Knotts Island is one of the top attractions of Currituck, known as their best-kept secret. However, do not mistake Knotts Island for an actual island. It is a peninsula that is a part of Currituck County in North Carolina. Although multiple bodies of water surround the peninsula, it is connected to the surrounding land as well. The total population of Knotts Island is roughly around 2,100, which is spread 50 miles north of Elizabeth City. You can drive by car to the Island from Virginian Beach. Today, people from Currituck County use ferries to avoid crossing the borders of North Carolina. However you choose to visit Knotts Island, it is the best attraction that Currituck County offers for travelers and tourists.
Knotts Island History and Landscape
Knotts Island was first found by the colonists who decided to settle here in the late 1600s. William Byrd, an aristocrat and the founder of Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is believed to be the founder of Knotts Island as well. He has the written record to visit the island. The book “Histories of the Diving Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina.” However, no one really knows the origin of the name of this peninsula. Some believe that the name came from a member of Nathaniel Bacon’s rebel group of Virginians. During the Civil War, Knotts Island became the land of salt production. They supplied salt to preserve meat for both the Union and Confederate armies. Later the US Navy Lt. William was ordered to destroy the local salt works near Currituck Inlet. Other reports say that salt-making was greatly exaggerated by historians as salt-making was only a family-operated enterprise at that time.
In the 20th century, Joseph P. Knapp from New York City fell in love with Knotts Island and became one of the founding members of the Ducks Unlimited foundation. Today, most residents live on the eastern third of Knotts Island. In 1962, ferries began operating from the Currituck Coast to provide quick travel without crossing the state boundaries.
The beauty of Knotts Island
Knotts Island has tons of activities to offer to the tourists as well as the locals. It is a place in solitude that can be a perfect vacation for domestic travelers. Although the peninsula is not widely popular among international tourists, people still attend local festivals from around the globe. There are local wineries, camping spots, attractive beaches that highlight the island. There is the Charles Kuralt Trail, Sandy Point Resort Campground, and the Flyway Lodge that are most popular among tourists. But moreover, Knotts Island offers a quality stay away from the noise of the cities. With a popularity of only 2,000, the place offers the kind of privacy you need for your exotic and peaceful vacation.