Points of Interest

Whalehead Club

A restored 1920s hunting-lodge mansion anchoring Corolla's historic district on Currituck Sound

(904)

About

Whalehead Club anchors Currituck Heritage Park in Corolla's historic district, standing a short walk from the Currituck Beach Lighthouse on the shore of Currituck Sound. The mansion was built in the 1920s as a private hunting retreat for a wealthy couple drawn to the sound's waterfowl, and its copper roofing and art nouveau styling still set it apart from every other building on this stretch of the Outer Banks. Restored and now operated as a house museum, it's one of the few places in Corolla where you can step inside a piece of the area's Gilded Age hunting-club history rather than just read about it from a plaque outside.

Touring the mansion

Self-guided and staff-led tours move through the restored rooms, with exhibits covering the estate's construction, the hunt-club era, and the building's later use and rescue from decades of neglect. Plan on the visit taking less than an hour unless you linger over the grounds.

Open Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm; closed Saturday and Sunday
Part of Currituck Heritage Park, alongside the Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Grounds are walkable before or after a lighthouse climb

Reviews (904)

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4.7

904 reviews

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Angie Robinson

a month ago

I cannot speak of the house tour, but visiting the grounds at sunset is a beautiful experience. You can see the lighthouse and walk, paddle, fish, picnic in this public area. There is a lot of wind so be prepared.

Julia Berninger

2 months ago

The tour at the Whalehead Club in Corolla was wonderful! It was self-guided, with I loved! You could take your time in each room to really absorb the information and artifacts. The history was very interesting and educational. The inside is so much larger than it looks on the outside! The staff were very friendly and informative as well!

Chris CJ Johnson

2 months ago

Amazing sunsets at this former historic NC hunting club. Great time to see a Great Egret or Blue Heron at sunset. If you're in Corolla, definitely walk or bike here. Playground, dock, restrooms, etc. Must see sunset !!

Shane Patterson

6 months ago

We visited the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the Currituck Maritime Museum and noticed that Whalehead House was open for tours. It had been closed the last time we passed through the area, so we were excited to finally go inside. The tour was very interesting, and the staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. They did a great job pointing out details while also keeping the group moving at a comfortable pace. I have a strong fascination with historic estate homes and how people lived, especially the behind-the-scenes aspects of daily life. What interested me most was how the house actually operated. I appreciated learning about how the servants lived and worked, as well as the physical systems of the house such as the electrical and plumbing infrastructure. The tour provided access to some of these areas and included many small historical details that I found fascinating. I especially enjoyed seeing the servant call box pointed out and having the electrical panel opened so we could view it. The history of the house itself was equally compelling, particularly the different ways it was used over the years. I am very glad that Whalehead House was saved and preserved. It is a wonderful glimpse into a unique period of history and well worth a visit.

Evelyn Strader

4 months ago

Really beautiful, was surprised there are no photos allowed inside. Tour information is via iPad. Glad we went.