Currituck County's Whalehead Club(photo tour), an exquisite Hunt Club located on Currituck Sound, is quickly becoming known as ''the crown jewel of the Northern Outer Banks.'' Construction began in 1922, and was completed in 1925 at a cost of $383,000.00. Built by Edward Collings Knight, Jr. for his wife, Marie Louise, this ''mansion by the sea'' is the most exotic and unique of the shooting clubs. Its Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts style, signed and numbered Tiffany lighting fixtures, corduroy walls and cork flooring made it a ''comfortable'' winter retreat for the wealthy northern industrialist and his wife. Rooms carved with water lilies and morning glories, with window and door hardware to match the floral motif, further captures the eloquent beauty found throughout. It was the first home on the Outer Banks to have a basement, a swimming pool, and an elevator. Originally named ''Corolla Island'' by Mrs. Knight, the name was changed to Whalehead Club by the second owner, Ray T. Adams in the early 1950s.
The Boathouse was built approximately two years later. It features a freight lift for grain storage, grain chutes which provided easy access to the grain, and storage space for boats. It also housed the generator that produced electricity for the mansion.
The ground originally had two bridges used for foot and car access to the property. One of the bridges, which provided a lovely entrance from the sound to the boathouse, has been restored. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the mansion and boathouse.
Currituck County purchased the mansion and the remaining 40 acres of land in 1992. The Whalehead Preservation Trust was formed to oversee a major restoration project that began in the spring of 1999. When restoration is completed in 2003, the grounds will include not only the mansion, boathouse, and bridge, but also the Currituck Wildlife Museum and an Interpretative Center built by the Wildlife Commission. Tours of the mansion with restoration in progress are available. The grounds are also available for fishing, crabbing, and picnicking.
Related site: Currituck Beach Lighthouse
