This Land, Your Land

Cape Hatteras National Seashore has belatedly posted a news release stating that its Oregon Inlet Campground reopened on Saturday.

Beach Ramp 4 at the campground is also open, and the news release lists several other open ramps for OHV access to the beach.

Coquina Beach, north of Oregon Inlet, opened late last week, including the bathhouse and parking, and lifeguards are on duty during regular hours.

The three other Cape Hatteras campgrounds remain closed due to damages from Hurricane Irene, the September 2 news release says. Bodie Island Lighthouse and all other park facilities on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands remain closed, as well.

Hatteras Island south of Oregon Inlet and Ocracoke Island are closed to the public, and residents began a staggered return Sunday.

Storm damage in the park includes water damage to numerous facilities, damaged rooftops, scattered debris and tree limbs, and missing or damaged boardwalks, signs, posts and fencing materials.

Get details here of work to repair facilities and restore services at Cape Lookout, which has mostly reopened, and the National Parks Service's Outer Banks Group of sites, which includes Hatteras.

Officials with the National Park Service say they've reopened all beaches and many ramps along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore after Hurricane Irene, but note that the southern half of the island and Ocracoke Island remain closed to non-residents.

Hatteras officials have found "damaged rooftops, water intrusion either through flooding or roof leakage in numerous facilities, scattered debris and tree limbs, and missing or damaged boardwalks, signs, posts and fencing materials," a news release says.

North of the breaches in N.C. 12, Coquina Beach and all its facilities have reopened, but the Oregon Inlet Campground remains closed.

Unless signs say otherwise, beaches are open to pedestrian access throughout the park. Here is a list of ramps open to off-road vehicles.

Cape Lookout National Seashore, including the lighthouse, is essentially open for day use. Some parts of Portsmouth Village and sensitive natural areas remain closed. Shackleford Banks has reopened for day and overnight use. There's still no water in the park except for bottled water sold at the visitor center.

The Wright Brothers National Memorial and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site near Manteo reopened Tuesday.

Recreation sites in Croatan National Forest remain closed, with no new information since Tuesday.

Five of the National Wildlife Refuges on the coast - Alligator River, Cedar Island, Mackay Island, Mattamuskeet and Swanquarter - have reopened, and Pocosin Lakes was to open today. Pea Island remains closed. Various roads, trails and boat docks at each re-opened site remain closed because of hurricane damage.

No update from Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which is administered in Virgina, was available.

Goose Creek State Park and Dismal Swamp State Park are the only coastal state parks that remain closed. At Goose Creek, the Dinah's Landing boat ramp on the western bank of the creek has reopened, the Division of Parks and Recreation says.

Still no word about the state's 10 Coastal Reserves, though five were closed prior to the storm.