Currituck Beach Lighthouse

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse has marked this stretch of the Outer Banks since 1875, and it's still an active aid to navigation today — one of the few lighthouses on this coast left in its original unpainted red brick rather than a painted daymark pattern. It anchors Corolla's historic district, standing alongside the Whalehead Club mansion and the grounds of Currituck Heritage Park, all connected on the same shaded grounds just off Corolla Village Road.

Climbing the Tower

The lighthouse is open to climbers, and the spiral staircase leads up to a walkway circling the lamp room, with views west over Currituck Sound and east toward the Atlantic. It's a genuine workout in beach-town heat, so plan for a breather at the top rather than rushing the descent — the payoff is one of the better vantage points in Corolla.

Visiting

The grounds are open daily, with extended hours on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Because the lighthouse still functions as a working aid to navigation, hours can shift around maintenance or weather, so it's worth calling ahead if you're building a visit around a specific window. Pair it with a walk through Currituck Heritage Park or a stop at the Whalehead Club next door for a full afternoon in Corolla's historic district.