The Whalehead Club

The Whalehead Club was the hunt club and vacation home of industrialists Edward and Marie Louise Knight of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is rumored that because area hunt clubs forbade women members, Knight built the structure for his wife who enjoyed hunting, horseback riding and other outdoor activities. They called their home Corolla Island and used it not only as their own private retreat, but to entertain their friends and relatives.

The elegant home was built between 1922 and 1925 in the art nouveau style, which was popular at that time. Art nouveau drew upon nature as a design element. This can be seen in such details as door handles molded in the shape of a ducks head and flowering wainscoting and wall sconces.

The club changed hands over the years, serving in such varied capacities as a boy's school and a solid rocket fuel-testing base. By 1992, the property had fallen into a neglected state and community leaders and preservationists knew that the Whalehead Club was too great a gem not to protect. The 21,000 square-foot structure was purchased by Currituck County and an organization, The Whalehead Trust, was formed to ensure that this architectural treasure would be restored. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Whalehead Club, opposite the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, is now part of the Currituck Heritage Park complex in Corolla in the shadow of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Self-guided tours are available for a nominal fee. Special events, such as concerts, wine festivals and art shows are held throughout the year. The lovely grounds have picnic tables scattered over the 39-acre site. There is also a boat ramp, perfect for launching small boats.

The lives of the Knights are not the only thing interpreted at the Whalehead Club. Visitors will get an idea of the many people who were needed to operate such an estate. Cooks, laundresses, hunting guides, boat pilots were all a part of the day-to-day operation of Corolla Island. While the Knights brought some employees with them, they also employed many locals, and in so doing aided the economy of the isolated Currituck Banks.

Standout features of the home are Mr. and Mrs. Knight's adjoining bedrooms, the numerous bathrooms with their bright yellow tile walls and baths that drew both fresh and salt water. The dining room has been recreated to look as though it did when the Knights entertained their family and friends. The library was the social center of the home and features a 1905 Steinway piano that was custom made for Mrs. Knight.

The basement showcases a modern exhibit that chronicles the history of the Whalehead Club and its various owners. There is also an intimate upscale museum shop with eclectic treasures, including jewelry made from the Whalehead Club's original copper roof.