Perched between the ocean and the sound in Nags Head, completely dominating the narrow sliver of land that makes up part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, is a monumental sand dune, a mountain of lush golden sand. This dune system, known as Jockey’s Ridge, is somewhere around 4,000 years old and can reach heights of over 100 feet. It’s majestic, it’s miraculous, the tallest living sand dune on the east coast, a unique ecosystem home to a myriad of coastal creatures, a landmark and navigation tool dating back hundreds if not thousands of years, a playground for generations of children, and the most visited state park in North Carolina. But, did you know that back in the 1970s, Jockey’s Ridge was slated for demolition to make way for a condominium complex? And did you know that three young children and their fearless mother put their foot down, quite literally, to save it? And that I have one of those children here with me today? Let’s fix that.

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Sources:

• "Remarkable Women of the Outer Banks" by Hannah Bunn West
• "Save Our Sand Dunes" by Hannah Bunn West
• WRAL News "Buried Treasure: Old castle hidden beneath NC's largest sand dune fully visible again"
• Atlantic Realty "9 Things You Didn't Know About Jockey's Ridge"
• Coastal Review "'Save Our Sand Dunes' recalls fight to save Jockey's Ridge"
• North Beach Sun "Buried Treasures - What is Under Jockey's Ridge?"
• OBX Stuff "History of the Nags Head Soundside Resort at Jockey's Ridge State Park"
• Coast Review "Jockey's Ridge most visited as NC parks shatter records"
• The Virginian Pilot "The Moving Mountain Jockey's Ridge Shift is Mystery, For Now"
• Outer Banks History Center "David Stick Papers"

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