Villages of Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo, North Carolina
The three Hatteras Island villages which are closest to central Outer Banks attractions, such as the Wright Brothers memorial, the NC Aquarium, and The Lost Colony, run together without borders, as one continuous village. Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo are simply charming, with many beautiful vacation rental homes, exceptional sound access for kiteboarding and windsurfing lovers, proximity to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge for bird watchers, and miles and miles of gorgeous beaches. Check out the videos below.
Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo Attractions
Hollywood paid homage to the area in the 2008 major motion picture, “Nights in Rodanthe”. The quaint desolate setting was the ideal backdrop for Nicholas Spark’s acclaimed book. Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station is also a key attraction for Hatteras Island visitors, and is a revered predecessor of the modern day Coast Guard.
Originally the “tri-villages”, as some locals call this area, were actually two villages: Chicamacomico and Clarksville. Chicamacomico was an Algonquin word meaning, ‘sinking down sand.’ In 1874, the same year the lifesaving station was established, the U.S. Post Office changed the name to Rodanthe, and later renamed the southern part of Rodanthe to “Waves”.
Legend has it that during the Civil War, a Union ship sailed past neighboring Clarksville, and the captain asked the name of the village. No one knew, so the captain asked the crew to give them a “cannon salvo,” or a cannon salute. The Salvo name stuck, and in 1901, the village officially changed the name. For decades, Salvo was also known as being home to the smallest U.S. Post office in the country. The building was built in 1901 and destroyed by a fire in 1992. An exact replica still stands in Salvo for visitors to enjoy.
Besides proximity to the busier central Outer Banks attractions, these villages also border the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, which runs between Rodanthe and the Bonner Bridge. The refuge has over 13 miles of wetlands, marshes, and beaches, and over 360 species of migrating birds flock to this area annually.
Perhaps most important, the tri-villages offer exceptional water access. In the vacation rental homes in this area, it is not uncommon to stand on a top level deck and enjoy picturesque views of both the ocean and sound. As such, this area has become renowned for water sports enthusiasts, such as kiteboarders and windsurfers, who enjoy exceptional sound access and numerous launching points, sometimes right from the backyard of a soundfront rental home. Surfers and ocean lovers can also enjoy some of the best waves on the East Coast.
With a few shops and restaurants, but no major chain grocery stores, Rodanthe Waves and Salvo visitors enjoy the slow pace, with miles of water. For water and nature lovers who enjoy a little peace and quiet from the comfort of a beautiful vacation rental home, Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo is the place to be.
Check out a few highlights from these villages:
Contact us today to learn more, and to book your Waves, Salvo, and Rodanthe NC Vacation rentals!