Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center — Attraction in Roanoke Island

• We visited on a Thursday afternoon in late December 2023 (after Christmas). • There was a large parking lot with a ton of spots. There was one group there when we arrived who were just leaving and we didn’t encounter another group until we were leaving about a hour later. • They do have the Blue Goose Stamps here specifically for Pea Island NWR and Alligator River NWR. The store here had merch from several of the local NWR, similar to those over at Pea Island. • This is a must stop location for sure. It’s right across the street from the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site but had so many fewer people. • The store had a ton of merch in it similar to Pea Island NWR. • The exhibits in here are the BEST of any National Wildlife Refuge we’ve been too. It’s up there with Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in KY and Waccamaw NWR in SC. The kids spent a good 20 mins doing ALL of the aerial tours in the “plane simulator”. We also watch over 30 mins of the videos in their 4-D theater. Beware once you selected one video you must watch through the entire thing before selecting the next one. I would strong suggest doing them in order from top to bottom. It was just amazing. So many interactive and hands on exhibits. See pictures in my review. • We were short on time and we unable to do the hiking trails outside the visitor center but we would certainly visit again...

Fun (and Free - please donate if you are able to do so!) place to visit while on the Outer Banks. We learned quite a bit about many of the refuges in the area, wildlife and the history in and around Roanoke Island. My son and nephew (both seven years old) really enjoyed taking part in the scavenger hunt that takes place inside the building and along a trail outdoors. We learned about Red Wolves, bears, birds, snakes, fish, and took a "flight" around some of the refuges! We had a question about some animal tracks outside, and the volunteer at the desk went outside to check, just to be sure he was giving us the correct information! I believe hours are 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. We saw a family that rode their bikes to and from the center as well; beautiful area for a bike ride. Have a good...

5-6-23

There are people uploading pictures of bears and other wildlife at other locations in the area, such as Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. These are not here. There are even reviews speaking of hibernating bears. Black bears in NC, particularly this part of NC, don't hibernate.

This building is an information type thing only.

What is here? If you want to learn about the wildlife in the area, then come here. There are interactive and informational displays, and the volunteer rangers are very helpful. If you need maps of refuges in the Outer Banks area, maybe even some suggestions of where to see wildlife, this is where you come. They got you covered. Of course, there is a gift shop with shirts,...