It's Open!

The Federal government has finally re-opened, and so has Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

On Ocracoke, the Visitor's Center, ORV perm office, boat ramp, docks, and beach parking areas are all open.

The ORV ramps to the beach are also open. Ocracoke's head ranger Ed Fuller reminds us that you still can't drive between Ramp 70 (airport ramp) to 72 (South Point Road) because of a turtle nest, but both ramps are open, so head on out to the beach!

The NPS campground will open at noon today, and will stay open until it's originally-scheduled seasonal closing at the end of the month.

Melinda Sutton at Tradewinds Bait and Tackle says her customers have been calling and messaging her "like crazy" since yesterday when the the shutdown's end was in sight. Fishermen are excited to get back out to the beach. Melinda reports that there are lots of bluefish and puppy drum out there, and that some big red drum and keeper-size flounder are starting to show up. 

"We are just glad to have the beach open and people can enjoy their park," she said. 

Captain Rudy Austin says that he's ready to take passengers over to Portsmouth Island again. 

"The Park Service needs to check the beaches today, then we'll start going tomorrow," he said. 

Portsmouth Island is part of Cape Lookout National Seashore, also off-limits during the government shutdown. 

Ocracoke's biotech Jocelyn Wright was checking ramp 59 at the north end when I talked to Ed Fuller. It's the last ramp to be checked and will be open "soon," he said. 

Both Ed and chief ranger Paul Stevens were upbeat this morning when I talked to them. 

I asked Ed if I could quote him, and he said, "Yeah. We're very happy."