Carova Beach is the Outer Banks’ last wild place
Wild horses, unpaved roads and miles of undeveloped oceanfront make Carova Beach one of the few remaining places on North Carolina’s Outer Banks that feel untouched. The community is the northernmost part of the barrier island, and it’s also called the unpaved or off-road part of Corolla, or just Carova. Jean-Paul Peron, a Realtor with eXp Realty who has lived in Carova Beach since 2008, says his favorite part of living here is, “being in a resort area and still being able to able to be away from the chaos when I finally get home.” Carova Beach is a refuge for wild Banker horses, which is one of the reasons the community has no paved roads; instead, it can only be accessed by driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle on the beach. This creates a feeling of isolation where there are few homes, even fewer year-round residents and the closest commercial area is in Corolla.
Tailgating on the beach, nature trails and the annual Donkey Derby
Since the beach here doubles as the area’s primary road, spending a day by the water looks a little different. “We are a tailgating beach,” Peron says, “and we get more elaborate on our beach setups because we can just haul it all in the back of the truck. … I myself have a 12-foot octagon screened-in ‘patio,’ I call it, and a five-person sectional inflatable sofa, and I’ve added a ceiling fan and a movie projector.” The Currituck Sound is on the west side, and boaters can access it at Carova Beach Park, which also has picnic shelters and a walking path. At the nearly 1,000-acre Currituck Banks Reserve, hikers can explore two hiking trails. Peron says that most community events take place at the Carova Beach Volunteer Fire and Rescue station. “This year is our fifth year of having our annual Donkey Derby to raise money for the fire department,” he says. This July event features a homemade donkey race, a craft fair and live music.
Secluded cottages and luxury homes on the oceanfront
Home styles here vary widely, from two-bedroom cottages surrounded by trees to 12-bedroom oceanfront homes with luxury amenities like pools and hot tubs. Most of the houses are raised on stilts and have New Traditional architecture, with Craftsman and Shingle influences. Though there aren’t paved roads here, the homes are usually arranged in blocks that give a sense of order to the community. “In Carova, every property is private well and private septic,” Peron says, adding that there’s no cable television and internet providers are limited. There are few year-round residents, and most buyers are purchasing second homes or investment properties. Homes under 3,000 square feet generally cost between $300,000 and $980,000, while larger houses range from $1 million to $2.4 million. Undeveloped properties are also available.
Wild horse sightings are a regular part of life
Carova Beach’s wild Banker horses are descended from Colonial Spanish mustangs. They are a huge part of the community’s identity, drawing vacationers and tour groups, even though a law requires people to always stay at least 50 feet away. But for those who live here, horse encounters are a regular part of life. “They’re acclimated to our existence, and they do not follow that 50-foot rule at all, yet nobody gives the horse a ticket,” says Peron, who serves on the board of directors of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. “I come out of my door to go to work, and there he is standing between me and my Jeep.”
Four-wheel drive vehicles are required to access the community
Residents must have a four-wheel drive vehicle to drive on the sandy paths and beaches that serve as roads here. “We run our tires very low, like half,” Peron says. “By doing that, we’re creating the automobile equivalent of snowshoes. So instead of plowing through the sand, the car’s just floating over top of it.” Depending on where a person lives, they might have to drive up to 11 miles on the sand before accessing the pavement in Corolla. From there, it’s a 23-mile drive to the Wright Memorial Bridge, which leads to the mainland, a 34-mile drive to Outer Banks Health Hospital and 98 miles to Norfolk International Airport. Corolla Chapel, an interdenominational Christian Church in Corolla, is the closest house of worship.
Corolla has the closest stores and restaurants
Commercial areas are in Corolla, where locally owned stores, restaurants and other amenities are spread out along state Route 12. The Corolla Light Town Center is one of several shopping centers in the area. Here, Uncle Ike’s Sandbar & Grill is a popular hangout that serves seafood and pub fare, and First Light offers breakfast and lunch. Grocery stores in Corolla include Harris Teeter, Food Lion and the locally owned Butcher Block.
A popular charter school in Corolla and two options for public school
Kids can go to Water’s Edge Village School in Corolla from kindergarten through eighth grade. The charter school earns an A-minus from Niche and is in Corolla’s original one-room schoolhouse; it recently added a second building to meet demand. Kids can also attend Currituck County Schools on the mainland; the district earns an overall rating of B, and it includes the B-rated Jarvisburg Elementary, the B-rated Currituck County Middle and the B-minus-rated Currituck County High. Families can also apply for space in Dare County Schools, a district that earns an A-minus and is located on the Outer Banks.
At high risk of damage from hurricanes and coastal storms
Carova Beach is at risk of flooding and wind damage from hurricanes and coastal storms. The community is one of the first to evacuate during a storm because coastal storm surges and high tides can make it difficult to access or leave the community. Hurricane season is from June through the end of November, and nor’easters are most common from September to April.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
