Salter Path, NC 

Salter Path was first settled, at least seasonally, from the mid-19th to the early 20th century, mostly by families moving west and south down the Banks — the barrier islands — from an old whaling community called Diamond City, located near Cape Lookout. Local whaling was on the decline, because people no longer needed whale oil for their lamps. One source says the first permanent settlers established the village of Salter Path in 1896.

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The "Salter Pathers" were fishermen. They kept cattle, hogs, and chickens, and they had vegetable gardens in the sandy soil. They hunted and ate loons, ducks, robins, and other birds. They dug clams and harvested oysters and scallops. They traded salted fish — mullets, especially — for corn and sweet potatoes — with people on the mainland. They caught the fish by dragging long seine nets, which were made by the families themselves, in the surf when the mullet were "running" along the beaches. In later years, they used (and still use) tractors to haul in the nets.

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Salter's path was the path from the ocean beach to the sound shore across the narrow strip of sand called Bogue Banks. People lived on the sound side but worked on the ocean side to catch mullets. The path was near the Salter family home. The other families at Salter Path were named Guthrie, Gould, Dixon, Smith, Willis, Adams, and Lewis. They were all squatters — they held no title to the land they lived on. The village of 33 hectares (80 or so acres) was bought by a man from Boston in the early 20th century and the settlers were allowed to stay.

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It was only in 1979 that the Salter Pathers finally got title to their land, after they took the case to court. Of course, then they started having to pay property taxes. Initially, the children of the Salter Path families went to elementary, junior high, and high schools with students from Morehead City, first at the old town school and later at a consolidated high school that served the whole western end of the county. The Salter Pathers spoke English with a slightly different old English brogue from ours, so they were easy to recognize.

 

Today, Salter Path is located on Bogue Banks next to and surrounded by Indian Beach, just minutes from Emerald Isle. Salter Path has a great history and is still known as a fishing village, with its heritage still visible in the single-story cottages that pepper the landscape.

During your next visit, be sure and chat with the locals, who still carry the pride of the area and that unique Baroque accent.

Best Things to Do in Salter Path

1. If you’re looking for a luxurious and private getaway, Grande Villas in nearby Indian Beach offers elegant condos perfect for family vacations or relaxing getaways.

2. Go fishing, kayaking or surfing in the beautiful coastal waters.

3. Explore fun family attractions located throughout the Crystal Coast area, just a quick drive away.

4. Plan an adventure with the kids at Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf and Raceway. With two 18-hole mini-golf courses, go-karts and bumper boats, you’ll find something for everyone.

5. Enjoy a stay in one of our oceanfront homes for rent in Salter Path, or choose an Ocean Club condo rental which features two outdoor swimming pools and lots of other great amenities.