Kitty Hawk blends beach-town charm with modern conveniences
Located right off the Wright Memorial Bridge, Kitty Hawk is the first community to welcome drivers to the Outer Banks. The town is just up the road from the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which commemorates the world’s first official airplane flights in 1903 that launched nearby at Kill Devil Hills. Kitty Hawk’s coastal homes are close to sandy beaches, shopping and restaurants along the area’s two major thoroughfares, U.S. Route 158 and Highway 12. Kitty Hawk is made up of a centrally located coastal forest, which separates the Atlantic coast from the Albemarle Sound. The natural surroundings and coastal lifestyle attracts buyers, many of whom first come to the area for a summer getaway. Year after year, thousands of visitors flock to Kitty Hawk for a seaside vacation, and some decide they don’t want to leave. “When my husband and I decided to move to the Outer Banks, we just kept coming back to Kitty Hawk,” says Tammy Goodrich, a resident and local artist. “It’s got a small-town feel, but it’s still close to the important stuff like Harris Teeter or Home Depot.” The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Kitty Hawk offers homes by the sea and the sound
Along the gridded residential streets near the ocean, sidewalks lead straight to the beach. On the Albemarle Sound side of Kitty Hawk, long streets lined with homes in the Kitty Hawk Landing neighborhood provide access to deepwater canals and the west-facing homes provide scenic sunset viewing opportunities. Single-family homes range from about $450,000 to $1.4 million, with oceanfront views on the eastern side available at all price points. Three-bedroom homes typically occupy the lower price-point range, while mid-range and peak prices fetch four-bedrooms. The most expensive homes are likely to be custom built 21st-century houses with perks like backyard pools. Townhouses and condos generally range from $370,000 to $530,000. Multifamily units cost between about $280,000 and $460,000. Kitty Hawk has a widespread flood risk, so homes sit atop wooden pilings to prevent flood damage. Still, flood insurance is an important consideration. High winds during hurricane season and summer heat can also affect life in the area, and the salty sea air can raise home maintenance costs.
Properties often have wide windows and wraparound balconies that face the sea. In typical Outer Banks style, many cottages have cedar shake siding or light-colored exteriors. Many homes are rented out seasonally to vacationers, and bear unique, cheeky names such as “Lattitude Adjustment” or “Dune it Wright.” “There tend to be more permanent residents on the west side of the island, but there’s still a strong year-round community in Kitty Hawk,” says Daphne Degabrielle, a Broker with Outer Banks Realty Group. “A lot of it is dictated by budget, but it’s a great place to live.”
Kitty Hawk’s beaches, coastal forest and golfing terrain
Kitty Hawk Beach’s miles of shoreline are often crowded with vacationers during the summer, but in the offseason, residents have this coastal retreat all to themselves. “For about seven months out of the year, I can go out to the beach and never see another soul,” Goodrich says. Public beach access points lie at the end of most blocks: short dunes dotted with beachgrass separate the road from the wide-open swath of sand and sea. Kitty Hawk Pier is a popular spot to cast a fishing line or enjoy the view. Away from the coast, there’s more fun to have inland. Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve is a sprawling forested nature preserve, with nearly 2,000 acres to explore on foot, bike or horseback. Tucked into the woods is a dog park, a skate park and Sandy Run Park, where hikers may spot turtles in the creek or raccoons amongst the trees. Additionally, local golfers enjoy discounts at Sea Scape Golf Links, a public 18-hole, par 70 course set amongst the sand dunes and coastal forest.
Kitty Hawk’s local restaurants and big-box stores
Kitty Hawk has a good variety of shopping and dining, especially compared to the more remote parts of the Outer Banks. Art’s Place is considered a Kitty Hawk classic, with its three-tiered patio overlooking the sea and live music shows. This beachy burger joint and breakfast spot is beloved for its lively atmosphere. After a meal, patrons can head next door to Winks for ice cream. Across from Winks sits Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar, a preferred date night restaurant with a dimly lit, sophisticated feel. “Ocean Boulevard has the best atmosphere,” Goodrich says. “They have a small menu, but the martinis, filet mignon and scallops are all fantastic.” More restaurants line U.S. Route 158, including the popular Latin American restaurant Bad Bean Baja Grill, known for its array of flavored margaritas. National retailers such as Food Lion, Harris Teeter and Walmart Supercenter are clustered along the northern edge of Kitty Hawk near Wright Memorial Bridge. A few medical offices can be found here; however, the Outer Banks’ only hospital is located in Nags Head, about 10 miles south.
Dare County Schools serve Kitty Hawk families
Dare County Schools, rated A-minus on Niche, serves the area. Kitty Hawk Elementary is rated B-plus and is ranked as the best public elementary school in the county, according to Niche. The school engages its students and the wider community with events like the annual Friday Night Lights fall carnival, where families gather around the bonfire to enjoy music, games and a petting zoo. First Flight Middle, rated A-minus, and First Flight High, rated B-plus, are located next to each other in Kill Devil Hills, roughly 5 miles away. The high school’s girls’ and boys’ lacrosse teams have gone on to play in the state playoffs several times; lacrosse is growing in popularity throughout the region, and became state-sanctioned in 2010.
Easy access to the North Carolina mainland
As Kitty Hawk is located next to the Wright Memorial Bridge, residents are roughly 5 to 10 miles from reaching the North Carolina mainland. Two major thoroughfares run through Kitty Hawk, connecting it to the rest of the Outer Banks: Highway 12, locally known as “the beach road,” and U.S. Route 158, also called North Croatan Highway. Pedestrian crosswalks slow traffic along Highway 12, as this street runs alongside public beaches; vacationers and residents frequently tote their beach chairs across the road to reach the shore. Kitty Hawk borders Kill Devil Hills, one of the most populous and commercialized parts of the Outer Banks. The nearest major airport, Norfolk International, is about 80 miles north.
