National Park Week - April 17-25, 2010

National Park Service News Release
      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATE:  April 13, 2010
      CONTACT: Cyndy Holda, 252-473-2111 ext. 148

              Entrance Fees Waived During National Park Week
                             April 17–25, 2010
                     Wright Brothers National Memorial

National Park Week, a program of the National Park Service (NPS), is an opportunity for families and communities to get outside and explore America’s Great Outdoors.  This annual celebration takes place this year from April 17-25th.  The NPS is waiving entrance fees so visitors can enjoy all 392 national park sites for free during this week.

Other National Park Week highlights include the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, and National Junior Ranger Day on April 24th.

“Our national park system continues to provide opportunities for affordable family vacations close to home,” said Superintendent Mike Murray. “National parks are places for everyone to have fun, reconnect with nature, build a sense of ownership and stewardship toward parks and the environment, and to learn more about our great country.”  The staff of Wright Brothers National Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Cape Hatteras National Seashore invites everyone to visit one of our nation’s premier parks, including the parks in your own backyard, to help celebrate National Park Week.   Bring your family and friends to Wright Brothers to relax and learn more about this great nation’s aviation history.  Enjoy exploring the nation’s first national seashore, attend a ranger program, and visit the site of the first English settlement.
Additional information on National Park Week can be found on line at www.nps.gov/npweek .

While entrance fees for passengers in both private and commercial vehicles will be waived, recreation “user fees” such as permit fees, camping fees and lighthouse tour fees are not waived.  Entrance fees are not charged at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site or Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

For information on visiting the Outer Banks Group parks, please visit the park’s websites at www.nps.gov/wrbr, www.nps.gov/caha, and www.nps.gov/fora , or by calling 252-441-2111.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Climbing Hours

National Park Service News Release

Release Date: April 8, 2010
Contact: Outer Banks Group
Phone: (252) 473-2111, ext. 148 or 252-995-4474

          Cape Hatteras Lighthouse To Open Friday, April 16, 2010

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will open to the public for climbing from April 16 through Columbus Day, October 11, 2010.  Climbing fees for the Lighthouse will be $7 per adult, and $3.50 for children under 12 and senior citizens.

The opening day of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will continue to be a “fee-free” day, as it has in the past, for local community members to climb the Lighthouse.

The Lighthouse climbing fee is authorized through the Recreation Fee Enhancement Program, which allows 80% of the fee receipts to be used to enhance visitor services and repair facilities within the Outer Banks Group.

Climbing The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – What to Know Before You Go

The climb is strenuous!  The 248 iron spiral stairs to the top is equivalent to climbing a 12-story building.  The stairs have a handrail only on one side and a landing every 31 steps.  There is no air conditioning.  It may be noisy, humid, hot and dim inside the lighthouse and there is two-way traffic on the narrow stairs.

Visitors with heart, respiratory or other medical conditions or who have trouble climbing stairs should use their own discretion as to whether to climb the tower.


Climbing tickets are available on a first-come/first-served basis and can only be purchased in person at the site on the day of the climb.  There are no advance ticket sales.


Ticket sales begin at 8:15 a.m.  Climbing tours will begin at 9 a.m. and will run every 10 minutes with a limit of 30 visitors per tour.  Ticket sales close at 4:30 p.m. in the spring and fall, and at 5:30 p.m. beginning the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.  Ticket holders should arrive at the lighthouse gate five minutes prior to their ticketed tour time.


The lighthouse may close at any time if weather conditions are unsafe.


The following safety rules apply:

   Children must be at least 42” tall
   Children must be capable of climbing all steps on their own
   No person may be lifted or carried
   Children under the age of 12 years old must be escorted by an adult.
   Running, jumping, or stomping on stairs and landings is prohibited
   Do not eat, drink, smoke or chew tobacco
   No pets, other than service animals
   Do not arrive in bare feet or heels over 1 ½ inches high
   Umbrellas need to be left in your car
   Backpacks, tripods, coolers, beach bags, surfboards, fishing poles, etc.
      also need to be left in your car
   Frisbees, boomerangs and other throwing equipment are prohibited

                                          -NPS-

OBPA Workshops

The OBPA, Cape Hatteras Anglers Club and the NCBBA are sponsoring three workshops through the month of April to enable you to effectively comment on the DEIS or Draft Environmental Statement as released by the National Park Service that affects your rights to free and open beach access.


The workshop dates are as follows:
Buxton - Tuesday, April 13th at 6:30 - Cape Hatteras Secondary School
Ocracoke - Wednesday, April 14th at 7:00 - Ocracoke Community Building
Kill Devil Hills - Thursday, April 15th at 6:30 - First Flight High School 

If you are unable to attend the Public Hearings you can submit online comments before May 11th.  You can learn more at www.OBPA.org.

Flying Pirate Half Marathon

April 18, 2010 is your chance to run the Inaugural Outer Banks Flying Pirate Half Marathon.  Start time is 7:30am with a five hour course time limit

This race is the first half of the Outer Banks Marathon Course which runs from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head and is dubbed a course with incredible natural beauty.

You can register and get more information at www.flyingpirate.org.