the taper around 2 a.m.

Great Lakes Dock and Dredge, the contractor for the project, has turned the pipe that feeds sand from the dredges offshore southward.

The active construction zone currently extends from Ocean Bay Boulevard to just south of Carroll Drive, a statement from the town said.

The Liberty Island was to return on-site Monday night and pick up working on the southern section from approximately 159 Bufflehead Road to just south of South Snow Geese Drive, according to the statement.

If the project stays on schedule, the Duck portion will be finished by mid- to late-July, while crews will start working on the small portion of beach that will be widened off Southern Shores near the Kitty Hawk Pier by the end of this month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

source: Sam Walker, Outer Banks Voice

H2OBX First Look!

OBX Beach Renourishment?

What is beach renourishment?

Beach nourishment is the process of pumping sand onto an eroding shoreline to widen the existing beach. Sources of sand may include a nearby sandbar, a dredged source such as an inlet or waterway, or an offshore borrow site along the ocean floor. The widened shoreline provides increased defense from coastal storms and beach erosion protecting property, communities and infrastructure located along the shoreline.

Projected Town Schedules ::

Duck :

The start date is late May and should run through early July.  The duration for the entire project is forecast to take 45 days.

Southern Shores :

Late June through Early July is the start date.  The duration of the project is just 7 days.

Kitty Hawk :

Start date of early July through mid-September, with the duration of the project lasting 74 days.

Kill Devil Hills :

Early August through mid-September.  Total duration slated for 40 days.

Buxton :

Starting the last week of May through the end of August.  The longest duration of all towns at 90 days.

Previously Completed Projects

Over 4.5 million cubic yards of sand was placed along the designated ten-mile shoreline project area.

before & after

F A Q s

How will beach renourishment affect my visit to the Outer Banks?

Many Outer Banks areas will not be impacted by the current project.  However, if you are visiting the beaches in portions of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk or Kill Devil Hills between May and September, you may be affected.  Beach renourishment is also happening in Buxton on Hatteras Island from June through the end of August.  Depending on the location of the operations, you may experience some temporary construction noise, night illumination and beach access diversions.

Why does dredging take place during the summer months?

Dredging operations offshore of the Outer Banks typically take place in the summer months because it is much safer for the crews working on the offshore dredge.  The increased risk of safety and anticipated decreases in productivity in the winter months when sea conditions can shut down dredge operations were found to drive the cost of the projects up to a point where they would have no longer been financially viable.

How long will the construction affect my property?

About 1,000 feet of beach will be directly impacted during the construction at any one time, and a portion of this area may be closed.  Construction is anticipated to impact properties between 3-5 days.  Once a section is pumped into place, it should be re-opened for use within 24-48 hours.  Sand ramps will be placed over a temporary pipeline at every public access and then in intervals of no more than 200-300 feet, allowing people to get across and enjoy the beach seaward of the pipeline.

Will I be able to get to the beach while the project is underway?

Yes, you will be able to access the beach.  If construction limits access directly in front of your property, you may need to enter the beach at an alternate beach access.

Where will the sand come from?

For the beach renourishment projects occurring in the Towns of Duck, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores and Kill Devil Hills, the project consultants have identified two potential offshore sand borrow source areas for this project.  One location is offshore near Kill Devil Hills and the second location is offshore of Duck.  For the beach renourishment project occurring at the northern end of Buxton on Hatteras Island, the project consultants have identified a sand borrow source 1.7 miles offshore.

Do they work certain days of the week, or certain hours of the day?

The contractor will work 24 hours per day, seven days per week until the project is complete, depending on weather conditions.

Is the construction noisy?

You will be able to tell that there is construction operations underway in front of your property.  The sounds you will typically hear are the back up alarms from the bulldozers and trucks, which are required by federal law.  Lights will also be used on the beach throughout the night and may be visible from homes.

How is beach renourishment funded?

A portion of the 6% Occupancy Tax collected by Dare County is set aside for the Beach Renourishment Fund.  The occupancy tax is applied to gross receipts derived from the rental of room, lodging, campsite, hotel, motel, inn or tourist camp, including private residences and cottages rented to visitors.  The Beach Renourishment Fund must be used for the placement of sand, from other sand sources, the planting of vegetation and the building of structures that are in conformity with the NC CAMA, such as sand fences and dunes on the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean for the purpose of widening the beach to benefit the public recreational use and mitigating damage and erosion from storms to inland property.

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY MOREBEACHTOLOVE.COM

Outer Banks Visions: The 2017 Cystic Fibrosis Polar Plunge

Click to Watch the Plunge!

We dove into the 2017 Cystic Fibrosis Polar Plunge at the Ramada Plaza beach on Saturday, Feb. 18 and learned more about the progressive, genetic disease that affects 30,000 children and young adults in the U.S. Visit here to find out how you can help: polarplungeobx.wordpress.com.

Source : Outer Banks Voice