Wait a Minute—Isn’t It 11 Miles?

By Edward Ponton That was my first reaction when I heard the North Beach Preservation Alliance’s s

slogan, “saving the last 12 miles.” Around here, accuracy matters, and I’ll admit—I cringed a little and let it go. A few weeks later, Edna Baden said something that stuck with me: “the distance has changed over time and will continue to change." Bingo.  That was the missing piece—history.

Getting to the Currituck Banks wasn’t always as simple as it is today. Travel was by water from the mainland. Even after the wooden Wright Memorial Bridge was built in 1930, boat travel across the sound remained a popular means of access for locals and members of the hunt clubs on the Currituck Banks.

Realtor Travis Morris brought potential buyers by boat from Waterlily to purchase lots in Corolla Village in the 1960s, and mail was delivered by boat into the 1970s.

For many, the easier route was actually from the north—driving south along the beach from Sandbridge, Virginia through what is now Back Bay Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park.

That changed in 1972, when access was closed—reshaping how people reached the area and how development unfolded.

Access from the south via Kitty Hawk was also by beach—and tricky at best. The sand from Duck to Ocean Sands was wet and pebbly, almost like quicksand. If you started to get stuck, you sank fast. My father would say, “If you’re going to get stuck, don’t get stuck near the water.”

A major shift came in the 1980s when improved road access from the south opened Corolla to rapid growth. What was once remote became accessible.

Historically, it has always been 12 miles from the NC/VA line to Corolla Village. What’s changed is how we access it.

As ramps moved and development expanded, the drivable beach distance shortened—leading to the 11 miles many recognize today.

It’s funny to think that not long ago, Corolla Village was considered “the end,” while places like Carova felt more accessible. My parents, who were here long before paved roads, still see it that way. They are two of a handful of year-round residents who still hold a permit to travel north to Virginia via the beach.

Change has always been part of life on the Outer Banks and will continue to be the case as the coastal landscape is reshaped by nature and humans. The conversations about preserving the character of the "Last 12 Miles" aren't new - they're part of a much longer story. And maybe what we're trying to protect isn't just the miles, but the spirit of the place itself.  

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A little about Edward: If you live on the Northern Outer Banks or have a home rental through Twiddy & Company, you surely know Edward Ponton! He is a friend, a confidant, a loyal husband and father, a spiritual leader and an overall kind and generous man to many. In a nutshell, the world needs more Edward Ponton’s!

Edward was born and raised in Corolla and what he doesn’t know about its history, his dad, Buddy knows.  The Ponton’s are “old time Corolla” who welcome all to this very special place, whether to live or visit here.  So....who better to explain the ever changing “last 12 miles of the Outer Banks”!