As we begin a new year, I want to extend my deepest thanks to each of you for your extraordinary outpouring of generosity last month. Your support was truly record-setting as we wrapped up 2025, and it speaks volumes about how deeply members of our Outer Banks Forever community, near and far, care about our three Outer Banks national parks. Because of you, we are starting 2026 with renewed momentum, confidence, and optimism!

Your generosity does more than fund individual park projects. It helps build the long-term capacity of Outer Banks Forever by strengthening our ability to have more impact on our national parks, take on more ambitious projects, and serve as an even stronger partner to the National Park Service. That kind of support is transformational. It allows us all to not only preserve what makes our national parks special today, but also to plan boldly for the future.

And 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year. We expect to complete the new bathhouse along the new pathway at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, an important improvement that will enhance the visitor experience at one of the most iconic sites on the Outer Banks. We also look forward to finishing the restoration of the Double Keepers’ Quarters at Bodie Island, which suffered significant internal damage from a fire in 2025. Seeing this historic structure brought back to life will be a powerful reminder of why fundraising efforts matter and what is possible when a community comes together.

These milestones are just the beginning. We have many more plans for 2026: projects that will protect historic structures, improve visitor access, and deepen the connection people feel to these remarkable national parks. Thanks to your support, we are well positioned to turn those plans into reality.

On a more personal note, I have thoroughly enjoyed the Outer Banks off-season. It has been a gift to spend time connecting with local businesses, meeting second-home owners, and getting to know even more people who make this place so special. The quieter months offer a chance to truly appreciate the strength, generosity, and pride of the Outer Banks community I am fortunate to call home.

As we look ahead, I am excited for the return of spring and summer, when families and friends once again pour into the Outer Banks. They come to build memories, reconnect, and add new chapters to their personal stories, which are so often centered around this magical place we all love.

Thank you for making our work possible. I cannot wait to see what we accomplish together in 2026!

Happy New Year, and thank you again for your support!