Retro Kill Devil Hills Motel puts the fun in funky

As post-pandemic travel opened back up, Kill Devil Hills on North Carolina's Outer Banks was an easy choice for the memories it holds for us. We used to live here and in fact got married on the Outer Banks. On this trip, we got to check out a hotel that’s a reminder of another time.

Many baby boomers remember their family vacations included staying at a motel or motor lodge. These popular ’50s and ’60s accommodations sprang up as interstate highways grew, making distant trips driveable. At these roadside spots, parking was easy, rates were good for a family, rooms were nothing fancy but clean, and the pools delighted the kids.

In recent years, such roadside motels are getting a new life including some on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (OBX). We found that to be the case during our recent stay in Kill Devil Hills. A prime location to jump into the Atlantic and lounge the hours away on miles of beaches, it is best known as the spot where the Wright Brothers took to the air.

We shared our three-night getaway with another couple, long-time friends since we all worked here in the hospitality industry in the 1980s. It was great to reminisce in person and cautiously approach this new world of travel, thanks to a two-bedroom suite at the 23-unit See Sea Motel, where retro décor puts the fun in funky.

Then-and-now memories

When a news release reached our desk touting sister properties See Sea and Tar Heel motels, the images seemed oh-so-familiar. Our minds raced back to frequent sightings of these u-shaped, concrete properties surrounding ever-welcoming swimming pools (a respite from saltwater). Back then a classic, four-door Chevy or a V-8 Ford might be parked at each unit’s door, dads unpacking rods and coolers, moms organizing supplies for the stay, while kids begged, “When can we go to the beach?”

Similar scenes happen still though SUVs replaced gas guzzlers, and fully renovated interiors feature a modern beachy vibe with bold colors like a teal Keurig and matching toaster oven.

Tucked away from crowds

While we did choose See Sea for the nostalgia — like our previous stories on Kinston’s Mother Earth Motor Lodge and Asheville’s June Bug Retro Resort — we also sought a tucked-away spot for the vaccinated four of us, all now just dipping first toes into post-pandemic travel.

Our two-bedroom unit just steps across the road from the Atlantic Ocean fit that bill. The Shoot-the-Curl suite (cutely named for its bright, mod surfer-wave artwork over the couch) had two queen beds and one bath. One-bedroom units feature king or queen beds and are tightly arranged.

Conveniently all rooms feature a mini-fridge, microwave, Keurig coffee maker and convection toaster oven. Two-bedroom units have full fridge and stove plus a larger dining table.

Location, location, location

While we opted for eating in this go-round, the location is walkable to popular dining spots like Food Dudes for local seafood and Bonzer Shack with tiki hut vibe (our fish-taco go-to). For breakfast, it’s a short drive to Stack ’Em High or Bob’s Grill. The property also has three grills available in a green space area.

Each bedroom has a TV as does the living area though we were too busy enjoying perfect OBX weather to bother with the remotes.

See Sea,built in 1963, got its new life in Summer 2018. According to its website, rooms were taken down to the studs, so everything’s new, from flooring to walls, furnishings to fixtures.

Attractions include a self-driving shuttle

This trip offered a memory-lane moment when we climbed to the top of the Wright Brothers National Memorial and thanked the brothers for all those plane trips we’ve taken since their Dec. 17, 1903 historic flight.

What greeted us was a remodeled visitor center with updated interactive exhibits. This was our first time also exploring the 2003 centennial memorial sculpture featuring a full-scale bronze flyer and those witnessing first flight. It was unveiled on the 100th anniversary of the momentous achievement.

We also participated in a first for any U.S. national park: an electric, self-driving transit shuttle.

CASSI, which stands for Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation – completes a one-mile fixed route from the visitor’s center to the backside of Kill Devil Hill, topped by 60-foot granite monument to flight. (Read our full story on the OBX blog.)

Nearby Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods Preserve, a maritime forest, offers a respite on hot summer days.

Another favorite activity is 84-year-old “The Lost Colony” seasonal outdoor drama on Roanoke Island that retells the story of the first English settlers coming to the New World; their fate remains a mystery. Also on Roanoke are the NC Aquarium, the Elizabethan Gardens and Festival Park with its Elizabeth II ship, representing an English merchant vessel from the 1585 Roanoke Voyage era.

The Outer Banks boasts five lighthouses, the largest sand dune on the East Coast at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, and for outdoor enthusiasts, nearly every pastime on water or land awaits. Much, much more can be found at www.outerbanks.org