Ocean Rescue Division

bathhouse opening.1

Location



The Ocean Rescue Division is located at the Ocean Bay Boulevard Regional Access building. The building is located at 103 S. Virginia Dare Trail at approximately the 8.5 milepost, at the end of Ocean Bay Boulevard, on the oceanfront.

Click for Ocean Bay Boulevard webcam

Flags on the Beach: Their Meaning

Red Flags

Red indicates NO SWIMMING, usually due to rough surf and/or strong currents.

Red Flag 3

Yellow Flags

Yellow indicates strong currents, swim with caution.  If in doubt, ALWAYS ask a lifeguard.

Yellow Flag 4

Purple Flags

Purple indicate sea life is actively present. This could be jellyfish, stingrays, or other marine life. Check with a lifeguard for more information. 

Purple beach conditions flag warning of active sea life in area

Beach Accesses with Fixed Guard Stands

Lifeguards are on stands 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with a roving patrol through October 15

(Please note: weather or labor restrictions may mandate reduction in staffing and/or removal of lifeguard stands)

  • Helga Street

  • Hayman Street (H, PP, S)

  • Eden Street

  • Avalon Drive

  • 5th Street (PP)

  • 3rd Street (H,O, S, W)

  • 2nd Street (H, PP, W, S)

  • 1st Street (PP, W, H, S)

  • Coral Drive

  • Asheville Drive (H, O, PP, S, W)

  • Woodmere Avenue (H, PP, S, W)

  • Carlow Avenue (H, O, PP, W, H, S)

  • Ocean Bay Boulevard (BH, H, O, PP, W, S)

  • Oregon Avenue (PP)

  • Baum Street

  • Clark Street (H, PP, W, S)

  • Martin Street (H, PP, W, S)

  • Atlantic Street (H, PP, W, S)

  • Ocean Acres Beach Access (Neptune Drive)

  • Lake Drive

  • Eighth Street (H, O, PP, S, W)

Codes:

H = Handicapped Parking

O = Handicapped Access to Beach Overlook

W = Wood Walkway to Beach

BH = Public Bathhouse

S = Shower

PP = Paved Parking

KDH Ocean Rescue Extends Services

Kill Devil Hills Ocean Rescue Lifeguards have been working hard all summer to ensure the safety of Town residents and visitors. Following the Labor Day holiday, our fixed lifeguard stands are typically removed from the beaches, and a roving patrol keeps watch over our beach.

With the anticipated increase in this year’s population, in addition to our usual roving patrol, the Town will be extending its Ocean Rescue services until October 15, 2020, by keeping five fixed and staffed lifeguard stands at the following beach accesses: Hayman Boulevard, 5th Street, 2nd Street, Ocean Bay Boulevard, and Neptune Drive.

KDH Ocean Rescue Lifeguard on stand

kdh 235.jpg

Beach Wheelchairs

The Kill Devil Hills Ocean Rescue Division is able to help physically challenged persons enjoy our beaches by loaning them a beach wheelchair, which is designed specifically to be pushed through the sand. The beach wheelchairs will take people right to the water line. 

The loaning out of the beach wheelchair is cost-free, and the six chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They are available for those citizens and visitors to the Town of Kill Devil Hills (the Town's wheelchairs cannot be taken out of Kill Devil Hills).

If you wish to use a beach wheelchair at a Kill Devil Hills' beach access other than at the Ocean Bay Blvd. access, there is a requirement that persons borrowing the chair must be able to load it into their vehicle without Ocean Rescue’s assistance, on the theory that the members of the department cannot be there to help get the chair out to the beach and back in the vehicle to return it.

Call or come by Kill Devil Hills Ocean Rescue Division to make arrangements or for more information.

Address:  103 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

Phone:   252-480-0080

Kill Devil Hills’ First Fully Handicap Accessible Beach Access


The Town of Kill Devil Hills opened its first fully handicap accessible beach access, with a Grand Opening Ceremony and Dedication Service on Monday, May 13, 2019.  
 
Improvements to the Beach Access include: a wooden handicap ramp, which allows wheelchairs to get from the beach access’ parking lot, to the sand and several fixed position mats and roll out mats that lay over top of the sand, permitting wheelchairs entry onto the beach. The mats will be set up in a way that allows for people in a wheelchair to more accessibly ‘set up’ their belongings (off of the mat), to enjoy a day at the beach.
 
The enhancements were done to grant people using wheelchairs access to one of our greatest resources, the beach! The access improvements are being dedicated in honor of former KDH Commissioner William “Bill” M. Pitt, recognizing his strong community involvement and devotion in Kill Devil Hills. It is also in acknowledgement for Bill’s many achievements as a former elected official and community leader, particularly his leadership role in beach nourishment. Taking measures to preserve our beach and ensuring that everyone be granted an opportunity to enjoy it was essential to Bill. He was extremely passionate about his community and making Kill Devil Hills a great place to live, work, and play.
 
The Town is thrilled with the improvements that were applied to this facility and hope that all residents and visitors will enjoy them, as well.