 |
 |
Visible
often |
Shipwreck
of unknown vessel (ID: Ocean Hill: 6-09-07)
(Sighting & Location Report from the "Felts
Clan", Ohio)
Almost
certainly NCUAB* ID: CKB0016
Location: 50-70 feet northeast of the
Adriatic Ave. Beach Access on Atlantic Ave, in the Ocean Hill
area between Currituck Beach Light and the horse fence/beach
ramp, off Hwy. 12 in Corolla. ONLY VISIBLE at LOW TIDE when
uncovered by sand.
GPS coordinates:
for the Adriatic Ave. beach access location - N
36 23.135' W 75 49.629'
for the shipwreck - N 36.38599 W
75.82615
Note: This wreck is one part of a ship that washed up
here in three sections in 1998.
How To Find It: In Corolla, on NC Hwy. 12, go 3/10
- 4/10 mile north of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and turn
east (toward the ocean) onto Coral Lane, then left (north)
onto Atlantic Ave. Follow Atlantic Ave. to the intersection
with Adriatic Ave. Directly opposite Adriatic Ave. is a sandy
path beach access. Walk down to the beach and turn north. Walk
50-70 feet north of the beach access to the wreck, which may
be visible at low tide. Note that there is no place for parking
here, so you may need to be dropped off by car and then picked
up later. Otherwise it's a long 2/3 mile walk southward from
the horse fence. It can also be reached from the beach ramp
at the end of Corolla Village Road exactly opposite the lighthouse.
The wreck is 2/3 mile north of the beach ramp. This area may
be closed to beach vehicle traffic during summer months.
*NCUAB - The
North Carolina Underwater Archaeology Branch (of the NC Office
of State Archaeology), 1528 Ft. Fisher Boulevard, South Kure
Beach, NC 28449. [ North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
Underwater Archaeology Unit ]
|
 |
This
much was visible on June 9 (Saturday). By June 15
(the following Friday) much of it was already covered
up as seen below.
 |
This "Sightings
and Location Report" with the four photos, all the information
and GPS coordinates, was sent in by "the Felts clan" on June
13, 2007. The wreckage was found June 9, 2007 at 11:30 am.
These folks were on vacation and discovered
this wreck on the beach close to where they were staying. They
reported "During high tide the shipwreck is entirely underwater....during
low tide, planks are visible though sand covered."
This is just the sort of thing that happens
all the time because the beach level changes constantly, and
these wrecks are uncovered and covered repeatedly. Sometimes
they're visible one day and hidden from view the next. They're
still there, but you wouldn't know it until the tide and currents
move the sand to give you a glimpse.
Update: November, 2008
A new report arrived from Mike Becker
of Herndon, Va., which included GPS coordinates along with
new photos of this wreck site. More of the sand was washed
away revealing more of the wreckage.
Update: December, 2009
A visit to this site on December 31,
2009 provided these new photos. It turns out that this wreckage
is only 100 feet from the reported location of a 3-section
shipwreck that washed up in 1998 and is registered by the NCUAB* as
ID: CKB0016. There can be little doubt it is the same wreckage.
These
beachgoers give a size reference for this wreckage site. |
 |
An additional eighteen inches to two
feet of sand was gone revealing more of the wreckage. Curved
planks now made the bow plainly recognizable, and the remaining
section of the ship's center beam was uncovered as well.
The left photos show how far out this
wreckage sits from the dunes, so at high tide it would surely
be covered by surf. |
Shipwreck
of unknown vessel (ID: Shad St. north_12-21-09)
(Sightings & Location Report
from the Robertory family and the Murphy family)
NCUAB* ID:
CKB0022
Location: north of Shad St. beach access walkover, Corolla.
GPS coordinates: N/A
How To Find It: One half mile south of Currituck Beach
Lighthouse on Hwy. 12 turn east onto Shad St. and park at the
parking area just past Whalehead Drive. Then walk to the beach
via the access at the end of Shad St. and turn north. Wreckage
is 500-800 yards north of the beach access.
*NCUAB - The
North Carolina Underwater Archaeology Branch (of the NC Office
of State Archaeology), 1528 Ft. Fisher Boulevard, South Kure
Beach, NC 28449. [North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
Underwater Archaeology Unit]
|
 The
kids in this photo give a good idea of the size of this heavy-ribbed
wreckage. The Robertory and Murphy families noted in their
report "There were two large individual beams broken
off the wreck and further south (between Shad beach access
and wreck)." They also reported that not long after
they sent their report they noticed sand was already washing
in to begin covering the wreck again. Such is the nature
of these wreck sites. They appear and disappear completely
at the whim of the ocean.
This site is still under scrutiny by
the NCUAB, but preliminary information indicates this ship
was approximately 20 feet wide and possibly 70-80 feet long.
It shows indications of being English built and was likely
wrecked during the American Colonial period.
|
Shipwreck
known as the Flambeau Rd. wreck (Hatteras Village)
Location: near the beach access at the
eastern end of Flambeau Rd. in Hatteras Village.
GPS coordinates: N 35.21102 W
075.68481
How To Find It: From Hwy. NC 12 in Hatteras Village
turn onto Eagle Pass Rd., then left onto Flambeau Rd. which
ends at Lighthouse Rd. There is a sandy path beach access across
from the end of Flambeau Rd. Follow it to the beach, then turn
right (southeast) on the beach. The wreckage is about 100 feet
down the beach at the surf edge.
|
 |
Northeast
end - bow
|
 |
Side
view showing size
comparison with two people |
 |
| Southwest
end of the wreck |
This
wreckage is huge compared to all the others currently visible
along the Outer Banks. It is easily 150 feet long, and literally
covered with hundreds of steel spikes, giving it the look of
a bristly porcupine. Little is known about this shipwreck,
except that it was probably a cargo ship built about the turn
of the 20th century (circa 1900).
Looking at the wreckage in its present
state it's difficult to imagine that most of the time it's
nearly completely buried in the beach sand. From time to time
parts of it get uncovered to varying degrees, but these photos
taken in late December of 2009 show the majority of its bulk
in open view. Locals know it's a very rare occasion when this
much of the wreck is visible.
After weathering two strong nor'easters
in less than a month's time during November/December of 2009,
the sands of the Outer Banks have revealed several large wrecks
seldom seen, and the Flambeau Road shipwreck is certainly the
largest among them.
|
Shipwreck
of the George W. Wells
Location: Approx. 1/2 mile north of the
pony pens on Ocracoke.
GPS coordinates: N 35.15039 W
075.86210
How To Find It: Go 7/10 mile north of the Ocracoke pony
pens to the parking area along Hwy. 12. From the parking area
walk south on the beach about 700 feet. The wreckage is high
on the beach near the dunes.
|
 |
| The
person in the lower photo gives a sense of size to
the wreckage. |
 |
This
wreckage on Ocracoke, commonly attributed to the George
W. Wells, has been around for a long time. It seems to
have changed little since I first photographed it over 35 years
ago. The vertical photo at left was taken in December ot 2009,
and the lower left photo was taken from a similar angle in
1973. Though the lower photo shows slightly more of the wreckage
exposed, there seems little difference in its location or orientation
to the dunes. The similarity between the two photos is quite
apparent even after so many years.
If more of this wreckage were visible
it would be easier to realize just how large it is. Even the
right photo with the person standing near the timbers doesn't
do a good job of conveying the actual length of the Wells still
hidden beneath the sand. Perhaps on a subsequent trip it will
be more visible and better photos can be obtained. |
Unknown
Wreckage (ID: Albacore St. north 12-18-09)
(Sightings & Location Report
from Marc Corbett)
Location: at the base of the dunes about 150 feet north
of the Albacore St. beach ramp, Corolla.
GPS coordinates: N 36.32952 W
075.81068
How To Find It: From Hwy. NC 12 south of Corolla turn
east onto Albacore St. which ends in a beach ramp and beach
access walkover. Go onto the beach and turn north, approx.
150 feet to the wreckage. NOTE: This wreck was only visible
because storms had severely cut back and eroded the high dunes.
|
The
nor'easter storms of late November and mid December, 2009,
exposed a number of wreck sites along the Outer Banks. This
is one of them, which appeared when the dunes in the Corolla
area were severely eroded because of storm wave action.
The visible portion of the central beam
was over 50 feet long, making this one of the larger wrecks
along the Outer Banks. It would hardly take a foot of sand
to cover this wreckage, and if the dunes build up again, it
will be hidden even deeper once again. |
 Shipwreck
known as The Iron Sheathing Wreck
Location: behind the first row of dunes
approx. 1/2 mile south of Ramp #27, Hatteras Island.
GPS coordinates: N 35.46246 W
075.48292
How To Find It: Take Ramp #27 onto the beach and go
south approx. .5 miles. Walk between and behind dunes to find
it. NOTE: This can easily be covered by an inch of sand and
be missed completely, since it lies flat.
|
 |
 |
The "Iron
Sheathing Wreck" gets its name from the rusted iron plates
that cover it, which can be plainly seen in the left photo.
Only a few feet of this wreckage was visible on the day these
photos were taken, and even that was just barely visible.
The right photo is looking northwest,
and shows how this wreck sits among many low dunes. In this
environment it can very easily be covered by blown sand, and
in fact, just one inch of additional sand would have completely
hidden it from view. When looking for wreckage in this situation
it would be good to trust the GPS coordinates and poke at the
sand with a thin stick or rod to reveal its location just below
the sand in the event it isn't visible.
The right photo here shows the relationship
of the wreckage to the beach, visible between the dunes in
the photo. Without GPS coordinates, it would be very unlikely
that wreck sites like this one would be found, although I did
in fact locate this based on the "1/2 mile south of Ramp
27" directions alone, but also knowing that I would have
to look behind the dunes. In truth I walked right over it (footprints
visible in the right photo) before realizing it was the wreck
and not just some dark colored flotsam washed behind the dunes.
|
 Searching
for the 1896 Shipwreck of the Schooner E. S. Newman
Location: reported to be on the beach
about 1.6 miles south of the New Inlet boat ramp on Pea Island.
GPS coordinates: vicinity of N
35.652861 W 075.473229
How To Find It: No beach driving access
is allowed on Pea Island. From the New Inlet boat
ramp access on NC Hwy. 12 (New Inlet is at milemarker 34),
go 1.7 miles south and park along the roadside. Here there
is a small wooden "bridge" across the ditch on the east side
of the road at N 35.65121, W 075.47665.
Cross the ditch and look left (north) where there is a path
that leads to the beach. Follow the path and you will come
over the dunes directly at the reported coordinates (as above)
of the E.S. Newman wreckage.
|
I have
not yet been able to locate the wreckage or verify the coordinates
as reported. My first problem in the search for the E.S.
Newman wreckage was to find foot access to the beach near
the reported site, since there are no 4x4 beach ramps on Pea
Island, and no beach driving is allowed there. Much of the
area next to the road is covered in heavy brush, thickets and
small pine trees, making it difficult to reach the dunes from
the road. In addition. the ditch is often filled with water
and wide enough that it is difficult to jump across. I finally
stumbled upon a small wooden bridge across the ditch near the E.S.
Newman site, adjacent to an area mostly bare of the troublesome
thicket found elsewhere. That location is shown in the left
photo.
From here the beach is relatively easy
to reach via an apparently well-used foot path. Upon crossing
the ditch, the path is plainly visible off to the left. In
fact, when the location was plotted on Google Earth it actually
showed the foot path in the aerial photo map on Google Earth.
As there is no other reason I can find for this bridge or path
to be in this location, it must be tied to the wrecksite. The
path comes out onto the beach directly at the reported coordinates
of the wreckage. Please note that hiking in this area without
boots is ill advised. When I returned to my vehicle after my
search I had a piece of cactus with a dozen 3-inch spines jammed
into the toe of my boot (yes, there is a cactus that is a common
plant here). Flip-flops and beach sandals are NOT advised as
safe attire when hiking here. I've even had the things attack
my truck tires as evidenced by this photo.
Update: March, 2010
A subsequent visit to the site during better weather than the
first visit allowed me to carefully check the coordinates I
was working from. I found out those coordinates would have
put me some twenty feet into the surf, even at low tide. It
is possible the coordinates are not accurate. It's also possible
any wreckage is completely covered with sand higher on the
beach. During both my attempts to locate this wreckage I noted
that another well-known wreck in the area, the G.A. Kohler,
was also completely covered from sight. I know the Kohler comes
and goes from sight as the beach builds and washes, so I will
plan to revisit these Newman coordinates at a time when the
Kohler is once again visible.
| This
and all other wreck locations on OuterBanksGuidebook.com can
be obtained already plotted for you on Google Earth
simply by downloading
my "KMZ" file. If you have Google Earth
installed on your computer (free download from Google
Earth at http://earth.google.com) then downloading
this file will automatically offer to open Google Earth
and show you these shipwreck locations. |
|
 Unknown
Wreckage (ID: UNK_Pea Island_3-28-10)
Location: at the high tide line on Pea
Island about
MM35.8 or about 1.8 mi; south
of the New Inlet boat ramp access
GPS coordinates: N 36.64902 W
075.47261
How To Find It: Follow the directions to reach either
the E.S. Newman above, or the M.A. Spencer below.
Located about half way between the two, and within sight of
their reported coordinates.
This single beam was found while searching
for the Newman and the Spencer, and is approximately
half way between the reported locations of those two wreck
sites. It sat just at the high tide line, likely having been
deposited there by the surf. As such, it will very likely be
moved easily by the next tide high enough to float it again,
and is not expected to remain where it is.
Could it be a piece from either of those
two wreckages? It's a possibility, but no more likely than
to be from some other wreck along this coast. It is surely
a piece of wreckage because the tell-tale pitch deposits and
spikes were present as shown in the top right close-up. It
measured approximately 22 feet long.
|
Searching
for the Schooner Margaret A. Spencer
Location: reported to be on the beach
about 2 miles south of the New Inlet boat ramp on Pea Island.
GPS coordinates: vicinity of 35.646027 W
075.472219
How To Find It: No beach driving access
is allowed on Pea Island. Park along NC Hwy. 12
at 2 miles south of the New Inlet boat ramp access. Look for
an area of minimal vegetation where you can cross the ditch
on the east side of the road and walk east toward the beach.
You should come over the dunes very close to the reported area
of the wreckage. Crossing a water-filled ditch may be difficult
without bringing along a thick wide plank 3-5 feet long to
use as a temporary "bridge". Alternately, use the
existing "bridge" noted in the previous entry above that leads
to the reported location of the E.S. Newman, then walk
along the beach approx. 3/10 mile south to the reported coordinates.
|
I have
not located the M.A. Spencer at the coordinates reported
above. The reported coordinates fall between the driftwood
and the surf line in this photo at right. It is possible the
coordinates are inaccurate and the wreck is covered higher
on the beach. I will continue to check this location.
Below are some photos I took of the wreckage
as it existed in 1973. Perhaps some day soon I will find it
uncovered again.
|
Unknown
Wreckage (ID: UNK_Pea Island_3-30-10)
Red
Metal "tank" - possibly old sea bouy floatation base
Location: at the high tide line on Pea
Island about
MM36.1 or about 2.1 mi; south
of the New Inlet boat ramp access
GPS coordinates: N 35.64422 W
075.47188
How To Find It: Go 2 miles south of the New Inlet boat
ramp access and watch for a wooden plank "bridge" across the
ditch (further details below). Cross ditch and follow well-marked path to beach, then turn south.
A second well-marked "bridge" across the ditch was found at GPS coordinates N
35.64455, W 075.47482 while searching for a cross-over near the reported
location of
the
M.A.
Spencer.
This
bridge
accesses
a well-used path marked every 30 feet or so by wooden stakes with red reflective
tape. Very likely this was installed by the Park Service, as the path comes out
onto the beach next to a marked protected area, possibly a bird nesting site.
Turning north will take you to the reported
coordinates of the M.A. Spencer.
However,
going some
50 -
100 feet south will take you to the large red metal "tank" shown in these photos.
Best guess is that this is the floatation base for an old sea bouy. It is marked
with the identification "5-C2-21".
While this isn't the usual wooden wreckage, it is an interesting
and colorful sight on the beach, and was found as a result of looking for another
access to reach the sight where the Margaret A. Spencer is reported to be.
|
Searching
for the 1899 Shipwreck of the barkentine Priscilla
Location: reported to be on the beach
about 8/10 mile south of Ramp #27, which puts it just 3/10
mile south of the Iron Sheathing Weck on Hatteras Island.
GPS coordinates: vicinity of N
35.458859 W 075.482629
How To Find It: From NC Hwy.12 south of Salvo take
Ramp #27 onto the beach and go south 8/10 mile. Alternately,
stay on Hwy. 12 and go 8/10 mile south of Ramp #27 to the Soundside
access #48 drive entrance. There is space to park here beside
the drive safely off the road. Cross the road, jump the ditch
in a clear spot and walk about 200 feet to the beach.
|
The
photos at right show the place to park so you can walk to the
beach from Hwy. 12. Though I have found how to most easily
reach the beach where the wreckage is suppose to be, I have
yet to locate the uncovered wreckage of the Priscilla.
The search will continue.
|
Searching
for the Robert W. Dasey
Location: reported to be on the beach
about 1.2 miles north of Ramp #34 or 3 miles south of Ramp
#30 on Hatteras Island.
GPS coordinates: vicinity of N
35.458859 W 075.482629
How To Find It: From NC Hwy.12 south of Salvo (and
north of Avon) take Ramp #34 onto the beach and go north 1.2
miles. Alternately you may take Ramp #30 and go south for 3
miles. There is also a deer crossing along the highway
adjacent to the reported wreck location at a spot relatively
clear of undergrowth located at N
35.394770, W 075.491670.
|
I have
not located the uncovered wreckage of the Robert W. Dasey.
Since this wreckage is so far from both Ramp #30 and Ramp
#34, I searched for foot access from highway NC 12 in hopes
it might be easier. I came across an area almost due west
of the wreck location where the usual heavy thicket had an
opening that looked passable and found there was a handy
dandy deer crossing of the ditch right at that very spot.
Though the ditch was filled with water, it was barely narrow
enough that I could jump across (with some difficulty) and
reach the beach, though even here the beach is a stroll of
2/10 mile from the road. Bringing along a couple of wide,
thick 3-foot to 5-foot long planks to use for crossing the
ditch would be very helpful in these situations. The deer
crossing is located at GPS coordinates N
35.394770, W 075.491670 , which puts it the same distances
from the beach ramps as the wreck site itself (as noted above
in the "How To FInd It" section). Incidently, while hiking
across to the dunes I spotted deer tracks, and spooked a
deer grazing among the pine trees.
Update: March, 2010
I took a second trip to the site by way of the deer crossing.
With better weather this time I was able to verify the coordinates
reported for the Dasey actually fall twenty feet into
the surf, even near low tide time. The coordinates may be wrong,
the beach may have changed or the wreckage could be covered
with sand farther up on the beach. Like the Newman,
the Spencer and the Priscilla, all of which are
along the same stretch of beach, these may become visible at
a time when the Kohler is again uncovered. |
Historic
life-saving stations and heroic rescue stories are next.
Continue to Folklore and History - Page
Three "A" > |
|
Wrecksite
