Cottages announced for 2024 Southern Shores Historic Flat Top Cottage Tour – OBX Today

Cottages announced for 2024 Southern Shores Historic Flat Top Cottage Tour - OBX Today
(Town of Southern Shores)

The Southern Shores Historic Flat Top Cottage Tour owner network has announced the list of cottages that will be open at this year’s tour to be held on Saturday, April 27th, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The 6th such tour of these historic flat tops in the Town of Southern Shores, proceeds will again benefit the Flat Top Preservation Fund of the Outer Banks Community Foundation, which provides funds for the preservation and maintenance of the historic flat top at 13 Skyline Road designed by Frank Stick and now owned by the Town of Southern Shores. $10 tickets will be sold online beginning in March, and in person on the day of the tour from 10 AM to 1 PM. Tickets cover admission to all 14 homes on the tour.

The list of cottages whose owners will open them for the tour are:

218 Ocean Blvd – Mackey Cottage; 18 E. Dogwood Trail – Oh So Sandy; 170 Ocean Blvd – Pink Perfection (Edith Pipkin Cottage); 169 Ocean Blvd – Atlantic Breezes; 157 Ocean Blvd – Sea Breezes; 23 Porpoise Run – Sokol/Clements Cottage; 156 Wax Myrtle Trail – Clarke/Gudas Cottage; 159 Wax Myrtle Trail – Falconer Cottage; 142 Ocean Blvd – Seaquel; 113 Ocean Blvd – the Knight Cottage; 69 Ocean Blvd – Sea Spray Cottage; 43 Ocean Blvd – Powell/Harritt Cottage; 78 Skyline Road; and 13 Skyline Road – owned by the Town of Southern Shores.

Owners invite you to join us for an afternoon of open houses as you tour these historic cottages that once dominated the town’s architectural landscape. We are proud to offer homes of varying sizes, locations, styles, and finishes for a self-guided open house tour. Approximately 25 examples of this original architectural style still remain as flat tops in Southern Shores, of which 14 will be featured on the tour. The attached photo is of the Knight Cottage located at 113 Ocean Boulevard.

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.

Five of the historic homes on this year’s tour have been designated as Southern Shores Historic Landmarks by the Town of Southern Shores.

Information is also available at the Facebook page for Southern Shores Historic Flat Top Cottages. https://www.facebook.com/Southern-Shores-Historic-Flat-Top-Cottages-421136131314749

For additional information about the Southern Shores Historic Flat Top Cottage Tour, please contact Sally & Steve Gudas at 804-399-8342 or seatide1@gmail.com.