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Ground was broken on a gift of 1,424 feet of the Frisco-Buxton pathway on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. Frisco Woods Campground and Ward Barnett are donating this first portion of the pathway, which will run along the soundside of NC 12 from the Little Grove United Methodist Church to Hatteras Sno-Balls. Crosswalks across NC 12 bracket the installation.

The magnificent gift is expected to cost $240,625 for development and construction. The project will be completed by Dec. 31, 2023.

The Frisco-Buxton Pathway project started in 2017 with a feasibility study covering 7.6 miles from the Frisco Bathhouse to the gas station intersection with Buxton Back Road.

In 2021, Ward Barnett, campground owner, and Stacey Saunders, general manager of the Frisco Woods Campground, joined the Frisco-Buxton Pathway Committee, started by the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway. At that time, the pair made a pledge to install the portion of the pathway passing in front of the campground and lands owned by Barnett.

The groundbreaking officially carries out that pledge.

Frisco and Buxton are the only two Hatteras Island villages without paved pathways on NC 12.

In remarks, Saunders said no funds donated at the various fundraisers at the campground will be used for this project. To date, attendees at those campground fundraisers have donated $110,500 to be used for future development.

“We will continue to raise funds until all 7.6 miles of the Frisco Buxton Pathway are complete,” said Saunders. “We will not stop until Frisco and Buxton have complete pathways like the other villages.”

The ceremony brought those who will build the pathway. Fred Smith Company, with a satellite office in Kitty Hawk, won the bid. Timmy Thomas is the superintendent, Garrett Ivett is the project manager and Steve Spisak is the foreman on the project.

Mike Morway with Albemarle & Associates, Ltd. in Kill Devil Hills was the engineer on the project.

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