OBXF Receives $167,000 in Grants from Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

Outer Banks Forever is thrilled to announce it has been awarded two Tourism Impact Grants from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau!
The first grant of $34,595 was awarded for the replacement of the weather signal tower at the historic Weather Bureau Station on Hatteras Island. Established in 1901, the Weather Bureau Station served as the office and residence of a Weather Bureau employee until it was decommissioned in 1946. While active, the station displayed weather warning flags on the signal tower to inform residents and boaters of changing weather patterns and approaching storms. Once the signal tower replacement is complete, the National Park Service and Outer Banks Forever will work together to install educational signage, interpretive programs, and educational messaging to engage both locals and visitors in the history of weather impacts to the barrier island community.

The second grant of $132,000 was awarded for the creation of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Pathway, as part of Outer Banks Forever’s larger “Pathways to Your National Parks” project, which will create multi-use paths in all three of the Outer Banks national parks, beginning with Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Over the years, Buxton, North Carolina residents and visitors have expressed a desire for a multi-use path on the grounds of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, citing numerous safety and accessibility concerns given the number of people who visit the Seashore annually. This project aims to strengthen connections to public lands, make it safer to explore this historical and cultural area, and honor the history of the community. To learn more about this project, visit www.obxforever.org/pathways.