Kill Devil Hills, NC Local Area Information

Established in 1952, Kill Devil Hills is the oldest and largest incorporated municipality on the Outer Banks, but the landmark that lends the town its distinctive name has been around much longer. At one time, the northern Outer Banks were characterized by a series of sand mountains over 100 feet high. These dunes stretched from sound to sea, from Corolla to Nags Head. Kill Devil Hill was one of the larger of the dunes, and stories about how the monolith got its name are varied and colorful: Some legends have said that the rum consumed by was so bad it would kill the Devil. Other stories speak of a brand of rum called Kill Devil Rum that often washed ashore from shipwrecks during the colonial period. One story even stated that the waters around this area were so bad to navigate that it would kill the Devil to try. Whatever the origins of its name, the dune was the site of the Wright Brothers historic flight on December 17,1903 which placed Kill Devil Hills forever in the history books. In the 1930's, workers planted hearty grasses on the dune to prevent it from continually shifting, then constructed the impressive Wright Brothers Memorial. Today, the Wright Brothers National Memorial is visible for miles and is one of the most visited sites on the Outer Banks. With miles of gorgeous oceanfront, plentiful public beach accesses, and as the commercial hub of the Outer Banks, Kill Devil Hills is a favorite vacation spot for visitors and home to thousands of year round residents.