In the News

Kitty Hawk Kites Matches More than $3700 in Hurricane Irene Relief Donations: Total Donation of $7,476

Kitty Hawk Kites Hurricane Irene Relief Efforts

Nags Head, NC - In the first company-wide staff meeting held after Hurricane Irene carved a path of destruction across the Outer Banks, John Harris, founder and president of Kitty Hawk Kites, announced to his staff... Read the Full Story

Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School Highlighted in Charlotte Observer

Winging it on the Outer Banks

Nags Head, NC - Magical things happen atop these great sand dunes. The dunes include the largest on the East Coast, soaring 80 to 100 feet above most everything else and offering fine views in all directions: the gleaming Atlantic to the east, a picturesque estuary to the west and beach houses and tourist swarms below... Read the Full Story

KITTY HAWK KITES ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE NEW HAMPSHIRE HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING SCHOOL

Nags Head, NC, July 8, 2011 - Kitty Hawk Kites announced today that, in partnership with wind energy entrepreneur David Blittersdorf, it has reached an agreement to purchase Morningside Flight Park in Charlestown, NH. Founded in 1974, Morningside has been an important part of the hang gliding and paragliding communities for nearly 40 years. The park will continue to operate under the Morningside name, and no major changes in park operations are expected. Closed in October 2010 after the death of long-time operator Jeff Nicolay, the park is expected to reopen on or around July 16...Read the Full Story

Hang Gliding Spectacular Highlighted on Wavy-TV 10

Nags Head, NC, May 19, 2011 - Check out the video on the Hang Gliding Spectacular from Wavy-TV 10, and the interview with our Hang Gliding Manager, Bruce Weaver.

LIFE IS GOOD STORES HOLD CHARITABLE BOOK SIGNING EVENTS

NAGS HEAD AND RODANTHE STORES WELCOME LIFE IS GOOD CO-FOUNDER JOHN JACOBS MAY 27 & 28

Rodanthe, NC, April 13, 2011 – John Jacobs, nationally-known co-founder of the Life is good brand of clothing and accessories, will make an appearance at the Roadanthe Life is good storeÒ on May 27th from 4 to 5 p.m. and at the Nags Head Life is good store May 28th from 4 to 5 p.m. Mr. Jacobs will be signing copies of Life is good: Simple Wisdom from Jake and Rocket – a book he coauthored with his brother and Life is good co-founder, Bert Jacobs. The brothers use the book as a fundraising tool for the Life is good Kids Foundation, an organization established to help kids overcome life-threatening challenges; 100 percent of Life is good’s profits from book sales at the event will be... Read the Full Story

Kiteboarding Resort Highlighted in KiteWorld Magazine's Annual Travel Guide

Waves Village: Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Resort

March 30 - Surrounding the Waves Village Kiteboarding Resort is miles and miles shallow water, that not only heats up quickly, but has a hard sandy bottom with few shells. Even before beginners can stand up on their board they can stand in the water and usually sit down on the bottom with their head above water while they slip into their footstraps...Read the Full Story

Outer Banks St. Patrick's Day Parade

First Flight Foundation and Kitty Hawk Kites Take 2nd Place!

March 20 - Congratulations to the First Flight Foundation and Kitty Hawk Kites for their Soaring100 entry into the St. Patricks Day Parade. The Entry boasted large banners, a hang glider, and the children from the Wright Flight program. Be sure and catch the Soaring100 event, honoring the centennial celebration of Orville Wright's historic world record glider flight in 1911. The event will take place Oct. 21-24, 2011 in the Outer Banks. For more inforation visit Soaring100.com

John Harris and Kitty Hawk Kites Cuts the Ribbon to New Kiteboarding Resort

With the Opening of the New Restaurant, Kitty Hawk Kites Completes the brand new Kiteboarding Resort

August 18 - On August 18th, 2010 John Harris, Owner and President of Kitty Hawk Kites, cut the ribbon on Waves Village: Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Resort in Rodanthe, NC. With the opening of Good Winds Seafood and Wine Bar, the resort has realized a dream in the making for over the last 10 years. The kiteboarding Resort boasts dining, on-site luxury 3 bedroom / 3 bathroom accommodations, kiteboarding school and demo center, and multiple retail facilities including: Kitty Hawk Kites, Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Center, Life is good, Kitty Hawk Sports, and Forbes Candy / Hwy 12 Coffee and Tea Company. The resort is designed for kiteboarding fanatics, however it offers amenities that any family, couple, or water sports enthusiast would enjoy including a pool, outdoor hot/cold water showers, gear lockers, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, and kayaking. . . wavesvillage.com

The Kiteboarder Magazine Discusses The New Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Resort with Chris Moore

Podcast with The Kiteboarder Magazine

July 13 - Our guest on this week’s The Kiteboarder podcast is Chris Moore, kiteboarding operations manager of Kitty Hawk Kiteboarding in Rodantee, North Carolina. With waist deep water for miles and the best surf spot in the Outer Banks directly across the street, the center just opened Waves Village, an upscale kiteboarding resort complete with amenity-packed condos, a full-service restaurant, 15,000 square foot retail shop. . . Read More

Explore! Hang Gliding on the Outer Banks

Article on Hang Gliding Lessons in the Virginia Pilot

June 21 - I’m standing atop a sand dune in Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks with a 30-foot wing harnessed to my body. I’m about to fly.
I’m jittery, but I’m too busy focusing on my instructor to really think about what I’m doing. Maybe my family and friends were right when they said I was crazy. . . Read More

Kitty Hawk Kites Kids Hang Gliding Showcased in Boston Globe

Check out the article about Kitty Hawk Kites on Boston.com

June 20 - Kitty Hawk Kites and our Kids Hang Gliding classes were recently highlighted in the Boston Globe and online at Boston.com. These unique Kids Classes are offered only seasonaly but allow children as young as 4 to take a hang gliding lesson. Click here to check out the article

Kitty Hawk Kites Resort Highlighted on Thrillist.com

Check out the article about Kitty Hawk Kites on Thrillist.com

May 22 - Even the most Xtreme athletes enjoy having a place to kick up their heels at the end of the day, assuming that by day's end their heels haven't been pulverized in some sort of nitrous-powered rollerskating accident. Opening a luxury pad for your post-Xtreme comfort: Kitty Hawk Kites. . . read more

Kitty Hawk Kites at Land of Beginnings Festival

Kids Kitemaking for the Children's Faire at Wright Brothers

April 9 - Kitty Hawk Kites provided kite making activities and climbs on the Kitty Hawk Kites Rock Wall at the Children's Faire, held at the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Children's Faire is part of the Week long Land of Beginnings Festival. Kids had a great time decorating their kites and climbing the wall.

The Biggest Loser Winners go Hang Gliding!

Ed and Heba from the Biggest Loser Try their Luck on the Dunes

March 10 - Ed Brantley & Heba Salama take flight with Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding. The two winners from the popular television show "The Biggest Loser" will be having a great time on March 10 at 2:00 p.m. piloting their hang gliders on the dunes of Jockey's Ridge State Park. For more information on Ed and Heba visit their website at edandheba.com.

Kitty Hawk Kites in Washington DC

Kitty Hawk Kites Spreads the Word about Hang Gliding

March 6-7 - Kitty Hawk Kites was in full force at the Travel & Adventure Show in Washington DC. Show attendees had the opportunity to take a spin on the always popular Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding Simulator. While at the show Kitty Hawk Kites talked to many attendees about traveling to the Outer Banks, participating in various activities including hang gliding, kayaking, and kiteboarding, and also gave away a stay at the brand new Waves Village Kiteboarding Resort in Rodanthe, North Carolina.

Kitty Hawk Kites also made a great TV appearance on Fox Channel 5 in Washington DC. You can check out the video here.

Kitty Hawk Kites and Kitty Hawk Sports Join Forces!

Kitty Hawk Kites and Kitty Hawk Sports Fly Together Again

February 2010 - Ralph Buxton has announced that he has sold the Kitty Hawk Sports business and his interest in Jockey’s Ridge Crossing Shopping Center to John M. Harris and Kitty Hawk Kites effective January 29, 2010.

Started by Harris and Buxton, both Kitty Hawk Kites and Kitty Hawk Sports were under the same ownership until 1990 when they were split into two separately owned enterprises. The current acquisition by Kitty Hawk Kites is a reunification of two businesses with similar recreation and retail heritages. Kitty Hawk Kites intends to merchandise and market Kitty Hawk Sports in the same fashion that it has operated in recent times, i.e., with a surf, watersports, and outdoor flavor unique to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Buxton said: “I am very proud of the contributions that the Kitty Hawk Sports team has made to the Outer Banks community and tourist industry over the past 29 years. We have strived to provide our customers an outstanding shopping and recreation experience. I wish all the best to all my friends and associates and want to assure you that I am here to help assure a smooth transition. It has been a great ride and a dream come true to be able to live on the Outer Banks and raise a family here while earning a living in a fun business.

I am grateful that I will now have more time to be able to pursue the outdoor sports and lifestyle that I have been promoting for the past 36 years. I will continue to live here and be active in the community. I believe that this acquisition provides new synergies, strengthens Kitty Hawk Sports, and presents opportunities for both businesses.”