PEOPLE & 



PLACES 



HH9HHI 



-Lrom the natural to the supernatural, 

 Springer's Point has it all. 



One of the largest undeveloped tracts 

 remaining within the historic Village of 

 Ocracoke, it is graced with maritime forests, 

 an unspoiled soundfront beach, pristine tidal 

 creeks, productive marshes, and the sequestered 

 rookeries of an array of water birds. Its history 

 stretches to colonial times and is replete with 

 stories of infamous pirates whose ghosts are 

 said to haunt the otherwise tranquil tract. 



Once, Springer's Point was poised for 

 development. Now, this unique 31 -acre Ocracoke 

 Island site — with its diverse coastal community 

 of plants, wildlife and things that go bump in the 

 night — will remain undisturbed. 



The official dedication of the Springer's Point 

 Nature Preserve on May 20 culminates a decade- 

 long preservation campaign led by the North 

 Carolina Coastal Land Trust (NCCLT), with sup- 

 port from the N.C. Heritage Program, Audubon 

 NC and the Ocracoke Preservation Society. 



Coastwatch I 



A handcrafted wooden sign and 

 information kiosk announce the entrance to 

 the preserve, accessible from Loop Road by a 

 footpath that winds between two private tracts. 

 Visitors follow self-guided, interpretative trails 

 to observe rare coastal ecosystems and learn 

 about the area's lively history. For special events, 

 local volunteers may lead walking tours and 

 illuminate the legends and lore associated with 

 Springer's Point. 



Continued 



Early Summer 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 27 



