In 1825, the NC Legislature transferred the title of Mattamuskeet Lake to the State Literary Board and so began the story of the Mattamuskeet Lodge. The plan was to drain Mattamuskeet Lake to uncover land that could be sold off to help support public education. By 1915, a seven-mile-long canal, known as the Outfall Canal, and a pumping station had been excavated and built to drain the 50,000 acres of Mattamuskeet Lake that remained after the original 120,000 acres were reduced.
Steam engines ran the pump station, and so a 120-foot smokestack was constructed to exhaust the coal smoke. Thirty-five tons of coal were burned daily to operate the four-pump system, which theoretically could move 1.2 million gallons of water per minute. For 15 years, the pump station drained Mattamuskeet Lake, making room for the first town to be built on its dry lakebed. New Holland included an inn, school, post office, and modern houses with indoor plumbing and electricity. The rich soil and efficient agricultural methods resulted in record crop yields for years. However, following the crash of the Great Depression and poor investments by the current owner, the pump station was sold, and a new era began.
The federal government purchased the site with the intention of restoring the lake and surrounding lands to become the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge. To aid in the Nation’s economic recovery, the pumping station became a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project. From 1933 to 1937, the CCC dismantled the pumps, engines, boilers, and pipe system, selling them off for scrap. The buildings in New Holland were also dismantled and used to construct what would become a world-class hunting lodge. The top 20 feet of the smokestack were removed and replaced with a steel and glass observation cab, which was installed to become what is now the iconic observation tower on the Mattamuskeet Lodge.
Mattamuskeet Lodge, also affectionately known as “the Lodge” by locals, opened its doors in 1937 and quickly became a favorite destination for waterfowl hunters from across the country. For thirty-seven seasons, local guides employed their knowledge and experiences of the area to develop celebrated reputations among the Lodge’s clientele. During the off-season, the Lodge served as a hub for local culture, hosting civic events, festivals, weddings, as well as proms and dances from Mattamuskeet High School.
In 1974, declining waterfowl populations nationwide caused the US Fish and Wildlife Service to declare a moratorium on hunting at the lake, effectively closing Mattamuskeet Lodge as a hunting lodge. Although it was closed to the public for accommodations as a hunting lodge, it remained available to the public as an event space. It was even used as an accommodation site for students and faculty conducting research projects in the area from colleges like East Carolina University. In 1980, Mattamuskeet Lodge was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the 90s, the Friends of Mattamuskeet Lodge formed and partnered with Partnership for the Sounds to bring more awareness to the Lodge and highlight the beautiful building as an icon in the community. But in 2001, engineers hired by the US Fish and Wildlife Service evaluated the building and determined it was structurally unsafe for occupancy.
Mattamuskeet refuge managers worked hard to secure funding to renovate the building and bring it back into working order, but it wasn’t until 2006 that the State of North Carolina stepped in, and the Lodge received some crucial recognition. A deed transfer was proposed by Senate leader Marc Basnight and U.S. Congressman Walter B. Jones to transfer the Lodge and 6.25 acres from the federal government to the State of North Carolina. The State accepted the transfer of property under the Lake Mattamuskeet Lodge Preservation Act. The NC Wildlife Resource Commission was designated to manage the Lodge once construction was completed, and soon the first stages of restoration could begin.
From 2007 to 2010, Mattamuskeet lodge received some much-needed TLC. New steel beams replaced the old, salt-corroded beams, and brickwork was repaired on the interior and exterior walls and columns, thereby restoring the structural integrity of the building. The tower was evaluated and determined to be structurally sound. The pump room floor was replaced with a flowable concrete that wouldn’t wash out and withstand the unique conditions faced by such a space. However, before the planned renovation could be completed, the 2008 economic downturn resulted in a state budget shortfall, and construction halted in 2010 when funded work came to an end.
For many years, the beautiful building sat essentially vacant, waiting for the right people to come along and bring it back to life. In 2014, renewed interest in its potential took the first step on the road we’re on today. Many locals and legislators can be recognized for taking part in this journey. We are currently working to compile a detailed timeline from 1974 to 2022 to commemorate all those who have contributed to this journey. We look forward to sharing it in a future post to do this timeline and its contributors justice and give them the appreciation and recognition they deserve. But for now, we want to jump from the then to the now…
In 2022, the County of Hyde, Hyde County Extension, and North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission began collaboration on a new restoration effort for the Mattamuskeet Lodge. The latest proposal quickly gained momentum and received $6.5 million of the requested $16.5 million in the state’s 2023-2024 budget, with the remaining funding anticipated in future budget cycles. Support from Senator Bobby Hanig, Representative Keith Kidwell, and Senator Norm Sanderson was integral to the project’s success. In 2023, the nonprofit Mattamuskeet Lodge Society—led by board members Wes Seegers, Edward Torres, Natalie Wayne, Debbie Daughtry, and Phillip Holloway—officially formed and serves as the project’s fundraising and event management partner. With this partnership between the County of Hyde, the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, and the Mattamuskeet Lodge Society, the future is looking bright for the Mattamuskeet Lodge.
Under the plan, Hyde County is leasing the Lodge from the State of North Carolina. The Hyde County Cooperative Extension will relocate to the designated office space after renovations, serving as a bridge to connect residents and visitors to the county’s natural heritage through agricultural and environmental educational programs. Check out our previous blog post for a detailed look at what is to come for the Mattamuskeet Lodge and Hyde County.
