Visiting Cape Hatteras Q&A

Cape Hatteras is officially OPEN!

The Ranger Station Bridge

Highway 12 and the Ranger Station Bridge were officially opened to the public on Monday, October 10th at 5pm. Since then traffic has been flowing normally, with no traffic or congestion.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is REAL open? Yes. The REAL Flagship Store, REAL Lesson Center and REAL Rental Shop are OPEN 7 days a week, 9am – 6pm. REAL is open by phone 9am - 8pm ET, M-F. Today the REAL Flagship Store was PACKED with kiters and surfers stoked to be back on the island. We also had full books of lessons and camps hitting the water (which is still warm). REAL sustained no damage to our building and only minimal damage at ground level.

Is REAL teaching lessons and camps? Yes, we are teaching kiteboarding, surfing and standup paddleboarding lessons and camps 7 days a week. Please book your instruction in advance to guarantee coach and ski availability on your preferred dates. We are also offering special $895 Camps (SAVE $300pp) during the month of November.

Is the REAL Swap Meet and CLEARANCE SALE going to happen? Yes. This event has been re-scheduled to Friday/Saturday, October 21st-22nd.

Is Watermen’s Retreat open? Yes. Watermen’s Retreat sustained no damage to the condominium units and is fully operational. Shoulder season rates are in effect with 2 bedrooms condos starting at $99/night. Please call Donna Peele at Watermen’s to book your stay at 252-987-6060. Advanced reservations are recommended to insure availability during your preferred dates.

How are the conditions ? Wind and waves? The air and water are still warm. Kiters should expect to see more NE and N winds as we head further into the Fall. Don’t rule out the occasional super warm SE or SW wind too. Surfers will see one last blast of SE swells and then a firm shift to northerly swells as we head into October and November. Are the conditions good? YES. We’ve been sessioning our brains out and are looking to sharing it with YOU!

Can I drive to Cape Hatteras? Yes. Highway 12 is now OPEN and you can drive to Cape Hatteras using your normal routes of entry.

Is it safe to cancel my ferry reservations and drive to Cape Hatteras? YES. Highway 12 is now open to the public and driving here is significantly faster than taking the southern ferry routes.

Are there any driving restrictions? Visitors are free to drive north and south for the entire length of Hatteras Island from the Bonner Bridge all the way to Hatteras Village, without any restrictions. Visitors may stay in any of the villages including Rodanthe, Waves (this is where REAL is located), Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras.

Can I drive around and check out the damage? The answer to this one is a polite “No”. You can drive everywhere and you will see damage, but please do not explore the island looking for damage or taking pictures of damage. Many islanders are still repairing their homes and will appreciate the courtesy and privacy. THANK YOU for understanding and staying focused on why you are here in Cape Hatteras (to get on the water!)

How can I help? Are there charities or relief funds that you recommend? Post storm, the best charity support is the Hatteras Island local economy. When you do this, 100% of the money stays on island and helps local businesses and families get their lives back in working order. It will also help create new jobs locally as many work forces were cut in half after Hurricane Irene. Whether this means going out to a local restaurant, buying a new surfboard, purchasing your holiday gifts early on-island, or taking two trips to Cape Hatteras this fall instead of one, it all adds up to bringing the island ahead into 2012 with a new found momentum. THANK YOU for caring and supporting our island!

Is there debris in the water or do I need to be worried about water quality? The storm surge from Hurricane Irene pushed water from the Pamlico Sound up and over the island. Therefore, there is no debris in the sound. Any debris is located in the dunes along the ocean side of the island. With the three new inlets formed by Hurricane Irene, water quality is significantly better. Two of these inlets have been filled, but the third is WIDE OPEN, with swift moving water that is 8’ deep. This current cleans the Pamlico Sound daily with regular tidal flow. The result is the best water quality we have seen in over 20 years.

Are restaurants and nightlife open? Due to the island being closed for over 6 weeks, most restaurants, including Mojo’s Sunset Café, have closed for the season. If you’re going to eat in, Food Lion, Harris Teeter and Conner’s Supermarket are all open and fully stocked. Watermen’s Retreat also now offers a full service provisioning option for those that want to arrive to a fully stocked fridge and kitchen! For those looking to get a meal out, we recommend Boardwok South in Waves (Open Wednesday – Saturday for Dinner), Waves Market (Good for Breakfast and Lunch sandwiches), Outback Bakery in Avon is open Wednesday thru Sunday 8am to 2pm serving delicious breakfast and lunch, Diamond Shoals in Buxton (Breakfast and Dinner, Great Sushi Wednesday-Saturday) and Rusty’s Surf and Turf in Buxton (Excellent dinners, owned by local surfer Rusty Midgett). Most restaurants now served liquor by the drink (ie. cocktails) as this was a recent law change here in Dare County. Great drinks at Diamond Shoals and Rusty’s!

We hope this info answers all of your questions. As always, we are always here to help make your stay in Cape Hatteras the best that it can be, so don’t hesitate to call or swing by the shop for more info or advice!

Thanks again for all your support through Hurricane Irene! We look forward to seeing you on the water soon!

Want to find out more about Hurricane Irene? Put yourself in the storm with Trip Forman’s “30 Days since Hurricane Irene”