Nifty...shifty...look who’s 50!

A sneak peek at this summer’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head as seen the morning of May 21, 2024, from across U.S. 158. (Photo by Corinne Saunders)

By Corinne Saunders

Edited by Matt Walker

Editor’s Note: A version of this article originally appeared in the summer issue (Issue 14.2) of Outer Banks Milepost, currently on newsstands; find a list of distribution points by clicking here: https://www.outerbanksmilepost.com/outposts/.

It’s one of the Outer Banks’ biggest draws. (Literally.) Not only is it the East Coast’s largest living sand dune, but it also regularly ranks among NC’s most-visited state parks. (No. 1 in 2022!) Moreover, it’s a symbol of our community’s love for open spaces — and fierce commitment to stand up to “the man” — immortalized in a legendary origin story of grassroots activism.

It started in 1973, when Carolista Baum — for whom the park’s entrance road is named — famously stood in the path of a bulldozer threatening to begin development of the dunes; and continued with a fierce campaign of fundraising, petitions and trips to the General Assembly in Raleigh. Finally, on May 31, 1975, Baum presented a ceremonial deed for the first tract of land to the state for what would eventually become the 426-acre state park — then everybody celebrated with a big old party.

“There was something called the Jockey’s Ridge Jamboree,” recalls Ann-Cabell Baum, one of Carolista’s daughters and vice chair of the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge State Park. “Mom had an 18-foot flatbed trailer moved out in front of the base of that big dune.”

The festivities also featured live music and the raising of the North Carolina flag atop the dunes, she recalls.

“We’re using the Jockey’s Ridge Jamboree as a planning guide,” says Baum, “to celebrate how special Jockey’s Ridge is 50 years later.”

From June 5-8, the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Jockey’s Ridge State Park serves up an equal mix of nostalgia and never-seen-before elements, from live concerts to a shoreline planting project, to the Outer Banks’ first large-scale drone show.

On Thursday, families are invited to come paddle the sound with a ranger. That evening, a special, private homecoming dinner will honor park staff from past and present. (The only non-public event.)

The action really heats up Friday. After a full day of outdoor activities, famous ‘90s indie rockers, The Connells, will play an outdoor stage set close to where the flatbed sat 50 years ago. (And near where the Mountains-to-Sea Trail end marker is today.)

Then, come nightfall, 300 drones will take to the sky for a first-of-its kind, electrified light show, performing acrobatic feats set to music in an “all-encompassing” tribute to Jockey’s Ridge.

“We were able to hire Sky Elements, the drone company that was on America’s Got Talent,” says Colette Walker, executive director of the nonprofit Friends of Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

While the drone show will be viewable up to a half mile away, according to Baum, a live video broadcast will make it available for people unable to attend in person.

On Saturday, families are once more encouraged to swim and play into the sound via paddleboards and kayaks — or try out a 20-person canoe that will be on site. Then, that afternoon, Outer Banks musical legend Mojo Collins — who wrote a song especially for Jockey’s Ridge’s preservation fight in 1973 — will perform live, setting the stage for a traditional patriotic display.

“Saturday after Mojo plays, we’re going to have the national anthem [and] we’re going to raise the North Carolina state flag and the United States flag on top of the ridge,” Baum says.

Plus, both Saturday and Sunday will also feature the 43rd annual Outer Banks Rogallo Kite Festival. Giant, billowing kites will take to the skies, along with stunt kite demos and more, all to honor the late Francis Rogallo, a fierce defender of Jockey’s Ridge who was a NASA scientist and inventor of the flexible wing, which spawned stunt kites and sports like kiteboarding and hang-gliding.

Kitty Hawk Kites will host hang-gliding demos all weekend. And Saturday and Sunday will both start with sunrise yoga on the ridge — adapted for the sand, says Baum.

Sunday will round out the weekend with a disc golf tournament, a horseshoe tournament and a sandcastle-building competition. And, for those who want to help preservation efforts firsthand, roughly 2,000 marsh grass sprigs stand ready for volunteers to add to the ongoing living shoreline project. 

Add the “Art From the Edge” exhibit hanging in the visitor center, and there’s something for everybody — or lots of everybodies.

“We’re prepared for up to 8- to 10,000 people,” says Walker. 

As a result, online reservations are greatly encouraged.  Some events are capped at a certain number; organizers also want people to have online tickets for safety purposes, including a general headcount and for a means of communication in case of any sudden changes.

Worried about parking? Free shuttles will be available from event satellite lots at the Outer Banks Family YMCA and Nags Head Elementary School.

Walker and Baum say none of this would be possible without the yearlong efforts of 50th event planning committee, which extended beyond the Friends group and included many community members and local organizations. And they believe it echoes the widespread movement that originally created the state park a half-century ago, when some people donated parcels of land, and many more donated funds and time for the cause.

“Kids collected pennies and dimes and nickels and quarters,” Baum recalls. “Everywhere you went in 1974, there were round kind of canisters with the fluorescent bumper sticker, ‘SOS: Save Jockey’s Ridge’ at every register and in every store, even at the grocery store.”

This grassroots movement never really ended. Since 1990, the Friends of Jockeys’ Ridge has continued to stand up for the dune, most recently speaking out against a state commission’s efforts to strip it of important environmental protections.

On Saturday, Ranger Austin Paul will present a documentary featuring people who have been involved since 1973, when the entire movement started.

In Baum’s view, the importance of these preservation efforts cannot be overstated.

“[Jockeys’ Ridge] literally has touched every family and every person who’s been on the Outer Banks,” she says.

And while Baum grew up with this vast sandbox as her backyard, she still remains awed by this precious natural resource. And she can’t wait to honor its lasting legacy this summer.

“It’s a magical place where families for generations have come to celebrate everything special in their lives, and we get to live there,” Baum says. “I just have the biggest grin on my face about seeing every little kid — and even the big ones — when they get to run up Jockey’s Ridge, and just go out and enjoy music and community [and] celebrate.”

Want to register for events? Sign up as a volunteer? Or just see a full itinerary? Visit www.jockeysridge50.com. For more, visit www.friendsofjockeysridge.org.

Let’s keep this party going!

Three ways to keep celebrating and supporting Jockey’s Ridge.

Move those feet!

On July 4, the Killer Dunes 2-Miler invites joggers (and walkers) to kickstart America’s birthday by dashing up and down a national treasure. Proceeds benefit Friends of Jockey’s Ridge. Sign up at www.obxse.com/killer-dunes.

Eat some treats!

Join Friends of Jockey’s Ridge on Sept. 13 for Dune Day — an annual celebration with snow cones, hot dogs and a sandcastle-building contest. Learn more at www.friendsofjockeysridge.org.

Rage against the machine!

At press time, Jockey’s Ridge remained without is protective designated status as an “Area of Environmental Concern.” Email Angela.Willis@deq.nc.gov to voice your support for restoring protections.

The state-level lawsuit to reinstate protections is ongoing. For a brief history of how protections were struck, visit this link.

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