Explore the Whalehead Club

Come Explore Our Back-Yard!

Welcome to the Whalehead Club at Currituck Heritage Park, located in the heart of Historic Corolla, in the northern Outer Banks of North Carolina! Far removed from the hustle and bustle of every day life in the city, we have the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful natural surroundings, and explore everything from marine life and waterfowl to wild horses; cultural heritage and art; and local Currituck history.

We invite you to share our back yard, and experience for yourself all the beauty that is Corolla.

Click here to download our brochure!

Currituck Heritage Park

Situated on 39 acres of pristine water front property, Currituck Heritage Park has much to offer all visitors. Located inside the park are the Whalehead Club Historic House Museum and Restored Boathouse, the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse.

Want to get in touch with your natural side? Bring a blanket, grab the family and enjoy a picnic on the plush green lawns. Check out the resident Ospreys nesting and making room for their young, or have a giggle at a gaggle of geese as they waddle across the park. Here are some other ideas for you to enjoy!

• Rent a bicycle or a Segway at a local shop and enjoy a ride through the park.
• Follow the Interpretive Trail and read the markers to learn about Corolla History and our natural habitats.
• For those that love the water, the park has a public boat ramp to launch your flat bottom or shallow draft boats. Don’t have a boat? Check out local canoe and kayak rentals; or relax and take a pontoon boat ride through Currituck Sound.
• Crabbing and fishing galore! Bring your net or rod n’ reel and catch your own! (Please note: there are licensing requirements in the state of North Carolina. Contact the Wildlife Education Center for licensing information. 252-453-0221)

Don’t forget to stop by the Maritime Museum located just outside the park, on your way to the Historic Village. Step up to the open doors and check out two restored Shad Boats currently on display.

For more Park Activities please click here.

For Park Regulations, Picnic Pavillion and Boating Information please click here.

Historic Corolla Village

Adjacent to the park is Historic Corolla Village, which includes many historic buildings that currently house gift shops, bookstores, and the like. Stop by the Old School House and visit the Corolla Wild Horse Gift Shop (252-453-8002). Hint: during the season, they often have a pony on site for the kids to pet!

For more Historic Corolla Village information please click here.

The Whalehead Club

Take a step back in time when you visit the Whalehead Club Historic House Museum! A spectacular example of Art Nouveau architecture and design, this magnificent residence was built in the 1920s during a time of prohibition and suffragettes. Mr. & Mrs. Edward Collings Knight, Jr. were wealthy northerners who owned homes in Philadelphia, PA and Newport, RI. With a love for Art Nouveau, and a passion for waterfowling, the Knights purchased a 4.5 mile tract of land and built what we now know as the Whalehead Club. Purchased by Currituck County in 1992, the residence has been restored to its former grandeur. Come see original artifacts on display inside the museum, such as Louis Comfort Tiffany light fixtures, Louis Majorelle furnishings and more! Take a guided tour and learn about the unique history which includes ties to the US Coast Guard during WWII, and solid rocket fuel testing during the Cold War era. Along with the historic boathouse and arched bridge, the Whalehead Club is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Visit these links for more information on The Whalehead Club:

• The Knight’s Residence 1922-1936
• The Knight’s Residence 1937 – Present
• The Boathouse

Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education

Ever wonder what creatures live in the brackish waters of Currituck Sound? Do you wonder what kind of bird you are spying flying overhead? Then the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is the place to be! Offering various classes for different age groups such as Fishing Lure Make & Take, Archery for Kids, Kayaking the Sound, Sea Turtles, and more! Or check out the awesome decoy collection, and 8,000 gallon marine exhibit which gives visitors a chance to see what lives beneath and above the surface of Currituck Sound.

For more Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education information please click here.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Looking north you can’t miss the towering red brick lighthouse peeking out just above the trees. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse was built in 1875 to illuminate the last stretch of darkness between Cape Henry to the north, and Bodie Island to the south. Prior to 1875, many seamen lost their lives along this dangerous stretch of shoaling shores. The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation in these waters, and is one of just a few lighthouses still working in the United States today! Open for tours spring through late fall – come and climb the 214 steps to the top. I promise - you will be rewarded with one of the most spectacular views in the Outer Banks!

For more Currituck Beach Lighthouse information please click here.