This is truly a rare and exciting opportunity to own a unique piece of history. One of only 3 public buildings constructed by the WPA (Works Project Administration) as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal”, this special Fire House is located on Historic Roanoke Island in the sweet Town of Manteo, NC. The building became Tudorized as the town sought to promote its English heritage and become a tourist destination.

At one time the Roanoke Island Fire Department had as few as six members but saw its share of fires like the one that burned the entire waterfront area taking 21 businesses with it and during cold weather, firemen were called out just about every night to chimney fires. The Fire House also served as meeting space for the Town of Manteo but has been privately owned since 1991. The current RIFD was built in 1990 and is located on the main Highway, 64/264. It boasts renovated and well-maintained living quarters on the top floor…a large open space that is a blank canvas awaiting a creative buyer who can reconfigure and design on a historic scale befitting the origins of this property. Perhaps a beach or artsy theme is desirable…the large workshop is a craftsman’s dream and the HUGE garage bays make a statement of their own! Oh, the POSSIBILITIES!!

Each year the New World Festival of the Arts attracts world-class artists from all over the country. Some 5,000-6,000 attendees shop this juried outdoor festival. The design of the firehouse is ideal for an artist’s workshop and would make an excellent studio for creating art as well as displaying and selling it!

The building, with expansive ceiling heights, would be dream space for metal arts or ironworks creation, welding, for even furniture making, repairs or upholstering, etc.

Manteo is the county seat of Dare County. Each year an estimated 5 Million people visit the Outer Banks and flock to the Island to experience the North Carolina Aquarium, Fort Raleigh – birth place of Virginia Dare (first English born child), The Island farm, The Pea Island Cookhouse Museum, and Festival Park to learn about its rich history. Downtown has plenty of restaurants serving local fare and ice cream and antique shops.

Many people boat in and park at the dock for a day on the waterfront! Visitor surveys completed by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau show that visitor satisfaction is very high and 64% of visitors are repeat and the average repeat visitor is making their sixth trip to the Outer Banks. 95% of visitors stay for one or more nights, the average stay is for 5.8 nights and the average party size is 5.4.

Imagine the possibilities of owning such a unique property, your own firehouse in Historic Downtown Manteo. This Historic Fire House would make a great second or vacation home and the bottom level can be finished to make awesome additional living space. It can also serve as retail or restaurant space with loft living or as a trendy downtown brewery or distillery! We have some extremely talented architects, interior designers, and contractors on the Outer Banks of North Carolina who would love to explore your ideas!

Historic Roanoke island is an incredible place to live, work and play. Enjoy leisurely walks on quaint, tree-lined streets or take a bike ride along the Crepe Myrtle accented main corridor. Come for a visit and stay for a lifetime…invest in a way of life by transforming this unique fire house for sale!

no images were found