AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2021 - 37

RESOURCES
Dare County Regional Airport (MQI)
darenc.com/departments/airport
AOPA Airport Directory
aopa.org/destinations/airports/KMQI
North Carolina Aquarium
ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
nps.gov/fora/index.htm
Roanoke Island Festival Park
roanokeisland.com
The Lost Colony Theatre Production
thelostcolony.org
Barrier Island Aviation
barrierislandaviation.com
Skydive OBX
skydiveobx.com
Jumpers Away
jumpersaway.com
Inside the terminal building is a small
museum on the history of Outer Banks
aviation, Dare County Regional Airport
Museum. Exhibits feature uniforms, photographs,
documents, and artifacts from
the World War II Navy squadrons that
trained here and the Civil Air Patrol coastal
patrol. One room focuses on local aviator,
Dave Driskill, who was a barnstormer,
National Park Service pilot, a Kellett
Autogiro test pilot, the first airport manager
of Dare County Regional Airport, and
the person usually credited with bringing
aviation to the Outer Banks in the 1930s.
You can jump out of a perfectly good
airplane with a tandem skydive at Skydive
OBX, or cruise over the beach in a vintage
Waco biplane with Barrier Island Aviation,
both based at Dare County. Jumpers Away
is a flight school for jump pilots.
Visit the local underwater wildlife at
the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke
Island, immediately adjacent to the airport.
It offers numerous programs for children
and adults, including a wetlands nature
walk, paddling trips around the island,
Across from the downtown Manteo waterfront floats Elizabeth II at its home port at
Roanoke Island Festival Park. The ship represents one of the English merchant vessels from
the Roanoke Voyage of 1585.
classes to learn the basics of fishing and
crabbing, or a chance to swim with sharks.
The Fort Raleigh National Historic
Site preserves the site of the first English
colony in North America, established by
Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585. The colony
was the birthplace of Virginia Dare, the
first English child born in the New World,
and became famous as the " Lost Colony
of Roanoke " when the settlers disappeared
in 1590. Not much remains, just
a grassy mound that marks the site of the
colony's fort.
" The Lost Colony " is a historical
drama based on Sir Walter Raleigh's
settlement on Roanoke Island and the
disappearance of the colonists, leaving
behind only the word " Croatoan " carved
on a post. On the 350th anniversary of the
settlers' arrival, in 1937, Roanoke Islanders
built the outdoor Waterside Theatre near
the spot where the colonists landed and
the play has run every year since, except
for a break during World War II. It's a
classic American family event, like visiting
Williamsburg, Virginia.
The major town on the island is
Manteo, two miles east of the airport.
Head here for a selection of restaurants
and to visit the Roanoke Island Festival
Park. The park is a historical recreation
of the " Lost Colony " settlement with costumed
interpreters demonstrating how
the settlers lived and worked. Children
will love exploring the park's American
Indian Town, Settlement Site, and
Adventure Museum while learning early
American history. The highlight may be the
Elizabeth II, a replica of a sixteenth century
merchant sailing ship like the ones
used by the settlers. Onboard interpreters,
dressed as sailors and colonists who
sailed in Raleigh's fleet, demonstrate the
workings of the ship and what life was like
onboard.
The park is also a venue for concerts
and outdoor theater and includes nature
trails for walking. From Manteo, head
east across the bridge to the Outer Bank
beaches. Dennis K. Johnson is a frequent
contributor to AOPA publications.
FLYING IN
Dare County Regional Airport (MQI)-
100LL and Jet A fuel, oxygen, aircraft
repairs, hangar, and tiedown space.
Runway 05/23 is 4,305 feet and 17/35
is 3,301 feet at 14 feet msl. Located two
miles northwest of Manteo, Roanoke
Island, North Carolina. 252-475-5570/
CTAF 122.8 /AWOS 128.275
AOPA PILOT / December 2021
37

http://www.darenc.com/departments/airport http://www.aopa.org/destinations/airports/KMQI http://www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island http://www.nps.gov/fora/index.htm http://www.roanokeisland.com http://www.thelostcolony.org http://www.barrierislandaviation.com http://www.skydiveobx.com http://www.jumpersaway.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2021