Wild Horses of Corolla / OBX

Stunning imagery awaits nature enthusiasts in the N. Outer Banks 4X4 ONLY zone

Curritcuk Lightouse and wild horses are in Corolla

If one is a confirmed beachgoer and appreciates nature, then the northern Outer Banks in N.C. offers a unique viewing opportunity. While much of the well known Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills area is developed with strip malls and chain stores, the best kept secret lies North. In a truly four-wheel drive area known as Corolla, one can tour this extensive sand dune system and glimpse free roaming wild horses. Hopping aboard a vintage Toyota Land Cruiser with guide Jay Bender from Corolla Outback Adventures, I was keen to see the 4X4 zone where wild horses prospered. We traversed eleven miles of pristine beachfront and it became clear why each tour lasts at least two hours. While there are some houses along the beach in this area, none of them can be accessed without four-wheel drive vehicles, since no paved streets exist here. Lying just below the Virginia state line, this area was also vulnerable to developers who wanted to divide all of it into small parcels. But it was the wild horses of Corolla that instigated conservationists to rally, protecting the harmony that has existed in nature between the horses and dunes for decades. A dividend from these preservation efforts is an area that still portrays the wild ecosystem tied to the remoteness of the Outer Banks. Bender grew up in Corolla and his family began offering tours of the area in 1962. When the idea of conservation easements came to the area, it was Bender who used his local connections to help landowners and organizations get together to form pockets of protected areas. “We have exclusive access to a 140-acre tract near Corova Beach Park because Corolla Outback Adventures partners with the Wild Horse Fund to manage the area, which used to be a cattle grazing pasture,” said Bender. Besides a lesson in ecology and history, this tour also serves up a reminder of how proper planning can preserve our natural resources for future generations to enjoy! Thankfully, residents of the Lowcountry understand and embrace conservation, and I can easily recommend the Corolla Outback a worthy endeavor.
To view my feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about the Outer Banks of N.C. click here

'Yota' is the vintage LandCruiser we secured for our 4X4 tour

A pair of horses in the Wild Horse Fund protection area

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