4 Ways Pine Knoll Shores Changed Bogue Banks and the Crystal Coast.

The rich history of this beautiful coastal community goes as far back as the Florentine explorer Giovanni Da Verrazzano, who, around 1524, explored much of the North Carolina coast in his expedition along America’s eastern coast. Pine Knoll Shores is thought to be one of the first places he landed in the New World, and the mark is documented with an historic marker along the main highway. It would be another 450 years until the town of Pine Knoll Shores was chartered by the State Assembly in 1973. In between these dates, many actions and events occurred. Prior to becoming a town, the land was under the stewardship of descendants of President Teddy Roosevelt. And, before them, Alice Hoffman and before her, John Royall who we learned last week played a large role in the development of Atlantic Beach. And before Royall, several others claimed the land. In colonial times the Lords Proprietors ruled and before them it was the land of Native Americans, primarily the Coree. All of these rulers and stewards had one common trait: they left the land essentially untouched.

That all changed in the 1950’s when two significant events occurred. In the first,the Roosevelt descendants donated property to the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina of the Episcopal Church. This property, some 62 acres, became Trinity Center. In the second, a small subdivision at the western reach, adjacent to the community of Salter Path was platted. It was called ‘Hoffman Beach.’ The first lot in this subdivision was sold in 1951. Hoffman Beach remains an unincorporated entity apart from Salter Path and Pine Knoll Shores. Subsequently, a section of the eastern reaches of this property was developed. And, it was on this map that the name Pine Knoll Shores, suggested by Pete Rempe, first appeared. Mr. Rempe demonstrated his enthusiasm for the new development by purchasing one of the first lots along Salter Path Road put on the market by the Roosevelt heirs. By the late 1950’s lots were being sold on Cedar, Holly, Willow, Juniper and Oakleaf on the soundside and on Pinewood and Knollwood on the ocean side of Salter Path Road. Over time, this area would become referred to as 'Old PKS.'

Up until the mid 1960’s, a full development concept for the Roosevelt property had yet to be articulated and put down on paper. That changed when the Roosevelts hired the management-consulting firm of Stone and Webster To provide direction and management. In turn, this firm employed A.C. Hall, the Raleigh city planner who laid out the main section of central Pine Knoll Shores. His fondness for trees was a driving force in his interest in Pine Knoll Shores. Tee Halls loved the ocean but when they went looking for beach property to buy, they quickly eliminated Nags Head because it had no ocean front lots with trees. Ditto with Wilmington area beaches. Only when they drove west from Atlantic Beach on Salter Path Road did they encounter an expanse of land totally wooded on both ocean and sound sides.

To get to know the lay of the land, Hall put on boots and walked it many times. The land was swampy, and had lots of low spots with lots of standing water. There were lots of snakes, too. Although water was never far from the surface, and he was unable to build a water treatment plant and sewer system, Hall was undeterred. He designed canals to drain the land and identified appropriate sites for homes where septic systems systems could work properly. Today, these homes along the canals have all the advantages of waterfront properties and they are well protected from weather events like hurricanes and nor’easters unlike direct ocean and soundfront properties. Hall designed neighborhoods with lots of trees and he did not want much through traffic. As a result, you better know where you are going when you drive into PKS. It's not easy to find a property if you don’t know where it is and that is by design. Thank goodness for GPS. The last development Hall participated in was the enormous Beacon’s Reach in the 1980’s.

And so, in slightly over a thirty-year span, Pine Knoll Shores has evolved into a thriving and caring community. This is mainly due not only to wise planning and forethought but also because of the willingness of its past and present citizenry to take active roles. The spirit of volunteerism that has molded the town will be a main factor in determining its future. Concerned citizens, a responsive government, and a strong sense of commitment on the part of those who will live here will combine to insure this very special way of life in the years to come.

To learn about residential real estate opportunities in Pine Knoll Shores, or to subscribe to my newsletter, call or text your email address to: 919-308-2292. To learn more about real estate elsewhere along the Crystal Coast of North Carolina sign up for my blog on my website, www.EIHomesforSale.com, and subscribe to Emerald Isle Vacation Home Specialist on You Tube at the end of this video. Stay well and stay safe. And, visit Amazon.com for a copy of my latest book, "Live Where You Vacation."