Sea Foam Motel
Why it's listed
Sea Foam Motel is a one- and two-story brick motel directly on the Atlantic beach at Nags Head, North Carolina. Theodore and Rosa Meekins began it in 1948 as a single row of about ten rooms with a two-story office. A beachside wing followed in 1951, a north wing in the mid-1950s joined the sections into a U shape around a parking area, and a 1964 addition brought the total to fifty-one units. The grounds include an in-ground pool from 1948, a playground and a shuffleboard court. Rooms keep knotty pine paneling, tiled bathrooms and screen doors. The motel is significant as a surviving example of the post-World War II motor courts that grew up as better roads and bridges brought tourists to the Outer Banks. It was among the first beach motels with a swimming pool, and it remains in operation, with many families returning for generations.
Significance in brief: The motel is argued to be significant under Criterion A for entertainment/recreation, as an example of the post-World War II growth of tourism on the Outer Banks. It is also significant under Criterion C for architecture, as one of the last and best preserved post-war motor courts on the Outer Banks. It was among the first beach motels with an in-ground swimming pool.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 04001392, listed December 23, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7111 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head |
|---|---|
| County | Dare County |
| Listed | December 23, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001392 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1948-1964 |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operating as a motel; survived Hurricane Isabel in 2003 with limited damage, and doors and windows were replaced to match the originals. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 35.91044, -75.59608 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 04001392.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18217266
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.