4 Kill Devil Hills Stops Worth Putting on Your List

In Kill Devil Hills, NC, visitors can find plenty to love, from fresh seafood to locally made art. This brief itinerary highlights memorable activities and places to stay.

By Connie Pearson
Apr. 26, 2021

The Outer Banks of North Carolina, commonly known as OBX, had been on my travel wish list for years. Last week, I finally had the chance to see this remarkable area in person. Because this narrow stretch of land runs for roughly 100 miles of shoreline and includes several towns plus a dozen or so small villages, Kill Devil Hills is a good place to begin, especially since it served as our home base while we explored. The town’s name alone makes an impression.

One local legend says that a fisherman named Dan became tired of working hard while remaining poor, so he struck a bargain with the devil. In exchange for Dan’s soul after death, the devil would give him a bag of gold that would never run out. They planned to meet on a hill, where Dan would receive the gold, but Dan created a trap instead. He climbed the hill, dug a deep pit until he hit quicksand, then disguised the opening with leaves and branches before going home. The following night, he waited on the hill for the devil to arrive. Dan had the devil throw him the bag and step forward to shake hands, but the devil fell into the hidden hole and could not escape the quicksand. Dan covered the pit, and his declaration afterward became the tale behind the name Kill Devil Hills.

It sounds hard to believe, but considering the Outer Banks’ past involving pirates, shipwrecks, and war battles, perhaps it feels a little more plausible.

1. Wright Brothers National Memorial

Before we even checked into our hotel, we made our first visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Although people often associate it with Kitty Hawk, the site is actually located in Kill Devil Hills.

Inside the Visitors Center, exhibits explain the work of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Guests can also see a replica of the airplane from the historic flight and visit a pleasant gift shop. Just beyond the windows near the plane replica, marker stones show the locations of the four flights completed on December 17, 1903. The first three flights were brief, while the final and most historic one lasted for 59 seconds and covered 852 feet, becoming the first manned flight in a heavier-than-air machine that left the ground on its own power. Orville was aboard the plane, while Wilbur ran alongside and cheered. On the back side of the park, a bronze replica depicts the moment, so it is worth driving around the tall monument and stopping for a closer view.

2. Sunrise Views and Restful Rooms at Shutters on the Banks

Beach houses line both sides of the highway that winds through the Outer Banks, but highrise condos are not part of the scenery. Shutters on the Banks sits about as near to the Atlantic Ocean as a hotel can, given the large sand dunes between the buildings and the beach.

Our room offered a very comfortable stay, with WiFi, cable TV, plenty of hot water in the shower, and an excellent spot for watching beautiful sunrises.

3. Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar

We were staying at the beach, and the month included the letter r. For Steve and me, that meant oysters, especially raw oysters. Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar was only about a mile from our hotel, so we suspected it would satisfy the craving. That turned out to be exactly right.

The menu did not merely include oysters; it offered them by the dozen, the 1/2 peck, and the peck. I had never encountered that before. We ordered 1/2 peck of raw oysters and happily worked our way through 40 of them.

4. Kill Devil Hills Co-op Art Gallery and Studios

When we travel, I enjoy seeking out pieces made by local artists, and this gallery was exactly the kind of place I like to find. I was especially hoping to see sea glass jewelry by Pem Bryant, whom I had the opportunity to interview for a future post. According to the Kill Devil Hills Co-op website, 50 artists have work displayed in the gallery.

I was only able to photograph Pem’s pieces, but the creations from all of the artists were truly special. Several of Pem’s items came home with me, along with one or two other pieces that especially caught my attention.

Categories

• History & Heritage

Tags

• Kill Devil Hills

Author

Connie Pearson is a travel writer and blogger with more than 225 articles published across 25 different print and online publications. She enjoys exploring the cultural differences that make destinations around the country and the world distinctive, and she likes tasting regional food along the way. Professionally, she is a member of SATW (Society of American Travel Writers), International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance (ITWPA), TravMedia, TBEX and an E.A.T. Certified Judge for the World Food Championships. Recently, she was named an ambassador for VisitDecaturAL.