Pronounced Kuh-RAH-Luh, this unincorporated community took its name in 1895 when the post office opened a branch on the island. The name refers to the botanical term used to describe the collective petals of a flower, presumably to describe the beauty of the location. Officially, the community is made up of a number of subdivisions and planned communities that are part of the Currituck Outer Banks, but since everyone gets their mail from the same post office, it’s easiest just to refer to the overall area as Corolla.
In addition to it’s 500 permanent residents, and because of it’s remote location, Corolla includes a 12,000-acre animal sanctuary that is home to more than 110 wild horses known to the locals as “Bankers.” It is not uncommon, yet always thrilling, to see one of the wild mustangs enjoying lush grass amid the fairways of the Currituck Golf Course.
Corolla is also home to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, a reminder that expansive beaches aren’t far away. Previously referred to as North Carolina’s last beach frontier, Corolla has grown to offer a quiet yet luxurious lifestyle for residents and vacationers alike.
