Four Fun Facts
I've called Emerald Isle home for almost a quarter century and yet I am always bumping into new fun facts. Today, I am sharing with you a few of my recent fun finds.
A HISTORY STARTED ON THE HIGH SEAS. Emerald Isle’s history starts with Native Americans who inhabited the Bogue Banks barrier island of what is now North Carolina. They would remain in the area for hundreds of years until the 1700s when colonial settlers arrived. The colonists used the resources around them to their advantage and became fisherman and whalers – eventually turning fishing for food into fishing as an economic engine for the area. Around this same time, Bogue Banks, including parts of Emerald Isle, were hot spots for high-seas pirates, including one of the most infamous, Blackbeard.
The area of Bogue Banks would prove vital during several wars including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. Fort Macon, constructed in 1826 under the supervision one Robert E. Lee (yes, that Lee) would play an essential role in the War between the States. A hundred years later, that same Fort Macon would be established as a North Carolina State Park.
Following the end of Civil War hostilities in 1865, and during the Reconstruction Era (1870-1890) , the population in Bogue Banks and the coastal mainland area of North Carolina grew. Eventually small towns were incorporated including Portsmouth, Diamond City, Slater Path, and Atlantic Beach. Another half century would pass before Emerald Isle was established as a town in the 1950s.
TOWN HALL IS A HAVEN OF FUN FACTS. The Town of Emerald Isle's Town Hall not only is a great place to visit for area information, but also it is filled with cherished area history and interesting facts. Here are a few facts that most aren’t familiar with:
First, if you’re looking for the time and happen to gaze up to the clock, you might get slightly confused. This is actually a tide clock, which posts the estimated time for both high and low tides for Emerald Isle and its area beaches.
Second, in true North Carolina fashion, there are 13 rocking chairs dedicated that sit outside on the building’s patio.
Third, you can find an Emerald Isle quilt which is stitched together with memorable and historic patches that when put together, make up the town of Emerald Isle. A book inside town hall, available for purchase, also explains the patches used in detail.
And finally, because sea turtles and their conservation are a big part of the area, there are two hidden “Easter Egg” turtles on the building in the form of shelf brackets.
BEST BEACH IN NORTH CAROLINA You didn’t plan to visit Emerald Isle and not visit the beach, did you? Great, because Emerald Isle is home to some of the world’s finest beaches with, soft sand, incredible views, life-changing sunsets, and a family-friendly atmosphere. In fact, Emerald Isle was named the Best North Carolina Beach in 2018 by USA Readers’ Choice Awards! Getting to the beach is easy once you’re here as there are more than 75 public beach access points in Emerald Isle, alone, and more than 25 public sound access points. However, the beaches don’t just end in Emerald Isle. The entire stretch of the 21-mile barrier island is lined with public beaches, which are regularly ranked on best beach and best family-friendly beach lists by popular travel publications.
CATCH OF THE DAY A time-honored tradition in Emerald Isle involves some bait, a pole, a comfortable chair, and well-stock ice chest. Emerald Isle is known for its variety of types of fishing you can do. Casting from the pier, the surf, the kayak or even out on the deep blue sea, you’re guaranteed to have a good time, and maybe catch some nice fish at the same time. You can catch a wide variety of fish as well, including drums, pompano, bluefish, spots, sea mullet, and trout among others. Cobia is popular in the spring and during summer months, and flounder can be found in the inlets or off the piers. The cooler months typically bring striped bass and speckled trout. Redfish, or red drum, are available year-round in shallower waters. My favorite fishing hole is visiting my fish monger, Capt'n Willis for my "catch of the day."
In preparation for your next fun visit to Emerald Isle, visit my website at www.EIHomesforSale.com and request a free Guide to Living in Emerald Isle, or text your email address to: raczkowski.denis@gmail.com.
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