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Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
How many hurricanes has Seven Cousins Experienced?
A.
We've lost count! Even those who have never visited Hatteras know
us if they are Weather Channel viewers. The building of the
Cottage was interrupted repeatedly during 1998-99, when the workforce
scattered after multiple hurricanes. Each was instructive, and
caused us to seek better materials and techniques for protection during
hurricanes and other storms. Our central steel frame is a unique
strengthening feature which you don't see.
Since
completion of Seven Cousins, we've weathered many "weather events," but
Isabel, when our village was severed from the Island by a new pass, was
certainly the most serious. To
read our first person account, click here.
Extensive
and recurring clean-ups after storms are an unavoidable part of ocean
front life. However, we are thankful to have had no structural
damage to Seven Cousins. We've recently added storm shutters on
our sliding doors oceanfront, and protective film on our largest
windows for extra safety. To avoid disruption during storms,
we've added an LP gas fueled generator, which automatically activates
during power outages.
Cape
Hatteras Electric cooperative does a great job of providing power in a
tough environment. Power failures here are rare. We
actually lose electricity more frequently in our inland home.
Q: Do Seven Cousins really own the
Cottage?
A: Some
day the Cousins will own the Cottage! Number
Seven, John III was born in May, 2002. John's beloved big sister, Cousin Number Two, Caroline Hartrampf, is
already in Heaven. The Cousins are the
grandchildren of the builders, John and Karen Hartrampf. They live in
Atlanta, and currently range in age from primary school to college.
Q: Can we see the Cape
Hatteras Lighthouse
from the Cottage?
A: Since
the Lighthouse is twelve to fifteen miles from Seven Cousins Cottage
(as
the gull flies), the Lighthouse doesn’t loom over the Cottage. However,
you’ll find the Lighthouse a welcome and comforting sight as you look
north from our deck. On a clear day, you’ll spot the distinctive
stripes, and at night, you will always see the flashing light.
Q: Do we really need this
much cottage?
A: Seven
Cousins is not for everybody, but then, what is? As you peruse rental
listings, you’ll find other oceanfront cottages offering more “beds per
buck,” and these might be what you had in mind. You should carefully
assess your physical needs, and your goals and desires for your
vacation.
Seven Cousins is a beloved family home on a site for which
we spent a
lifetime searching. We find that many of our guests are families or
couples who have been sharing beach vacations for years, and have now
grown in size, number, and/or the need for comfort and privacy. The
Cottage is intended for groups of seventeen or fewer, plus, perhaps,
Baby. If all guests are couples, we suggest fourteen or less. Everyone
sleeps in a bedroom; there are no pull-out beds. We’ve tried to
eliminate anything skimpy; tubs and showers are oversized, the
in-ground spa accommodates twelve adults, and TV screens are large.
Well-proportioned
space is the key to stress-free meals and gatherings,
as well as quiet times alone. In addition to an elevator, wheelchair
users will appreciate the extra space to maneuver. They will find most
of the Cottage accessible, including roll-in showers.
The
handy boardwalk greatly facilitates the trek to the beach with kids,
chairs, umbrellas, and you-name-it. And, if
boating and/or birding are important to you, you can step across the
road to access two marinas, as well as the inviting boardwalks
of the nature preserve at Hatteras Landing Marina.
God’s
creation, not our own, is always central. We don’t go in for flashy
furnishings, but we are always at work to provide materials and
equipment that we can keep fresh, clean, and functional for you.
Trouble-free ease of operation and durability are extremely important
for the items we use at Seven Cousins Cottage, as repairs and
replacements are often far away.
We want
your times at Hatteras to be as rewarding as ours! Please call or email us with
other questions you may have regarding the Cottage.
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