Avon, North Carolina is a very popular vacation destination with a lot of surprises. First time visitors from an urban area will be amazed that a town with only two traffic lights could possibly have so much to offer. Avon has lots of rental homes that are ocean front as well as others that are back a few rows but with easy beach access. All neighboring villages on the south end of Hatteras Island are close to each other so this area offers many motels with some unique bed & breakfasts also for those that prefer a more personal experience.  There are plenty of places to eat out along with a good sized Food Lion market, tackle shops, hardware stores, beach supply stores, and activities supply stores.  

In its earlier years, Avon village had always been known as Kinnakeet but received a new identity when the post office adopted the new name in 1883. Although there is no official records of why the post office selected Avon as the new name, it is speculated that it was named after a river in England. Kinnakeet is an Algonquian Indian word meaning “that which is mixed.”  This name was given to identify the area because it consisted of several settlements bunched into one that later on became separated. 

Very few people remember that Kinnakeet’s first claim to fame was its enormous stands of live oaks and cedars which were necessary for boat building. The early village flourished as a pre-colonial boat building and repair capital for eastern exploration ships. Kinnakeet was the island's most prosperous local village until Hatteras Inlet was opened by a hurricane in 1846 at which time Hatteras Village took its place (mostly due to the location).

With the massive commercial harvest of Kinnakeet’s forests, eventually there were no trees left which also ultimately killed most other remaining vegetation. This resulted in a massive sand dune that traveled west about 20 feet per month and shrunk the area at an incredible rate into the sliver of an island that is now here today. 

This area was famous for being the location of Little Kinnakeet and Big Kinnakeet US lifesaving stations which were commissioned to assist in mariner rescues during many years of this countries early history. Read more about these Life Saving Stations and also find some great books on the history of the Outer Bank’s pirates, shipwrecks and how this area was developed on our "history" page.  Also check out this link to the Wikipedia ongoing online reference page.

Our Local Controversy Should Be A National Concern!

Currently Hatteras Island is deeply embroiled in some serious issues. Along with the fuel and housing crunch that all American's are feeling, the local businesses and citizens are also forced to take an active roll in defending the area’s right to all citizens free and open beaches which have been the trademark of this area. Please don't forget that open beaches has always been the basis of our local economy long before the National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife arrived with their promises to keep it that way. For accurate information about this issue from an islander's point of view please visit (islandfreepress.com).

The Fishing

Although there are always plenty of things to see and do in Avon, the main attraction remains the surf fishing on the beautiful beaches.  Anglers try for many different species throughout the year including red drum, striped bass (that's rockfish to the locals), bluefish, speckled trout, flounder, spanish mackerel, whiting (sea mullet), spot, croaker, black drum, various sharks and pompano just to name a few. It's hard to beat a relaxing day in the sun waiting for your rod to bend and then having the pleasure of eating fresh fish for dinner that you just caught that day. Nearby Hatteras Inlet also offers a "world class" destination for offshore trolling for tuna, marlin, wahoo and dolphin (dorado).  Click on our fishing page from the activities list below for a bit more information on Hatteras Island fishing.

Activities Galore!

Here is a list of the many activities available on Hatteras Island for Avon visitors.
Fishing (surf fishing, offshore fishing, inshore fishing, pier fishing) Wave Riding (surfing, kiteboarding, sailboarding) Bird Watching Beach Horseback Riding Fessenden Center (basketball, softball, soccer, dance, skateboard) Camping and RV's Wall Climbing (Kitty Hawk Kites - Hatteras Landing) Climb Cape Hatteras Lighthouse/ Walk Trails Ferry Ride to Ocracoke - Tour Ocracoke Village and docks