Jun 12, 2025

Outer Banks Trivia

5 Fun Facts about the Outer Banks

Blog / Just for Fun
Share

The Outer Banks is known for its stunning beaches, wild horses, and laid-back charm, but there’s so much more beneath the surface. From fascinating local legends to surprising historical facts, the Outer Banks has plenty of stories to tell. We’re sharing five fun trivia questions to help you learn a little more about the Outer Banks. Plus, if you’re on vacation and want to test your knowledge in person, we’ve included some great spots where you can join a trivia night during your stay.

1. True or False: The hit Netflix show, Outer Banks, is based on a true story. 2. True or False: Actor Andy Griffith got his acting start by performing in the Lost Colony. 3. When deciding where to try to be first in flight, which Outer Banks town was one of the most popular choices for the Wright Brothers? 4. During World War II, which battle had fighting so intense that the Outer Banks was referred to as Torpedo Junction? 5. Which prominent figure in American history requested that the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse be built after he experienced the danger firsthand?

1. Answer: False. The hit Netflix show, Outer Banks, is not based on a true story.

While we all enjoy seeing the drama of the pogues and kooks unfold, no, the Outer Banks is not based on a true story. It draws inspiration from real places and historical figures, but there are many inaccurate details when you compare the Netflix Show to the real Outer Banks of North Carolina. 

“Kildare Island” is fictional, and gets its name from Kill Devil Hills in Dare County. Also, in Season 1, the crew takes a ferry from the Outer Banks to Chapel Hill. In case you were wondering, there is no ferry route between those two landlocked locations. One similarity is that yes, on the Outer Banks, our mission is to have a good time, all the time.

The Lost Colony, Lillian Prince as Queen, Andy Griffith as Sir Walter Raleigh - David Stick Papers, Outer Banks History Center

2. True! Yes, Actor Andy Griffith got his acting start by performing in the Lost Colony.

Andy Griffith’s evolution as an actor took off during his time as part of the cast of Paul Green’s The Lost Colony. Andy Griffith performed in the production of The Lost Colony for several years, from 1947 to 1953. He played a variety of roles in the play over the years, including the most coveted role of Sir Walter Raleigh. Shortly after, The Andy Griffith Show started in 1960.

wright brothers first flight

3. Answer: Kitty Hawk

When deciding where to try to be first in flight, Kitty Hawk was one of the most popular choices for the Wright Brothers. As the Wright Brothers were preparing to attempt flying, they began searching for locations in the US that offered wind, sand, and isolation. They wrote to the U.S. Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C., to find suitable locations. Among those locations was a small fishing village on an isolated strip of beach called “Kitty Hawk.”

After further research on where to attempt to fly, a welcoming response to a letter Wilbur wrote to the local weather station settled the matter. William Tate, the postmaster, passionately recommended Kitty Hawk as a fine place to conduct the experiments Wilbur described and offered to help in any way he could. Tate replied on August 18, 1900, “If you decide to try your machine here and come I will take pleasure in doing all I can for your convenience & success & pleasure, & I assure you you will find a hospitable people when you come among us.” 

After arriving in 1900, Orville would describe Kitty Hawk as “like the Sahara, or what I imagine the Sahara to be.”  The brothers were successful on December 17, 1903, and their twelve-second flight changed the world. You can visit The Wright Brothers Memorial to see the birthplace of aviation.  

The tanker Dixie Arrow burns off the North Carolina coast on March 26, 1942 after being torpedoed. National Archives Photo

4. Answer: Battle of the Atlantic

Many people think the war was fought in Europe or on islands in the Pacific. However, one of the most violent naval battles was fought off the shores of the Outer Banks. During the Battle of the Atlantic, in 1942, German U-boats sank over 80 ships off the North Carolina coast. The fighting was so intense that the Outer Banks was called “Torpedo Junction”. Officials kept reports of the attacks classified to not strike fear with the rest of the American public. Even after the war, many people had no idea how close war had come to them. 

For more about World War II on the Outer Banks, check our our interview with local Stanley Beacham as he reflects on growing up in Duck in the 1940s.

5. Answer: Alexander Hamilton

As a teenager, Alexander Hamilton experienced firsthand the danger of the Diamond Shoals. 17 years later, when he was a member of George Washington’s cabinet, he still heard terrifying tales of the shipwrecks at Cape Hatteras. Once he became Secretary of the Treasury, he requested a lighthouse be built there and it was authorized in 1794 by Congress. 

History remembers Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr for their fatal encounter in 1804. Yet, in the aftermath of gunfire, another story unfolds, one far from the dueling grounds, and centered on Aaron’s daughter’s mysterious disappearance off Cape Hatteras. After Theodosia Burr married Joseph Alston, the governor of South Carolina, the couple lost their child to malaria. Grieving her son and missing her beloved father, she set sail to New Year, carrying with her a gift for her father – a portrait of herself. The voyage became disastrous, with an encounter of either a violent storm or vicious pirates, and the ship became lost off the coast of Cape Hatteras. The only thing to wash ashore was Theodosia’s portrait, and she was never seen again. 

Trivia Night at NouVines in Manteo

Looking for places to play Trivia during your Outer Banks Vacation?

Many local restaurants have a Trivia Night, and each one offers a fun environment as your team competes in trivia. Be sure to call before going to confirm they’re having trivia that night! Follow Twiddy and Company on Facebook and Instagram, as we post a weekly “Trivia Tuesday” story with Outer Banks questions! 

Monday: Shipwrecks Taphouse in Kitty Hawk at 6 pm 

Tuesday: Sandtrap Tavern in Kitty Hawk at 6pm, Wild Goose Wine Bar in Corolla 6pm, or Sunset Grille in Duck at 9pm 

Wednesday: Lost Colony Tavern in Manteo at 7pm 

Thursday: Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe in Manteo at 6:30pm, NouVines in Manteo at 6:30pm, or Sunset Grille in Duck at 9pm

Emily Pack

Emily Pack

Jun 12, 2025

Send this to a friend