To visit the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station, take Hwy. 12 south from Nags Head. After passing the entrance to the Bodie Island Lighthouse, continue traveling south until you cross Bonner Bridge. The Life-Saving Station will be located in the dunes on the left (beach side) immediately after you exit the bridge. There is a public parking lot on the left after you exit the bridge where you can park and take a trail to the station, or continue down to the very next "road" on the left. The "road" dead-ends into the sand dunes and you can park here and walk over to the station as well.
The Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station was established in 1874 at the northern tip of Pea Island. Originally known as the Bodie Island station, a new “Quonochontaug-Type” facility was built to replace the original station in 1898. The station, strategically located on the southern side of the inlet, stood guard, ready to assist mariners who were shipwrecked while trying to pass through the inlet.
After the formation of the Coast Guard, the station continued to serve the mariners of the area by Coast Guardsmen who were stationed there. The station remained in use until November 1988, when a new station was built across the inlet on the southern tip of Bodie Island.
Currently, the North Carolina Aquarium owns the station. Plans are being made to turn the building into a research facility, however funding is currently unavailable to put these
Photo taken March 6, 2004
Photo taken March 6, 2004
The station now sits among the sand dunes.
Nature provides great photo opportunities here.
plans into action. The building is in need of repair as it is slowly deteriorating and falling into ruin. The station is not open to the public, but visitors may walk the grounds around the station for excellent views of the station, inlet, and the ocean.
Photo taken September 11, 2004
Photo taken September 11, 2004
Photo taken September 11, 2004
All windows and doors are boarded up, protecting the station from damage.
The cisterns on the west side of the station.
Close up of the watch tower. The gallery which use to surround the outside of the watch room no longer exists.
