In 1718, the shores of the Carolinas and Virginia were stomping grounds of some of the dastardliest pirates to sail. Like other spots in the Carolinas, the Virginia coastline was the perfect spot for keeping an eye out for merchant ships and Navy vessels.
Legend says that the Chesapeake Bay area was Teach’s favorite lookout. As the tale goes, he and his crew spotted a Navy ship hot on their heels after Blackbeard plundered a lavish merchant ship nearby. They decided to bury the treasure in the dunes and fled the area that is now present-day First Landing State Park.
The crew then set sail for the Outer Banks region of North Carolina, where they met their fate. They never claimed their stolen loot. The lost treasure remains just that, but it is said that Blackbeard’s spirit watches over his treasures.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.