Treasures of the Outer Banks

In this episode I talk about how I wound up on the Outer Banks. It starts with an uneventful visit to Hatteras after my freshman year of college, progresses to road trips as a windsurfer, is practically sealed by working-honeymoon summer with my wife, and finalized when we buy a watersports business back in 1997. Fate? Maybe. Opportunity? Definitely. Enjoy, John Van Lunen

There’s a Facebook group I belong to called Outer Banks Vintage Scrapbook and as I would scroll through the posts, one name kept popping up. After a while I realized this guy would be perfect to have on the podcast. John Railey is a writer and author who spent his summers on the Outer Banks as a child and young man during the ‘60s and ‘70s. John’s recall and ability to tell a story are amazing. You can probably tell he’s a professional writer. Our conversation winds around the Outer Banks like a gentle, sea breeze. John Railey mentions many of the people and places that remind him of the good times he had here and he speaks fondly of the people who have been nice enough to share their experiences and stories with him. He remembers that in 1967 a friend of the family told him about a murder that had occurred that year in Manteo. In 2021 Railey published The Lost Colony Murder on the Outer Banks: Seeking Justice for Brenda Joyce Holland. As an investigative journalist, John Railey was well-suited to research and write this story. I have since read the book and enjoyed how he painted life on the Outer Banks, in general, but specifically the dynamics and quaintness of Manteo. His upbringing on the Outer Banks gives him immense credibility and insight. It also allowed him to quickly create relationships with the people he interviews. During our interview John also talks about his latest book which has since been released, Andy Griffith’s Manteo: His Real Mayberry. As a child, I was a big watcher of Andy Griffith show reruns so I always thought it was pretty cool that he lived in Manteo. By the way, he was still alive when I moved here. The fact that Andy Griffith was just a regular guy who would walk around barefoot makes me like him even more. I purchased the Andy Griffith book and it is currently in line to be read very soon. Hopefully, I can do a follow-up interview with John Railey so we can discuss the Andy Griffith book in more detail. John Railey’s books can be purchased at Downtown Books in Manteo, Buxton Village Books, and Amazon. John wanted to give a “shout-out” to the great friends, relationships, opportunities, and experiences that made his time on the Outer Banks so special. Specifically, the Nunemakers, The Joe Lamb crew, The Seafare Restaurant crew, and The Coastland Times. Sit back and relax as John shares his experiences, stories, and friends from the Outer Banks.

#004. Steve The Dream was an Outer Banks original who entertained locals and visitors with his mobile DJ show. In this interview with Steve's sister you'll learn about an entirely different side of Steve Thomas.

#003. Wikey Wise is an 82 year-old friend of mine who was nice enough to share with me what it was like growing up on the Outer Banks in the 1950's.  Highlights include his heritage, Nags Head Woods, attending the school house in Corolla, driving on Jockeys Ridge, and working at the casino.

http://www.treasuresoftheouterbanks.com

Check out my web site where you can find show notes and links for this episode.  You'll also find more podcasts and blogs.  While you're there, sign-up to receive regular emails from me, John Van Lunen.

#002:  Sam Walker and I talk about growing up on the Outer Banks, some of the interesting things he's seen, and historical events.

Sam Walker is news director for OBXToday.com, Beach 104, 99.1 The Sound, Big 94.5 WCMS and Z 92.3. He can be reached at [email protected].

#001.  In this episode I talk with my friend, Daryl Law, about his experiences visiting the Outer Banks as a child in the 1970's and living here after high school in the 1980's.  Daryl has some great stories about how simple things were back then and some of the characters he met.  We talk about working in a very sleepy Corolla, living near the Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills, and diving wrecks just off the shore.

Check out http://treasuresoftheouterbanks.com/ if you'd like to find more information.