Salter Path
On what was once open beach, families from Shackleford joined other fishing families already living among the sand dunes and scrub oak trees, and together the community of Salter Path grew and prospered. Now there is but a trace of those commercial fishing families, but the deep connection to the history and heritage of those Banks families lives on in the hearts of Salter Path'ers everywhere.
Salter Path
- Salter Path is located on Bogue Banks / Bogue Sound and was one of several “Paths” named for families who “wore paths” from the sound side shore to their homes to the ocean. Other named place paths included: Rice Path, Bell Cove, Yellow Hill and Bill’s Point.
- “Salter Pathers” are descendents from the Shackelford Banks / Diamond City communities just like their cousins at Harkers Island, Promise’ Land, Marshallberg and throughout Carteret County.
- There are still many natives of Salter Path who are connected to the seafood industry. The largest seafood company is Homer Smith Seafood, with a plant in Beaufort that will soon be converted to a marina.
- Salter Path is well-known for its fall beach seine fishery for roe mullets. There were fish camps located up and down Bogue Banks before it was developed. All were named for fish crews that worked each area of the Banks where the work of hauling nets and fish was carried out by hand. Today only a remnant of this fishing tradition remains with nets being hauled by tractors and the catch loaded onto trucks.
- Salter Path is the only unincorporated community on Bogue Banks. Only a small number of homes in coves of oak trees bare resemblance to the Salter Path of only a few years ago.
- Native Salter Pathers (like Harkers Islanders) are well-known for their love of hunting, cooking and eating loons.
- Salter Path has a rich tradition of sacred music, much like the music found on Harkers Island, another cultural connection that continues today.