In an effort to lure visitors north of the TimBuck II shopping complex to Corolla’s historical attractions, The Whalehead Club, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the new Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education have been officially united as part of The Currituck Heritage Park.

“We have a beautiful area, but people are looking for an experience, not just a destination,” explains Willo Winterling, president of the Currituck County Chamber of Commerce. “If we can get more people up here, it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

In the spring of 2003, Corolla will have a new gem in its crown: The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. Located on the sound between The Whalehead Club and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the center will feature a decoy gallery, a large freshwater aquarium and marsh exhibit, and numerous interactive displays on topics such as waterfowl migration, sound ecology and sport fishing.

“It’s a great tourist destination spot, and the wildlife education center will be another reason to visit the area,” says Winterling. The grounds of The Whalehead Club will host a number of cultural activities this summer. Other than the traditional Fourth of July gala, vacationers will be treated to an arts festival in June and weekly concerts throughout the summer performed by students from the North Carolina School for the Arts.

You can even rent a little piece of The Whalehead Club for yourself, as did nearly 70 couples who wed on the grounds last year. If you’re planning a wedding after 6 p.m., you can even have use of the south porch and access to two changing rooms — all for just $1,500.

“I see this as being a paradise for people,” says Edna Baden, The Whalehead Club’s program director. “It’s nice to have 39 acres of land where people can come to walk or run, and also learn about the heritage of this area.”