JOCKEYS RIDGE sand dune and state park is located directly
across the street from Jockey’s Ridge Crossing Shopping Center
and is accessible to the state park via a stop light pedestrian
cross walk. You can also view the ridge and the surrounding area
from a 45 foot tower on the site or from the deck of the two story
Jockeys Ridge Crossing Shopping Center facing the dunes. Jockey’s
Ridge Crossing is literally at the center of the Outer Banks, aka
OBX. It is located at milepost 12 ½ between the Beach Road (Virginia
Dare Trail) and the Bypass 158, or 3933 S. Croatan Highway, Nags
Head, NC.
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Jockey’s Ridge is the largest natural
live dune on the east coast of America. It is preserved
today as Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, North Carolina. Folklore has it that land
pirates used to walk along the top of the dune at night with
a horse (old nag) with lantern around its neck that attracted
ships at sea thinking it was a ship with light on mast at safe
harbor. When the ship sailed in and ran aground, it was ransacked
by the local pirates. In later years, there was horse racing
on the flats behind the dunes with spectators sitting on the
slope of the dune. Hence the derivation of the names Jockey’s
Ridge and Nags Head. -
Jockey’s Ridge Crossing is located in the center of the Old Nags Head Historic District. The original beach resort town dating back to 1839 was founded on the soundside, just south of Jockey’s Ridge. Here is where the ferries from Elizabeth City brought summer visitors who stayed in hotels on the soundside and ventured to the beach by horse drawn carts during the day time. Later, people started to develop beach houses on the ocean side. The Nags Head beach row historic district is one of the best examples of 1800s coastal architecture in the United States. Many of these residences are on the National Historic Register and are lovingly referred to as “the Unpainted Aristocracy.
Jockey’s Ridge Crossing is the former site of the Old Nags Head Casino, which was built in 1931. Originally
THE CASINO, as locals knew it, was a built as a barracks for
the Civil Conservation Core workers who built the Wright Brothers
monument. Later it became a social center for the community
and a major entertainment attraction for the entire region.
Many famous entertainers and bands played at the THE CASINO
including Lou Armstrong, Fats Domino, Glenn Miller, and many
more. The Casino is fondly remembered by many locals and visitors
as a highlight experience of their youth. -
Climbing Jockey’s Ridge is something
that everyone has to do while they are on the Outer Banks. The
85 foot high sand dune is a magnet for hikers. Running or rolling
down the dune is popular for kids. The panorama view from the
top of ocean to sound dramatizes the narrowness of the Outer
Banks. At sundown, the sunset over the sound can be breathtaking.
There is generally a breeze to provide some air. Allow
approximately an hour for a leisurely crossing, climb, and return.
Besides hiking the dune, the State Park has several interesting
trails that you can explore. There is also a soundside access
for hikes along the beach.If you look about 4 miles to the north you will see Kill Devil Hill and Wright Brothers National Monument which commemorates where the Wright Brothers fly the first airplane in 1903. At that time, Kill Devil Hill was an unvegetated dune similar to what Jockey’s Ridge is today.
Hang gliding is a popular activity on the dune
and lessons are available to the general public. Sandboarding
is allowed at certain times of the year. Kite flying is highly
popular and there are several kiting competitions during the
year. Because of the open space, it is a particularly good area
for stunt kite flying. Frisbee and other flying tows are also
good. Radio controlled sailplanes can be used when wind conditions
are good for soaring. Hiking is always good and some people
even jog up and down the dunes for physical conditioning.-
Jockeys Ridge State Park has a visitor center
with museum and auditorium for ranger programs. A short walk
south from Jockey’s Ridge Crossing on the beach road (Virginia
Dare Trail) is the Nags Head Beachcomber Museum which has an
outstanding collection of locally found sea shells, some very
rare. They also have an interesting collection of fulgurite
fragments, which are sand fusions from lightening strikes on
the sand dunes. -
Jockey’s Ridge Crossing Shopping Center has
8
unique locally owned shops totaling over 20,000 square feet
of retail space. It is a great place to get a ice cream cone
or some fresh fudge after a climb up the dune, or perhaps taste
some North Carolina vintage wines. It also has a wide variety
of unique, privately owned and operated shops. You will find
all kinds of sports apparel, t-shirts, gifts, sportswear, fashions,
fashion accessories, footwear, kites, toys, stuffed bears, ice cream, fudge and sandwiches, specialty
wines, old time photos, sporting equipment, and much
more. It is definitely worth a visit to shop for a unique gift
to take back home or for yourself. This is not your regular
corner shopping center. Come visit these exciting stores:Kitty Hawk Kites, Kitty Hawk Sports, Scoops Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop, Beach Soul and Hair Wraps,
Outer Banks Bear Factory, Miss Kitty’s Old Time Photo, Native Vines Cellars and Tasting Room, The Fudgery 