About Corolla's 4-wheel Drive Area

Here is a little history behind the Corolla Wild horses from Karen McCalpin the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

Colonial Spanish horses (Spanish Mustangs) have been an integral part of the history and heritage of the Currituck Outer Banks for over five centuries. Spanish explorations and colonization began in the early 1500’s around Cape Fear, NC. (A History of North Carolina, UNC Press) Spanish Barb and Arabian horses were left behind when colonization failed or arrived incidentally as a result of shipwrecks. They were also thrown overboard in an effort to refloat ships that had run aground on sand bars.

Because the Outer Banks of North Carolina remained isolated for centuries and have been one of the last areas of the state to become populated to saturation, there was little opportunity for adulteration of the horses’ Spanish bloodlines. By the time people again began to settle the islands, feral horses roamed in abundance. In the 1920’s, National Geographic documented between two and three thousand wild horses on the Outer Banks. At that time, Nags Head had begun to grow as a resort area for mainland planters and the horses in that area moved north and south of civilization. Bridges opened the northern Banks for development in the 1930’s but people and free-range horses were able to successfully coexist until 1985, when a paved road (Route 12)was completed from Duck to Corolla.

Before the 1980’s, there was a large herd living in and around Corolla. Sadly, between 1985 to 1995, a total of twenty horses were killed by cars on Route 12. In 1989, a group of concerned residents formed the Corolla Wild Horse Fund (CWHF), under the umbrella of the Outer Banks Conservationists, Inc., to try and implement ways to protect and preserve the herd. The group worked with Currituck County officials to adopt an ordinance to protect the wild horses from human contact; pursued a permit to install an ocean to sound fence at the North Beach Access (referred to as the 4-wheel drive area) and at the Virginia/NC border; moved the herd north of the developed areas of Corolla in 1995, and incorporated as a 501 c 3 nonprofit in 2001.

Currently, the remaining 100 registered Colonial Spanish Mustangs freely roam 7,500 acres north of Corolla village to theVirginia state line. Access to this area is only by 4-wheel drive vehicles along the beach and sand cartways.

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund is the lead advisor to CurrituckCounty in regard to the horses and is charged with the management and safety of the herd. A full-time Executive Director, Herd Manager and Director of Operations monitor the health and size of the herd, respond to emergencies, manage an adoption program, and educate the public regarding the Currituck County Wild Horse Ordinance.

The Wild Horse Ordinance is a law enacted to protect both the horses and

the public. The most important component of the law for visitors to be aware of is:

(Sec.3-36) “It shall further be unlawful for any person to lure attract or entice a wild

horse to come within 50 feet of any person or for any person other than an animal control

officer law enforcement officer wild horse sanctuary officer or veterinarian rendering treatment24 to a wild horse to intentionally come within 50 feet of a wild horse.” Fines of up to $500 can be assessed.

Feeding a wild horse anything that is not native to its diet (like, apples, carrots, celery, even hay) can cause painful, and even fatal, colic. Trying to pet a wild horse, even if it appears to be tame, is not only a violation of the law, it’s dangerous. Stallions are very protective of their bands, and mares are protective of their foals. They will respond with aggression if they feel threatened. For your own safety, you must admire and respect them from a distance. In addition – it’s the law.

The Currituck Outer Banks is the only place left in the United States where wild horses can still roam freely on the beach and among vacation and permanent homes. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund invites you to learn more about these incredible animals by visiting the free Wild Horse Museumlocated in the Old Schoolhouse in Old Corolla Village. For more information on the wild horses and how you can be a part of helping to save them for future generations, visit www.corollawildhorses.org or call 252-453-8002. Help us keep them “Wild and Free.”

Yesterday on my way into town to meet some clients I had the strangest site. First I passed a group of about 6 jeeps all parked and the people doing something that I could quite make out.

another 1/4 mile down I passed 3 more Jeeps and people walking aling the dune line with trash bags.

another mile and another group. finally as I neared the end of the beach I saw what looked like a sign-in booth set up so I stopped to ask.

They turned out to be from KMA Off Road in Virgina. Each year they organize an event to help keep an area that they like to visit clean. This year they were joined by Middle Peninsula Jeepers, and Virgina Beach Jeeps.

There are a lot of locals that are of the opinion that the "Day Trippers" that come here show no respect for our beaches & communities, and It is good to see that in reality that is a few bad apples making a bad image for all the rest. you don't have to live or own in Carova to love and care for carova.

Thanks Guys!

 A while back I did a post about how often I get asked if I have make sure it's not high tide when driving on the beach. You can check it out here. My usual response it  I have never been in a situation where I couldn't get down the beach, although I have probably been in a couple of situations where I should have tried. This week we have seen some of those tides. So I thought I would take some video footage to give you a sample of what the beach can be like on those rare occasions. I hope that you enjoy.

This is a recent question that I had gotten and had to think about for a while.

If you enjoy riding jet skies, there are a few places along the sound that allow you to rent them by the hour. There are are none to use on the ocean as the launching of Personal Water Craft (i.e. jet skies) into the ocean from the surf is not allowed anywhere on the Currituck Outer Banks. If you are planning on coming down here with your own jet skies your options become even more reduced by the fact that there are currently no public boat ramps on the 4-Wheel Drive beaches of Carova at this time, and only one on the "hard surface" of Corolla.

That would make the closest place to launch your own jet skies at the Whalehead Club in Cuttituck Heritage Park. On the plus side, while you're there, you can take in the many sites including the Currituck Lighthouse, Currituck Wildlife Museum, and the actual Whalehead Club. There are also many events that go on there throughout the year that are worth stopping over for.

One of the most beautiful sights on see in Carova is a new foal. It leaves me wondering how lucky this creature is to have been born among the Corolla Wild Horses. I got to see some of the baby horses on the beach and just in time. It was starting to get too crowded there so they shortly decided that it was time to call it a day and go back home. :)