COROLLA AT A GLANCE

Sea Oats at the nearby Corolla Beach

In the not too distant past, Corolla was one of the last undeveloped areas on the Outer Banks. Wild horses had their run of the expansive beaches and grassy dunes, easily co-existing with fewer than 50 year round residents. A guard gate at the end of the paved road in Duck restricted entry to these residents and the few vacationers who could prove their right to pass. Otherwise, Corolla remained largely undiscovered by the visitors who populated the Outer Banks beaches to the south.

All of that changed in 1986, when the County of Currituck opened the first paved road to Corolla. Since then, Corolla has evolved into an upscale beach resort. It is a particular favorite of vacationers and second homeowners from the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, who are drawn to Corollas extraordinary beaches, first-class amenities, unique historical icons, and convenient locations. The Currituck County Commissioners have restricted commercial expansion in the area to ensure the conscientious development of Corolla as a family resort consisting primarily of single family homes. However, the area is served by centally located commercial retail areas with two grocery stores, a movie theater, gas station, and a variety of fine restaurants, boutiques and shops.

Plans for a mid-County bridge linking Corolla to the Currituck mainland has been in the works for many years, and the most recent plans call for the bridge to be completed by 2013. The proposed new bridge will provide additional access and egress and will substantially reduce travel time to the Northern Beaches from all points North.

North beach communities are served by central water and sewer services, except the Estates at Ocean Hill, Whalehead Club, Spindrift and Sections A, B and C of Ocean Sands, which are served by county water and individual septic systems. Following is a description of the major neighborhoods in Corolla, north to south:

The Villages at Ocean Hill is the northernmost development, bordered by the Estuarine Sanctuary to the north. This planned community is enhanced by a 10-acre lake, wide, finely-textured sandy beaches, oceanfront and lakeside pools, a fitness center, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, and a soundfront estuarine nature area. Many sites offer both ocean and sound views. This is the end of the road (literally, it's the end of the paved road) for those looking for ocean property in its near natural setting and a low traffic count. Fees are assessed to both homeowners and lot owners.

The Estates at Ocean Hill is a small community of large lots directly to the South of the Villages at Ocean Hill. While the community offers no amenities, many homesites boast wonderful views and all enjoy the sense of space so familiar and dear to Outer Banks visitors. There are no required homeowner fees in the Estates.

Corolla Light, developed in the mid-1980s, was designed and engineered to be completely self-sufficient, with shopping, restaurants, and the most extensive amenities offered on the Outer Banks. These include an oceanfront restaurant, beach club with swimming pool, kiddie pool, basketball and shuffleboard courts, indoor Olympic sized swimming pool and health club, racquetball, tennis, weight rooms, conference rooms, community trolley system, walking trails, and natural turf putting green, plus a soundside sailing center and soundfront swimming pool. Thanks to the superior planning of this resort, it remains a favorite year round destination point on the Northern Beaches. Corolla Light assesses homeowner and lot owner fees, as well as user fees to homes in rental programs. Condos and townhomes in Corolla Light have additional fees unique to their structures.

Whalehead Beach has long been among the most popular Corolla communities, thanks to its large lots (all are 20,000 feet), many of which offer exceptional ocean views and all of which have ample room for the large homes and swimming pools so desirable to rental guests. While Whalehead offers no amenities, its beaches have long been considered among the best on the Outer Banks, and draw visitors back year after year. There are no required homeowner fees in Whalehead.

Monteray Shores is a soundside community directly west of Whalehead Beach. This planned unit development has a swimming pool, tennis courts, jogging trail, soundside piers, and clubhouse. It is the only community on the northern beaches to offer boating access to the sound. While it does not have community ocean access, that is readily available via public accesses in Whalehead Beach. Homeowners fees are assessed.

Buck Island is a small, upscale community adjacent to the commercial area in Corolla. It features an outdoor pool and tennis and a playground for the children.

Crown Point is located just north of Ocean Sands and has a community pool and tennis court. Like its neighbor to the South, Crown Point has relatively small lots, approximately 6,000 square feet each. It was originally platted as a section of Ocean Sands, before being sectioned out and renamed by the developer.

Ocean Sands was developed in the early 1970s. Like Whalehead, the beaches are wide and the dunes are stable. Sections A, B and C, the southernmost sections, have larger lots, averaging 20,000 square feet each. Prices are generally comparable to Whalehead Beach. Sections D-Q were platted and subdivided as a planned unit development, with community tennis courts. Lots in these sections are smaller, generally in the 6,000-7,000 square foot range. Ocean Sands is a popular rental destination because it offers a wide range of styles, price ranges and locations. In the late 1990s, Ocean Lake at Ocean Sands began development. Ocean Lake is Section O of Ocean Sands. It has a separate community pool and tennis courts reserved for Ocean Lake homeowners and guests. The developer is bringing lots to the market slowly, so homesites are still available.

The Currituck Club is the Northern Beaches only golf course, and has quickly gained a national reputation as an excellent course for players at all levels. The Currituck Club property was once part of the private Currituck Shooting Club property. Approximately 600 acres of uplands have been dedicated to the project, which meanders along the Currituck Sound, providing some of the loveliest vistas on the Outer Banks. Homesites, condos and homes are available. The course is currently open to the public, but plans are to privatize the course in the future. The community features a clubhouse, tennis courts, swimming pool, play area, and a small hotel is planned for the property.

Spindrift is a gated community bordered on the South by Pine Island and on the north by Ocean Sands. There are 31 lots, each a minimum of 40,000 square feet in size. The 125-foot wide oceanfront lots are the widest in the area, enabling home designs to take advantage of spectacular ocean views. The community offers no amenities, but has a loyal following of those wishing privacy and serenity. Homeowners fees are assessed.

Pine Island, the southernmost community on the Currituck Outer Banks, has enjoyed unprecedented success since its inception in late 1992, and boasts some of the grandest and most prestigious homes on the Northern Beaches. The planned unit development offers two community pools, one of which is oceanfront, and tennis, and use of an existing landing strip for touchdown of private and charter planes. Pine Island is bordered to the West by land preserved as the National Audubon Society Pine Island Sanctuary, and to the South by Dare County and the communities of Palmers Island and Sanderling. Homeowners fees are assessed. To learn more about Corolla real estate opportunities and any of the communities, simply give us a call or send us an email. Do it today!