The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-06-25
ROANOKE ISLAND LOOKS BACK
ON MANY GAINS SINCE 1887
OPENING OF LOST COLONY
A Lot of People Have Come and Gone in 16
Years and Millions Have Been Spent,
Bringing New Comforts and Higher Living
Standards, Plus Tremendous Advertising
for the Area


its 14th season at Old Fort Ra-
leigh. The show really began in
1897 and this would be it's 10th
season, but for the two years it
was closed down because of
World War II.
The people of the entire area
look forward to, and sincerely
welcome the opening of the Lost
Colony each year. For it is the
biggest single industry of Roam
oke Island, and the money that
comes from it reaches many
pockets. The entire region reaps
profits from the Lost Colony.
Consider the days of the open
ing of the Lost Colony Toll fer
ries still operated to the west Of
Roanoke Island, and the roads
approaching from the west were
dirt, and often impossible, even
in summer. Yet the Lost Colony
thrived, and considering its
chances, was a greater success
even than now with ferries free
and all roads paved. This indica-
ties possibility that we are not
making the most of it. Especially
when we consider that younger
shows. and which many think
are less interesting, are passing
it rapidly in attendance.
Outsiders brought the idea of
the Lost Colony to Roanoke Is
land, and Paul Green lent his
prestige and his talent to the
production of the play, from
which, at last accounts he
had received no profits,
and probably never asked
for any. But this goes to show
how for so little, the people of
this area got so much. This is
land and the banks are indeed
the fortunate isles, in that so
much has been handed to them
throughout the years.
Fortunate indeed have they
been. The old commercial fishing
has dwindled away, along with
the hunting which brought
wealthy club men in other days
The once profitable Life Saving
Service withered on the vine as
new conditions relegated it to
the status of the horse and
buggy, the sailboat and the
hand-mill But we love them and
treasure their traditions for their
glorious contributions to our
history and our economy
through the years.
1t just seems that something
has favored us, each time old
resources dry up. New things
come in. and now we have be-
fore us highly profitable tour
ist business. The Lost Colony
has played no small part indeed
in bringing to us this business.
Year after year, those who have
come to see it have returned
home bearing news of the de-
lights of this part of the state,
and have interested others too in
coming to see, if not the Lost
Colony, then other things of in
terest, particularly Kill Devil
Hills, Hatteras Island, Currituck
Banks and Ocracoke. Attractions
on the mainland, in Hyde, in
Tyrrell, and from Edenton to the
sea have interested them. With
all communities working as a
team, much has been accomplish
ed for the general good.
The opening of the home. of
the people of Roanoke Island,
more as an act of hospitality
than otherwise, to take care of
the overflow of visitors who
otherwise would have had no
place to stay, soon developed in
to a tourist home and guest
house business ON Roanoke Is
land That was the beginning,
and it was not long before homes
were installing modern conven-
fences. Now no home is consider
ed to be built without plans for
a bathroom. Some homes on Ro-
anoSe Island have as many as
three baths. The better living
conditions, the many improve
ments, had their origin in the
Lost Colony, and the earlier fish
ing party business which devel-
oped rapidly through the '30s.
Once Manteo started growing,
the entire area grew. Great bene-
fits came to the beaches. Visitors
combining their aims on this
double-barreled vacation trip
demanded more accommoda-
tions, and the beach hotels have
increased rapidly in numbers
and in accommodations.