Historic Corolla Park

Today was a fabulous day in the park for the Under The Oaks Arts Festival!! The event staff were so kind and helpful!!! The weather was perfect, the park is so breathtaking!! I loved the peace and comfort it brings! And to my surprise, restrooms were available everywhere and super clean!

This is a lovely open Park. There's water access in two different locations. One for boats and one for fishing and crabbing I'm sure. Lovely landscaping. Got some pretty cool history

Absolutely beautiful park!!! So many places to walk and explore. Absolutely gorgeous place to take in the sunset and amazing scenery for a photoshoot!

Great place to meet up with friends and family an take pictures of sunset..See the top of lighthouse in pictures such a cool place for pictures an meet some new friends around ya..Go back there every time I come back..

Definitely the best spot for sunset pics. Epic Bring a soccer ball! They have goals!

This park is beautiful. Prefect place to watch the sunset. Bathrooms are clean

Highly recommend you take the tour of the historic house. The programs offered through the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife were nicely presented. We participated in the crabbing one. It was completely hands on. Great program for nearly all ages. Ours were ages 7, 9, 10 & 12. They all enjoyed it & adults wanted to participate too! Just be patient! The grounds are great for easy biking. There are picnic tables for enjoying a picnic lunch. The center also has ongoing videos in their theatre room perfect to enjoy on a day with not so great weather.

I've been to Corolla a few times in the past but completely glanced over this park. I came for the first time last week, right at sunset and the views are unmatched. Exceptionally clean and well kept, it's a hidden gem of the outer Banks for sure.

This is a beautiful park to watch the sunset on the sound. This would be a great spot to take photos together, bring chairs and sit, or enjoy a stroll around. Plenty of parking available.

I didn't get any pictures of the inside of the museum, but rest assured, it's a great time. Free admission, and very clean bathrooms! The girls and I enjoyed seeing all of the natural resources of North Carolina.

Great museum on animals and life in the area. We were walking around historic Corolla and wandered over to the water area and saw this wildlife building. Decided to walk in and see what it is all about. The volunteer informed us they have programs available, a video to watch and a small exhibit to walk through. We walked through the exhibit and saw and read a lot about wildlife in the area. Along with some of the history. Great free museum!

This wildlife education center is really neat. My mom and I stopped here after some other touring. We had about an hour before they closed, and used it wisely. We went and watched the movie for a bit. I was enthralled by it, and was really enjoying the information about the duck decoys the area makes and the history of them and the sporting clubs. There is also a very large exhibit on the decoys. There are great exhibits as well and a large tank filled with animals of the area in the center of the main exhibit room. You can tell a lot of thought went into building this center. When I go on vacation somewhere, I like to absorb as much of the local history as possible, so I have a better idea of the area and its people. This center provided a lot of insight. There is ample free parking on the grounds. The water outside of the center is lovely, as well as the bridge. It would be a nice place to picnic, or just sit by the water.

Gorgeous reserve with lots of foliage, fauna, wildlife and architectural features. I love the bridge constructed in 1922 (it's since been restored)! I saw ducks, sea gulls, crabs, turtles, and more. My only "egret" is that I couldn't spend more time at this beautiful park!

This place was a pleasant find in Corolla for several reasons but most importantly three: 1. It didn't involve the beach, ocean or horses. 2. It was open. 3. It's not a touristy ripoff because what the hell, it's free. So what you got here is a place that offers a fairly large aquarium which is stocked with native area fish, a decent sized gallery of duck decoys since hunting is huge in the area, a life sized duck blind in a marsh, various displays about the areas ecosystem, a twenty minute movie about the area's ecosystem and lots of programs for adults but mostly kids. A few quick caveats to all of the sunshine, rainbows and unicorns. 1. We never saw the movie because it never was explained to us that it even existed by either person we encountered who worked there. 2. We showed up for a kids class that involved painting your own duck decoy plus getting some knowledge about the quackers in the area and upon arriving in the lobby there was no one at the main desk for quite some time which created a very awkward situation of not knowing where to go or what to do. FWIW, the program itself was enjoyable but it did not start on time even though the attendance was very, very light. 3. From a kids standpoint, all of the displays are on the dry side. The aquarium is nice but if you don't show up on a feeding day then it's not a huge draw, duck decoys are only so interesting unless you're a hunter although the giant display of outboard motors can best be described as a you need to see it to believe it type of thing. 4. The overwhelming majority of their programs are obviously done in season so if you come in the winter check the website to see what they're offering or the aquarium feeding times but don't expect too much. Now, of course all of this is again tempered by the fact that the place is 100% free (donations are accepted) so in a way whatever they offer is cool. Just know that the actual displays by themselves are maybe a 30-45 minute proposition tops. If you go: The center is open Monday-Friday year round from 9-5. It is open on all major holidays in season plus Veterans Day but is closed on all state holidays outside of that time frame. Their website has a calendar which lists any programs that they are offering plus instructions on how to register usually online. At least for the offseason the site seemed to be updated around 6-8 weeks in advance and max sizes do run on the smaller side so if you see something you like, don't wait. Finding the center is super easy. Just drive for the Currituck Beach Lighthouse as the center and the lighthouse along with the Whalehead Club share a parking lot in Currituck Heritage Park. Their site: www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/OuterBanks.aspx#3163317-admissions-andbrdonations Their calendar: www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/OuterBanks/EventRegistration.aspx A good listing of their overall offerings especially in season: www.visitcurrituck.com/Things-to-Do/Attractions/outer-banks-center-for-wildlife-education/

This is absolutely the best find! We have been going to this area for several years and discovered this gem this year. All week long they hold free classes for all ages from crabbing to fishing the sound. We learned so much from our classes. My grandson has discovered that archery is a great hobby! Thanks to Steve and Sarah for their help and patience! All classes are free, so make sure to make a donation!

This is a great place to spend the afternoon. We just happened on the center when visiting the lighthouse nearby. We quickly discovered that they offer free nature classes for all ages. For both classes, our family was the only group. One day we learned about crabs and got to catch some too. Another day we learned about dragonflies and tried our hand at catching them. The instructors were great with both kids and adults, and we all had a fun time learning about the animals and then trying to catch them. Inside the museum offers a short movie and an exhibit with wildlife you can see in the area. I definitely recommend visiting and checking out the classes.

This team of wildlife professionals does not disappoint! There's something here for everyone. For nature lovers looking for economical activities to do with both very young and older family members, it is definitely the place to go, especially if working within a strict budget for a large group or one with varied interests. Sign up for popular activities early!!! Their calendar of events is easy to follow, and you can sign up online, in person or over the phone. (If there is an event that you want that is full, DO put yourself on the waiting list. We scored two last minute kayak positions in a FULL session we registered for just two days before the event was scheduled to be held.) We have kayaked, tried our hands at Gyotaku and archery. Each experience has been terrific. Check out all they have to offer, fill out their comments card so they can keep improving, and please leave a donation of whatever you can (NOT required and they are NOT pushy about asking for one) to ensure they can continue the programs we all so enjoy!

This FREE exhibit in Corolla is a great stop near the Corolla Lighthouse! What a fun place to learn a bit about the fishing and duck hunting history of the Outer Banks area. The staff is friendly and more than happy to share their vast historical knowledge of the area. We enjoyed watching the fish feeding and walking around to look at the wildlife and decoy exhibits. They also play informative films about how the area came to be. All in all very interesting and we see something new each stop. There is a cute little gift shop at the entrance. This is a great place to take a break from the weather and is very kid friendly.

My daughter loved waking in the board walk and seeing the nature and seeing everything and pointing every thing out. We saw squirrels, dragonflies (different colors) and spiders and crabs and even a crane!!!!! awesome!!!!

If you are staying in Corolla/Currituck or even Duck, I recommend starting your vacation at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. It is right in the heart of historic Corolla located not far from the Whalehead Club and the Corolla lighthouse. Really, this area is perfect for a few hours of exploration. The wildlife center is free to the public and gives you some great background information on the history of the Outer Banks. My fiancé and I learned a lot. The video and the exhibits really helped to set the tone of our trip. This site is perfect for families or couples looking to learn a bit about the area. Very kid friendly and wallet friendly as well. I only encountered one staff person, and while her name escapes me, she was very kind and knowledgeable. We went during off season (early May) so it was relatively quiet. I image things pick up significantly during the summer. Parking is free and the site is wheelchair accessible. All the exhibits are well maintained. I would recommend keeping a lunch in the car and enjoying it before or afterwards in the surrounding park. It is very scenic and a must for good pictures.

A a nature educator I am always excited to check our nature centers and natural areas when I go on vacation. I stopped in here with the family, including my grandson and was quite disappointed. Ninety percent of the so called nature center was all about hunting, fishing, and trapping. Very little education about the wildlife or ecosystems in the area. They should rename this the sportsmen museum. Versioning isn't a nature center.

I really can't say enough about how much I enjoyed our experience here today. First of all, all the activities were free. The older kids in our group (8 and 10) did a nature photography class and really enjoyed it. While they were busy, I took the younger kids (5&6) through the exhibit inside. They had a great time finding stuffed (animal) birds throughout the exhibit. Afterwards, the whole group took a dragon hunters class about dragonflies. We all learned cool new facts about dragonflies and then got a chance to try and catch them. The staff was great. And did I mention it cost us nothing. So glad we decided to give it a try.

For a FREE thing to do in an expensive area such as Corolla - this is GREAT to take the kids to. Lots of exhibits on the local wildlife. We saw a fish feeding happen - with a very informative guide. A very clean facility. Have stopped by 2x's - each time impressed. Up north - you'd look at $7 pp entry fee!

For a free exhibit, this is awesome! Learn all you can about the past of Outer Banks duck hunting, fishing and more in this wonderful place! Super close to Corolla Lighthouse, it has a beautiful small aquarium, a lovely decoy exhibit and a lot on the hunting and fishing history of the Outer Banks. I've been here so many times and this place really taught me something new. Lots and lots of info on duck hunting. It also houses a sweet little gift shop. Ample parking and close to small-town Corolla. It's also right next to Whalehead if you're planning a visit.

This review is coupled with the Currituck Beach Lighthouse because in essence, they are in the same location. Together, they can pass for a 4 star experience, apart, probably closer to 2 1/2 each. The Center is a small building that houses some local historical/environmental chachkas: stuffed local wildlife, old boat, old outboard motors ... Interesting for a quick browse. They show a brief movie which I did not wait around for. What it has going for it is that it is FREE. To charge anything for that small an exhibit would be larceny but hey, I live in the biggest feloniest city in the world and to their credit, did not succumb to the greed. The second lure it that it was air-conditioned. It was a very hot summer day and after walking around, the nice cold blast was much welcomed. The third is not the building itself but the surrounding area. It is an area that many people cast a line to fish or to crab. I dislike both activities but saw may families try their hand at them. There is also a stunning old wooden bridge and large climbing trees that added to the picturesque environment. Lots of pictures were taken. Come here to catch a break from the heat, then go back out and take some nice pictures ... and it's free.

The adults all loved this center. It wasn't interactive enough for my 5-year-old. Maybe older kids would like it more. She loved the outdoor area to walk around though.

Free to do right near the lighthouse. Nice break from the sun. Good for all ages. Restrooms are clean and child friendly