Experience Manteo By Candlelight
Lore, Tales & History
Tour historic Manteo waterfront by candlelight
Join Manteo's retired Police Chief Francis D'Ambra for an evening walking tour through the Historic Waterfront of Old Manteo for an entertaining mix of the many "firsts", lore, tales, and history that make Dare County "The Land of Beginnings".
Explore 400+ years of living history as the Chief highlights stories from The Lost Colony, Pirates, The Underground Railroad, The Wright Brothers, and the modern era.
Join the chief as he shares personal stories of the real Mayberry, USA that inspired the classic TV series "The Andy Griffith Show" as well as his relationship with several celebrities and many space heroes who have made Manteo such a unique and special place to visit.
Our Tour is Rated the Best on the Outer Banks!
The historical significance of this small island in America is truly astonishing.
It's a Must-See when you are in the states!
— The Sheffield Star, a UK newspaper
Meet Your Guide
Chief Francis D'Ambra
Chief Francis D’Ambra originated the internationally acclaimed Historic Candlelight Walking Tour in Manteo in 2004. Now he is the retired Chief of Police for the Town of Manteo and has been a local resident here for over 24 years. The Chief is married and has raised his three girls on Roanoke Island as natives. He is an avid history buff with personal deep knowledge of Roanoke Island and the people who made this special place, “The Land of Beginnings”.
The Chief’s tour has been featured in PBS show North Carolina Weekend. The Sheffield Star is newspaper in Sheffield, England said, “The historical significance of this small island in America is truly astonishing. It’s a Must See when you are in the states!”
Walking Tour Details
Tickets
$28 per person
Children 14 & Under are free
Tours are limited to 25 people.
Location
Historic Old Town Manteo Waterfront
Tour Times
Nightly at 7 pm
Monday—Saturday
Weather Permitting
Private tours are available upon request.
Reserve Your Spot
Buy Tickets Online
We think our walking tour is the best—but don’t take our word for it!
Amazing History Tour
★★★★★
Absolutely worth the time and money! Such a wonderful history lesson with passion and love for his town, Chief gave an amazing tour. He was waiting and ready for us when we arrived. This tour is great for any age with plenty of places to rest along the way if needed and plenty of photo ops. We can't believe how much we learned on this tour in this very special place!
— Jennifer M • April 2022
Amazing History Lesson
★★★★★
Absolutely wonderful tour! We loved walking around the town learning all the “unknown” history that you never learn about anywhere else. Chief is a great storyteller with a charismatic personality. Highly recommend!
— Krisma H • October 2022
Walking Tour FAQs
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On the Beautiful Historic Manteo Waterfront.
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Tours start at 7:00 pm. we suggest that guests arrive early by 6:45 pm to allow for parking and facilities use.
The tour generally runs an hour and a half with plenty of time afterward for questions. Since this is an interactive experience ending times may vary.
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Tickets are $28 each. Children 14 & younger are free.
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Guests may need to bring appropriate outerwear as weather dictates.
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Free Parking is available on the street as well as the Manteo Town Parking lot directly across from the Tranquil House Inn.
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Public restrooms and diaper change facilities are available at the rear of the Magnolia Pavilion.
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Yes, we leisurely stroll through the downtown/waterfront area on town sidewalks which meet all ADA requirements. There are several areas that have seating available to rest and listen.
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Yes, both daytime and candlelight special tours are available only by contacting through this website.
Chief had a way of bringing Outer Banks to life with his stories, both real and possibly real.
— Caroline Makepeace
Co-founder of one of the world’s largest family travel blogs, ytravelblog.com with her husband Craig.
Manteo Historic Walking Tour
Mother Vine Muscadine Preserves
We are so excited to be able to bring our guests our wholly unique Mother Vine Scuppernong Muscadine Preserves. These very special preserves find their origin in America’s oldest living 450-year-old Scuppernong Grapevine. The Roanoke Island Mother Vine is located right here on Roanoke Island, North Carolina and was said to have been planted by Sir Richard Grenville’s expedition to the New World in 1585. This true “Mother Vine” still produces delicious Scuppernong Muscadine Grapes. The Manteo Historic Walking Tour has these exclusive Mother Vine Preserves available on-site to our tour guests. Guests can also find them exclusively at the Manteo Market on Saturdays from 9am til 1pm. The Manteo Market is located at George Washington Creef Park on the beautiful Manteo Waterfront Get them while they last. Don’t Forget, MEET ME IN MANTEO! If you would like to purchase these one of a kind preserves contact us on the contact section of this site and I can give you more information on our availability at the Manteo Market.
Did you know that Muscadine Grapes are nature’s #1 source of antioxidants? These preserves have the optimal balance of antioxidants, natural flavor, and sweetness to make them a great source for overall good health. Since the time of England’s original colony on Roanoke Island, Muscadine Grapes have been used for food, medicine, pleasure, and a delicious part of our unique culture here in Manteo.
We encourage you to pick up a jar or two for yourself and take home a part of our living history. They also make a most thoughtful gift. Remember, they can only be purchased on-site, so don’t miss out on taking home a little part of the ‘Land of Beginnings”!
18oz. (510 g) jars are available on-site only for $16.00
(state sales tax included)
While you’re here in the OBX explore the Chief’s top recommendations of fun activities for you and your family.
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you!
Fill out the form or email us directly:
ManteoHistoricTour@gmail.com