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Nags Head, from its earliest beginnings in the 1800’s, has predominately consisted of single family cottages and a few small hotels and cottage courts. Visitors to Nags Head can still enjoy the town’s several historic cottages, which are primarily located across from the town’s most significant landmark, Jockey’s Ridge State Park. The tallest natural sand dune system in the eastern United States, the park offers unparallel views of Nags Head from its heights.

Right across from Jockey’s Ridge, on Highway 12 (i.e., Virginia Dare Trail) you’ll see unpainted, cedar shake beach cottages that encompass the Historic District, and are classic examples of the original architecture that once dotted the Outer Banks. Many of today’s new beach homes borrow from the old Nags Head Style. The town is home to a thriving art community as well, and Gallery Row is another recognized District at the north end of town that harbors treasures of canvas, wood carvings and so much more.

Regarding the origin of the town’s colorful name, the legend of Nags Head takes us back to days of piracy, when tales drifted ashore about the wonderful treasures traveling at sea being plundered by “rogue businessmen” like Blackbeard, that one of the original Outer Bankers got the inspiration which brought about the equine moniker. A lantern was tied around the neck of an old gentle horse, then this old “nag” was led up and down the tallest of the sand dunes, i.e. Jockey’s Ridge, so that the light shone out to sea. As a ship’s captain saw this gently bobbing light, it seemed to be from a ship riding at anchor in a sheltered harbor. As the Captain tried to put in to this “safe” harbor, his ship would pile up on the treacherous shoals that constantly writhed and changed shape beneath the surface. The “land pirates” made the crew walk the plank, looted and burned the hapless ship, and made away with the bounty.