The Lifesaving Station History

The Lifesaving Station Restaurant which opened in 1977 was the former location of the Caffey's Inlet, U.S. Lifesaving Station Number 5 and is listed in the National Register of historic places.

Caffey's Inlet Station was one of the original seven stations built along North Carolina's treacherous coast in 1874 when the US Lifesaving Service was founded. Within a few years there were twenty-nine stations and this was the fifth one numbering from the Virginia Line. The first building was destroyed by fire and was replaced with the current structure in 1899.

The mission of the U.S.L.S.S. was the systematic saving of shipwrecked victims, their cargos and the ships in that order. In 1915, the Lifesaving Service was joined with the Cutter Revenue Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard. Number 5 station was decommissioned by the 1950's.

The Lifesaving Station is decorated with nautical artifacts and historic memorabilia. The restaurant's menu features a contemporary American cuisine with an emphasis on regional seafood and produce. The Lifesaving Station has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 1998.