The Southern Shores Flat Top cottages have become an iconic piece of Outer Banks architecture. Beautiful in their functional simplicity, they seem an endangered species now, but families that own them treasure them. Discover the magic of these architectural wonders at the semi-annual tour. We’ve reprinted the press release below.
Tour Benefits Flat Top Preservation Fund of the Community Foundation
The Southern Shores Historic Flat Top Cottage tour is back, and will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Tour tickets will be available on the day of the tour beginning at 1 PM at 156 Wax Myrtle Trail or 13 Skyline Road and gives you admission to all 14 cottages on the tour. Proceeds will benefit the Flat Top Preservation Fund of the Outer Banks Community Foundation. Tickets are $7 per person. The tour promotes awareness and need for preservation of these historic homes.
Frank Stick, (1884-1966), beloved Outer Banks artist and developer, obtained an option on the land that is now Southern Shores, and supervised the platting of lots, the installation of roads, and the design and erection of the first flat top cottages. These now quaint architectural houses were reminiscent of the cottages he had seen in Florida, and were of cement block construction, with wide overhanging soffits, propped up shutters, and flat tar and gravel roofs.
These historic cottages that once dominated the town’s architectural landscape, will be featured in an afternoon of open houses. We are proud to offer homes of varying sizes, locations, styles, and finishes for a self-guided open house tour. Approximately 26 examples of this original architectural style still remain as flat tops in Southern Shores, of which approximately 14 will be featured on the tour.
The cottages on the tour include 13 Skyline Road, 39 Ocean Blvd, 43 Ocean Blvd, 69 Ocean Blvd, 113 Ocean Blvd, 142 Ocean Blvd, 157 Ocean Blvd, 169 Ocean Blvd, 176-A Ocean Blvd, 176-B Ocean Blvd, 218 Ocean Blvd, 23 Porpoise Run, 156 Wax Myrtle Trail, 159 Wax Myrtle Trail.
Balloons will mark cottages that are open on the day of the event. Parking will be available at the intersection of Wax Myrtle and Porpoise Run. From here, several cottagesparticipating in the tour will be within walking distance of each other.
Information is also available at the Facebook page for Southern Shores Historic Flat Top Cottages.
For additional information about the Southern Shores Flat Top Cottage Tour, please contact Sally and Steve Gudas at 804-399-8342 or seatide1@gmail.com.