Kill Devil Hills
Kill Devil Hills is the Outer Banks' oldest township, established in 1952. But
the landmark that lends the town its distinctive name has been around much
longer. At one time, the northern Outer Banks was characterized by a series of
sand mountains over 100 feet high. These dunes stretched from sound to sea,
from Corolla south to Nags Head. Kill Devil Hill was one of the larger of the
dunes, and stories about how the monolith got its name are varied and colorful;
the generally accepted one is that it is named for ''Kill Devil,'' a brand of
rum found washed ashore during the colonial period..
Whatever the origins of its name, the dune was the site of the Wright Brothers
first heavier-than-air flight in 1903, which placed Kill Devil Hills forever in
the history books. In the 1930s, workers planted hearty grasses on the dune to
prevent it from continually shifting, then constructed the impressive Wright
Brothers Memorial which is visible for miles.
Today, Kill Devil Hills is one of the most popular vacation destinations on the
Outer Banks. With thousands of rental homes, great restaurants, sports and
activities, and shopping, Kill Devil Hills is at the center of an Outer Banks
vacation.
The Outer Banks
Chamber of Commerce and the
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau have excellent Travel Guides for
the area. Check them out before your trip.
[Visitors Bureau] [Chamber of Commerce]
Air Ports
The closest airport is Norfolk. Here is a
link with information about airports in the area.
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