Where a mighty forest lost a battle with the sea. The encroaching ocean destroyed a forest here on Cur¬
rituck Bank, leaving only these senile stumps. The place is called Washwoods, and a nearby Coast Guard
station perpetuates the name. (Photos by llcmmer.)
New Road Along The Beach
ll will connect Virginia Beach with \ags
Hoad and u ill open to vehicular traffic one
of l lie most picturesque areas along our
coast.
ONE of America's most varied
oceanic wildernesses will be
available to the traveler
within a year or so when plans of
a group of North Carolina and
Virginia capitalists come to frui¬
tion. A toll road, to be laid down
narrow Currituck Beach for 57
miles, will connect Virginia Beach
with Nags Head, and will open up
a sportsman's paradise, give a new
and easier access into a land of
romance, mystery, and recreation.
Travelers following the north-
south route will have a new speedy
and fascinating route, one which
for nearly 60 miles will be devoid
of towns, stop-lights or intersec¬
tions. with a tumultuous ocean
beach on the east and Currituck
Sound on the west.
The new highway will start at
the southern end of Virginia
Beach, connecting with US 158 just
north of Nags Head. From here, the
traveler will have the option of
turning west on US 158. joining
US 17 at Elizabeth City. Or he may
follow US 158 south to Nags Head,
6
By BILL SII\ltl»L
Kill Devil Hill, and history-
drenched Roanoke Island, thence
by free ferry to the wilderness area
of Dare County, and so to Lake
Mattamuskeet (via US
264»
and
on to US 17 at Washington, N. C.
The first part of this new sea¬
side highway (and it will be just
that
»
will take tourists quickly
from the populous Norfolk area
into one of the finest game sections
of the South. Currituck Sound,
fresh water, is considered the best
duck-hunting area on the Atlantic
flyway, and the fishing for large-
mouth bass is almost as equally
well known (the word comes from
Coratank. Indian for wild geese).
Heretofore, however, the access has
been from the mainland side
Only two small villages — Corolla
and Duck — lie on the route, and
the road likely will skirt both.
The only other habitations are
coast guard stations. The beach
usually is wide. flat, and firm: the
surf somewhat turbulent since the
coast is so exposed. Wildlife-
especially bird-life- abounds. All
the familiar shorebirds are present:
in winter, a jeep following the
beach, or the sandy soundside.
provokes geese and ducks into re¬
luctant and complaining flight. The
rare American bald eagles — the
ones you see on your money— are
numerous. Once they built nests
across the telephone wires of the
coast guard, and an eagle patrol
was established to tear them down.
They are still numerous, easily
seen at close range. Foster Am¬
brose. caretaker of the Whaleshead
lodge here, trapped 600 muskrats
this season, and gets many grey
foxes, an occasional mink and even
an otter.
The beach narrows to a few feet
in some places; toward Duck, at the
southern terminus, it spreads out
into a magnificent forest of water
oaks. bays, pines, holly, yaupon,
dogwood and other species. The
THE STATE. January 1. 1949
