Wanchese has deep roots in the maritime traditions that have defined the Outer Banks for centuries. Named after Chief Wanchese, a Roanoke Island leader who first encountered English explorers in the late 1500s, the village has long been tied to the sea. By the 19th century, generations of local families made their living from the waters surrounding Roanoke Sound, harvesting fish, crabs, shrimp and oysters. The abundance of local fisheries and the skill of the watermen turned Wanchese into one of the most productive fishing communities on the East Coast—a reputation that still endures today.

Alongside fishing, Wanchese earned distinction as a hub for boat building and marine craftsmanship. Local shipwrights became known for constructing sturdy wooden boats perfectly suited for navigating the shallow sounds and unpredictable coastal waters. Over time, this tradition evolved into a modern industry, with Wanchese now home to state-of-the-art boatyards and marine service companies that serve commercial fleets and recreational vessels alike. Together, these twin legacies of fishing and boat building form the backbone of Wanchese’s identity—an enduring testament to the community’s hard work, ingenuity and unbreakable connection to the sea.

Wanchese Community Building

Address:
295 Old Schoolhouse Road
Wanchese, NC 27981

The Wanchese Community Center Board operates and maintains the Wanchese Center facility and amenities for the use and benefit of all members of the Wanchese community.

Meeting Date: Quarterly, January, April, July and October
Meeting Time: 7 p.m.

Contact: Becky Beacham, Wanchese Community Center Board Chair: 252.473.5313

Pigum Walker Park

Address:
260 Pond Road
Wanchese, NC 27981

Contact:
Dare County Parks & Recreation - Roanoke Island/Mainland Division
Phone: 252.475.5910 

Amenities and Features:
 - Baseball Field
 - Bathroom
 - Concession Stand
 - Covered Picnic Pavilion
 - Pickleball Courts
 - Playground
 - Softball Field
 - Tennis Court

United States Postal Service, Wanchese Location 

Address:
3525 Mill Landing Road
Wanchese, NC 27981

Contact: 800.275.8777

Wanchese Marina

Address:
4457 Mill Landing Road
Wanchese, NC 27981

Contact: 252.423.3157

Wanchese Marina offers a fleet of professional charter fishermen, charter booking service, dolphin tours, dive charters, shrimp charters and crabbing charters. This marine is also an official North Carolina Citation weigh station.

Wanchese Boat Ramp

Location: 4695 Mill Landing Rd Wanchese, N.C. 27981

Features: This ramp is designed for unloading and on-loading trailered boats. Limited parking access available. No overnight dockage is permitted.

Roanoke Island Marshes Nature Preserve

Location: 1565 The Lane, Wanchese, NC 27981

• On Site Parking
• Handicap Access
• Hiking or Walking Trails

This trail is a 1.5 mile loop through the Roanoke Island Marshes Nature Preserve on a mowed trail. The trail gives the opportunity to see many varieties of birds and has two wooden viewing platforms.

Wanchese Trails & Recreational Opportunities 

To access a map of recreational opportunities including public fishing docks, walking trails, parks and kayak launches, visit www.Play.DareCountyNC.gov where you can utilize the Dare County Geographical Information System (GIS) Recreation Map. 

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Parks & Recreation Opportunities:

The Roanoke Island/Mainland Division office of the Dare County Parks & Recreation Department is located in the Lions Club Center at Westcott Park in Manteo. A variety of programs are offered for the citizens of Manteo, Wanchese and Manns Harbor. To view the latest newsletter containing upcoming Roanoke Island/Mainland Division activities and programs, click here.

Dare County Water Department - Regional Water System

The North Reverse Osmosis Plant, located at 600 Mustian Street in Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 and the Skyco Plant, located at 359 Water Plant Road in Manteo, NC 27954, work together to make up the Regional Water System. This Water System provides water for Roanoke Island and all towns north of Oregon Inlet and serves approximately 22,800 people.

Email: water@darenc.gov

Phone: 252.475.5990

The Dare County Public Works Department provides trash collection in Wanchese, and a sanitation fee is charged on property tax bills sent to property owners annually.

Do you want to receive a notification when collection service is delayed or cancelled due to a holiday or inclement weather? Sign up for Dare County email and/or text notifications at DareNC.gov/Subscribe.

Need a new trash can or a replacement part? Residents and property owners whose homes are located within the unincorporated areas of Dare County can purchase a trash can at Dare County Public Works, which is located at 1018 Driftwood Drive in Manteo. The cost for a trash can is $85.40 if you pick it up at Dare County Public Works or $96.08 if it is delivered to your home. To place an order for a new can or a replacement part, please call the Dare Dare County Public Works Department at 252-475-5895.

Roanoke Island Volunteer Fire Department South Station 17

Address:
323 Old Schoolhouse Road
Wanchese, NC 27981

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1033
Manteo, NC 27954

Contact: 252.473.2300

Access Roanoke Island Fire Department's Website.

In addition to Pigum Walker Park, Wanchese also has Roanoke Island Marshes Nature Preserve, a 1.5 mile scenic walking trail—and Wanchese Boat Ramp for fishermen and kayakers.  
 
The neighboring Marshall and Gussie Collins Walkway is open for the public to enjoy and extends approximately two miles from the Dare County Government Complex in Manteo to the Coastal Studies Institute in Skyco, meandering through scenic woodlands and along the marsh.

To access a map of recreational opportunities throughout Dare County, including public fishing docks, walking trails, parks and kayak launches, visit www.Play.DareCountyNC.gov to utilize the Dare County Geographical Information System (GIS) Recreation Map. 

Parks & Recreation Opportunities:

Building permits must be obtained from the appropriate inspection office for the geographical location of the construction project. Sub-permits for mechanical, plumbing or electrical work may be obtained at any of the offices regardless of the construction location. For more information about building permits and inspections in Dare County, click here.

Contact:
Keil Twiford, Dare County Building Inspector
252.475.5867  |  Keil.Twiford@DareNC.gov 
(Serving unincorporated portions of Roanoke Island, including Wanchese and the mainland areas of Dare County encompassing East Lake, Manns Harbor, Mashoes and Stumpy Point.)

The Outer Banks SPCA operates the Dare County Animal Shelter (378 Airport Road in Manteo, NC), an open admission animal shelter serving all of Dare County. The shelter receives approximately 1,500 animals a year, including many strays. In addition to filing a lost report, we strongly recommend you visit the shelter in person to check for any missing pets.

Click here to view the Dare County, NC Code of Ordinances- Chapter 91: Animals.

Contact:
OBX SPCA Shelter Manager
252.475.5620  |  info@obxspca.org

Wanchese is qualified as District 17. As of July 2025, the Dare County tax rate is $0.2632, the volunteer fire department rate is $0.0326, the sanitation rate is $0.0842 and the community center tax rate is 0.0161, for a total tax rate of $0.3961.

You can pay your Dare County real estate taxes via mail, phone, online or in person. Learn more by visiting DareNC.gov/Tax.

Looking for information about your personal property taxes? Click here. 

Dare County is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners that conducts public meetings throughout the year on a regularly scheduled basis. Meetings are generally held on the first Monday of the month at 9 a.m. This schedule is occasionally adjusted to accommodate holidays. Meetings are held within the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting room at the Dare County Administration Building, which is located at 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo.

To view the names, contact information and biographies for the current Dare County Board of Commissioners, please click here.

On Election Day, the Wanchese polling precinct will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Wanchese Community Building (295 Old Schoolhouse Road, Wanchese, NC).

Click here to learn more about Dare County Elections.

“Safe and sane” fireworks are the only types of fireworks that are allowed in North Carolina. These devices include caps, snakes and glow worms, smoke devices, trick noise-makers, snappers, sparklers and other sparkling devices, such as fountains, which do not leave the ground.

Any firework devices that leave the ground and have a report or make a "bang" are illegal in North Carolina. Examples of these illegal fireworks include bottle rockets, mortars, roman candles, firecrackers and M80s. Violators of North Carolina's fireworks law face a class two misdemeanor charge that is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or imprisonment of up to six months.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that fireworks caused an estimated 31,302 fires in 2022, including 3,504 structure fires, 887 vehicle fires, 26,492 outside fires, and 418 unclassified fires. These fires caused an estimated six civilian deaths, 44 civilian injuries and $109M in direct property damage. 

Please protect our beloved area by refraining from using illegal fireworks.

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866-366-4357
Report an outage.