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Grounds for Exploration
by Marimar McNaughton
In 1922, outside the tiny village of Corolla on the Currituck Outer Banks, Edward Collins Knight dredged the bottom of the Currituck Sound, raking up mounds of sand, silt and oyster beds to form an island. On this man-made, moated, foundation in the middle of nowhere Knight erected a lavish, 21,000-square-foot, French country cottage, sinking three years and $385,000 into the project. Knight, a widower, and his new bride moved into their winter residence in 1925. The Knights dubbed their house Corolla Island.
Knight, a second generation silver-spooner, whose father had sold his design for a sleeping car to Pullman and sat on the board of the American Sugar Refining Company, followed the flock of wealthy industrialists who clubbed each fall and winter on the Currituck Outer Banks. The brackish, shallow waters of the Currituck Sound were a breeding ground for marsh grass and wild rice and a hotbed of activity for feeding geese and ducks winging south along the great Atlantic flyway. Well-heeled hunters and shooters, the gaming set, like the Knights, spent their winter days between November and December in residence, in their private, up until then, all male, hunt clubs. Knight and his wife, the French-Canadian huntress, Marie-Louise LaBel, were the sole occupants of their massive 25-room mansion, which was built on the former grounds of the Lighthouse Club. The house had a full basement, wine and root cellars and an attic featuring the gear box for an early Otis elevator and a false chimney engineered for ventilation. The interior showcased some of the finest examples of Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts woodwork, authentic Tiffany glass fixtures, custom flooring, paneling and furnishings found in North Carolina. Corolla Island was the Knights' private retreat, and as out of place as an ostrich among a flock of wild geese. The canary yellow exterior can be seen for miles around.
A second owner later renamed the house Whalehead Club. Today, the lavish home and its surrounding 39-acre grounds, now owned by Currituck County, is open for tours.
The Whalehead Club is open to visitors from mid-April through late November. During the docent-led tours, conducted daily on the half-hour from 10 am to 5 pm, visitors are led through the asymmetrical maze of living and sleeping rooms on the first two floors. Admission to the mansion is $6 for adults. Children younger than eight are admitted free if accompanied by adults.
Special house tours require advance registration and cater to both children and adults. The Children's Tour and Treasure Hunt is aimed at youngsters aged six to twelve years old and is offered Monday through Friday at 10 am. The content of the Children's Tour focuses on history, art, environmental awareness, geography and navigational skills. Additionally, the special tour with age- appropriate question and answer segments encourages critical thinking. At the conclusion, each child receives a treasure. Cost of the Children's Tour, regardless of age, is $5 per person.
Behind the Scenes Tours are offered Monday through Friday at 11am and 4 pm. Appropriate for ages thirteen and older, the tour admits visitors to off-limits rooms on the third floor, the attic and the boathouse. The servants' quarters is included, as is a sneak preview of items in the curator's space, such as recently acquired photographs, artifacts and objects that are being catalogued but are not yet part of the museum's public collection. Cost per person is $5. The walls reportedly "talk" during the most popular tour, the Ghost Tour, offered each day at 5 pm and appropriate for ages six and older. The content explores Outer Banks folklore and legends, with a focus on Corolla Village and The Whalehead Club's spirited history. Tickets for the Ghost Tour are $5 per person.
A $1 discount is offered if you purchase one regular ticket plus one specialty tour ticket. All tours are peppered with information about the history of the house, the Knight family who built it and the home's subsequent owners. A new exhibit showcases this personal history, including a 1960s era chapter about Corolla Academy, a summer boys' school, and the mansion's recent restoration. Currituck Heritage Park.
In addition to the mansion, there are many opportunities to explore the grounds at Currituck Heritage Park, where admission is free from dawn until dusk. All ages are invited to enjoy Currituck Heritage Park Ð even family pets are welcomed provided they are leashed. The public boat launch into Currituck Sound is free, and the sound's shallow waters are a perfect venue for small craft paddling, sailing and windsurfing.
In seasonable weather, picnicking is encouraged, beneath the live oak trees that shade the lush landscape. However, reservations are required for the use of the covered pavilion and are secured with a refundable deposit. Currituck Heritage Park is also a popular site for family reunions and weddings. Weddings are staged on the scenic north lawn Ð with views of the picturesque footbridge, boathouse, lighthouse and expanse of Currituck Sound, and also on the less trafficked southeast lawn, which is pond side, with views of the sound and the house, and glimpses of the light tower and boat house. Prices range from $750 for a four-hour, week-day ceremony to $3,000 for an all-day ceremony and reception at primetime on weekends.
New this summer, Currituck Heritage Park will also feature the much-anticipated Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, expected to open mid-June 2006. Programs hosted by the Outer Banks Center for Wild-life Education are rooted in region specific culture and folkways. The Whalehead Club co-sponsors a decoy carving with the wildlife center, held on park grounds in the boathouse.
Many special events take place at the park during the season. In June, a week-long celebration honoring Corolla's Wild Horses, sponsored by the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, culminates mid-month on June 16 from 4 to 6 pm. On June 21 and 22 is the two-day "Under the Oaks" outdoor art show featuring fine art and fine crafts for sale. Entertainment includes performances by local musicians, children's activities and food concessions.
The annual July Fourth Festival and Fireworks sponsored by Currituck County is free and should not be missed. The rest of the high season, throughout July and into August, a Concert Series on the lawn will be held every Thursday evening from 7 to 8:15 pm. July will feature classical music, dance and theatre performances by students, alumni and faculty of the North Carolina School of the Arts. In August, the concert series continues with performances by local musicians featuring jazz, blues, folk and rock, sponsored by Currituck County merchants. To all of these outdoor summer events, attendees should bring beach and lawn chairs, blankets and mats, sunglasses and bug spray. On the last weekend in October, the annual Haunted Corolla Village is an outdoor fall festival with events such as hayrides, pumpkin carving and scarecrow stuffing. The crisp autumn air is scented with apple cider and freshly baked cookies, cakes and pies. Visitors will tour the historic Corolla School House, Currituck Beach Lighthouse and The Whalehead Club. Cost for the Haunted Corolla Village experience is $6 per person. The Whalehead Club and Currituck Heritage Park are located at 1100 Club Drive, 22 miles north of the Wright Memorial Bridge, on N.C. Highway 12. For more information, and a virtual spin visit whaleheadclub.com, or call (252) 453-9040.
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