Hatteras has a storied past. It deserves a future, too. 

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When construction finished on the Hatteras Lighthouse in the 1870’s, the striped black and white brick tower sat more than 1,500 feet from the shore.  

Over the years, erosion battered away at the North Carolina shoreline. The Atlantic crept up the beach, and by the 1970’s, the historic landmark was just 120 feet and one bad storm away from its foundation collapsing into the sea.  

By that point, conservationists had been working for decades to find a solution to preserve the structure whose beacon illuminated the coastline and guided sailors to safety for more than 100 years. After a few more years of contentious debate, the decision was made in 1998 to preserve North Carolina’s maritime legacy and move the Hatteras Lighthouse to more stable sands just a few thousand feet away.  

It cost about $11.9 million to move the Hatteras Lighthouse less than 30 years ago; that’s approximately $24 million today.  

Each year, the Hatteras Lighthouse attracts about half a million visitors; in 2024, tourism on the Hatteras shoreline generated more than $650 million in local spending. That investment in the lighthouse almost 30 years ago had a ripple effect that has helped thousands of small businesses thrive in the time since.  

Slash Creek Outfitters is one of those businesses. An equipment rental company and retail store, Slash Creek Outfitters sits about 10 miles from the Hatteras Lighthouse.  

Now, Erin Thomas Trant and her husband, the store’s owners, are currently debating a move of their own.  

Originally from Pennsylvania, Trant’s family vacationed in Hatteras her whole life. When she met her husband, a Hatteras native, moving to the island full-time was nothing short of a homecoming.  

“This is a place where you can walk into the post office and be there for an hour because you’re talking to your neighbors,” she said. “We rely on each other here, and we’re all working together to make our community better.” 

Living and working in a rural community is the right decision for Trant’s family. “I know some people don’t understand the appeal, but it’s perfect for us.”  

After all, the charm of living in a rural community, for Trant, is in its people.  

In addition to owning Slash Creek Outfitters, Trant works in real estate in the area. She says that the job gives her some extra flexibility when it comes to dealing with some of the snags that come with having three small children in child care.  

“When our son was born, there were two child care centers on the island, but one closed because they struggled with staffing,” said Trant. “When the twins were born, we were able to get them on the waitlist for the only remaining child care center, and the flexibility I have with work means that they can go on alternating days.”  

But no amount of flexibility could have prepared Trant for the news she received in mid 2025. “Our child care center is closing this December,” said Trant. “It’s the only center we have left in the area.”  

Some local families are relying on family members to step in, but Trant doesn’t have that option. “There aren’t many other options in the area, and without child care of any kind, people will have no choice but to move,” she said. “That’s where we’re at.” 

Trant says that if her family doesn’t move, their only remaining options involve Trant quitting her job in real estate or they hire a nanny or an au pair. “Both of these choices come with a cost that I don’t know that we can pay.” 

As the last licensed child care center on Hatteras Island prepares to shut its doors, Trant and others in her community are working to create a solution. “This issue is important to me both as a parent and as a business owner,” she said. “The lack of child care options threatens my family, my business, and the community I love.”  

Trant and another business owner went to their local leaders to discuss some of the options. They’re coming up with business plans and seeking funding, all in hopes that they’ll be able to keep the center’s doors open. 

“This is an existential challenge for our community and our local businesses. Without child care, without a workforce, we could lose an entire demographic of families who would otherwise live, work, and thrive here.” 

Erin Thomas Trant

Trant says that the absence of this demographic will not only impact the families who call Hatteras home year-round, but it will impact the businesses that provide the services and exceptional vacation experience that keep people coming back to the coast year after year. 

The beacon in the Hatteras Lighthouse still shines brightly over the Atlantic. It remains the tallest of its kind in the United States and is a beloved and enduring symbol of North Carolina’s history, innovation, and leadership.  

While the Hatteras Lighthouse’s relocation was hotly debated, investing in its preservation ultimately secured the community’s prosperity—until now. There’s another tide that’s rising on the beach, and without investment and action, a community’s very foundation will collapse.   

“Hatteras has a storied past,” she said. “It deserves a future, too.” 

Erin Thomas Trant is a Main Street Leader and Executive Champion for ExCEL NC. 

Update: As of December 2025, the last child care center serving Trant’s community has closed its doors.