Outer Banks Property Management

According to the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, state parks generate an estimated $289 million dollars annually to the local economies. The parks economic impact also creates an estimated $120 million towards locally generated incomes. The research was done by N.C. State University for the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Needless to say, the effective preservation and management of state parks is essential.

The study also found the average visitor to a North Carolina state park spends $23.56 a day. Proper management is essential in maintaining our state parks. One of the parks studied was Jockeys Ridge State Park.

The study found over 871, 572 visitors in 2004. It is a interesting breakdown of visitors. Twenty five percent of all visitors came with the intention of seeing the park. Sixty-nine percent were casual use, non-local visitors, (visitors residing out of Dare County that are in the area for reasons other than visiting the park). The numbers basically confirm that the park is a great draw for the area. 1 in 4 visitors to the park have come from outside Dare County to visit. The fact is the park helped to draw 214,988 visitors to the Outer Banks.

One of the top draws to Jockeys Ridge has always been hang gliding. The is even a hang gliding school operated within the park. Besides the obvious draw of hang gliding, hiking and educational activities actually make up the two biggest draws. These draws add up to over ten million dollars.

Actually the study found the estimated economic impact was over $10,700,000. The money spent by the visitors to the park are vital to helping drive tourism in the Outer Banks and especially in Nags Head. The study found the economic impact equates into 247 jobs for the local economies. With such impressive statistics a case can be made for an additional state park in the Outer Banks. For more information on the study.