Fun Facts About The Outer Banks: Hatteras Island Edition

How well do you know the Outer Banks and Hatteras Island? There’s a lot of interesting facts about this idyllic vacation spot that the average tourist doesn’t know. Even locals might be hard-pressed to recall this fascinating information. 

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE OUTER BANKS & HATTERAS ISLAND

At Brindley Beach Vacations, we have several incredible vacation rentals on Hatteras Island. We know a thing or two about the island and have compiled a list of fun facts. Read on to test your knowledge or simply learn more about Hatteras Island. 

Question: Where did “Kinnakeet” get its name?

Answer: Kinnakeet is an Algonquian word meaning “that which is mixed.” The name makes sense because the area was home to several different settlements bunched together. 

Question: Why is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse famous?

Answer: With its black and white candy cane stripes, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is one of the most recognizable lighthouses in the U.S., but that isn’t the only reason it’s so well known. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is most famous for being the world’s tallest brick lighthouse. Are you willing to make the 257 step trek to the top?

Question: Why is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse so tall?

Answer: Since Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the world, you’re probably wondering why it’s so tall. The original lighthouse, which measured 90 feet tall, was not effective in protecting ships from the dangerous Diamond Shoals. In 1868, construction on the current lighthouse began, leaving us with the whopping 208 feet tall lighthouse that remains today.

Question: Where does Hatteras Island rank among the country’s best beaches?

Answer: Hatteras Island is known for its idyllic beaches, and the national media has begun to recognize Hatteras Island as one of the best beach destinations in the country. Stephen Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach, ranked Lighthouse Beach as the fifth best beach in the U.S. in 2021. 

Question: The Haulover Day Use Area is also known as what?

Answer: The Haulover Day Use Area is also known as Canadian Hole. The Haulover Day Use Area is a great place for windsurfing; windsurfers travel thousands of miles from many different places, including Canada, to windsurf here. 

Question: What is the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station?

Answer: The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station is the most complete of the remaining life-saving stations in North Carolina. The U.S. Life-Saving Service was a government agency focused on saving shipwrecked mariners. Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station is one of the most overlooked tourist attractions on Hatteras Island; take a self-guided or group tour and immerse yourself in the station’s rich history. 

BOOK A STAY AT TOP-RATED HATTERAS ISLAND VACATION RENTALS

The fun facts about the Outer Banks and Hatteras Island above are just the start of it; there’s so much more to learn and experience. Book your next stay at Hatteras Island with Brindley Beach Vacations; from vacation homes with pools to waterfront properties, our vacation rentals have all of the amenities you need for the perfect getaway. Please check availability online.