Outer Banks Towns: Corolla
Corolla is home to generous unspoiled beaches and historic landmarks. Take a day to visit the Whalehead Club, the Currituck Lighthouse and Historic Corolla Village. Corolla, an unincorporated community located along the northern Outer Banks in Poplar Branch Township, is home to more than 100 wild Spanish Mustangs. The horses can be found on 12,000 acres in Corolla, north of populated areas. Approximately 500 permanent residents call the community home.
Corolla History
- Native Americans that lived on the mainland hunted and fished on what is now known as Corolla.
- European settlers resided in the area by the late 1600's and early 1700's.
- Prior to early 1800, the area was separated from Virginia and the neighboring town of Duck by inlets, and so accessible only by boat.
- Several communities appeared on the northern Outer Banks by the mid 1800’s with early inhabitants hunting, fishing, raising livestock, serving as guides for visiting sportsmen, tending gardens and salvaging shipwrecks to make a living.
- The U.S. Lifesaving Service established what would later become the Currituck Beach Life Saving Station in 1874.
- The Currituck Beach Lighthouse, one of the seven North Carolina coastal lighthouses, was completed in 1875.
- According to legend, Corolla was named in 1895 when the community’s newly established post office was seeking a name. One of the submissions was “corolla,” the inner part of a flower.
- During WWII, residents were forced to darken windows and prohibited from using headlights to avoid detection by German u-boats that came close to shore.
Corolla Communities
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4x4 Area Beaches Ocean Beach, Sea Gull, Swan Beach, North Swan Beach and Carova Beach offer an escape from crowds and a return to nature. No paved roads, accessible by 4-wheel drive vehicles only. |
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Ocean Hill Ocean to sound neighborhood, oceanfront pool, lakeside pool, fitness center (available for a fee), tennis courts (4), basketball court, playground, North Carolina Estuarine Sanctuary nature trail. |
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Whalehead Beach Beach access with parking, close to shopping, movies and restaurants. |
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Crown Point Located close to Corolla's fantastic shopping and dining, this popular community also provides access to an outdoor pool and tennis court. Crown Point has several direct beach accesses to the ocean. |
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Ocean Sands Beach access, 7-acre stocked freshwater lake (catch & release license required for artificial bait), tennis courts located in sections D, H is available to guests staying in sections D thru Q, close to the Currituck Club golf course and just a short distance to restaurants, shops and the new Harris Teeter. |
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Ocean Lake Situated on the northern end of the community of Ocean Sands, beach access, 7-acre stocked fishing lake, Olympic-sized swimming pool with spacious sun decks and separate pool for infants, community tennis courts (4), community restrooms and changing rooms |
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The Currituck Club Golf Community, 18 hole Rees Jones course, beach access with parking, trolley and valet to beach access (in season), fitness center, aerobic room, weight room, lighted tennis, volleyball, basketball, cybercade, playground, boathouse facilities, 3 pools, kiddie pool, biking and jogging trails. |
