Goodbye, Windmill Point.

Let me just say right here and now, I salute all firefighters, EMTs, policewomen/men, and all the other service people who help the rest of us. I thank you. This morning, Xmaskatie, Mr. Xmaskatie, and Glowria picked me up at 7:45 and we headed down to South Nags Head. We're going to a controlled burn of Windmill Point restaurant. An area landmark for years, Windmill Point is going to be demolished today. So sad. Goodbye, Windmill Point. I shall miss you. Please open up two windows and play the Elton John on the above link while you read and look at my post. Windmill Point once housed the largest collection of items from the SS United States which is now berthed in Philadelphia. Here's more information about the SS United States. Tables, lamps, chairs, artwork, and a 20-foot long kidney-shaped bar from the ship's first class ballroom were purchased from a 1984 auction. Windmill Point was built in the late 1970's as a store with a (an?? English teachers?) historically accurate windmill behind it which pointed back to an Outer Banks era in which windmills were used to mill grain. The store didn't succeed and Dr. Sarah Forbes/OBX/GYN bought the property and turned it into a restaurant which closed in 2007. The artifacts have since been donated to the Mariners Museum and Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. The windmill was moved last summer to Island Farm, a restored 1800's farmstead on Roanoke Island. Hopefully, plans are in the works to restore the windmill. The Town of Nags Head and the Dare County Tourism Board bought the property and auctioned off restaurant equipment, lighting fixtures, and scrap metal for a little over $6000. Nags Head Town Manager Cliff Ogburn said in a statement, "We hate to see it demolished, but the required repairs just didn't make it financially viable to maintain the building. Thankfully, we are able to use the property as a valuable training exercise for Outer Banks public safety personnel." Please check out the Outer Banks Voice: Part 2 and Part 1. And this from the Pilot Online. Here are a few pictures to whet your appetite:

We arrived at 8 AM for the burn.

Apparently a lot of people didn't have anything better to do this morning.

These ladies know how to tailgate.

They're drinking champagne at 8 o'clock in the morning. These are my kind of gals.

They generously offered us deviled eggs.

They've already finished off 3 bottles of Barefoot Bubbly. I totally want to be their BFF's. God bless America.

We decided to walk around and check everything out.

It's rather sad to see Windmill Point looking like this, windows removed, gutted.

There's Yours Truly in front of the restaurant. It was going to be a while before the burn so we decided to ... (What else?) go eat breakfast. Grits Grill was nearby so we headed there. I've blogged before about it. See here.

I had sunny side up eggs, bacon, whole wheat toast, and hash browns. Xmaskatie had the same thing not exactly with over easy eggs.

Glowria had an omelet in a biscuit.

Mr. Xmaskatie had a seafood omelet, grits, and toast. Fortified, we headed back to Windmill Point.

Things are starting up now.

I had to take a picture of this guy relaxing on the propane tank mere feet away from the restaurant.

I think he just shot a picture of us with his cell phone.

Oh. Gosh. I'm lovin' this. I'm freakin' 10! HeeHeeHee!!

The fire departments started by hosing down the marsh area soundside and the part of the building closest to other structures. Thankfully, they had a southwest wind cooperating.

Yes. I am 12.

If you notice closely, the fire has been started.

And it goes quickly.

And now, I totally want to be a firefighter when I grow up. Check later for the videos in my next post.

Outer Banks on Dwellable