Info by DisabilityWelcome to Fort Raleigh National Historic SiteFort Raleigh welcomes all individuals with a disability! Explore the accessibility pages for relevant information categorized by disability type. We hope the following information will be useful in planning your visit. While not all facilities are fully accessible, park rangers are available and happy to assist visitors with disabilities in making the most of your visit here. For any specific inquiries about accessiblity, please contact the park by email or by calling (252) 475-9001.
In October 2018, the National Park Service (NPS) issued a policy memorandum regarding the use of service animals by persons with disabilities in national parks. The revised policy aligns the NPS policy with the standards established by the Department of Justice and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dogs classified as service animals are individually trained to perform a specific task that assists a person with a disability. Service dogs are legally permitted anywhere that visitors can go. They must be allowed wherever visitors are allowed. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Emotional support, therapy, and companion animals are not service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they have not been trained to provide a task directly related to a disability. Emotional support animals are considered to be a pet. Service dogs-in-training are not service animals under ADA, but are considered pets. Pets must abide by the Individual Park Pet Regulations. Service Animals at Fort RaleighService animals are permitted in all areas of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site where visitors are allowed, including public buildings and the Waterside Theater. Service animals must be under control and must be picked up after. Can I still bring my pet to the park?Yes. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is pet friendly and invites visitors to bring their pets as part of their visit. Pets are not permitted inside federal buildings including the Visitor Center and the Waterside Theater during performances and must be kept on a secure lead at all time. Please review the park's pets policy prior to your visit for a safe and enjoyable experience. What about the Lost Colony Production?Service animals may accompany visitors to the evening performances of the Lost Colony. Please contact the Roanoke Island Historical Association to better assist your visit to the play. |
Last updated: July 1, 2025