I remember sneaking in to the Whalehead Club property with my mother many years before the club was even scheduled to be restored. We explored the grounds, even finding the old pool that has since been filled in with the restoration. To this day we still have cacti that we dug up from around the Whalehead pool and replanted at both our homes and under the cottage.
Currituck County began restoring Whalehead Club in 1999. Modifications that had been added to the house since the original owners lived there were removed. Then the interior and exterior were restored to both original structure and color.
This $5 million restoration included cork flooring, a new copper roof and coffered ceilings. Original pieces still remain in the house, including Tiffany glass light fixtures, duck head door handles and mahogany woodwork throughout.
Many fundraisers were held to raise money for this painstaking restoration. My mother purchased a bird house built with an original copper shingle from the house’s roof. This bird house is a special piece that will always remind us of our dubious exploration of the grounds.
The history of Whalehead Club is a rich one. In 1922, Edward Collings Knight, Jr. and his wife Marie Louise LeBel came to live in the Lighthouse Club in the Northern end of Corolla. It was there that he began to build a hunt club for his wife, since women were not readily welcome in any type of male hunt club.
This private residence is 21,000 square feet and sits on the edge of the Currituck Sound. The “cottage” was completed three years and $385,000 later, standing out in a wild and overgrown ocean territory.
Tours are available in April through Thanksgiving. There are also special hours during the holiday season. Whalehead Club is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $7.00 per person with children under 8 free as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult.
Whalehead Club is a beautiful “must see” place to visit during your Outer Banks vacation. Bring your crabbing gear, bug spray and walking shoes as you explore the grounds of this amazing piece of history. Fishing is allowed provided you are carrying a North Carolina license. You can also walk through Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, where admission is free.
Plan to spend a few hours in the Currituck Heritage Park enjoying a nature walk, fishing, crabbing, exploring Whalehead Club and walking through the education center. Climb the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, or simply admire it’s beauty from below. Don’t forget a picnic basket and blanket. I also recommend the Whalehead Club Fireworks display, which is an evening you won’t soon forget!
SHARE
Thank you for a lovely write up. The Whalehead Club is open year round Monday through Saturday for tours. Plus specialty tours can be reserved on week-days. Don’t forget the Moonlight Legends, Lore & Ghost Tour on Thursday evenings during the season – reservations required.
Julia, thank you so much for your reply. I have years of memories made with my children at Whalehead Club. And the fireworks… what an amazing evening. Thank you for the hours and days. I’ve not been to the Moonlight Legends…. I think we are going to HAVE to do that!