The Flight School
The Kitty Hawk Kites Flight School is the oldest hang gliding school on the East Coast and the largest school of its kind in the world. It provides beginning, intermediate, and advanced instruction to students, as well as instructors, in foot-launched and tandem hang gliding. Since its inception, the flight school has taught more than 450,000 students how to fly and, with upwards of 35 instructors during the summer months, continues to teach thousands of students every year. The Flight School provides rating certifications to students meeting the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) published standards.
Located on North Carolina’s storied Outer Banks, the Kitty Hawk Kites Flight School provides foot-launched instruction from Jockey’s Ridge State Park (the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States) and tandem instruction at the Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg.
Adventure Recreation Activities
If it’s adventure you seek, you’ve come to the right place. Unleash your inner adrenaline junky with kiteboarding lessons, guided kayak eco-tours, parasailing, dolphin watch tours, charter fishing, rock wall climbing, jet ski rentals and tours, air tours, bi-plane tours, wild horse tours, sailing cruises, surf and stand up paddleboard lessons, wakeboarding, waterskiing, and more.
To book your adventure, call our reservations line: 877-FLY-THIS.
Kitty Hawk Kites Retail Facilities
The original Kitty Hawk Kites store is across from Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head. The 8,042 square foot retail facility is home to the Flight Deck (aviation clothing), stunt and recreational kite products, windsocks, toys, unique tees, OBX gear, Life is good, and the best in high-quality footwear, like Crocs and Keen. The Flight Deck specializes in high-quality clothing products focused around aviation and the outdoor environment. Check out our sister company, Kitty Hawk Surf Co., next door for the best in surf apparel and gear including kayaks, standup paddleboards, and skimboards.
In 2009, Kitty Hawk Kites opened Waves Village Watersports Resort. Located in Rodanthe, this complex is home to our kiteboarding school and houses the latest and greatest in kiteboarding gear. Along with world-class instructors, this location has some of the most ideal winds and waters for kiteboarding. With several other retail shops in the same facility, Waves Village is truly a one-stop-shop. The top floor restaurant, Good Winds Seafood and Wine Bar, features a rare view of the sun setting below the horizon on the East Coast. It’s one view you won’t want to miss!
Kitty Hawk Kites has several additional facilities along North Carolina’s Outer Banks. In addition to our main store in Nags Head, across from Jockey’s Ridge State Park (mp 12.5), we now have stores in Corolla (3), Duck (2), Manteo, South Nags Head, Waves, Avon, Hatteras, and Ocracoke. Outside of the Outer Banks, we also now have stores located in Beaufort and Atlantic Beach, NC; Destin and Fort Walton Beach, FL; Virginia Beach, VA; and Barnegat Light, NJ.
Don’t just take it from us
Kitty Hawk Kites has been operating for nearly 50 years…that has gotten us some recognition along the way.
Learn more about our company and history from the American Kitefliers Association.
Read about John Harris’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association.
Find out about Kitty Hawk Kites’ long-time contributions to North Carolina Tourism.