The mansion was constructed between 1922 and 1925 at a cost of approximately $383,000.
The house originally featured an elevator, a rare luxury for private residences in rural North Carolina during the 1920s.
It was designed by architect Katharine B. Smith, who was the daughter of the original owners.
The structure contains 21,000 square feet of interior living space.
The site sits on 39 acres of land overlooking the Currituck Sound.
Following its time as a hunting club, the building served as a military base, a school for boys, and a research facility before its restoration.
The house is built with a reinforced concrete foundation to withstand the shifting sands of the Outer Banks.
The Whalehead Club is a restored 1920s Art Nouveau-style mansion situated within Currituck Heritage Park. Originally built as a private hunting lodge by Edward and Marie Knight, the residence is recognized for its distinctive yellow cedar shingles and orange roof tiles. The interior features original leaded-glass windows, Tiffany-style light fixtures, and a hand-stenciled ceiling in the dining room. Visitors explore the three-story house via guided tours that highlight the architectural craftsmanship and the lifestyle of wealthy sportsmen during the Prohibition era. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It currently serves as a museum dedicated to preserving the environmental and cultural history of the Currituck Sound region.
The lawn on the sound-side of the mansion provides the best angle of the structure with the water in the background.
Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Currituck Beach Lighthouse for a full morning of local history.
Wear comfortable, flat-soled shoes as the tour involves navigating multiple floors and potentially uneven ground in the surrounding park.
Check the official website for specialized tour options, such as twilight or evening programs, which offer a different ambiance.
Do not mistake the exterior grounds for a public beach; the club is located on the sound-side, not the ocean-front.
Tours are seasonal and typically pause or reduce frequency during the winter months.
Visitors are expected to refrain from touching the original artifacts and furniture on display.
