The Atlantis Lodge is an authentic throwback to the 60s! It’s rare to find a 60s style hotel right on the beach, but this one has remained steadfast in Pine Knoll Shores since 1963! The owners have made several updates throughout the years to make sure the rooms are comfortable and up to today’s standards. All in all, it has a unique style that you will love, so many great amenities, and has been pet-friendly since the day it opened!
Book your stay at this property
There are several different room types to choose from, but the best part is that all of them have ocean views!
The Atlantis has so much to offer, but perhaps the best feature is its location right on the beach. With so many different types of places to stay, being right on the beach makes everything so much easier, especially when you have kids or dogs in tow.
The Lodge also offers complimentary beach chairs and those iconic yellow beach umbrellas. They have beach toys, beach bikes, and kayaks for you to use for free! And if the beach is not your thing, they have a relaxing lagoon pool tucked between the trees at the front of the Lodge, complete with a waterfall and a baby pool. Oh, and on the third floor, they have a game lounge that has a pool table, table tennis, a large screen projection TV, and some epic views of the ocean.
When you check in, ask about their DVD collection. It just reminds me of the good old days of Blockbuster! And if this isn’t enough, there’s even a dog park on the premise for your furry friend!
Here’s a video from the website that gives you a great idea of what to expect during your visit:
One of the last of it’s kind. Atlantis is ‘REAL’ retro.
For a little history of the Atlantis Lodge, it started as the vision of Ruth Bray “Mabee” and was designed by A.C. Hall Jr (a Raleigh city planner at the time) and Donald Stewart (a renowned NC modernist architect).
Some of the original features were Scandinavian furniture, wood paneling, colored glass light fixtures and panelfold doors, all features that have remained (with a few updates) to this day!
Mabee ran the lodge single-handedly for 18 years, marketing it geniously before social media even existed. After she retired, original designer A.C. Hall Jr. took it over and now his daughter, Donna, is currently running it. They’ve dedicated their lives to keeping it in the family and maintaining that magical feel that keeps people coming back year after year.
It’s set up for relaxation…even with the kids!
When we stayed at the Atlantis Lodge, we booked one of their “Large Suite” units on the third floor.
If you have kids, I highly recommend this because you have two queen beds and an accordian divider that separates the bedrooms from the living room/kitchenette space. My husband and I could put the kids to bed early, sit out on the deck watching the sunset, or cook a meal and enjoy our dinner without worrying about waking the kids up.
I would also recommend booking your room on the 2nd or 3rd level because you have the best views of the ocean, whereas the first level is somewhat blocked by the grassy dune.
A few things to note: there is no elevator so it’s important to realize that you will be carrying all of your bags up a few flights of stairs depending on what level you book. To me, it’s worth it though to get such a beautiful view! The bottom floor is handicap accessible and the Lodge also offers sand wheelchairs to help elderly or disabled people access the beach.
Perfect for your pups!
The Atlantis was featured in USA Today and VisitNC.com for being one of the most pet-friendly accomodations on the East Coast. It’s not often that you find a hotel that offers more than just a sliver of grass for your pet to do their business on, but this one has its own dog park! It is spacious and has all the scents to keep your dog interested for quite a while (at least it did for ours!) They also have a dog-washing station with complimentary “Mane N Tail” shampoo on the patio, which is perfect for getting all that sand off your dog before entering your room. And of course, they leave TREATS in your room upon check-in!
Enjoying your time on The Crystal Coast of NC
The Atlantis Lodge is located in Pine Knoll Shores just west of Atlantic Beach, which is right in the middle of the famed Crystal Coast. And at just 2.5 hours from Raleigh, it’s a lot closer than the Outer Banks or some of NC’s other famous beaches. Once you’re here, there is so much to do in the Atlantic Beach area, including the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, taking a ferry to see wild horses at Shackleford Banks, attending a pirate festival in downtown Beaufort, or touring an old Civil War Fort. For more detailed information about these activities, check out our list of 5 Fun Things to do near Atlantic Beach !
Oh, and pro-tip: If you’re traveling to The Atlantis from the west, you’ll likely be passing close by Aiden, NC, home of Skylight BBQ (the place that put NC on the BBQ map!) We love it, and even did a little “Hidden Gem” article about it a few weeks ago!
