By James D. “Keeper James” Charlet
A non-resident couple who owns a “beach box” Hatteras Island vacation home has generously donated the entire cost of a half-page ad in the upcoming 2025 Outer Banks Visitors Bureau classy publication The Outer Banks Travel Guide. Our OBVB donor asked to remain anonymous. But they clearly expressed a love for the Outer Banks, a passion for its history, and a profound respect and encouragement for the goals of the new nonprofit.
This is from the OBVB website: “The Visitors Bureau guide is distributed throughout the local area but is also mailed to top feeder markets like DC, MD, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, VA, WV, and Canada. It’s also available throughout the year at state welcome centers, regional visitor centers, AAA offices, travel agencies, and other tourism authorities in the US and Canada. Only the Visitors Bureau’s Guide can get you that kind of coverage!”
This is why that is SO important: The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group is dedicated to the Rescue, Repair, Rejuvenation & Repurposing of that elegant historic structure at the Gateway to Hatteras Island – the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station.. The nonprofit’s goal is to raise $18.98 million to accomplish this resurrection of the 1898 Station.
Giving USA, a major fundraising publication, says, “70% of all donation funds are from individuals whose subject is close to their hearts.” Our donors audience is clearly all the vacationers and homeowners who come to the Outer Banks. This ad will reach millions of them!
Most of our OBX two and a half million annual visitors have seen the building; but most do not know what it is. As millions of these travelers land upon the famous Hatteras Island by crossing the impressive new Marc Basnight Bridge (which many locals still refer to as the Oregon Inlet Bridge), the visitor sees a beautiful but mysteriously abandoned building. It is, it was, the 1898 Oregon Inlet United States Life-Saving Service Station No. 16. It is in serious trouble. It needs to be saved, to be nurtured, to be rescued, – just as it spent its life doing for others.
A number of functions for this structure have already proposed that would benefit millions of visitors and locals alike – each of these would be one room in the new floor plan: a Visitors Welcome Center, restrooms, a gift shop, a museum celebrating all 29 of North Carolina’s United States Life-Saving Service stations (which has never existed), a Sponsors and Partners Display room, a large meeting room/event venue, a galley, a weather station and a webcam in the tower. The whole world can see what we see from there!
The founder’s vision can be found here: https://islandfreepress.org/hatteras-island-features/commentary-the-vision-for-rescuing-the-1898-oregon-inlet-life-saving-coast-guard-station/
Once our project is accomplished, one enthusiastic supporter exclaimed, the “‘New’” Old Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station would become ‘The Statute of Liberty of North Carolina!’”
Our website will be operational soon, but until then, you can donate with a check or money order to OBCGHPG, P.O. Box 633, Rodanthe, NC 27968-0633.