Posted on May 4, 2026
Plans to install permanent restroom facilities at Old Lighthouse Beach in Buxton are moving forward, with construction expected to begin in the coming weeks as the long-anticipated project enters its final stages, according to project partners.
The new facilities, a joint effort between the National Park Service and Outer Banks Forever, will replace temporary portable toilets at what has historically been one of the most heavily visited beach accesses in Buxton, though it has remained closed in recent months due to an ongoing response effort by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address petroleum-contaminated soils linked to a former military site.
The project has been in development for several years and represents a coordinated effort between federal partners, nonprofit organizations, local agencies, and private donors to improve infrastructure at the site.
Bryan Burhans, director of Outer Banks Forever, said the prefabricated restroom structure is expected to arrive in the next few weeks, with installation to follow shortly afterward.
“It should be ready by the end of June or early July,” Burhans said, noting that once the structure is delivered, crews will assemble it on site using a crane before completing additional work such as sidewalks, utility connections, and rinse stations.
Because the building is prefabricated, the installation process itself is expected to be relatively quick compared to traditional construction projects, although final site work could take several additional weeks.
The restroom complex will include four unisex, family-style facilities designed to accommodate a wide range of visitors, including individuals with disabilities.
One unit will include an adult-sized changing table, while others will include baby changing stations. Exterior rinse showers with on-demand hot water will also be available for beachgoers, particularly benefiting surfers who use the site even in colder months.
The structure has been designed with coastal conditions in mind. According to project partners, the facility will feature a durable concrete construction and a specialized anchoring system intended to withstand storm surge, flooding, and high winds.
The restrooms will be located near the edge of the Old Lighthouse Beach parking lot, in close proximity to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse multi-use pathway that opened in 2025. The site selection is intended to provide convenient access for both beachgoers and pedestrians or cyclists using the pathway.
Funding for the project, which was estimated to cost between $400,000 and $450,000, has been assembled through a combination of grants, organizational support, and private donations. Outer Banks Forever officials said key funding sources include a $125,000 grant from the Dare County Tourism Board, along with contributions from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, the National Park Foundation, and a state coastal management grant.
Additional funding support has come from private donors and philanthropic partners, including Eastern National, which supports national park initiatives, as well as earlier identified contributions such as a Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative grant and other earmarked funding secured during the initial phases of the project.
The National Park Service has worked in coordination with Outer Banks Forever throughout the planning and development process, with the nonprofit organization leading fundraising and project implementation efforts.
Early stages of the project included environmental planning, engineering design, and coordination with federal and state agencies to ensure compliance with regulations governing construction within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The restroom facilities were originally included as part of the broader environmental assessment for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse pathway project, but funding and logistical challenges extended the timeline.
Despite the progress on construction, Old Lighthouse Beach itself remains closed to the public due to ongoing environmental concerns stemming from petroleum contamination that surfaced in late 2023. The contamination, which was exposed by severe erosion, prompted a large-scale response from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Since then, the Corps has conducted a months-long interim response effort to remove heavily contaminated soils and stabilize the affected area. That work is now nearing completion, though officials note that further evaluation will be required before the beach can safely reopen.
In a statement, National Park Service officials said the Cape Hatteras National Seashore will assess conditions following the completion of the Corps’ work in coordination with the appropriate agencies.
“Over the next 4-6 weeks, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, in consultation with the U.S. Public Health Service and the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services, will evaluate the potential for reopening Old Lighthouse Beach and its parking lot,” said Mike Barber, public affairs specialist for the seashore.
Officials have not provided a firm timeline for reopening, but have indicated that access could be restored in the near future if testing confirms that the area no longer poses a risk to public health.
The timing of the restroom construction may overlap with this evaluation period. Project partners noted that even if the beach remains closed during installation, the facilities may still be accessible from the adjacent multi-use pathway, which has remained open to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users.
Old Lighthouse Beach has long been considered one of the most popular and recognizable beach accesses on Hatteras Island. Known for its consistent surf conditions and proximity to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the site regularly attracts surfers, anglers, and visitors from across the region, and has frequently been recognized in national rankings of top beaches.
It is also one of a limited number of seasonally lifeguarded beaches within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, further contributing to its importance as a recreational destination.
Prior to this project, restroom access at the site was limited to portable facilities, which officials and stakeholders have described as insufficient for the volume of visitors the beach receives. In addition to capacity issues, portable toilets can pose environmental risks during storm events if displaced or damaged.
Burhans said the goal is to ensure that a high-profile destination like Old Lighthouse Beach has infrastructure that reflects its level of use and importance within the national seashore.
“We want to make sure a special place like this has facilities that are worthy of the visitors and the community who use it.”
