Kill Devil Hills has More Than Just History

Every flight ever taken started in the same place - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. It’s where two brothers who wanted to fly made it happen. The first controlled powered airplane flights took place here.  

Kitty Hawk is credited with this in most places, but only because Kill Devil Hills didn’t receive a municipal charter until 1953.Kitty Hawk was the closest settlement at the time. That’s why it gets noted as the site of the first flight. 

This area has good winds and was perfect for someone trying to get something off the ground. The Wright Brothers needed steady winds for their gliders to stay in the air, plus a soft place like a beach to land.  

The area is part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, one of the prettiest regions in America. It has it all-surfing, fishing, lighthouses, and even shipwreck history. 

Fun Fact: Kill Devil Hills got its name from rum that was smuggled ashore from shipwrecks. They said the rum was strong enough to “kill the devil.”  

Today, many come here to relax and enjoy the beach, restaurants, a few dive bars, and the many local shops. 

Some areas around the Outer Banks allow you to rent a Jeep and drive on the beaches, which I highly recommend. Also, make sure you take a stroll on the Avalon Pier, which was built in 1958. The pier has been rebuilt a few times but still stands strong and long at 700 feet. 

“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space, at full speed, above all obstacles, on the infinite highway of the air.” 

The Wright Brothers